Page 84 of Lord of Mischief
The men left the room but stood outside in the hallway.Eve prayed they would leave the house.She had to escape and warn Freddie.
There was silence for a short time.All she could hear was the sound of her heart beating loudly in her ears.
The fabric on the edge of her cloak was roughly pulled away and right in front of her appeared an ugly grinning face.
“’Ello darlin’.Didn’t think we’d find you, did ya?”the man said.
Eve tried to move to the other side, but the second man was there waiting for her.He grabbed hold of her skirts and dragged her from under the bed.
“Stand up,” he ordered.
Eve got to her feet.She was about to make a grand statement about her uncle being the Duke of Strathmore, and her other uncle being the Bishop of London, but the shiny blade in the intruder’s hand put paid to that notion.
He looked her up and down.As he did, his companion came around to the same side of the bed.
“I know her.She is Freddie’s fancy woman.I reckon if we take her, he will come out of hiding.We won’t have to go looking for him.”
“I don’t know who you are, but my family has money.I am certain whatever your employer is paying you, my father will double it to see me safely returned home,” she said.Her father had always taught her money spoke a language everyone understood.All men could be bought—you just needed to establish the right price.
The two intruders exchanged a knowing look.
“Sorry, love.There is nothing your family could give us that would make us betray our masters.After you and your sweetheart’s sudden disappearance, other people will think twice about testifying against members of the board and the crown’s case will collapse.We will be rewarded with a king’s ransom of jewels and all the whores we can use.”He reached out and took a rough hold of Eve.From out of his jacket pocket he pulled a length of rope.
Eve screamed.
A hand came over her mouth.The soft cotton of a handkerchief soaked in ether pressed against her face.She held her breath for as long as she could, but it was no use.Her knees buckled from under her.She silently screamed as the ether took her under and rendered her unconscious.
