All Chapters of The League of Rogues: Chapter 221 - Chapter 230

Charles baited his hook and cast it far out into the lake. Once his hook and lure sank below the water, he glanced around for the boats. The one carrying James and Gillian had drifted behind the sweeping protective curtain of an ancient willow tree close to the left side of the lake. The other, the one with Audrey and Jonathan, was drifting along in the middle of the lake. Audrey was reeling in a fish, and Jonathan rushed to help her. Moments later they fell deep into the boat and vanished from view.Charles sighed. "So much for spending time alone without the ladies." He knew a black cloud had to be forming over his head when he idly wondered whether the dandies back inside the house would be preferable company.He was glad that both of his friends were well on their way to winning the hearts of their women, but it didn't help his own situation. The sinking feeling that all of his friends were leaving him as they married was almost too much to bear. He stared at the rippling surface

"Gone? What do you mean she's gone?"Jonathan was fuming. Lucien and Charles both sat in the morning room, Lucien with his copy of the Morning Post and Charles with a novel and a cup of tea. The pair of them looked so blastedly silly and domestic it made Jonathan want to bellow like a bear. Audrey had run off, and neither man seemed to care one whit. What was the matter with them?"She told Horatia a friend wrote to her, someone seeking advice on her trousseau, and Audrey's fashion sense was direly needed." Lucien reached into his waistcoat and pulled out a letter. "She left this for you."Jonathan took the paper, unfolding it to read. It said she'd left for London, but she hadn't given a reason. And he was expected to believe what Lucien was saying? Well, he didn't believe it. Yes, the little sprite loved her clothes, but to run away from a house party, from him, to see to some silly wedding dress? He'd grown so close to her in the last few days. Their shared intimacy was more than

Jonathan stretched out, feeling at ease for the first time in as long as he could remember. A smile spread across his lips, and it had everything to do with last night. Finally bedding Audrey and telling her they were to be married had been a dream he'd never thought possible. Yet it had happened, and she hadn't said no. Every moment of last night had been a victory a year in the making. He rolled onto his side, but when he reached for Audrey she was gone.What in the blazes?He sat up, brushed his hair out of his eyes, and realized with a sinking feeling that the room was empty. Had she simply stepped out for a moment? Seen to her needs? Yes, that was possible."Audrey?" he called out. Only silence answered him. He glanced around the room; not a piece of clothing was left. Not even a note this time.His little sprite had run out on him. Shame cut through him, and he had trouble swallowing past the pain.Did I do something wrong last night? Did I push her too far and too fast? Wha

Jonathan was roused by the sound of a scuffle somewhere nearby. By the time he got up and into the hall, he saw the two men from before cursing and fleeing down the corridor from Audrey's room. Before he could go into her room to check on her, he had to duck back into his ownSheffield was coming.He listened to her tell Sheffield the whole story. She handled it so casually he couldn't help but swell with pride, but he was furious that those two men had tried to harm her and that he hadn't acted in time to stop them. He waited for Sheffield to pass by his cabin, then slipped outside and walked to the steps that led down into the crew quarters.He glanced through the gloom of the dim interior deck, studying the hanging hammocks that filled the area, and then he froze. There at the back, a man was huddled on a stool, clutching a hand to his chest and muttering curses."Bloody little bitch!" he snapped, holding his wrist tenderly. It was clearly broken.Bloody hell, Audrey, you did it.

Audrey hastily threw on the breeches and white shirt, packing her hair tight under her cap. Her hands trembled, but she ignored the fear rolling through her as best she could. There wasn't time to break down, not if she was going to get through this night alive. Then she ran to the fireplace and smudged her fingers with ash and hastily rubbed them on her cheeks.She had learned a number of tricks in the last few months. People did not naturally like to look at dirty people, and if they were looking for the woman who'd arrived at the tavern, dirty would be the last quality they'd use to describe her. Outside she could hear an awful commotion as the soldiers prepared to storm the inn.Jonathan was down there, her Jonathan, doing everything he could to give her time to escape. She still didn't know how he'd found her or how he'd gotten to her just in time. The man had the uncanny ability to show up when she needed him most.Like a man in loveHer heart stilled. He'd finally told her h