Page 79 of Waiting for a Scot Like You
The ballroom was a large, long chamber lined with windows that were, at the moment, covered by heavy velvet curtains, so that the room was streaked with light and shadow. Half-dressed, Mr. and Mrs. Atherton and their guests huddled together in the middle of the parquet floor. A blond man brandished a knife, but Beatrice was more focused on the bearded man with a pistol aimed at his hostages.
“Cooperate,” he said tightly, “and no harm will come to you. Any resistance will be met with force.”
These men were clearly desperate, and desperate men were capable of anything. Perhaps even shooting another human being.
“See here,” Mr. Atherton objected. He yelped when the bearded man trained the pistol at him. Meekly, Mr. Atherton said, “We’ll cooperate.”
Duncan eased back with a scowl. He growled, “Fucking hate endangering you, but I need your help.”
“You have it.” She was pleased that at least she’d spoken without hesitation, even though she was bloody terrified. “Tell me what to do.”
“Create a distraction.”
Frightened as she was, she was eager for the chance to be truly useful. To fight with him, side by side. It was terrifying—and exactly what she wanted. “And then?”
“I’ll take out that bastard with the pistol.” He gently took hold of her chin, and his gaze held hers. She’d never seen so much gravity in his eyes before. “You’ll be all right.”
“So optimistic, Major,” she said, hoping for levity. “How do you know?”
His expression turned bleak. “Because I can’t think about the alternative, or I’ll lose my goddamned mind.”
This was no time for tears, yet they sprang up anyway, and she rubbed her knuckles across her eyes to banish any possibility of weeping at this moment. She needed to focus for her sake, and for Duncan’s.
“Now go,” he said, low and taut, gesturing with a tilt of his head that it was time for her to provide some distraction.
She drew in a breath, feeling her own strength, and the strength he gave her, as well. With them working together, they could accomplish anything. Even defeat a gang of vicious robbers.
After one more breath, she opened the door and took some deliberately noisy steps into the room—making certain she didn’t surprise the bandits into shooting her.
“I say, are we having parlor games?” she asked brightly.
The men swung to face her, and she fought against a wave of panic when the bearded man pointed his gun at her. But at least he didn’t fire it.
“Who the hell are you?” he demanded.
She moved into the room, trying to make her expression bright and vacant. “It’s awfully early to do any pantomime, but I suppose if given a cup of tea, I’ll join right in. Does look awfully fun.”
She looked behind quickly, but there was no sign of Duncan. He’d disappeared.
“Shut up,” the stranger snapped.
“Mrs. Frye—” Mr. Atherton croaked.
“There wasn’t any Mrs. Frye in the butler’s ledger,” growled Beard.
A loud bang split the air. The man with the knife sank to the ground, groaning as he clutched his shoulder. Red spilled between his fingers as he lost his grip on his blade.
It was Duncan. Her heart jumped into her throat as he ducked for cover behind a large potted plant. At the same time, the bearded man aimed toward where Duncan hid.
Her body and instincts took over, and she plowed her shoulder into Beard’s side just as he fired. The robber’s shot went wild, the bullet lodging into the ceiling, with bits of plaster falling like snow.
And then Duncan rushed toward the bearded man. He slammed a punch into the man’s ribs—she heard a cracking sound as the intruder doubled over—andthen Duncan flipped his pistol around. Using the firearm like a club, he walloped the back of Beard’s head. There was a groan, and he sprawled on the floor.
Duncan grabbed the man’s spent firearm and tucked it into the waistband of his breeches.
The hostages murmured in relief, and a few even applauded. Duncan barely spared them a glance. He glared at the bearded man, who moaned and cursed as he lay on the parquet.
“Don’t understand,” the invader muttered. “We snuck into the butler’s pantry, got the guest list and all the room assignments. How did we miss you?”
