Ryker had procured the license with relative ease and returned home. It would be some time before he would hear from Mr. Hart so he settled himself behind his desk, hoping to accomplish some other much-needed tasks he’d been neglecting of late.

But a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts almost immediately.

“Come in,” he called, surprised by the interruption.

The door opened, and his butler stepped in. “A message, Your Grace. It’s from a boy but he claims he was sent by your detective.”

Ryker gestured the man forward and his butler presented him a tray with a folded note, unsealed. “This is the message?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

He picked it up and unfolded the paper. Mr. Hart’s handwriting scribbled across the paper but the words made his blood run cold. For a split second, he couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Winters had taken Tricia. But then his mind began working again. If one hair on her gorgeous head were harmed, he’d gut Winters and feed his entrails to the hogs.

“Is the boy still here?” His tone came out sharper than he intended as he stood. His butler took a half step back before composing himself.

“Yes, Your Grace. He waits in the entry. He was told he would receive payment.”

Ryker grabbed his quill, and scribbled another note at the bottom of Mr. Hart’s. “Bring this to the Earl of Sussex at once. No delays.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” And then the man turned and was gone.

Ryker moved swiftly to the entry where a boy of thirteen or fourteen stood in the center, staring at the ornamented ceiling above. Ryker took a deep breath, attempting to regain control of his emotions. He didn’t want to frighten the lad, he needed him now. “What’s your name?”

The boy started and, folding his hands behind his back, answered. “Ollie, me lord.”

Ryker didn’t correct him. “What did the man who gave you that note look like?”

Ollie described Mr. Hart perfectly. Ryker’s shoulders drooped. He’d held out hope that it was all a ruse or perhaps a trap where someone claimed to have Tricia when she was actually safe at home. “That’s a good lad. Where exactly did he give it to you?”

“Down over by the Billingsgate Dock, sir.”

“Did he say anything else?” Ryker fished several coins from his pocket.

“Just that I should hurry, sir. And I did. I ran all the way here.”

Ryker nodded and he handed the boy several guineas as his eyes grew round with wonder. Then he clapped the boy on the shoulder. “We’ll get you down to the kitchen for a meal, too. You come back next week, and I’ll find you a job if you’re interested, Ollie.”

The boy gave an eager nod and Ryker called for his butler as he returned to his desk. He wanted to tear his study apart. Even more, he wished to jump on a horse and chase after her, but he needed to be smart. Much as it pained him to do so, he penned a note to Coventry.

He didn’t know the best place to send it but Luke would and they might need the help Coventry could provide.

Then he penned another, this one longer. As quickly as he could, he outlined what he had learned about the thefts, the marquess, and his own solicitor through his investigation. Then he addressed it to his sovereign leader and called his butler in to see it delivered and to have two horses saddled.

The note was a precaution in case he didn’t make it back from this rescue mission. He wanted to know the marquess would be brought to justice.

He had just finished and barely a quarter hour had passed when Luke barged into his study. “I’ll tear them apart with my bare hands.” No trace of the easygoing rake remained. Before him stood a man harder than any he had ever met.

It didn’t bear repeating, though he felt the same as he thrust the note to Coventry at Luke to read. With a nod, Luke scribbled the address across the top. His butler, always a man with impeccable timing, entered just in time to retrieve it. He handed both letters to the man. “I’ll send them at once, Your Grace.”

“Let’s go.” Luke turned on his heel and began marching out the door.

Ryker followed, noting the several pistols strapped to Luke’s body. He’d holstered his two favorites as well.

“If you were thinking that we might wait until we had more men, I’ll go alone,” Luke warned.

“I wasn’t.” Ryker stepped in front of Luke leading the way to the back door and the barn beyond. “I took the liberty of having two of my horses saddled for us.”

“You’re going to have to keep your head,” Luke growled. “I don’t know that I can keep mine.”

“I’ll try my best.” Ryker’s chest tightened again. He didn’t want to talk. He wanted to ride and then he wanted to hurt people.

But the thoughts wouldn’t stop. He’d only just found her. And though he’d tried to tell himself she was a sound decision, the truth was, it was so much more than that. She’d drawn him in from the second he’d laid eyes on her. Tricia made him laugh, caused him to ache with longing. Bloody hell, he was in love with her and he hadn’t even told her. Why hadn’t he shared that with her?

And now, someone was trying to take her away. As he climbed in the saddle, a low growl rumbled deep from in his chest. Winters had no idea what fury was coming for him.

The two men set out, tearing through the streets of London.

While they made it to the docklands with amazing speed, it seemed to take an eternity.

Approaching the Billingsgate dock, the two men dismounted and found a post to hitch their horses.

Mr. Hart materialized from the shadows. “You’ve made it in good time.” His eyes swept over the two of them. “But I wish you’d brought more men.”

“More are coming,” Luke’s voice vibrated with anger. “How many men do we have to face?”

“I’ve seen six.” Mr. Hart gestured toward one of the warehouses lining the street. “They’ve brought them there.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hart.” Ryker said. “I wonder if we might take the six without too much trouble.”

Mr. Hart grimaced. “My fear is there are more I haven’t seen. I am peeking through windows, but I can confirm both ladies are safe.”

Ryker breathed a small sigh but Luke took two steps forward. “Let’s get them now before…”

“Sussex,” Ryker grabbed his arm to stop him. “You told me to keep my head. I am telling you that we put them at risk if we barge in there without enough men. It gives the assailants too much time to hurt them or leave with them if we can’t subdue them quickly.”

“Damn it all to bloody hell,” Luke growled out. “That’s my wife and my child.”

“I know.” Ryker rested his hand on the other man’s shoulder. He gave it what he hoped was a comforting squeeze. “We’ll get them out.”

They began searching the outside, noting the entrances, peeking through the windows. It calmed Ryker further when he spotted Tricia and Tabbie sitting on a bench side by side in the large open room of what looked to be an abandoned factory, their hands clasped. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see any more as he ducked down to avoid being spotted by one of the armed guards.

But she was there, and she was safe. Everything would be fine, he was sure of it.

He heard the sound of several horses coming down the street, and Ryker froze, hiding himself from view. He’d only counted six men as well, but if these were reinforcements for Winters then he and Luke had a much more difficult job.

But a quick glance had him sighing in relief. It was Coventry with three other men. “I came as quickly as I could.” He jumped down from his horse with a sprightliness Ryker wouldn’t have expected.

“And you’ve brought reinforcements,” Luke replied, pulling the horses down the block where they weren’t likely to be noticed.

As the men slipped into the shadows, Ryker began whispering a plan. They were going to get their women back. Sussex would have his wife and child home where they belonged, and he would have his chance to tell Trish that he loved her.