Page 13 of Eloping With The Princess
So instead of going into the bedchamber, he knocked and told her he was going downstairs for breakfast and they were to leave within the half hour. He was pleased when she appeared dressed and ready to depart fifteen minutes later. He was even more pleased that she was wearing something that covered her completely. Even if the dress was ill-fitting, it didn’t conjure images of her sprawled across a bed, bare toes curled into the bedcovers. Christ, what was the matter with him?
Somersby entered the room as well. “Are we ready, then?”
They rode in one of the Somersby carriages to the offices of Parliament. Potterfield, the leader of the Brotherhood, kept his office there, and damned if Jason didn’t need some guidance. He hated to explain any of this to Potterfield and risk Gabe’s reputation, but Isabel was in danger.
Isabel looked out the small curtained window of the carriage. “Where are you taking me?” she asked, her tone agitated.
“Somewhere safe,” Jason said.
“Yes, you keep saying that and then we keep moving,” she said. “Is there nowhere safe in all of London?”
Somersby’s lips quirked in a grin and Jason kicked his boot, which caused Somersby to chuckle.
“There are tunnels beneath the city, namely ones that connect Buckingham to Westminster and Parliament. They are used to keep Queen Victoria safe at times. You shall be safe there, too,” Jason said.
She frowned. “I don’t understand. You have access to such areas?”
Jason and Somersby exchanged a look, and Somersby nodded. “We work for the Crown,” he said.
“I see.”
The carriage stopped, and they descended the stairs. “We’ll leave the rig in the carriage house for when we return,” Jason said. He held out his hand to Isabel, but she didn’t immediately accept it. “Your aunt trusted me enough to leave you in my care,” Jason reminded her.
“Lord Lynford, he, too, works for the Crown?” she asked.
“He does.”
She paused for several moments, then asked, “Am I in trouble?”
“Isabel, we are members of the queen’s private police, of sorts. We are here only to protect you,” Jason said.
She nodded, seemingly reluctant to meet his eyes, but she did give him her hand.
“For security purposes, we’re going to need you to close your eyes. I won’t resort to blindfolding you,” Jason said. “I trust you’ll adhere to our wishes.”
“Of course,” she said and complied. Jason took her hand and led her forward out of the carriage house. They made their way to the alley and into the small offices that had one of the entrances to the tunnels. He instructed her to descend a flight of stairs and step through a doorway. The air around them was chilly. The rough stone walls were barely lit by candles hung from wall sconces. Jason heard his voice echo as he directed her steps.
“You can open your eyes now,” Jason said.
Two other gentlemen trusted by the Brotherhood guarded a doorway that led off the long tunnel.
“You stay here with these men, and I shall return shortly.”
“And if I refuse?” she asked.
“Where shall you go?” he asked.
She opened her mouth then shut it with a frown. “I don’t appreciate being dragged all around London.” She exhaled slowly. “I feel much safer next to you.”
“Duly noted.” He gave her a tight nod. “Consider that I am trying to figure out precisely why you’re in danger. Hopefully, we’ll know something soon.”
She exhaled. “Very well. I shall wait for you here.” She eyed the large men guarding the entrance of the tunnel, then grabbed onto Jason’s sleeve. “Are they safe?”
“I would trust them with my mother’s life,” he said.
She frowned. “You do like your mother, yes?”
He very nearly touched her before walking away. Just a brush of her cheek or a squeeze of her hand, something to reassure her, but he didn’t do that sort of thing. So he refused to turn back and glance at her as he left the tunnel.
