“No. I am unharmed.”
But Fielding could tell that wasn’t precisely true. Her eyes were glassy with fear. He draped one arm over her shoulders and led her outside. He shouldn’t have left her alone. Shouldn’t have even brought her with him. They were halfway across the street before he spoke.
“Why didn’t you stay in the carriage?”
“He found me,” she said. “And he knows Thea. Knows where she sits at the library.”
Fielding helped her into the carriage. “Esme, what are you talking about? That man doesn’t know Thea.”
Shakily, she met his glance. Though no tears fell, her moss-colored eyes swam. “The Raven. He came here.” She tapped on her seat, then looked around the small enclosure as if she still expected him to be inside.
He swore. He’d been a fool. Fielding had been too careful for the Raven to have successfully followed them, but obviously he too was trying to locate Waters, which was undoubtedly how the Raven had stumbled upon them tonight. How could he have forgotten how ruthless and cunning his uncle truly was? Fielding squeezed Esme’s hand. He’d gotten careless.
Fielding gave instructions to the driver to take a long and winding trip back to Max’s. Hopefully, they’d lose anyone trying to discover their hiding place.
“What did he say?” Fielding asked once they were under way.
“He wanted to make a bargain. Said he knew there was a way we, meaning he and I, could both get what we wanted.” She shook her head. “I don’t see how; it’s not as if we can slice the box in half.” Her brow furrowed. “He threatened Thea’s safety if I didn’t give the box to him.”
“Did he hurt you?” He ran his hands up and down her arms as if to prove to himself she was unharmed.
“No. Do you think we should leave Max’s house? Do you think he’s found us?”
Fielding shook his head. “No. We’ve been very careful so it’s unlikely. Besides, if he’d found us he would have made a move, made his presence known.”
“I want to check on Thea. I need to make certain she’s all right.” She rubbed her wrist and winced.
“He did hurt you.”
“A little. He grabbed me, right at the band.” She shook her head and offered him a small smile. “It’s only a bruise.”
Fielding held her hand up to his chest.
“I did learn something new,” she said. “You were right that at least one of the men has returned to him, as the Raven knew about the bracelets. I was trying to uncover which of the other bands had been removed from the box, and although he didn’t intentionally give me anything worthwhile, he didn’t appear to realize they were cursed.”
“If he didn’t know about the curses, then why would he want the box?” Before she could offer her guess, he continued. “I’d wager it’s not him who wants the box, but rather a client.”
“So he claimed. Any idea who?” she asked.
“No, and I’d imagine the list of possible buyers would be rather long.” Fielding held Esme in place as they took a particularly rough curve. “All of that might have changed. If he now believes the box to have actual power, he will at the very least change the price for his client. I suspect that he’ll decide perhaps it would be in his best interest if he kept the box.”
“That’s what I was thinking as well,” Esme said.
“The bad news is if he wants the box for himself, he truly will stop at nothing until he claims it.”
“You won’t give it to him,” Esme said.
“Not without a fight,” Fielding replied.
“And you’ll protect us,” Esme said with certainty. “Thea and me; you’ll do everything necessary to keep us safe.”
It was time for her to know the truth about him. Time for her to stop fancying him as some sort of knight destined to rescue her. He’d certainly proved otherwise tonight. Fielding wasn’t even sure why he’d kept it to himself for this long. Perhaps some part of him had hoped that his family lines didn’t matter, that someday he could be the man Esme thought he was.
If only her lustful curse would be expunged by simply telling her the truth.
“You should not rely so heavily on my protecting you,” he began.
“What are you talking—”