Claimed By Chaos (30 page)

Chapter 54

If he had been thinking clearly, Alastair would have foreseen that having Giselle running ahead of him in her “work clothes” was a terrible idea. Unfortunately, he rarely thought clearly when she was involved. It took a herculean amount of effort to keep his focus on their surroundings as they dashed through the shadows and made their way to Weering’s home. At that hour, the mansions of Mayfair were quiet but caution was still necessary. Staring at Giselle’s thighs and bottom in clinging black breeches was not going to help them break into Weering’s home. After two weeks of watching the house, it was apparent that in addition to being staffed with an intimidating staff of thugs and former soldiers, it was unusually fortified. The only home Alastair could compare it to was Fortress Spencer.

They snuck through the mews and slipped between Weering’s and his neighbor’s homes. Giselle was looking up and bouncing on her toes. Alastair watched her with great curiosity and anxiety. She pulled the gun from behind her back and handed it to him before she swung her head down and pressed her hands to the ground between her feet. His eyes locked on her derrière and he bit back a groan. What the hell was wrong with him? He shook his head as she stood and turned to him.

“Can you get over this wall and meet me at that door?” Giselle whispered as she pointed at a pair of French doors. He nodded.

The French doors that opened on the garden were the only point of entry other than the main entrance and the kitchen that wasn’t covered with bars. Unfortunately, the only way to open those doors from the outside was to break the glass. Alastair looked up along the facade of the house. He didn’t see how Giselle was going to get in. The second floor windows were covered with bars and the few balconies on the third floor looked unreachable. There were no joints between the stones or ledges for her to take advantage of. The facade was almost completely smooth. Alastair pulled her close.

“Can you climb that?” He whispered. Giselle smiled and shook her head.

“No. But I can climb that.” She turned and pointed to the house behind them. He looked up and stared at the roofs over their heads and started shaking his head.

“Are you insane?” He hissed as he grabbed her arm. She laughed softly.

“Definitely.” She kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry, this will be fun! Just meet me at that door.” Giselle tugged her arm free and Alastair felt a cold sweat burst from his skin. He had to grind his teeth to keep from ordering her to come back.

It only took her a minute to scurry up the side of the wall. Alastair held his breath the entire time and had a moment of relief before she disappeared. He jogged back a few steps, trying to see where she went when she jumped from the roof, across the gap above his head. He was certain his heart stopped when she turned herself in the air and pulled her knees to her chest when she cleared Weering’s roof. He heard a soft thud as she landed. Alastair bent over and rested his hands on his knees as he waited for his heart to start again. He swore silently but violently. He was going to strangle Gilles the next time he saw him.
He watched her do that for six years? They’re both out of their minds!
He decided as he looked up. Giselle was standing on the edge of the roof, directly over a balcony with her back facing him. He wanted to call out and warn her. The balcony was too far down, she’d break her legs if she tried to land on it.

She tilted her head from side to side a few times and shook her shoulders before she jumped back and away from the building and plummeted towards the ground. Alastair felt a scream clog his throat when her feet missed the balcony. He saw her hands splay and grab the railing and he clutched at his hair and squeezed his eyes shut.
What the hell was I thinking? This will kill me before it’s over. If not, I’m going to kill her.
He swore. When he opened his eyes she was pulling herself over the rail. Once she was on her feet, it took her seconds to open the door and slip inside.

Alastair looked at the garden wall. He grinned sarcastically as he skipped backwards. He’d punch himself repeatedly in the face if he couldn't manage a wall after watching Giselle defy the laws of physics. He ran at the wall jumped and stretched. His fingers just scraped the top ledge. He clenched his jaw as he adjusted his grip and pulled himself up. He shook his head and laughed silently. He’d barely made it. If it had been half an inch taller, he would have had to give up any claim to manhood. Alastair swung his leg over and dropped to the ground on the other side. He leaned against the wall as he waited for Giselle to unlock the door.

He heard a soft click and he ran through the small garden. The door opened and he slipped inside. She shut the door behind him silently and pressed her hand to his lips. He felt her lips touch his ear.

“The butler was in the hallway.” Her words were just a breath. Alastair nodded as he pulled her gun from the back of his breeches. He handed it to her and pressed his hand to her back gently to signal for them to move.

They were in a small sitting room that took only a few moments to search. Giselle carefully checked the hallway and signaled for Alastair to follow her. He could see the ballroom to their right and the main hall at the other end. They crept along the wall until they reached the hall. Giselle’s eyes swept up the stairs and he nodded. He followed her and they swiftly made their way to the third floor and split up. She took the wing to the right and he went to the left. Alastair met her at the stairs approximately fifteen minutes later. She shook her head and pointed down the stairs. He nodded and they carefully descended and parted ways again.

Alastair found Weering’s rooms. He had a scare when he peeked into his dressing room and found the valet asleep. His eyes scanned the room quickly before he shut the door. Giselle met him at the bedroom door and they both searched silently before slipping back into the hallway. He pulled her to him before they reached the stairs.

“Stay away from the kitchen. The housekeeper will be there, probably the butler too. If we don’t find anything in the library, we leave.” His voice was barely audible but Giselle nodded before she turned the corner and moved silently down the stairs. At the bottom, she darted across the hall and pressed herself to the wall next to the library door and waited for Alastair. Once he was next to her, she reached for the door handle and carefully pushed it open.

“Oh, hello!” Giselle’s voice was soft and playful. Alastair tensed and saw that the hand behind her back was gesturing for him to move away, to hide. He dashed into the alcove under the stairs and watched as she backed away from the library. She appeared relaxed and her smile was teasing as two large footmen advanced toward her. Alastair smelled brandy.

“What are you doing in here?” One asked as he drew his pistol. The other nodded drunkenly as he pulled his.

“I think I’m in the wrong home.” Giselle said silkily as she continued to back her way through the hall toward the ballroom.

“I don’t like it Smith.” The first footman said. “Look at how she's dressed. Like she's been sneaking about.” He said as he leered.

“His lordship won’t like it. Maybe we can have a little fun with her until he gets back.” Number two chuckled. Giselle smiled.

“Oh, we’ll have fun.” She whispered before she turned and ran for the ballroom.

“You! Stop or we’ll shoot!” The first footman warned as they took off after her. Alastair strode quickly after them. He was confidant that they would shoot, but Giselle was small and fast and they wouldn’t be able aim while running. As soon as he turned into the ballroom he flinched as the second footman fired his pistol. The loud crack echoed and Alastair felt a sharp pain in his head as his ears rang. He shook his head as plaster exploded across the room. The clod had hit an ornamental pillar. Giselle laughed as she turned and jumped backwards. Her hands gripped her sides as she landed and they slid up her body swiftly as she glided on her back across the highly polished floor. Her hands shot forward and Alastair saw a glint of metal just before the footmen jerked and collapsed. He looked down and saw that each had a blade protruding from their chests.

“Well done.” He said dryly as she got to her feet. Alastair heard a sound in the hall. “We need to get out of here.” Giselle’s nod was cut short and her eyes focused behind him.

He turned and groaned as he watched the butler lumbering toward him. The man was easily twice Alastair’s weight and he was built like a brick wall. He braced his feet as he started assessing the man for weaknesses. Alastair grimaced as he looked up. The butler towered over him and his hands looked like anvils.
Jesus. This is going to hurt like hell but I think I can take him.
He raised his fists.

“For God’s sake, Alastair! Get down!” Giselle hissed. Alastair dropped to his feet and a second sharp crack bounced around the room. He grabbed his ears and swore as lightning tore through his head. When he looked back, the butler was on the ground. His eyes were wide as they stared at the ceiling and a large hole gaped in the middle of his forehead. Alastair scowled at Giselle.

“I could have handled him.” He argued. She shook her head as she rushed across the room and grabbed his sleeve.

“I’m sure you could have but I didn’t want to see you beat to a pulp in the process. And we don’t have time.” She announced as she jogged through the hall and back into the sitting room they started in. Giselle pushed to door open and gestured for Alastair to follow her out.

He ran to the garden wall and once again managed to barely catch the top of it. He swung a leg over and found Giselle waiting. He reached down to help her up. She smiled teasingly before she took a few steps back and ran at the wall. Her foot caught on a brick and she jumped. Her hands braced on top of the wall and she pushed off as she pulled her legs up and over and she landed in a crouch on the other side. Alastair swore silently as he dropped down next to her. She shrugged before she took off running.

By the time they slipped back into Spencer Place, Alastair was at the end of his patience. The only thing he’d gained from the evening was a splitting headache and watching Giselle had probably taken years off of his life. They found Gilles waiting in his study.

“Well? Did you find anything?” He asked as he went to the sideboard and started pouring drinks. Giselle twisted her face as she dropped onto the sofa. She stretched along the seat and flung her legs over the arm and started kicking back and forth lazily.

“No.” She sighed. “There was nothing there and we ran into a little trouble.” Giselle reached for the snifter and raised her head to take a sip. Gilles raised an eyebrow.

“Nothing too serious, I hope.” He asked as he handed Alastair a brandy and took a seat across from Giselle. Alastair could only blink. He was still in shock and they were behaving as if she was telling him about their recent walk in the park. He drained his glass in one long gulp and set it down. Giselle snorted.

“I came upon some footmen and they fired at me. I had to kill them and Weering’s butler.” She yawned before she took another drink. Gilles shook his head softly and smiled.

“I suppose that was to be expected. As long as no one saw you.” He grimaced as he looked at his drink. “Weering would be an idiot not to run.” Gilles sighed and took a long swallow. Alastair felt his temper snap.

“Are the two of you serious right now?”
Alastair yelled. Both heads snapped up and they stared in confusion. He rubbed his hand across his mouth roughly as he tried to regain his composure. Giselle sat up slowly and her brow rose. Alastair threw his hands up before he pointed at her. “She… What she did tonight was unacceptable! How could you let her do that?” Alastair started pacing as his hands pushed through his hair. “She was like a lunatic squirrel-cannonball-cat monster, Gilles! She could have died at least half a dozen times and I just had to watch!” He turned back to the sideboard and found that his hands were shaking. He wasn’t going to try and analyze why. He heard Gilles chuckle.

“You let me know when you find a way to stop her.” He said softly. Alastair turned and saw that Giselle had her arms crossed over her chest and she looked mutinous. “She’s rather effective though.” Gilles offered and she smiled at him. Alastair gasped.

“Effective?” He laughed in exasperation. “This can’t happen again! Aside from the fact that it would kill me, she has no fear. We can’t risk her breaking her neck or killing herself in the middle of Mayfair. And she kills anyone that gets in her way!” Alastair clenched his fist and took a deep breath. His voice was starting to get too loud again. Giselle stood and stared at him.

“I’m sorry that you don’t approve of my methods, Alastair. Perhaps we just won’t go together next time.” Her posture became defiant and he felt his temper start to boil again. He stretched his neck and narrowed his eyes at her.

“Next time?” Alastair shook his head. He wanted to forbid her but he knew that wouldn’t work. He swung to Gilles. “I estimate that we have two, maybe three days before Weering leaves. He’ll want to take as much as he can with him.” He finished his brandy and set the snifter down. “I won’t be at breakfast tomorrow, I have work to do and I don't think I’ll be done by tomorrow evening. Take Giselle to Harlow’s for me, please.” Alastair waited for Gilles to agree before he turned and swept from the room.

Once outside, he turned and saw Giselle watching him from the window. Alastair looked up at his driver and gave him the War Office as his destination and got into the carriage without looking back.

Chapter 55

“Is he ashamed of me?” Giselle whispered as she watched Alastair’s carriage disappear around the corner. Gilles sighed and she felt his hand squeeze her shoulder.

“No. He’s scared.” He said softly. She frowned as she turned.

“Why?” She slouched as she drifted to the sofa and collapsed back upon it. Gilles sat next to her.

“I’ve forgotten what it’s like to watch you work and I had years to get used to it. I don’t think I’d take it very well if it were Elise fighting with men and climbing buildings like a squirrel.” His eyes searched hers for understanding. Her brows pulled together, she didn’t get it. He sighed as he placed his hand on hers. “He loves you. For Alastair, that means he’s supposed to protect you. He’s always protected us all. With the family, he’s always had something in place, a procedure. He doesn’t know how to protect you.”

Giselle could only nod her head. She understood how vulnerable it felt to love someone and how afraid she was to see them hurt. She also knew that she would do anything to protect Alastair. She bit her lip as she thought back on the evening. It might have been a shock to see her jumping from buildings. Perhaps she should apologize again, and not sarcastically next time. Giselle felt her shoulders sag.
Being in love and an adult really isn’t that much fun
. She decided as she rose.

“I’m going to bed.” She kissed Gilles on the cheek and sulked from the room. It didn't help that she heard him laugh softly.

The next day had been the longest Giselle could remember. True to his word, Alastair missed breakfast. She spent the day jumping every time the bell rang and she was never far from a window. When he didn’t appear to escort her to the Harlow Ball she tried to cry off but Gilles reminded her that they still had work to do. Weering probably wouldn’t be attending any balls but they needed to see if there was any gossip about the break-in.

The ton was in shock and of course appalled that the house of a peer had been violated and that three members of the staff could be so brutally killed. And in Mayfair, of all places! Gilles and Giselle could only nod and parrot their outrage. Otherwise, the evening had been uneventful. She had persuaded Gilles to instruct the driver to pass by Burton Place and her heart sank when she saw that it was dark.
Where is he?
Giselle whined silently.

It had taken her hours to fall asleep. She missed Alastair more than she would have expected. They had only been apart for a day and she felt restless and lonely. Her heart sank as she wondered if a day away from him had been this difficult, what would happen if she had to spend her life without him?

When Giselle woke the following morning, she rushed to get ready and hurried downstairs to breakfast. She couldn't stop the smile that filled her face when she saw Alastair sitting at the table, reading a news sheet. She was the second to arrive and he stood when she entered. Giselle rushed to him and he reached for her.

“I’m so sorry!” She whispered as she looked up at him. Alastair smiled softly as his hand cradled her cheek.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. I love chaos.” He teased and she rose on her toes as his lips lowered to hers. Giselle felt warmth spreading in her chest as his lips brushed hers. She opened her mouth on a sigh and froze when she heard a throat clearing behind her.

“Some people use this room for eating.” Gilles announced loudly. Alastair glared over Giselle’s shoulder before he looked back down at her and winked. She felt it in her stomach.

“I missed you.” Alastair whispered. Her smile felt wobbly as she looked longingly at his lips.

“I missed you too.” Giselle said softly. Gilles groaned and his shoulder connected with Alastair’s as he pushed by on his way to the sideboard.

“Wonderful. You missed each other. If you want to spend the morning flirting and kissing, get married and get your own damned dining room. Otherwise, eat breakfast.” Gilles commanded as he started filling his plate.

Alastair looked at Giselle pointedly and she shook her head in warning. He frowned as he stepped back and turned to make his plate. Giselle looked at the door and considered claiming a headache but she was so hungry she was sure she could eat all the food on the sideboard and the platters it was served on. She steeled herself as she joined them and heaped food onto her plate.