If He's Noble (Wherlocke Book 7) (Paranormal Historical Romance) by Hannah Howell Page A

had to with care yet some speed. Relief nearly sent her to her knees when she accomplished the chore and could stand and face the enemy along with Sir Bened. Her attempt to stand at his side was swiftly and very firmly thwarted, however. Bened just kept shifting that big strong body of his to keep himself between her and their attackers.
    Before either of them could do another thing, six men raced into the alley, stopping just inside as they studied the scene. That hesitation gave two of the men who had tried to kill Bened a chance to run, however. Two of the men who had rushed to their aid went after them but Primrose doubted they would be successful in capturing the men. The one she had shot had no chance to attempt an escape and was being yanked to his feet by two others. The remaining two approached her and Bened.
    “Are you hurt, miss?” asked the older of the two.
    “No,” she said. “You arrived in time.”
    Bened nodded and slung his arm around Primrose’s shoulders, ignoring her start of surprise. “And we are grateful for it. I am not sure how much longer I could have kept them from robbing us and putting their filthy hands on my wife.”
    Primrose was surprised at how smoothly Bened lied to the men who had rushed to their aid. She had to admit it was a good lie, though, as it nicely explained what was going on in a way that would probably prompt very few questions or doubts. The man they had wounded just glared at them. He was clearly no more eager to explain what was really behind the fight than they were. She also tried to ignore the small thrill of delight that went through her at hearing the words my wife on Bened’s lips.
    She leaned into him, turning her face into his chest so that the men he spoke to could not see her expression. The last thing she wished to do was to spoil Bened’s game. It could prove as much help to the men who had attacked him as it did her and Bened but there was nothing to be done about that. They simply did not have the time or the proof to drag out the whole true story.
    What troubled her most was that her aunt had sent her hirelings after Bened. The woman had seen what a problem he would be and set out to be rid of him. This attack had been intended to kill him and that terrified her. Primrose began to try to think of ways to get him to leave but doubted any of them would work. She would do her best, however. There was no way she could allow her difficulties, her family’s battles, to cause him to lose his life.
    By the time the men left, dragging their prisoner off to the magistrate, Primrose was feeling a bit weak. The fight and the fear caused by it had sapped all her strength. She allowed Bened to lead her to the inn where they had booked two rooms for the night. The solicitous way the maid treated her as she brought them some tea and food told Primrose that word of the attack was already spreading. She frowned at Bened who appeared to be finding it funny.
    She glanced at the other couple in the private parlor, and said softly, “Such a smooth liar you are, Sir Bened. I was most impressed.”
    “At times it is the only smart thing one can do. Did you want us to tangle them up with the truth?”
    She sighed. “No, yet I feel a bit guilty for lying to men who had come to help us and accepting the sympathy of that maid when nothing happened.”
    “Then think of it as sympathy handed out simply because you were in danger and you were. Maybe not the one I implied, but there was a real threat to your life.”
    “It was mostly to your life. I but happened to stumble into it. She wants you gone.”
    “Which tells us quite a lot.”
    “What? That my aunt, whom I had long dismissed as a nasty, vain fool, is actually a cold-blooded killer?”
    “Forewarned is forearmed.”
    “Are you going to heed the warning?”
    “I have or I would already be dead.”
    “I cannot allow you to put your life at risk for me.”
    “Ah, I wondered if that was where you were headed. It is