And the only woman I ever really wanted, he added in his mind. Something far down in the dark, twisted depths of his soul began to expand. The sensation was at once heady and painful.

“Very well.” The magistrate sighed. “I’ll order McKenna taken into custody for questioning.” He shook a finger at Increase in warning. “Anything beyond that will require that you file formal charges, Mr. Pipher, and you will need witnesses for that. Proof.”

Increase smiled broadly. “Thank you, Your Grace,” he said with a cordial nod, and then he nudged young Davis in the ribs, a signal that he wished to vacate the magistrate’s chambers with all haste.

In the street outside, he laughed outright and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “At last,” he said. “At last!”

Walter was frowning at him. “It’s been so long, sir. Do you really think—”

Increase glared at the lad. He’d suffer no cowardice in his ranks, not when revenge was so close at hand. “Worried about that red-haired snippet, are you, Davis?” he demanded. “You shall have her for a plaything, once her wounds heal.”

Davis blanched. “God in heaven, Mr. Pipher,” he whispered. “Bliss has done nothing to hurt you or anyone else!”

Increase smiled. “She is a means to an end,” he exulted, relishing the thought of what lay ahead, his right hand flexing and unflexing. “We’ll see Jamie McKenna on his knees—on his belly, begging like the dockside whore’s whelp he is—and all because of sweet Bliss!”

Davis was silent. He was a smart young man, was Walter, Increase reflected. Smart enough to know when he’d said enough.

* * *

Jamie was awake when Reeve’s soft rap sounded at the door. He sat up carefully, not wanting to awaken Bliss, and got out of bed.

“Aye, Reeve,” he called in a loud whisper, “I ’ear you.” Swiftly, he pulled on his clothes and strapped the scabbard into place, then joined his brother in the hallway. “So they’re comin’, are they?”

Reeve’s eyes were suspiciously bright in the light of the kerosene lamp he carried. “Does it ’ave to be this way, Jamie?” he asked, and the lilt of the distant land neither of them would ever see again was in his voice. “I’m a powerful man, if I do say so meself. I can get you out of this—”

Jamie shook his head, putting on his hat, and looked back through the open doorway toward the tangle of shadows where Bliss lay sleeping. “That would take too long, Reeve. I can’t risk bein’ be’ind bars when Increase makes ’is move.”

Reeve nodded and gave his brother an affectionate slap on the shoulder. “I’d feel the same in your place.”

“You’ll look after the Duchess, then?”

“You know I will,” Reeve replied as the sound of horses’ hooves became audible in the distance. “Now, get out of ’ere, damn you!”

Jamie’s throat had shut. He went back into the bedroom, to touch Bliss’s tousled hair once more, and then he strode down the hall to the rear stairway.