A Promise of Tomorrow (24 page)

The sight that met him when he entered sent him into a maelstromof anger and fear. Kyle was naked, curled around himself and leaning against the wall, staring at Weir’s bleeding body. Shards of broken pottery were scattered about the floor, and the handle of the shattered pitcher was stillgripped inKyle’s hand.

He stood there stupidly, staring at Kyle, for he didn’t even know how long. It took the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs and Mrs. Trumble’s voice calling to him to break him out of his shock. Rushing to the bed, he grabbed the counterpane and carried it over to Kyle. Wrappinghiminit tightly, he drew the unresistingyoung man toward the door and sat him in one of the small wooden chairs by the table. Making sure he was fully covered so the woman couldn’t see his state ofundress, James moved to the door and stood byit, blockingher view ofthe rest ofthe room.

Taking a calming breath, he pulled on every bit of dignity and pride he had before addressing the woman as she came down the hall.

“Everything is well, Mrs. Trumble. I apologize for the door, but when Mr. Allen wouldn’t answer, I feared he was seriously ill. He is unwell, as you see, but not at death’s door as I feared.” He forced a chuckle and prayed it sounded better than it felt. “I was perhaps a bit too hasty, and I willofcourse payfor the damage to the door.”

The woman was flushed and out of breath as she said, “I was as concerned as you, my lord, I assure you. Mr. Allen, are you well? Do youneed me to send for the doctor?”

James prayed Kyle would be able to pull himself together enough to answer her. The last thing they needed was for a doctor to come before he could do somethingabout Weir.

He was relieved on more than one count when Kyle managed to say, “No, Mrs. Trumble. I am well enough. I don’t need you to send for anyone. I will recover soon enough. I am only tired, that is all.”

“I willsee to him, Mrs. Trumble. Youneed not fear for him. He will be well taken care of, I assure you,” James said, hoping the womanunderstood it as the dismissalit was.

“Oh, ofcourse, my lord, I’msure he is in excellent hands. I just worry about these young men on their own sometimes. They don’t take care of themselves without a wife or a mother to do it for them, and he hasn’t eaten more’n a sparrow in all the time he’s been here,” she said, aiming a motherly frown of disapproval at Kyle. “Please let me know as soon as you are better, Mr. Allen, and if there’s anythin’ else I can do for you.” She bobbed another curtsy toward James and turned back downthe hall.

James closed the door and crossed to kneelnext to Kyle. “Are youhurt, Kyle? Did he hurt you?”
Tears showed at the corners of his eyes and fell as Kyle shook his head. “No, no, he didn’t touch me.” He felt the knot of fear unclench inside him at Kyle’s answer and wrapped his arms around him, pullinghimclose.

“Thank God,” James said, sliding a hand up to cradle Kyle’s head and closinghis eyes onhis owntears ofrelief.

They stayed that way for several moments before a strangled moan fromthe man on the floor drew James’s attention. Up until that moment, he hadn’t knownwhether the manwas alive or dead, and he frankly hadn’t cared. But now that he knew the man was alive, he had to make a planquicklybefore he raised a fuss.

He didn’t want to let Kyle go, particularly after the way the young man jerked in his arms at the sound of Weir’s moan, but he didn’t have much choice. Settling Kyle back in the seat, he cupped that beautifulface inhis palms and said, “Do youstilltrust me, Kyle?”

Kyle’s eyes stayed locked withhis as he nodded.

“Good. If you are well enough, then I want you to get dressed and help me get
that
downstairs,” he continued, pointing to Weir. “ThenI want youto leave us and wait for me at the inn,”he said.

When it looked like Kyle would argue with him, he leaned forward and captured his mouthina tender kiss. Kyle opened for him immediately, and the kiss became deeper and longer than he had intended. Pullingaway, James had to catchhis breath… and his wits.

“Trust me, Kyle. Do this for me, please?”

Kyle bit his lower lip and nodded, though he didn’t look happy about it. James smiled. “Go on now, get started while I look after
that
,”he said, noddingagainto the moaningbodyonthe floor.

By the time Kyle was fully dressed, James had gotten Weir’s hands tied behind his back and had propped himagainst the wall. The man was moaning louder now, so James took Weir’s cravat and gagged him with it. He also took a rag and wiped up any blood that had dripped to the floor, stuffing the soiled cloth in Weir’s waistcoat for want ofa better place to hide it.

After he finished, James looked up to find Kyle staring at the two of them. His gaze was still a little unfocused, and he looked quite pale. James worried that the shock might be too muchfor him.

He stood and walked to Kyle, gathered himinto his arms, and pressed his cheek to those soft black curls. Drawing back so he could look Kyle in the eyes, he asked, “Are you sure you can do this? I’ll find another way if you say so. You’ve been through so much, there’s no shame init.”

“No, I can do it,” Kyle answered, though his voice was barely more thana whisper. “He, he has a knife… inhis boot.” “Thank you, Kyle,” James said, retrieving it. “Let’s be quick about it, then. Go make sure no one’s about,”he ordered.

He would have preferred to wait for a later hour, but he really didn’t think keeping Kyle in a room with Weir for hours, waiting for the dead of night, would be good for him. He wanted to get rid of Weir and get to reassuring both of themthat Kyle was truly safe and unharmed as soonas possible.

The sunhad dropped below the horizonas theymade their way down the stairs. They propped Weir against the side of the building, and at James’s instruction, Kyle went back inside to find Mrs. Trumble. James told himto informher that he would be leaving for a few days to rest and regain his strength and to apologize for “dropping” his ewer in his weakened state, as someone would surely find the mess whentheycleaned his room.

That done, he sent Kyle onhis waywitha hugand a kiss onthe forehead, promising he would meet him at the inn soon. As Kyle disappeared in the darkness, James went in search of a cart for hire as wellas the home ofMr. Alfred Watts, the chiefmagistrate.

With a little money and some small explanation, he and the carter got Weir bundled into the trap and set off to find the magistrate. He instructed the boy to stay with their prisoner while he climbed the step to the door and rangthe bell.

After apologizing for the late call and handing his card to the butler, he was ushered into a parlor to wait for Mr. Watts. He’d met the man at several house parties in the county. Though Watts was a bit serious for James’s tastes, he was anintelligent enoughman.

Watts, small, round, and balding, came puffing into the room onlya few moments later.

 

“My Lord Warren, this
is
unexpected, but welcome, welcome. Please sit,”he said, indicatingthe padded chairs to their right. “Thank you, Watts. I apologize for the hour but I have a rather urgent case for you,”James replied.

“Oh dear, of course, my lord, how may I be of service?” His round cheeks were flushed red, and his eyes widened inexcitement.
“The hour is late, and I’m sure I’ve taken you from your supper, so I willtry to be brief. I arrived in town just this afternoon to pay a call on a friend of my nephew’s, only to come across a known fugitive fromjustice inyour midst,”he said smoothly.

This first part, at least, was true. He didn’t want to lie to the man, but he wouldn’t be able to leave Kyle out of the matter if he didn’t, so he sucked in a breath and continued. “AMr. Victor Weir, recently of London. I was informed only this morning by the Earl of Harrow, a good friend, that he is sought on charges of fraud and larceny against several prominent families but disappeared before he could be arrested.”

James’s mentionofthe Earlhad the desired effect, as the man’s eyes widened even further and his back straightened. James now had no doubt the man would take him at his word and not question his tale any further, not that he would have dared question a viscount, either, but it couldn’t hurt to throw a little more weight behind it.

“When I confronted the man, he lashed out at me in a most unseemly fashion, and I was forced to subdue him,” he continued. “I, of course, came straight to you, and I fear I must apologize for my most disreputable appearance, but I believed the matter could not wait for me to repair the damages done by my journey and my altercationwiththe scoundrel.”

“The man’s name is Weir, you say?” Watts asked, and James saw recognition in his eyes. For a moment, he feared this might be one of Weir’s many friends, but his fears were eased when the man continued, “My brother has invested with a Mr. Weir. There’s talk of fraud? Thievery?”

“Yes, Mr. Watts. I believe there is. He’s in front of your house at this moment. I fear I had to bind him lest the man try to escape again,” James said, smiling to himself. If this brother turned out to be someone Weir had swindled, Watts would be more than willing to take Weir off his hands. “I would of course have preferred to leave his capture to you, but I feared, being the scoundrel he is, the man might get awaybefore a proper partycould be raised.”

“Oh, of course, my lord. Please don’t apologize. You have done our little town a great service by not allowing such a man to remain free among us. Who knows what he might have done, had you waited?” Watts stood as he spoke, and James rose to his feet as well. “Now I suppose I must see to this scoundrelmyself.”

They made their way back out the main hall and through the doors to the street. Weir was more awake now, sitting up and glaring daggers at him.

“Oh my, you did have to subdue him, didn’t you?” Watts said, puttinga hand to his chest insurprise.

“I fear it was necessary. I would not remove the gag unless you are quite prepared for the most deplorable language,” James replied witha smirk onlyWeir could see.

“I suppose we should call for the doctor to have a look at that head, though,”Watts said worriedly.

“That would be a good idea, though I would not recommend removing his bindings unless you have more men about you. The man is quite strong and may commit violence in an attempt to escape,” James replied, enjoyinghimselfnow.

Watts sent word to the tavern, and a couple of very large men who looked to James to be farmers returned with the servant and carried Weir offtoward the back ofthe house.

“I thank you again, my lord, for your help in apprehending this man,” Watts said when the men disappeared around the corner. “My constables and I will take things from here. I will send word to my brother and the authorities in London so I may have a full accounting ofthe man’s crimes. I’msure we willhave no trouble holdinghimuntil the proper authorities come to claim him. If my brother is indeed a victim of this man, I feel sure he will come himself to see that he’s brought to justice. Will my lord be staying in the area, should I need anymore information?”Watts asked.

Now James had to think fast. He needed to get Kyle somewhere private, but Kentwood was too far for them to journey tonight. Luckily, before the man could become suspicious, an idea occurred to himthat just might be perfect.

“I had originally planned to stay at the inn, sir, but I fear all the excitement has been a bit much for me. I believe I will seek out more peaceful accommodations at a friend’s lodge nearby. Ethan Truitt is an old and dear friend. He is currently in London, I believe, but has offered me the use of his lodge at any time should I wish it,” James replied.

Truitt had actually only said he was “welcome any time,” and though James knew this wasn’t exactly what he’d meant, he hoped the man wouldn’t mind him sneaking into the lodge while he was away. He and Kyle needed time alone together, without prying ears or eyes, and he knew for a fact Truitt had yet to find a caretaker for his lodge. “I will be returning to Kentwood Hall tomorrow morning and willofcourse be ‘at home’should youneed anythingfurther from me.”

“Thank you, my lord, you are most generous. I will send word ofanydevelopments.”

 

James smiled and returned the man’s bow with a nod. “Thank you, Watts. I willlook forward to your news. Good evening, sir.”

“Good evening, my lord.” The man turned and puffed quickly back into his house, presumably to write his letters, and James hurried back to the inn.

He found Kyle at the back of the inn’s common room, holding a pint of ale with both hands as if it were a lifeline. When he caught sight of James, he jumped to his feet and quickly made his way over to him.

“Mylord, I—”Kyle beganbefore James interrupted him.

“No, Kyle, not here. Come with me,” he said, turning and heading toward the stables. He had thembring Percy out, and he and Kyle walked to the edge of town. Once far enough away from curious eyes, he mounted, drew Kyle up behind him, and continued onthe road north.

Truitt’s lodge was set back a bit from the road but only a few short miles out of town. The moon was near full, as it had been the last time theywere together, so it was not difficult to spot it and find a way inside. After getting Percy settled in the small stable behind the lodge, James made his way into the kitchen, where Kyle stood waitingfor him.

“I suppose we would have been more comfortable at the inn,” he said, “but I thought you might want peace and quiet more than comfort.”

Now that the crisis was over, he wasn’t sure how to proceed. Kyle had said nothing since they’d left the inn, and James’s doubts were beginningto surface.

“Thank you, my lord,” Kyle began before turning his back on James and hunchinghis shoulders. “I didn’t thank youyet for rescuing me
again
. I apologize.”

“Nonsense, Kyle, you didn’t appear to need any rescuing. I merely helped clean things up a bit, that’s all,” he said, taking the last few steps to stand behind Kyle.

He reached out a hand to touch but drew it back again. He wasn’t sure if that was what Kyle needed or even wanted. His chest ached with the need to comfort and reassure him, but now that they were alone together, his uncertainties were returningfullforce.

Kyle made the decision for himby turning and burying his face in James’s shoulder. James’s arms came up instinctively to hug his lover fiercely, and the ache in his chest eased. Had he really thought he could find any kind of peace and contentment without Kyle? One touchand he knew that he’d beenfoolinghimself.