Page 65 of An Unbending Lady for the Desperate Earl
Benedict leveled his pistol at the fellow’s chest. “No, but I suggest you stand down. You can choose to live, or you can choose to die. One pull of this trigger will decided, but I’ll only pull it if you do something stupid.”
The two kidnappers exchanged a worried look.
“I’ll count, if you like?” Benedict warned. “Five… Four… Three… Two…”
“All right, all right!” the second man gasped. “We surrender. We surrender. Don’t shoot. We’re not armed.”
As it turned out, the kidnappers were not as prepared as Christian had supposed. There were muskets and pistols strewn about the place, but the kidnappers had been so relaxed in their situation, that they had not thought to keep their weapons on them. He noticed a few trying to reach the weapons, only to be tackled by a constable on the way. It was not quite like shooting fish in a barrel, but this had been far easier than Christian could ever have anticipated.
“I need to find her.” He looked to Benedict, who nodded.
“Then what are you waiting for?”
With an anxious smile, Christian sprinted past the trembling duo of kidnappers and headed for the staircase that Simon had pointed out. He took the steps two at a time, praying he would find Victoria unharmed.
I am here, my love. I am here.
* * *
Victoria’s head had snapped up, the moment she had heard the ruckus begin in the barn below. Shouts and cries and panic had filtered through to the office, prompting her to rise and rush to the window, to see what was happening. Constables flooded the domain beneath, apprehending her father’s minions left, right, and center.
“What have you done?” a voice behind her made her turn, to find her father standing in the doorway.
“What I had to,” she replied quietly. “You taught me what justice was, Papa. I had to see it delivered, for the sake of these girls. They did not deserve this. They were no more at fault than my aunt, your sister, and the poor creatures who were killed by the Duke of Rowntree. I understand your grief, and I understand why it made you do this, but this is not right. And it is not you.”
His eyes widened. “I thought you said you didn’t want to see me hang?”
“I do not, which is why you have to go, and go now.” She hurried toward him. “Is there a way you can escape unseen?”
He frowned. “Yes. I know of a way.”
“Then go, before it is too late! I may believe in doing the right thing, always, but I will not see you punished for this. Your intentions were well-meant, but poorly executed. Consider this my one foray into the wrong side of the law.” She put her hand on his arm. “Please, go. Please, find somewhere safe and stay there.”
A sad laugh escaped his throat. “I raised you well, my girl. Perhaps too well.”
“You did, Papa. I only did what you would have done, before you let revenge twist you up inside,” she replied. “I love you, Papa. I love you beyond sense. And I am not going to see you die again. So, go!”
He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, squeezing her tight. “If anyone was to bring down my operation… I am glad it was you. I love you, my girl. I’ve missed you, so very much.”
“Go…” she broke away from him and pushed him out of the door, “please, go.”
“Think of me kindly, if you can?” he asked quietly.
“I will, but only if you promise to live well.”
He smiled. “I will try.”
“Goodbye, Papa.”
“Goodbye, my girl.” He whirled around and raced for a window across the rickety landing outside the office. A rope ladder lay coiled beneath. In one deft movement, he untied the fastening that held it together and threw it over the sill. Next thing she knew, he had disappeared over the edge, clambering down toward freedom. She hurried after him, bracing herself against the window frame as she peered down into the darkness. Just in time to see her father melt into the woodland, vanishing from sight, and from her life, forever.
“Victoria?” Another voice made her whip around. Christian pounded up the steps toward her, his eyes filled with such love, and such relief, that it made her want to sink to her knees and sob. The events of the past day had taken everything out of her. And, now that he was here, she finally gave in to the exhaustion and grief and pain that she had been ignoring until then.
“Christian…” Her legs gave way. Before she could hit the floor, strong arms encircled her, lifting her up. She tilted her chin up and peered into his eyes, her heart swollen with joy and sadness and relief and heartache. She had lost her father all over again, but she had gained Christian in return. Here he was, coming to her aid, just as he had promised he would.
“Victoria?” Christian gathered her closer to him, and helped her through to the office, where he sat her down in one of the chairs. There, he knelt in front of her and lifted his hand to her face. “Victoria? Are you hurt? Are you injured? Has anything happened to you?”
My father is the mastermind behind all of this. He staged his death and made my mother and I endure his funeral, thinking we had lost him. He escaped, because I let him… because I was too weak to allow him to be punished for this. I feel as if my body has been gutted and my heart has been left hollow by his actions. I do not think I will ever see him again, but I will know that he is alive in this world, somewhere.She wanted to say it all to Christian, but nothing came out. If she said any of that, then it would reveal the secret of Solomon’s involvement. And a secret was no longer a secret, once someone else knew of it.
