Page 90 of His Enemy Duchess

“Come on, Your Grace, we need to head back and inform the constables.” James put a hand on his arm, trying to comfort him.

Thomas turned and looked at him, overflowing with rage. “Absolutely not. It might be too late by the time they get here.”

“Your Grace, this is my uncle’s hunting lodge.”

“So?”

“I am positively certain he has pistols and rifles stashed away. Wedon’t.If you go in there right now, unarmed?—”

Thomas slunk around the lodge regardless, ignoring his companion. He had no doubt that James was right, but he also knew he couldn’t risk waiting. If this unknown diary had been enough to make the Earl of Lynwood kidnap his niece, there was no telling what else that insane, bloodthirsty monster might do.

Thomas approached the narrow front door and carefully closed his hand over the iron knob, expecting to find resistance, but there was none. The door was unlocked.

He didn’t hesitate, barreling in with no fear for his own safety. A large part of his consciousness was telling him he was probably walking headfirst into a trap, but the part that cared about his wife was a lot louder.

The short entrance hall was empty and quiet. The only thing he could hear was the sound of water droplets dripping down from his coat and onto the wooden floor.

James walked in behind him, shaking water off of him.

The lodge was almost entirely pitch black, with only faint moonlight peeking in through the dusty windows, casting sinister shadows on the walls that seemed to be watching the two men.

James walked catfooted towards a chest of drawers he seemed to recognize and opened it slowly, trying to minimize the screeching noise. Inside were two oil lanterns and a tinderbox. He nodded towards Thomas.

Soon enough, they were both carrying a lantern each, the warmth of the light welcome against the freezing cold. They could now see their breaths manifesting into mist.

Ever slowly, they moved through the small lodge, their breaths held, searching.

Sophia coughed against the gag. She didn’t feel well. The water had seeped through the walls and across the floorboards, she was cramped in there with no way to stand up or stretch, and she felt the threadbare blanket underneath her, wet and uncomfortable.

Despite her incredible fatigue, she hadn’t yet fallen asleep, but she felt her head starting to loll, her neck feeling too weak to hold it up anymore.

I can’t let him win.

She fought to keep her eyes open, almost wanting to laugh at the irony of that thought. She used to think that about Thomas. Antagonize him every step of the way. Do everything he said she couldn’t do. She’d muster every ounce of strength she could find to prove him wrong. Do it out of spite.

I can’t… let?—

She felt her body slide down the wet surface of the wooden panel behind her and fell on her side with a wet slap. She coughed against the gag, hoping the force might eventually push it out of her mouth.

Her effort was interrupted when she heard footsteps.

It’s him…

But it was more than one set of footsteps.

Oh no… they are already here. They will take me away! I can’t!

She panicked. Her hands and legs were moving frantically as she tried to push and fit her entire body within the opening of her hands, so she could pull her hands forward and work on her bonds. But it was impossible; her arms were not even remotely long enough for something like that.

She stretched and pulled, but she made no progress. Thankfully, the set of footsteps seemed to walk away from her, possibly going upstairs.

She sighed with relief and kept struggling against her bonds. They weren’t going to take her without a fight. She would be ready, no matter what it took.

Thomas and James reached the upper floor, ending up in front of a short hallway that split into two rooms.

James pointed at the room on their left. They both went on either side of the door, and Thomas pushed it open.

The room was empty, with only a single bed inside and a small closet. It looked like an emergency bedroom, in case someone had to spend the night there.

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