Parker’s attention flickered to her and back to them quickly. He began to move toward the waiting horses. Yet right at that moment, men whooped and hollered, causing the horses to rear and, once free, to scatter. The carriage lurched forward as the hitched horses took off across the field.

Farnsworth bellowed. “Go after them, you fools.”

Parker’s men were eager to do Farnsworth’s bidding and quickly disappeared, leaving just Farnsworth and Parker to deal with. From the corner of his eye, he saw his brothers reappear, spread in a loose circle about Parker and Arabella.

He stepped forward. “Release Arabella to me now before blood is spilled.”

Parker began to laugh. “Why do you care? She’s not yours. It’s all arranged with Farnsworth to cover his debts.”

 “I am Rothwell’s, actually,” Arabella said loudly. “It’s all arranged. He loves me,” she whispered, although it was likely everyone heard her. Her head turned in his direction, her expression blissfully happy.

“No.” Parker looked to Farnsworth for confirmation, but the other man backed up a few steps instead.

Merrick strolled forward. “Where do you think she’s been the past few days? My arms, my bed. She’s made me the happiest man that ever lived. So you see, she does have someone who is not taking your treatment of her very well at all. Give her back to me.”

Parker looked down at Arabella’s dreamy expression and then glared at Farnsworth. “Farnsworth said she was visiting relatives and couldn’t wait for her new life with me.”

“The only relations Arabella has is Farnsworth and his daughter. The daughter eloped.”

Beside him, Grayling stirred. “That’s surprising.”

“Our first collaboration. I’ll share the details later.” He smiled tightly, then turned his attention to Parker. “Let her go before I break your hands. I haven’t any patience for seeing women mauled by animals.”

Parker flung Arabella at him and stepped back. “I didn’t know how things stood between you.”

Merrick caught Arabella against him, embraced her, and then handed her into Grayling’s care. “Try to keep her awake if you can.”

His brothers formed a protective barrier before Arabella. Merrick stripped off his coat and tossed it to one of them. “Now you do. Oh, and to be clear, since Arabella cannot speak for herself at this moment, she does not like being tied up, gags, or anything to do with riding crops, except perhaps with horses. Not like a mutual acquaintance of ours does.”

“Wait. I was misled.” Parker looked for support and came up empty. “He said she had an open mind and wanted it this way: a little danger at the beginning to heat her blood. I would never have arranged it if I hadn’t been assured of her inclinations.”

“You know, Parker, I find myself uncaring of that fact. You both deserve to be punished for the way you treat women as property and, you know, even just for breathing. Beating one of you to a pulp seems the only choice I have.”

He caught Parker by the cravat and hauled him close. Parker, being taller, was at an advantage, but Merrick was beyond caring about the level of the playing field in a fight. He protected his own.

Out of the corner of his eye, Farnsworth turned tail and ran off into the fog.

Parker’s gaze darted to the men around him. “I’ll pay you handsomely to get this oaf off me.”

Jimmy stepped forward. “How much?”

Merrick rolled his eyes. Damn family. Always willing to get in the middle of a good disagreement.

Parker licked his lips. “Enough to set you up as a wealthy man.”

Jimmy tipped his head to the side as he considered. “Can I live with you?”

“No.” Parker appeared shocked by that idea.

“I’m in charge of Rothwell’s stable in London.” Jimmy folded his arms over his chest. “Can I pick your horses for you?”

“Don’t be absurd.”

Jimmy shook his head, smirked at Merrick, and return to the line behind him. “Another stiff-necked toff who thinks money is all that matters to a man.”

His brothers muttered amongst themselves, some laughed, and no others came forward. Trust Jimmy to find a way to break the tension.

Merrick shook his head and released Parker. He wasn’t worth the effort. A hard shove sent him crashing to the ground. “Don’t come anywhere near Arabella again. Don’t speak to her. Don’t even tip your hat in her direction. Collect your debts from the man who owes you, not defenseless women and dependents. So help me God, I’m tempted to have every member of my family chase you down just to teach you a lesson.”

Parker might be older, but he took the threat to heart. He scrambled to his feet with all the appearance of a fugitive. No one survived with their dignity intact when the Fords united against them. “That won’t be necessary.”

“I hope not, for your sake.” Merrick smiled. “Remember, there is no port distant enough that my Ford cousins couldn’t find you and ruin your life, too. They like my wife-to-be almost as much as my servants do.”

He signaled to his brothers. “Drive him and his men from the estate. Use whips if need be. Parker should like that.”

Jimmy grinned and slapped his short club across the palm of his hand menacingly. “Don’t have one handy at the moment, my lord, but this and whatever else comes to hand will do in a pinch. It’s our absolute pleasure to serve you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Arabella blinked as Merrick suddenly appeared before her. She sobbed in relief as he held her tightly against him. His hands cradled her firmly against his body, and he kissed her cheek. He held her as if he’d never let her go, and Arabella was content to stay like this for a very long time. She was so weary.

“I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost you,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion.

“I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come,” she confessed, swallowing the taste of the dosed wine she’d been forced to consume. “I feared you would look for me on the roads and not the ruins.”

His arms loosened and a battered cup filled with water appeared. She drained it quickly.

“I have a half brother to thank for that. One of them followed you all the way to the ruins and reported back to me that you’d gone off with Farnsworth and his dubious friends. I didn’t believe it likely you’d had a choice in the matter.”

She tipped her head to look up at the sky, noting the fog had lifted and the heavens were filled with a thousand twinkling stars. “What time is it?”

“Late. I’ve delayed returning till now.” His fingers caressed her throat softly until she sighed. “The unfortunate effects appear to have worn off now, so we should be able to return.”

She brought her gaze back to his. “Effects?”

He kissed her cheek lightly, then laughed. “You’ve been telling everyone I love you for the past half hour.”

She covered her face. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember doing that.”

He helped her stand, retaining her hands in his. “Don’t be. I’m not at all embarrassed by the truth. We only remained here because I didn’t want my aunt to see you this way. Who knows what you might have told her?”

Just then, the half brothers returned and Arabella studied them. There were six men, all who bore a degree of similarity to the man holding her. “Which one followed me?”

“Archie. He’s the youngest in my employ.”

She spotted a shy, skinny fellow wearing a ridiculous grin as he stood about with the others. Even though she hadn’t ever been introduced, his face when their eyes met was very familiar to her. She’d spoken with him before. “He was in Green Park the day after my niece ran away. After I spoke to you, I dropped a handkerchief and that young man returned it to me without a word. Thank you,” she said to Archie. “I am forever in your debt.”