They walked for a few long moments before she realized he was not going to say more. “That’s it? There was a war on? ”

“What more would there be? ”

“Who taught you? ”

“A very intelligent member of the British War Office.”

“But you were not a soldier? ”

“No.” He changed the subject. That way lay danger. “How many times have you planned a search and rescue?

“ She shrugged, walking faster. “Several.”

“How many is several? “

“I don’t remember.”

“Try. One time? Fifty?”

“More than one. Less than fifty.”

The woman reveled in trying his patience. “How often are they successful? ”

She shrugged again. “More often than not.”

“Even now, we are to be married, I am helping to get this girl back, and you don’t trust me.”

Clever girl. He willed the voice in his head quiet.

“It’s not that.”

It wasn’t? “What is it then?”

She did not answer.

“Who is Georgiana that she has been abducted?”

Tell me, Isabel.

“I cannot tell you that.”

“Isabel, I do grow weary of that answer.”

“It is not my information to share.”

“What can you tell me?”

She looked at him for a long moment, not breaking her stride. Turning her attention back to the trees in the distance, she said, “I can tell you that she is more than a governess, but you knew that already. I can tell you that she is worth a great deal to a great family. And I can tell you that when I took her in, I knew that it was only a matter of time until this day came.”

“Then why take her in?”

Her answer was soft and serious. “I’ve never turned a girl away. I was not about to begin with her.”

He let her walk several paces ahead of him then, watching her long, willowy frame move across the grounds toward the trees ahead. She had changed into men’s clothing earlier, on her way to the kitchens, claiming that breeches allowed her a greater freedom of movement. He could not contain the appreciative smile that flashed as he watched her. She looked more beautiful this afternoon than she ever had before.

He considered the fact for a long moment before realizing why it was true. There was nothing tentative about her movement—nothing to indicate that she was nervous or hesitant about what was to come. Instead, she moved with a quiet, sure grace, ready for anything.

He had never known a woman like her.

And he realized, in that moment, that he was entirely drawn to her powerful combination of strength and vulnerability, this madwoman who spent entirely too much time on rooftops and traipsing across the Yorkshire countryside in pursuit of kidnappers … and still found time to doubt her actions and question her worth.

No wonder he was going to marry her.

She was remarkable.

Yes, he could keep her safe, protect Minerva House, send James to school … all of it. He had the money, the family, the history to do it.

And he found that he rather liked the idea.

It was going to be impossible to convince her that she liked the idea, however, if the reason for his being in Yorkshire was revealed.

They had reached the trees, and he glimpsed a small building several yards away. He reached for Isabel, capturing her arm and staying her movement. “I’d like you to stay here, and let me go in by myself.” She shook her head and opened her mouth to protest. He held up one hand. “If they have weapons, Isabel … what then? ”

“I’ve faced weapons before.”

The words made him angrier than he had expected. “Of all the damned fool—Do you have a way to defend yourself? “ She paused. “No.”

He made a mental note to teach her to use a pistol. “So? What do you plan on doing? Exasperating them until they turn her over? That might work on me … but I imagine this lot is professional.”

She cut him an irritated look. “Usually all it takes is a few mentions of the earl, and they scatter.”

“You jest.”

She looked away. “No.”

“Isabel. From what little you’ve told me about Georgiana, do you think that the people chasing after her will be afraid of your brother? ”

She did not answer.

“Precisely.” He set her back against a tree. “You will stay here. Do not move until I come to fetch you.”

“What if something happens to you?”

He sighed. Did the woman have no faith in him whatsoever? “If I’m not back in ten minutes, sound the damned horn. And bring in your Amazons.”

A little smile flashed. “They are rather like Amazons, aren’t they?”

One side of his mouth cocked up at her amusement. “I’m happy I am able to amuse you.” He removed the pistol from his waistcoat and checked its load.

“Nick!” He had turned away, but her whisper called him back.

“Yes?”

“I—” She stopped, transfixed by the gun. “Be careful.”

In two long strides, he was next to her again, cupping her neck in one strong, warm hand and pulling her to him. He kissed her, quick and thorough, stroking deep and reminding them both of the pleasure they had found in each other’s arms. Stepping back from the caress, he said, “There is absolutely no chance of my not returning. After this afternoon, we have unfinished business.”

She blushed and looked away. “Go.”

He pushed through the trees and approached the cottage. It did not take long to confirm his suspicions that there were two men holding Georgiana inside the shelter. The girl struggled against the ropes they had used to tie her up, and he could hear her angry, muffled cries through the linen rag that was supposed to silence her. One thing was true, the girl had well learned the first rule of surviving a kidnapping—remain loud and irritating. She was worth the most unharmed—and she knew it. Nick watched through the window, nearly amused, as one of her captors rubbed his temples at the noise.