Page 51 of An Unbending Lady for the Desperate Earl
Adjusting her cloak, Victoria set off down the hallway and paused at the top of the staircase. As she had anticipated, the kidnappers had vanished into the gloom, no doubt hiding now they knew that Christian and herself were at home, also. Making sure she kept her hood over her face, she breezed down the stairs and made her way to the front door. Opening it, she heard a slight, muffled sound behind her.
That’s right, you vermin… follow me at your peril.
She strode out into the cold night and approached Christian’s carriage, which still waited out on the street, as per Christian’s instruction. The driver, who went by the name of Simon Green, sat atop the bench and peered down at her in surprise.
“Will you take me to Whitfield Towers, near Herefordshire? Lord Galbury has insisted upon it,” she whispered, so the kidnappers would not hear, even though they had the closed door between them.
“At this hour?” Simon replied.
Victoria nodded. “Circumstances have altered, and the Viscount and Viscountess must be informed immediately. It is of the utmost importance; there can be no delay.”
“Oh… I see. Well then, I would be happy to oblige.” Simon jumped down and helped Victoria into the carriage, before resuming his position and turning the carriage around. The next moment, they rattled away from Miss Longacre’s townhouse, headed for the countryside.
Victoria leant back against the squabs and took in a breath, her heart thundering like a bolting horse. She didn’t know if her ploy had worked. Doubt churned in her stomach, for, if it hadn’t, then she had left Miss Longacre to the wolves.
Plucking out the silver, mirrored disc that she always carried upon her person, she held it up to the window of the carriage and angled it so she might see the road behind. At first, she saw nothing, and her heart sank further.
What have I done? Should I turn back? Should I bar the doors and trap the miscreants inside?
However, just as she was wrangling with her conscience, deciding what to do, a shadow appeared in the mirrored disc. Another carriage, moving slowly along the cobbled street. It seemed to be traveling with a deliberate stealth, as though the carriage didn’t want to get too close. She looked for any insignia that might mark it out as someone else’s carriage, but the exterior was devoid of any crests or sigils.
Adrenaline pulsed through her veins as realization settled over her in a mix of terror and satisfaction.
They took the bait…
Chapter 22
“Do you think something has happened?” Christian flicked away a tiresome branch that kept trying to tickle at the back of his neck. Hours had passed and there had been no sign of movement in the house. There had been no strange activities within the garden, either, unless the scurry of a hedgehog or the scream of a fox counted as strange.
“All seems to be well,” Benedict replied, through a strained yawn.
“Should I go and look, in case?” Christian needed to do something with himself, before his limbs decided to go the full journey and turn entirely to stone.
Benedict sighed. “It couldn’t hurt. Victoria will still be awake, so it’s not as though we’ll be disturbing her.”
With a collective groan, they rose from their hiding place and made their way through the darkness toward the house. The door had been left open, giving them easy access into the building. Christian stopped on the threshold and listened out for any oddities, but only the contented silence of a sleeping household echoed back.
“You think she’s wrong, don’t you?” Benedict said, as they pressed on toward the first floor.
“About the kidnappers coming for Miss Longacre?”
Benedict nodded.
“It is difficult to say what I think. I have no reason to doubt her, but there are so many other young ladies in London, who might be of equal merit to such cretins as these two men,” Christian replied, feeling as though he were under some sort of spotlight. “Then again, Victoria has made quite the impact upon high society, masquerading as my cousin. Perhaps thatisenough to entice the kidnappers tonight, thinking they may seize two ladies for the price of one.”
Christian went directly to the bedchamber beside Miss Longacre’s, where Victoria had told him she would be. He knocked and waited. Silence responded. He knocked again, fearful that she may have fallen asleep.
“I will check on Miss Longacre,” Benedict announced, his eyes flashing with worry.
“Victoria? Are you in there?” Christian put his hand upon the door handle and turned. The room beyond lay empty. “Victoria? Where are you? Victoria?” His voice held a note of panic as he whipped around, scouring the hallway for any sign of his beloved.
“Miss Longacre is not in her bed, either.” Benedict emerged from the room next door, running a hand through his thinning hair. “They’ve been taken. That’s the only explanation. The kidnappers must’ve snuck up on them and stolen them away before they could raise the alarm. Those despicable blighters! They will pay for this! My word, they will pay!”
A thud nearby snapped up the two men’s attention. It came from behind a doorway directly opposite Miss Longacre’s bedchamber. Christian lifted his finger to his lips and crept toward the door.
“Hello? Who goes there?” he demanded to know, his fingers gripping the door handle.
“Hello? Lord Galbury, is that you?” a small, frightened voice replied.
