Light to Valhalla by Melissa Lynne Blue Page A

room.
    Thomas stuck a finger in his ear as though to clear it . “Forgot he whistled like that.”
    “Well, Alex? ” Charley quirked a demanding brow . “What is going on?”
    Alex sighed , willing the ringing in his ears to subside . “The f acts as I know and understand are this . Last night Charlotte was on her way to a dinner party in London with Lady Carmichael , her coach was intercepted by two miserable idiots, one of whom I have the misfortune of being acquainted with, and the driver was killed while she was abducted. ” He paused allowing that information time to settle .
    “Lord in heaven. ” Evelyn clasped a trembling hand to her mouth, and crossed the room to embrace her daughter.
    “Really, Mama, I’m fine. ” Charley offered her mother a tremulous smile.
    “Go on. ” Thomas pegged Alex with an accusatory glare.
    Alex ground his teeth . A s expected he was relegated to role of villain . “ Around Midnight ,” he continued determinably , “ I received a ransom note demanding 5000 pounds for her safe return . Sidney and I rode out immediately and recovered her completely unharmed . Charley requested we come here rather than return to London, and knowing my mother I can’t say as I blame her. ” Alex adopted his most formal tone . “Lady Grayson, I cannot apologize enough for the inconvenience, but the circumstances were unavoidable. ”
    Evelyn’s face softened.
    “What about General Witherspoon? ” Thomas pressed .
    Alex shook his head . “ That I can’t tell you . I’ll not slander the name of a good man without concrete evidence.”
    Thomas ’s brow furrowed as he considered th e answer, finally the younger man gave a curt nod , and crossed the room to embrace his mother and sister .
    “What about the men who took Charley ? ” Evelyn asked , breaking away from the family hug .
    “They escaped, but at first light I ’ll ride into town to speak with the local magistrate . One of them is wounded and I’m confident we’ll discover whoever hired them. ” Alex quickly relayed what Charley overheard of the brigands’ altered plans . “ Justice w ill be served, you have my word, ” as he said the las t his eyes locked with Sidney’s . Emotions very much akin to malice lurked in the other man’s eyes . Unease settled deep in Alex’s gut . What had happened between he, and his lifelong friend?
    *               *               *
    Alone in the shadowed corner , Sidney cast a brooding gaze the length of Charley ’s disheveled form . Perched on a plush chair , a cup of steaming liquid wrapped in both palms she looked entirely too delectable . At least she would look delectable if she wasn’t drowning in Alex’s uniform jacket . Sidney knew the strongest impulse to strip the garment from her shoulders and hurl the cursed thing into the fire.
    Unrest boiled in his blood .
    What a stroke of bad luck for Alex to have arrived home yesterday . After two years of quiet seduction Charley had been coming along very nicely, softening to his advances, and for once… just once… he would have had the supreme satisfaction of trumping Alex . Now it seemed all Sidney’s hard work would prove for naught . From the moment Alex rushed into those woods, he’d scarcely left her side . His intent to stake claim on his marchioness was clear . The son of a bitch had even kissed her in the woods.
    For years Sidney ha d lived in Alex’s shadow, second best —or just plain second—at everything . No more . When it came to Charley Sid would win . She’d be a sweet little thing in bed, of that he was certain, a nd when she succumbed to hi s charms… he’d make certain Alex was embarrassed before the entire ton .
    Sidney pushed off from the wall, ambling leisure ly toward the object of his desires . “ Charley , do you have a moment?”
    She turned her attention from the blissful cup of coffee cradled in her palms and smiled . “Certainly, Sidney.”
    He glanced c agily about