The big man released her arm and spun her around to pin her back against the wall. Sophie immediately used the opening to lash out with her fists, catching him in the nose. He emitted a staccato yelp of pain, but didn’t let her go, just shoved her harder against the brick and began pawing at her skirts. She struck out again and again, using every trick she knew, pummeling him with her fists and feet. For a moment she thought she might gain her freedom, or at least enough of it to retrieve the knife strapped to her leg, but then a second pair of hands was there, holding her arms at her sides.
“Bitch is feisty, eh?”
“Shu’up and ’old ’erthen.”
Sophie filled her lungs with air, intending to let out an ear-piercing scream, but the sound of a furious bellow from behind the men cut her off. In a heartbeat both men were gone from her, leaving her to lean breathless and shaking against the wall.
Alex felled the thinner man with a single blow to the head. The second man circled him warily. Having sized up his opponent and finding himself lacking, the drunk tried soothing Alex with an explanation. “Just a bit o’ fun, what guv? Didn’t know the bird was spoke for, out all alone as she were.”
Alex didn’t look ready to be soothed. He looked ready to kill. In one quick lunge he brought the man to the ground and straddled him, savagely driving his fists into his face and chest.
Sophie wasn’t a forgiving enough soul to feel the least bit sorry that Alex had hurt the two men. She’d have done the same, if she’d been able. But she couldn’t let him beat the man to death. If for no other reason than she didn’t want to be responsible for the taking of a life.
“Alex! Alex, stop! You’ll kill him!”
He paused midpunch to look at her. Had she not already been standing against a wall, she would have taken a step back. He looked half wild. His breath was coming in pants, his mouth set in a snarl, and his eyes had narrowed to angry green slits. Sophie looked to the opening of the alleyway and noticed a small group of people had gathered there.
“Fetch McLeod,” she instructed before turning her attention back to Alex. “Alex—”
“He shouldn’t have touched you!” he roared, and she pressed her back tighter against the wall.
“No, he shouldn’t have,” she said in her most placating voice, “but—”
He punched the man again.
“Alex! Please, you’re frightening me.”
“Get in the carriage!”
“No.”
“Now!”
“No!” she yelled, amazed at her own courage. “Not without you.”
He glared at her but didn’t loosen his hold on the man’s collar. She tried a different tactic. “Alex, please. I want to go home.”
He looked down at the prostrate man and then back to her again, uncertain. Sophie opened her mouth to speak, but stopped when Mrs. McLeod stepped forward and rested her hand lightly on Alex’s shoulder. “You’ve done well, Your Grace. It’s time to see to the lass.”
Alex stared at the hand on his shoulder, then followed the arm with his gaze until it reached the woman’s face. Sophie didn’t know what he saw there, but what ever it was, she would be eternally grateful for it. Alex seemed to come back to himself. He stood, dropping the man’s head to the pavement with a gruesome thud.
“McLeod!”
“Right here, Your Grace.”
“See to this trash.”
“Aye. Move aside now, Molly, and let His Grace stand up. You there…!”
As quickly as the crowd had formed, it dispersed. Someone grabbed the unconscious men and began to drag them off. To where, Sophie didn’t care. Her attention was riveted on Alex.
Sixteen
Alex didn’t say a word, just took Sophie’s elbow in a firm grip and led her toward the waiting carriage. She sneaked a sideways glance at his profile. He looked furious.
He assisted her in, then exchanged a few curt words with the bruised, but otherwise uninjured, driver before climbing in after her.
Did he blame her for what happened? The thought felt like a knife to her chest.
Alex raised one fist to pound sharply on the ceiling to start the carriage rolling. The sound made her flinch. And then snap.
“I didn’t do anything wrong!” she exclaimed in shaky voice. And then, to her shock, and absolute mortification, she began to cry. She wasn’t a weeper, as a general rule. And she’d certainly been through more traumatic experiences in the past than what had just occurred. Nonetheless, she could feel the tears begin to leak from the corner of her eyes and couldn’t hide the catch in her breath.
Alex reached for her at the sound. Before she knew it, she was settled on his lap, her head tucked neatly against his shoulder and his arms wound tightly around her.
“Hush, sweetheart. Hush. This wasn’t your fault.” “You’re angry,” she accused between sniffles. He tightened his arms around her. “Not at you, Sophie.” “You’re mad at something,” she pointed out. “I’m furious with those men.” “Yes, but they’re not in this carriage and—” “And I’m mad at myself,” he finally acknowledged. Sophie tried to sit up to see his face, but he gently pressed her head back. “Just relax now. You’ve had a scare.”
“I’m much better, really,” she insisted but leaned against him all the same. “Why are you mad at yourself?”
Alex hesitated before he answered, and when he finally spoke his voice was rough with emotion. “I should never have let this happen.”
“It wasn’t your fault either, Alex.”