Page 82 of The Curse of Ill-Gotten Gains
“If possible, we need to find and join them without giving Leith a chance to put whatever plan he’s concocted into action.” Barnaby walked deeper into the more formal section of the shrubbery.
Frowning, Richard asked, “How do you know he has a plan?”
“Because,” Penelope replied, “while Monty’s murder was spur of the moment and very muchunplanned, this time, Leith isn’t overcome by rage. He’s cold-bloodedly calculating. He tumbled Mrs. Waterhouse and knocked her out to distract and divert Alison and get Regina alone. Believe me, he didn’t do that for no reason.”
Rosalind looked at Richard helplessly, and he reached out and took her hand.
He squeezed her fingers. “Trust them—they are the experts in this.”
Penelope was frowning increasingly direfully. “Whatishe planning?” Frustration edged her words.
Barnaby had been casting about, peering through the trees and checking along the hedged avenues. Returning to them, he stated, “The estate’s too extensive, the grounds far too large to mount any swift and effective search.” He raised his head and looked toward the house. “Stokes has his troops fanning out across the rear to the north, east, and west. Some will come tramping in this direction soon.”
Like a weathervane in an uncertain breeze, Penelope had been aimlessly turning this way, then that.
Richard focused on her face. “So what is he planning?”
Rosalind pleaded, “Where would he take her?”
Behind her spectacles, Penelope’s eyes flew wide.“That’s it!”Her face cleared, and she swung to face Barnaby. “The orchard. That’s where this started. That’s where he’ll take her. He’s cleverenough to have guessed that Regina was supposed to leave a payment in the apple-tree hollow. He’s trying to throw us off the scent by making it seemshewas Monty’s killer!”
Barnaby blinked and made the deductive leap. “Dear God!” He bolted for the orchard.
Richard released Rosalind’s hand and raced after Barnaby.
Penelope hiked up her skirts and, with Rosalind beside her, raced after the men as they streamed along the outer hedge of the shrubbery and pushed on across the lawn to the archway into the orchard.
Barnaby ran flat-out through the archway. Ahead, by the fateful apple tree, he saw Leith, his face contorted into a murderous mask and his hands locked about Regina’s throat as he squeezed the life from her.
“Let her go!” Barnaby yelled and barreled on.
At his heels, Richard swore. “You bastard! Unhand her!”
Leith’s head came up. He saw them, and his grip slackened.
Then he snarled and, as Barnaby and Richard neared, flung Regina’s limp form at them.
Barnaby caught her.
Richard sidestepped and launched himself at Leith as he turned and attempted to flee.
The flying tackle brought Leith crashing down.
But he wasn’t about to surrender. He rolled, taking Richard with him, and fought to get free.
Leaving Leith to Richard, Barnaby gently laid Regina down. Relief coursed through him when she coughed, then hauled in a painful breath, and her brows drew into a frown. He sensed her awareness returning and life reinfusing her limbs.
In a flurry of skirts, Penelope and Rosalind arrived.
Rosalind fell to her knees. “Darling!” She reached for Regina and gathered her in, cradling her sister’s head and shoulders.
Penelope met Barnaby’s eyes and tipped her head to where Richard was grappling with a furious, desperate, and heavier Leith. “Go!”
Barnaby surged to his feet and started toward the brawling men. Leith had bulled his way farther down the row of trees, but Richard had managed to maneuver around so that he blocked Leith’s path deeper into the orchard.
As Barnaby approached, Richard landed a solid blow to Leith’s chin.
Leith reeled back and fell.
