Bella's Band by Alina K. Field

Author:Alina K. Field
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: 0
Published: 2014-09-02T05:00:00+00:00

On Bella’s side, the ruffian roared, scrabbling over Bella, grabbing at Steven. She slashed, kicked, fought in a black flurry he glimpsed in his peripheral vision.

While he parried the knife thrusts, grunts, and oaths, many of them feminine, attested to his intended’s battle. A banshee, a Boadicea. He couldn’t look. He only knew the battle was fierce.

Anger roared up in him. A dodge, another parry, and a slash to the man’s neck. He kicked him away as he turned to help Bella.

She lay back, her hand to her chest as if forcing her panting breath back in. Steel glinted in her other hand. Her attacker lay sprawled in the door, dark liquid oozing out of his neck with each rattling breath.

By God, the woman could fight as well as she kissed.

He knelt on the edge of the seat and tried to examine her. Darkness touched one side of her face—blood—and her bodice had ripped all the way through her stays and chemise.

Fire licked through his veins, making his heart pound as he found his handkerchief. “Let me see you, my dear,” he said calmly. Her breasts were tender and round and streaked with blood that dripped from her head. One eye looked askew and her lip was swelling. “You are injured.”

She groped at her bodice, pushing it up, pulling the threads together. “I am all right,” she said, in a voice too shaky. “Are there more?”

Hoof beats sounded.

Steven cursed and started to gather the weapons, but a shouted “Major,” brought him up.

“Wait here.” He kissed her forehead, shoved bodies aside, climbed out of the hackney, and looked around. They were near the park.

Bink jumped off his horse and hobbled over. Chester had followed, and Bink gathered both sets of reins in his hand.

Bink’s jacket had been ripped, and there was blood on his neckcloth.

“I’m sorry, Major. Ambushed, I was.”

“How many?”

“Three.” Bink swept off his hat. “Miss, are you hurt?”

Bella approached, limping, clutching her cloak tightly around her. “I need to go home.”

A note of panic laced her voice. She was likely worried about the boys.

Steven wrapped an arm of support around her while he checked her again. Blood still streamed from the cut on her forehead. He stowed the gun in his pocket and gently pressed the end of his neckcloth on the wound.

One of the eyes he looked down at was already starting to swell.

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