Page 53 of Anastasia and the Duke
"She's perfectly fine," Gareth answered, "She's in the back parlour room, painting a still life--the light is better there, you know. Come in and wait inside, and I shall tell her you're here."
Gareth led Hannah inside to the entrance hall, where he directed her to sit, while he went in search of the countess. Despite the peace inside number thirty-three, Hannah still felt on edge. Sidney might still arrive; danger had not yet passed.
She was alerted to Bonbon's arrival by the sound of paws clattering against the marble tiles, followed by the sight of the giant poodle dashing towards her.
"Bonbon," Hannah whispered, as she scratched his soft head.
The dog nuzzled up to her for a moment, before his ears pricked and he began to whine. He left Hannah's side and sat at the bottom step of the stairs, still whining, but unwilling to go any further, for he was forbidden upstairs.
Hannah watched him, for a moment, puzzled by his behaviour, but then the countess swept into the hallway.
"Hannah," Lady Lansdowne smiled at her hopefully, "Gareth tells me you have returned to us. My goodness; what happened to your head? There's blood.Mon Dieu! Gareth, fetch a basin and some hot water."
Hannah touched a hand to her forehead, surprised to find it sticky with blood. She must have cut it when Sidney knocked her to the floor.
"It's nothing," Hannah protested, as Lady Lansdowne began to fuss, "That's not why I'm here; Sidney--I mean, Mr Pritchard--I think he's on his way here. I went to tell him that I would no longer work for him and he took a fit of rage. He grabbed a pistol--at least, I think he did--and disappeared. He could be on his way, my lady, we have to fetch the Runners."
Lady Lansdowne paled, but she did not show any other signs of fright.
"Gareth," she instructed the aged-retainer, as she reached for Hannah's hand, "Send one of the footmen to Bow Street to alert the runners. Have the other footmen keep an eye on the garden and doors; Hannah, you must stay with me. I want you safe should this Mr Pritchard suddenly arrive."
Hannah nodded, though she was distracted by Bonbon, who still sat at the bottom of the stairs, whining plaintively.
"He's already here," Hannah whispered, as she realised why the dog acting so strangely. Bonbonknewthere was someone upstairs, someone who didn't belong.
"Run and fetch help," Hannah urged the countess, pulling her hand free and making for the stairs. If Sidney was here and meant to do harm, then he would have to get through Hannah first.
She took the runners two at a time, followed by Bonbon who appeared to believe they were playing a game. Lady Lansdowne called after her, but Hannah paid her no heed, instead she dashed down the long hallway, towards the countess' bedchamber.
The door to the room was closed, but Hannah could hear rustling beyond, and Bonbon began to bark furiously, confirming her suspicions that someone was inside.
If only she had grabbed a fire-poker, or some other makeshift weapon, Hannah thought, as she placed her hand on the doorknob. It was too late for that now, however, for Sidney would have been alerted by the dog's barks. Hannah turned the doorknob and pushed open the door, afraid of what she would find beyond.
It was chaos; the drapes on Lady Lansdowne's four poster bed had been ripped down, while every drawer had been opened and emptied onto the floor. Even the paintings on the walls had been taken down, left lying on the Axminster carpet.
But that was not all; Sidney stood, with his grubby boots staining a pink, silk ottoman, reaching up into a safe on the far wall.
Hannah blinked in confusion; there was not supposed to be a key for the safe, how had he opened it?
He was muttering to himself as he grabbed handfuls of diamonds, rubies, and pearls, and stuffed them into the burlap sack he held. It was as though he had gone mad with greed and was so lost in the moment that he didn't see Hannah.
Bonbon, however, was a dog who demanded to be noticed.
He gave an excited bark and barreled across the room to Sidney, where he jumped up and pawed at him for his attention. The silly poodle thought it all a game.
"Get off me," Sidney growled, kicking out at Bonbon, who nimbly dodged his foot.
Whatever spell the treasure had cast over Sidney was now broken, and he turned his head and caught sight of Hannah, standing in the doorway.
"The Runners are on their way," Hannah said, bravely, as he scowled at her.
"Bully for them," Sidney replied, jumping down from the ottoman to the floor, "I've got what I wanted. Now, if you'll excuse me."
He made to run towards the window, but rage filled Hannah at the very idea that, after everything, Sidney might win. She chased after him, and caught onto his coat, in an attempt to slow his escape.
"Get off me," he roared, his elbow catching her cheek in his attempt to push her off.
Hannah staggered a little, but held fast. It was stupid, blind anger that kept her holding on; after years of suffering under Sidney, she wanted to see him punished.
