Of Noble Birth (32 page)

She paused long enough to
study Alexandra’s face, and softened, “Maybe if you act eager to
earn a few coins on your back, Gunther will let you stay in
England. He only sells the ones he nabs. If he can make a good
profit off you here, there’ll be no reason to sell you. That’s your
only chance of avoiding France, but that’s the best advice I can
give.”

“How can you help him do
this?” Alexandra felt panic surge through her veins, weakening
limbs that were already too weak to perform their usual functions.
“You know I’m ill. He drugged me, didn’t he? That has to be what
happened. And I was weak already.”

Caroline shrugged again.
“It’s a living. Like I said, a woman will do a lot of things before
she lets herself be tossed in the gutter. And I’m not young
anymore. We all do what we can.”

She swallowed, as though
trying to rid herself of her guilt as easily as she did the spittle
in her mouth. “Now, I’m going to change your clothes, and you’re
going to let me because I don’t want a beating, even if you
do.”

Alexandra tried to fight,
but she was far too ill to make any impact on the sturdy Caroline.
Soon Caroline had Alexandra dressed in the lacy corset she’d taken
from the bureau.

The redhead went out,
briefly, and came back again with some sheer silk stockings that
looked as though they’d seen better days. After sliding them up
Alexandra’s legs, Caroline combed Alexandra’s hair until it shone
in the lamplight. When she finished, she stood Alexandra in front
of the mirror.

“You have to admit, you
look a fetching sight,” she breathed, obviously impressed. “There
ain’t a man alive who wouldn’t pay a fortune for a girl like
you.”

Alexandra stared at
herself, now a stranger, as Caroline dabbed perfume below her ears.
“This can’t be happening,” she murmured, feeling tears prick the
back of her eyes. She could never allow a strange man to grope and
fondle her, to...

She turned beseeching eyes
on Caroline. “Please. Please let me go. Give me a few moments to
sneak out the back. Lead me to the door. Tell them I was gone when
you came up. Anything!”

Pity flickered in
Caroline’s eyes, but only momentarily. “Nay, I’m sorry, love. I
hate to force you into this kind of life, but Gunther’s my bread
and butter. For all his wicked ways, it’s my place to do what he
tells me.”

“But I have no chance of
defending myself!”

Caroline sighed. “It will
hurt the first time. If you need something to bite so you don’t cry
out, there’s this.” She reached into the top drawer of the bureau
and pulled out a foot of rope, knotted at both ends.

My God, what were they
going to do to her that she’d need something like that?

Caroline pulled a chair
across the floor and positioned it in front of the fire, then
motioned Alexandra into it.

Alexandra obeyed because
her head was spinning, and she feared she’d fall if she didn’t sit
soon.

“You don’t have to worry
about smiling or acting like you’re enjoying yourself, at least,”
Caroline said, heading to the door. “This gent knows you’re
untouched. A virgin is exactly what he’s asked for, so give him his
money’s worth, and maybe I can talk Gunther into keeping you.” With
that, she left, locking the door behind her.

Alexandra felt faint.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she bowed her head and shoved the
blackness away. She had to remain lucid. She had to think, since
she could never strong-arm her way out of what was
coming.

After a moment she lifted
her head, determined to view her surroundings with fresh purpose.
Was there anything she could use as a weapon?

Her eyes scanned the
dilapidated furniture, the rumpled bed, the trinkets on the
dresser. She found a hat-pin holder, but no pins, a single boot,
cosmetics, a dirty toothbrush. She even got down on her hands and
knees to look under the bed, but found nothing more dangerous than
dust and cobwebs and dirty pantaloons.

Coughing, she forced
herself to her feet, pausing when she swayed and nearly lost her
balance. Then she made her way to the dresser and delved into its
drawers.

Feather boas, bits of
lace, wrinkled gowns, a single glove, and a wadded up sheet.
Nothing there, either. She managed to don a thin wrapper to cover
the vulgar apparel Caroline had put on her, but soon found herself
at the limit of her strength. With sweat beading on her upper lip,
her hand closed around the brush Caroline had left on top of the
dresser.

It was all Alexandra had.
It would never be enough.

Booted feet sounded in the
hall, drawing closer. Whoever her customer was, he sounded large
and every bit as drunk as Caroline had said. Gunther was with him.
Alexandra heard the whoremaster curse and tell his companion to
watch his step. Then the key turned in the lock.

Instinctively Alexandra
drew the wrapper tightly closed. Setting the brush on the dresser,
she pulled the chair within easy reach of it and sat, trying to
conserve her energy. She felt every bit as though a hungry lion
paced beyond the door, fangs bared. How would she live through the
coming nightmare?

No, how would she stop it?
Saying a silent prayer, she forced her arms to remain at her sides
instead of hugging herself as she was tempted to do. She had to
convince Gunther she was compliant so he would leave. Never could
she take on two men. Not in her current condition. One would be
difficult enough, but Alexandra had already decided she’d die
before she’d be a victim again.

The door creaked on its
hinges and Gunther appeared, wearing a grin on his swarthy face.
The tall
bulk of a man moved behind him,
but Alexandra refused to look at him. She kept her eyes on the
floor, where the reflection of the fire leaped and
danced.

“You have company,
lassee,” Gunther said. “Now stand up and show this gent what you’ve
got for him tonight.”

Alexandra couldn’t stop
the tremors that shook her from head to foot. Closing her eyes, she
used the chair to stand, then slipped her wrapper off and slowly
turned full circle.

Gunther whistled. “What
sweet promise. I’ve half a mind to take you for myself, but this
man’s determined to have first crack. And if I’m right about the
lust in his eye and the bulge in his pants, he’s ready for you.
He’ll make a woman of you, all right, and there’ll be plenty left
over for me later, eh?”

An animal-like grunt told
Alexandra that Gunther’s client admired her as much as Gunther
said. The sound left her sick with dread.

“Fair enough?” Gunther
said to the man, who hung back in the shadows behind
him.

Alexandra sank into her
seat while the money changed hands, trying to will herself the
strength she lacked. She could hardly stand. What good would her
feeble weapon do her? She had no power to strike with the brush.
What she needed was a gun.

“Ride her easy, she’s
worth a lot to me,” Gunther said, “and just knock when you’re
finished. Caroline will let you out.”

The door shut, a key
rattled the lock, and Alexandra forced herself to finally look at
the man who had come to prey on her flesh. Primed to defend herself
against the threat he posed, it took a moment for her to realize
that there was something familiar about him. And not until he
stepped out of the shadows and doffed his hat did she recognize who
he was.

“Nathaniel!”

He came forward and
dropped to one knee, taking in the sight of her with one long,
hungry perusal. “Aye, it’s me, but don’t give me that look of
relief. I’m more than half tempted to take what I’ve paid
for.”

Nathaniel’s eyes devoured
her, making Alexandra wonder if she’d mind if he did. She had
already shared her body with him in her dreams. Just the thought of
making those fantasies a reality was enough to warm her as the fire
never could. “How much did you pay?” she asked, giving him a
temptress’s smile.

“Gunther was a fool to
sell you so cheaply. I’d have given him everything I
own.”

Alexandra fought the
weakness that weighted her limbs and even her smile. “An
unnecessary sacrifice, considering I wouldn’t charge you a
farthing.”

His mouth descended on
hers, claiming it in a passionate kiss that spoke of desire long
suppressed. Alexandra wanted to respond, to abandon herself to the
joy of seeing him again. She knew he’d make her safe. She wanted
him to teach her pleasure. But she was too weak even to clasp her
hands around his neck.

“You’re ill,” he said,
worry entering his voice as he pressed a hand to her flushed
cheeks. “Has this to do with your gunshot wound?”

She shook her head.
“Gunther... drugged me, but I can’t seem to recover.” She let her
head loll on the back of the chair because it was too much effort
to hold it up.

“I’m going to get you out
of here,” he said, his voice fading in her ears. “Where are your
clothes?”

Alexandra heard the
question. Her mind struggled to communicate that Caroline had taken
them, but her mouth refused to form the words, and finally she
slipped into the void.

* * *

After depositing Alexandra
on the bed, Nathaniel crossed to the dresser. He moved it against
the door, and then pulled the flimsy garments from its drawers.
None of them looked like something he’d want Alexandra to be seen
wearing in public, so he settled on the thin wrapper she had used
herself. He put it on her over the revealing corset that nearly
drove him mad with longing, and strode to the window to try and
jimmy it open. He had to get Alexandra out, and he had to do it
now. God had granted him the small miracle of finding her; he was
going to make the most of the opportunity.

The window gave way after
a moment, and he looked out. It was a long drop, but short of
breaking down the door and fighting his way through Gunther and who
knew who else, it was the only way.

As if to confirm this,
voices rose in the hall outside.

“I tell you, a man with
one arm came to the Purple Cow asking about you and the girl not
more than two hours ago. Ed would not lie.”

“You’d better be right,
Gould. I’ll have your hide if you’re not,” Gunther
swore.

Nathaniel scowled. He’d
visited the seedy tavern called the Purple Cow in his search for
Alexandra. The bartender had evidently given him up.

Gunther tried to open the
door, and cursed when he could not. “He’s blocked the
entrance.”

The sound of something
smashing against the panel reverberated as Gunther made several
attempts to break the door open. After the third hit, the dresser
began to slide away.

Nathaniel crossed to the
bed. “Alexandra.” He added a gentle shake to rouse her.

She blinked up at him, but
he could tell by her eyes that she was still dazed. “Alexandra,
listen to me. I need your help. I need you to keep yourself from
getting scratched and bruised on the way down.”

“The way down?” She
gripped his hand in her small, cold ones. “I’m not going anywhere
without you.”

Nathaniel raised her
fingers to his mouth, giving them a brief kiss. “Don’t worry. I’ll
follow you.”

She nodded hesitantly and
maneuvered her weight so Nathaniel could strip the sheets from the
bed. He tied them together and then around her waist, but she could
offer him little help as he carried her to the window and lowered
her to the street.

Her feet had scarcely
touched the ground when Gunther forced his way into the room.
Nathaniel threw the sheet-rope down after her, hoping Alexandra had
the strength to make it away from the house where someone might
help her. But he couldn’t wait to see. Gunther and the man he had
called Gould entered the room, and they both had knives.

Nathaniel pulled the
stiletto from his boot and turned to defend himself.

“She’s gone,” Gunther
shouted. “Caroline, find the girl!”

Movement in the hall
outside told Nathaniel Caroline was heading down the stairs. He had
to move quickly.

Dodging a jab from the
gangly Gould, Nathaniel made Gunther his goal, but the shorter man
blocked the thrust of his knife. Nathaniel felt a sharp sting as
Gunther cut his chest. Fortunately, it was little more than a
scratch, because he was immediately forced to fend off Gould for a
second time.