Page 88 of Foolish Bride
Michael turned toward the bed. “Elinor?”
The fabric mound whimpered.
“Elinor, it’s all right now. I am here.”
Still no response.
“It’s Michael, my love.”
A freckle-faced red-haired girl peeked out and her eyes widened. “You’re real. My lady told the truth. Are you the real Kerburghe?”
Baffled, he pulled her from the drapes. “Where is Lady Elinor?”
From the corner, Roxton screamed for his guards.
The girl wept loudly.
Battle chaos bubbled up from the floors below.
“Kerburghe, she is just a girl. Please put her down. You will get nothing from scaring the child.” Middleton put his hand on Michael’s shoulder.
He set the girl down. “Who are you?”
She erupted into a fresh bout of hysterics.
Michael threw his hands up and turned away. He considered beating Roxton some more. It wouldn’t help the situation, but it would most definitely make him feel better. Rolling his eyes, he turned to Middleton. “Perhaps it would be best if you spoke to the girl.”
Middleton gave a half smile, picked up the unbroken chair from the floor, and placed it in the middle of the room. “Please sit down and tell me your name, miss.”
The girl sat, but she had her hands over her eyes. “I am Brianne. I am the maid.”
He knelt in front of her. “Where is the Lady Elinor, Brianne?”
“She made a run for it. I was to distract his grace while she tried to escape.”
“I’ll kill you, you little bitch.” Roxton hauled himself up and rushed toward the girl.
Brianne’s piercing scream filled the room.
Michael picked up a piece of the broken chair and whacked Roxton on the back of the head.
He landed with a thump and did not move.
“Is he dead?” The girl hugged herself and rocked back and forth.
Michael examined Roxton. “No. Unfortunately, he lives still.”
Turning back to the girl, Middleton asked, “How was the lady to escape, Brianne?”
Now that Roxton was silent and Michael leaned against the wall, Brianne spewed forth the entire plan of escape. She told the two men the entire route that she had explained to her lady, ending with the small servant’s door at the back of the house.
Michael asked, “How long ago was that?”
The girl wrinkled her nose. “Not long, your grace. She left here just before that one came in and attacked me.”
“The explosion.” Michael’s heart stopped. What had he done?
“Go,” Middleton commanded. “I will take Roxton down with the rest, then I will follow.”
