Page 78 of A Lady's Lesson in Scandal
Millie heard the distinctive nicker of a horse.
Damnation!
It came from her right. Turning away from the cabin, she held her breath and moved at the speed of a snail. A hoof stomped and the distinctive sigh of an equine guided her gaze deeper into the trees. A copper swish of hair swiped in her peripheral. She dropped to the ground and waited. Nothing except the crunch of a horse sneaking a mid-forest snack from a low-hanging oak branch.
So, someone had the same idea as Millie and Billy. But were they here to help, or was it Franklin?
Franklin’s here. Trying to get Lucy and move her.
She didn’t know how she knew, but she knew.
As quietly and swiftly as she could, she made her way to the meeting point with Billy.
Billy was almost completely hidden behind a huge oak trunk. She joined him and hunkered down as the cold air seeped through her wool coat.
‘I didn’t see anyfink. You?’ Billy kept his gaze on the back of the cabin.
‘There’s a horse, just there.’ She tipped her head in the direction of the mare. ‘Someone’s in there with Lucy. We must be quick and careful.’
‘I’ll go in.’ Billy started to move, but she grabbed his wrist.
‘No. If it’s Franklin, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill you, but I don’t think he’d kill me.’
‘’E would, Millie. I’ve seen ’im watch you this week. ’E’s got the very Devil in ’is eyes.’
Even more reason for her to keep Billy out of the cabin.
‘Look, you are much faster than me, Billy. If I get caught, you run like the dickens back to Medusa. Ride her to Alder House and get Drake.’
Billy’s eyes grew huge. ‘I can’t ride ’er wiffout you. You said it yerself. I would’ve fallen a million times if you weren’t wif me.’
He was right, but she didn’t have time to come up with a different plan. ‘You can, Billy. You’ll do grand. And that’s only if you need to.’
‘No, Millie. Let me go. I’m right strong. I can take that toff St wotever-’is-name. ’E’s likely as weak as ’is chin. ’An iffen I get in trouble, you ride like a dream. You’ll get ’elp and save me.’
Tears sprang to Millie’s eyes at his absolute confidence in her ability to save him. But this was no time for silly emotions. She blinked her eyes and shook her head. ‘You don’t even have a weapon, Billy. I’m sure Franklin has at least one pistol, and a sword. I won’t send you in there unarmed.’
‘Neither do you,’ Billy hissed, his bottom lip popping out in a pout that betrayed his youth.
Millie pulled up the sleeve of her coat, revealing the blade strapped to her wrist.
‘Cor blimey! Where’d you get that?’
‘There’s not time, Billy. Stay here. Watch. If you hear me scream or see Franklin come out of that cabin, run for Medusa. You promise?’
Billy swallowed, blinked his huge eyes twice, and bit his lip. Finally, he nodded. ‘Awright. But you be careful, Millie. The major general will kill me if anyfink ’appens to you.’
She patted him on his shoulder and carefully made her way to the back of the cabin. A glassless window was the only opening. She crouched low beneath it, holding her breath and listening.
A feminine whimper gave Millie hope. At least Lucy was still alive.
If ears had muscles, hers would be straining to hear any other sounds. The scuff of a boot on the floor, the rumble of a masculine voice, a cough or sigh. Anything indicating Lucy wasn’t alone. Millie waited for what felt like an eternity but must have only been minutes. She could see Billy’s head poking out from his hiding place, his worried eyes wide.
Time to go.
Trusting her instincts, Millie continued around the house, opting to use the front door instead of trying to scramble in the window. If someone was watching them, they’d know either way.
She slowly opened the door and Lucy’s whimpers turned into frightened, muffled screams until she saw Millie in the dim light of the cabin.
