Belong To Me (book 4) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (37 page)

“Then, will you let me pay for her ransom?”

“But what are we going to do about Ian? If I hand Charlotte to you, that doesn’t accomplish anything. You’ll have the lovely lady, of course, but I’ll have nothing.”

“So what are your plans?” Ian’s voice turned harsh as panic rose in his throat.

“I think we can come to some sort of bargain.” He paused then glanced back at him. “Let’s go down and see how Charlotte is faring, shall we?”

Ian could read people well, and by the cocky expression on Jeffrey’s face and the way he talked to him, Ian detected things weren’t right. The man acted too calm. How could the commissioner act in such a way when it was obvious his plans were not going well? Alarm rose in Ian’s head, and he prayed he’d know what to do when the time came.

Ian followed Jeffrey down the stairs, still keeping in Adam’s character. The cane he used definitely helped with his disguise. The warnings pounding through his brain grew stronger. The longer he watched the commissioner, the more he suspected something would happen soon. He needed to warn Charlotte, but how? Fortunately, Jeffrey gave him that chance when he left him by Charlotte and took his men to the corner of the room.

Charlotte’s eyes were wide with wonder. “What’s going on?” she whispered.

“Listen to me, darling,” he spoke softly. “I don’t know exactly what’s happening, but I feel as if the commissioner knows something. Don’t ask me how, but I get the impression he knows who I am.”

“That can’t be right. You’ve done a fabulous acting job so far, and he’s played right into your hands.”

He shrugged. “But, he’s been different since he came in from outside. I don’t like it.” He touched her knee. “Just be ready for anything.”

She nodded.

Ian’s gaze softened the longer he stared into her eyes. He smiled. “Not to worry, my love. Your knight will save you.”

Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears again. “I know he will. I’ve never given up on him.”

They didn’t have much time to talk. Jeffrey and the other two were back. Ian stood and moved aside, letting the commissioner stand in front of his wife.

“Well, Charlotte, my dear, it looks as if your husband has not come for you. It has been twenty-four hours, and still Ian has yet to appear.” He paused as his hand rubbed over his unshaven chin. “What I find interesting is that you’re still proclaiming he’ll rescue you.”

“He’ll be here,” she growled.

He laughed. “See, there you go again. How many times do you have to be kicked down by that man to realize he’s thoroughly unworthy of you? First, he leaves you after only three days of marriage, not even planning on returning. And then you have to come all the way here to seek out an annulment.”

Charlotte crinkled her forehead. Ian wondered how the commissioner knew this bit of information. She kept quiet, although she shot daggers at the commissioner with her eyes. It was only a shame the man could not seem to feel them.

Kneeling on one knee, Jeffrey eyed her. “The only conclusion I can come to is that he doesn’t care about you. All your husband cares about is his own freedom. He must know coming here will get him caught.” He brought his hand up to her face, his knuckles gently caressing her cheek. “But that’s his loss and our gain.”

“I don’t think you’re giving him enough time. Are you even certain he received the message?” she asked.

“Oh, yes. I’m quite certain. Although you keep telling me he wasn’t hiding out at the castle, I think he was.”

“What if you’re wrong?”

Jeffrey laughed. “My dear, I’m never wrong.”

Charlotte grinned. “That’s not what I’ve heard about you. In fact, I’ve been led to believe you’re nothing but a greedy man who doesn’t even care about others. All you care about is yourself, and in doing so, you make a mess out of other people’s lives, especially your brother’s.”

“But of course.” His wandering hand moved to her hair, caressing a long lock between his fingers. “Why should I care about others? They never cared about me. I’m the only one I can rely on.”

Benji
cleared his throat softly. “And
yer
brother.”

Jeffrey rolled his eyes and threw a glare over his shoulder at his brother. “Yes, of course.” His gaze moved back to Charlotte. “My dear, I get the impression you’re stalling, but your time is up. And so is Ian’s.”

“So, what are you going to do, Commissioner?” Ian finally spoke. He’d been gritting his teeth so hard—he knew he’d kill the man soon!

Jeffrey continued looking at Charlotte. “Before I do anything, I want to do something that’s been on my mind since meeting the very lovely Charlotte Fielding.”

Anger pulsed through Ian’s head. That man was touching
his
wife! Yet could he stop him without revealing his true character?

Jeffrey’s hand moved from her hair to her neck, and then slowly slid down the skin the dress. Unfortunately, the dress she wore displayed a lot of skin, making it easy to touch her.

“I thought I’d get out of you what I missed on that day in your husband’s office.”

Charlotte’s gaze flew to Ian, and he swallowed hard. “Commissioner, I don’t think you’ll get it this time either,” he spoke in harsh tones. “If you remember correctly, I was the one who stopped you before, and I’ll be the one keeping you from doing it again.” He made a move toward Charlotte, but was stopped when Henry and
Benji
grasped his arms.

Jeffrey laughed. “I don’t think so. You see, I didn’t have my two gorillas with me before. I also have quite a few men outside, just waiting for my command, and they’ll come to my aide. So, I’m afraid there’s nobody going to stop me this time.” His hand continued to move over her.

“Get your slimy hands off me,” she screamed, struggling as much as she could. Her arms were tied tightly behind her to the chair. Her head thrashed about side-to-side, trying to avoid his mouth.

Ian knew
Benji
and Henry were not as strong as he was, but in order to overpower them, he would have to relinquish his disguise. He couldn’t stand back and watch Jeffrey attack his wife.

The commissioner’s disgusting lips were traveling down Charlotte’s neck. Ian could stand no more. The man had to die!

“Maybe when I’m done,” Jeffrey mumbled against Charlotte’s skin, “the others can have their turn.”

“Over my dead body,” she cried.

“And over mine!”
Ian yanked himself away from Jeffrey’s henchmen and barreled headfirst into him, knocking him away from Charlotte. Ian picked up the commissioner by the back of the shirt and threw him across the room. Jeffrey thumped against the far wall.

Ian wrapped his arms around Charlotte, protecting her from harm. A sob tore from her throat. Suddenly, laughter came from Jeffrey, and Ian glanced over his shoulder to see what the man could find so humorous at this moment.

Just as he focused on the commissioner, Charlotte yelled, “Look behind you!”

Henry stepped forward, a pistol in his hand, pointed directly at Ian.

Jeffrey lifted off the ground, brushed his clothes, before walking to Charlotte. “Well, it seems you were right after all, Mrs. Fielding. Your husband did arrive, just as you had promised.” He gave Ian an evil grin. “And, it appears I have caught my man.”

Charlotte stiffened. “What do you mean?”

Jeffrey moved next to Ian, grabbed the cane away and dropped it by his feet. Jeffrey reached to Ian’s face and ripped off the
scar,
and with his other hand, took off the wig. “Behold, Ian Fielding!”

Ian didn’t move. Although he’d been caught, he wasn’t ready to surrender. Henry’s aim steadied as he pointed the weapon at Ian’s heart.

Ian glared at Jeffrey. “What gave it away?” he asked. “Something must have given it away for you. You’re not intelligent enough to figure it out by yourself.”

“I have to confess, it was one of my men outside who discovered you. He’d overheard you and Charlotte talking at the privy, and figured it out when she called you Ian.”

Hanging her head, Charlotte sobbed. She pressed her face against Ian’s shoulder.

Jeffrey motioned to Henry. The big ox’s strong fingers grabbed Ian by the collar and yanked him away from Charlotte. She cried out. Ian reached for his wife, but when Henry clicked the pistol, Ian knew he’d better follow orders...for now.

Benji
grabbed Ian’s other
hand,
and both men pulled him away from Charlotte. Tears streamed down her face. His heart broke with each drop running off her chin.

“It doesn’t matter now,” Jeffrey continued as he walked to Charlotte. He lifted her head and bent for a quick kiss. When he pulled away, Charlotte spat at him.

He laughed. “It doesn’t matter what you say
or
do, you still make me turn to fire.” He turned back to Ian. “I now have the man I plan on ridding the world of, and my greatest decision will be whether I’m going to kill him in front of his wife, or do it alone with nobody to see.” He returned his attention to Charlotte. “It’s now up to you, my dear. His fate lies in your hands.”

Chapter Twenty

The sun descended, leaving the sky dark with night. Only a few stars twinkled against deep velvet from out the window. Several lamps lit the room Jeffrey Franklin had forced Charlotte and Ian into. When she tripped on the hem of her dress, she stumbled, but Ian caught her and protectively held her in his arms. Agony clutched her heart. This may be the last time she would be in her husband’s embrace. She loved this man more than life itself, yet she may lose him this very night.

Jeffrey walked behind them, a superior expression on his face. Henry and
Benji
followed closely, both cocky with ignorance.

“What’s your plan now?” Ian snapped.

Charlotte wished the fire in his glare would somehow injure Jeffrey and his men.

The commissioner’s laugh sent chills up her spine. She didn’t want to hear what waited in their future.

“First off, Fielding, you will kindly step away from your wife.”

Ian scowled, and the set of his jaw hardened. “And, if I refuse?”

Jeffrey glanced over at Henry who pointed the pistol at Ian. “Then, I’ll have Henry kill you.”

Ian held firm, his arms tightening around her. “Do it then, for I’ll not leave my wife to the likes of you.”

Jeffrey growled. “You want to die holding your wife?” He shook his head. “You won’t be much help to her after that.”

Charlotte’s throat tightened from the mere thought. She looked up at Ian as tears stung her eyes. “Do what he says. Please.”

Ian’s forehead creased. His eyes moistened as he shook his head. “I promised I wouldn’t let them touch you.”

“You have no other choice. I don’t want them to kill you,” she whispered with a cracked voice. She didn’t see
Benji
and Henry move until they were behind Ian.

Henry yanked on Ian’s arm. “Are ye
gonna
come nice an easy like, or do we need to use force?”

Ian mouthed to her the words she’d come to cherish.
I love you.
A tear slid down her cheek. He stepped away. The loss of his protection was like her soul being ripped out of her body, and she wrapped her arms around her waist, sobbing.

When Henry and
Benji
took Ian’s arms in a viselike grip, she feared the worst. Jeffrey slowly walked to her, his gaze boldly sliding up and down the length of her body. Sickening waves sluiced over her, and her stomach lurched. If she’d had food in it, she would have emptied now.

Jeffrey rubbed his chin as if in deep thought. The longer he remained silent, the more frightened she became.

“Charlotte, my dear.
The first thing I’d like you to do is take off your dress.”

“No!” Ian struggled against Henry and
Benji
, but they held him tight.

“And, if you don’t,” Jeffrey continued, “I’ll have Henry shoot your husband in the leg. For every time you don’t obey, your husband will be shot.”

She released a fearful sob, unable to stay strong. With a nod, she unlatched the buttons. Her hands shook uncontrollably, but soon the gown fell in a heap at her feet.

The evil man’s eyes turned darker. “Good girl. Now take off your chemise.”

She didn’t dare look at Ian. From the corner of her eyes, his struggles were evident as he tried to free himself from Jeffrey’s men. She kept her attention on the evil man as she untied her chemise and let it drop on top of her dress. Jeffrey licked his lips nosily. The urge to gag was strong, but she swallowed.

“Next, your petticoats.”

She removed those, now standing only in her camisole and drawers.

Jeffrey stepped closer to Charlotte and touched her bare shoulder. “You’re so beautiful.
Just as I remembered.”
His finger traced an invisible line on her skin. “I could’ve had you in your husband’s office that time. You would’ve liked it.”

She glared into his eyes, hoping he’d be able to see how much hatred she held for him. “Don’t flatter yourself. After having a man like Ian, nobody would be able to please me.”