“Perhaps this is better. There is no reason for me to marry you now.”
She wanted to let herself relax from his words, but she knew what he had planned for her now would be much worse.
“I was only waiting until we were married, to give you a respectable marriage. Now that I know he’s already had you, that you are nothing but a common whore, then I may as well take you now. I’ll return you to him if he’ll still have you after I’m finished.”
She gripped the seat and glanced toward the gun. She would needto make her move.
“And don’t think I’m done with you after that. I’ll take you whenever I wish. And you’ll come with me willingly or I’ll kill him.”
Marina watched his movements and waited for her opportunity. He was going to push himself on her in only a matter of moments.
“Wouldn’t you rather find another wife? Surely there is someone else you are interested in.”
She only hoped to keep him talking while she waited for her opportunity. She must buy as much time as she could so she could end this, return to Evan, and ensure he knew how much she loved him. If only she had told him so when she had the chance.
“Marriage was the only way I could ensure I would have you. The only way your father might agree. But it matters not to me who I marry. Women are only good for one thing.”
“You’ll want children one day, right?” She imagined the faces of the children she and Evan would have, building her resolve to save herself from this situation. To find her way back to the arms of the man she loved. The only man she’d ever love.
“Why would I care what happens to an earldom long after I’m gone and buried? Some distant relative of mine can inherit.” He fixed his gaze on her. “It’ll be satisfaction enough that your viscount will always wonder if his brats will be his own or mine when I take you. And there’s not a damn thing he can do about it.” He leaned his head back and laughed.
She leaned to reach for the gun but shifted back in her seat when she heard horses coming from behind them and around the sides of the carriage.
The carriage jolted to a stop, flinging her against the door, and her heart raced when the door flung open.
And she fell into Evan’s arms.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Evan
Evan wasn’t surehow long it took them to catch up to the carriage, but it seemed like an eternity. He ripped open the door, needing to see for himself that Marina was inside and unharmed. Fate was on his side, enabling him to pull her out of the carriage before Minto had time to react.
“Take the whore,” Minto said after Evan set Marina to the ground.
“Get out here, Minto, and face us like a gentleman,” Arthur growled.
Minto stepped out of the carriage, and as soon as his feet hit the ground, he pointed a gun directly at Evan. He shifted his gaze to Marina, and Evan pushed her behind him. Matt, Graham, Jude, and Arthur all had their guns raised and pointed at Minto.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Minto,” Evan said, holding his hands in front of him. “Just let us go.”
“Marina, my dear,” Minto said in a singsong voice. “Perhaps you should tell your lover about our arrangement.” The man had lost it. He was crazy.
Marina poked her head around from behind him and Evan nudged her back.
Minto called out again. “Marina, I’m losing my patience. Tell him how you wish to go with me.”
“She would never wish for such a thing,” Evan said. “You’re insane.”
Before he could stop her, Marina stepped from behind him and said, “I’m sorry, but he is correct. I wish to go with him.”
“No, Marina,” Evan said, his mind racing. “Let him kill me if that is what it takes. Do not do this.” He pleaded with her. Had she lost her mind? He would never allow her to give herself in this way to save him.
His heart shattered into small pieces with each step she took closer to Minto. His eyes darted, thinking about how to get her away from the man.
She turned and motioned toward the other men. “Lower your weapons, so we may depart.”
They all looked at each other in disbelief and did as she asked.