The pounding in her ears competed with the noise coming from the stove.

Run.

But before she could make a dash for the open door, a voice reached her from the stairs.

‘There is no need to be afraid, my beloved.’

Her gaze cut to the staircase, and there was Hodge seated comfortably on it, elbows resting on his knees, watching her.

He was in her house.

All words seemed to abandon her in that moment. She could barely think, let alone talk. And while running was still the smartest option for her at that point, her legs also seemed to be failing her.

‘You really are surprised,’ he said, rising and descending the few stairs to the bottom. His eyes swept the full length of her. ‘I swear, you are the only woman I know who grows more beautiful with the passing of time.’

She swallowed a few times, testing to see if her tongue would cooperate in forming words. ‘What are you doing here?’ she managed to get out.

His face pinched with concern. ‘Is that fear I hear in your voice? Beloved, do not be afraid. You never have to fear a thing when I am around.’

He was the very thing she had to fear. Her mind was getting wild with worry now. Where are the others?

‘Now,’ he said, clapping his hands together, ‘I know someone always lights the stove for you in the evenings, so I took it upon myself to do it in their absence.’

She did not want to think about how he knew that. ‘Where is Everard? He was out front, and now I cannot find him.’

He took a few steps towards her, and she took a large step back.

He slowly raised his hands. ‘It is all right.’

She pressed a hand to her stomach. ‘Where are they?’

‘Safe.’

‘What does that mean? Safe where?’

‘With my men.’

Her breath hitched. ‘What is going on?’

He took another, much slower step towards her. ‘I needed to talk to you alone.’

‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘I do not want to talk to you. What are you doing here?’ That last question came out strangled, her expression collapsing mid-sentence.

His face filled with pity but not remorse. ‘Beloved. Must we do this again and again? You know why I am here. You know what I want. It is time for you to come home.’

She shook her head profusely this time, backing all the way up to the kitchen door. ‘No. No. Never again. I would sooner die than go anywhere with you.’

‘Now, that is hurtful.’ He walked over to the front door and pushed it closed, then locked it. ‘It is getting rather breezy now that the sun has set.’

He headed for her then, and she backed up into the kitchen until she felt the wooden bench beneath the window press into her spine.

‘You are like a frightened horse,’ Hodge mused.