Page 74 of A Scandalous Proposition
‘He said he was heading for his horses.’
‘That was before he took the other four women. He won’t have enough horses for them all. And he wouldn’t be able to control so many people even if he did.’ Adam nodded decisively. ‘No, he will have to use the carriage.’
It took ten minutes of moving as quickly and silently through the undergrowth as they could manage to reach the spot where the carriage waited. Adam motioned the others to remain concealed and approached the vehicle cautiously from behind, bent double and making not a sound. He peered inside and saw two men tied and gagged, lying across the squabs. Adam nodded with grim satisfaction. They were in time. He identified himself to the men now in charge of the vehicle.
‘Blimey, guv’nor,’ said one of them, ‘you gave me a right fright, creeping up on us like that. I didn’t hear a sound and I thought I was being alert.’
Adam motioned for the others to join him. ‘Quick, we don’t have much time. Those two in there,’ he said, nodding to the inside of the carriage, ‘are they wearing anything that identifies them as Reynolds’s men?’
‘Nah, just great coats, a bit like yours but not ’alf so smart.’
‘All right, get them out of there, make sure their gags are in place and tie them to trees well away from this spot. Dennett, you’re about the same size as one of them. Do you want to make amends for all the trouble you’ve caused?’
‘What do you want me to do?’
At Adam’s signal, Madison’s men removed the coat from one of the captives and handed it to Dennett.
‘Try that on.’
Dennett wrinkled his nose at the smell and needed help to get the coat on over his wounded arm.
‘It fits,’ Adam said. ‘None of the rest of us would get into it so it will have to be you.’ He abandoned his own distinctive great coat and donned the one that belonged to Reynolds’s other man, grimacing as he placed the greasy hat low on his head. ‘Right, Dennett, you and I are now the coachmen. Madison, you and your men need to surround this spot, stay close but keep well out of sight. That carriage does not leave here with Mrs Grantley and her countrywomen still on board.’
‘How do you intend to prevent it?’ Dennett asked.
‘Whilst they’re putting the ladies into the carriage, Reynolds will have to turn his back on me.’ Adam pulled his hat down even lower. ‘He has no reason to suspect us, so the moment he does, I will disarm him.’
‘But what about the other one?’ Madison asked. ‘Dennett is wounded and won’t be able to fight him off.’
‘I doubt whether he will have to. The man certainly gave in easily enough on that beach. But no shots are to be fired anywhere near the ladies if it can be avoided. Is that quite clear?’ Everyone nodded. ‘I will deal with the second man if he tries to put up a fight. If he runs clear of the carriage, Madison, then he’s all yours.’
‘Very well.’ Madison ordered his men into their positions. ‘Quick, I can hear them coming.’ He shook Adam’s hand, his expression grimly determined. ‘Good luck, Fitzroy.’
They had only just taken up their places when they heard Reynolds’s voice extolling his men to hurry.
‘Make haste, man.’ Reynolds marched up to the carriage, still pulling Florentina along by her wrist. ‘Don’t just stand there gawping. Open up the door, you idiot, and help get these hussies aboard. Keep a weather eye on this one.’ He pushed Florentina roughly through the door. ‘She’s a right little hell-cat. No, on second thoughts…’ He pulled Florentina back towards him again. She was already ascending the steps and fell at his feet, causing him to laugh. ‘Perhaps I’ll have a little fun with her first. God alone knows, I’ve earned it. Besides, her fancy man will soon be here. I’ve a mind to have him watch, knowing there’s not a thing he can do to help her without provoking me into strangling the little whore.’ He smiled, revealing his revolting teeth again, thoroughly pleased with his twisted logic.
Damn.Adam watched with frustration as Reynolds’s man pushed the rest of the women into the carriage. They mounted the steps in single file, looking terrified and confused, clinging to one another for support. He closed the door behind them and leaned against it, smirking as he watched his master wrestling with Florentina on the ground. She was putting up a spirited fight but Reynolds was so much stronger than she was. It could only be a matter of time before he subdued her.
He had to do something. And quickly. He motioned to Dennett to move to the other side of the carriage and open the door. To his credit he did so without hesitation. It took a moment for Reynolds’s man to realise that the girls were being lifted down, one by one, and ushered into the trees.
‘Here, stop!’ The man moved from the door and rushed off in pursuit. ‘Help me stop ’em,’ he yelled to Adam.
‘Certainly.’
Adam brought his gun down on the back of the man’s neck with considerable force. He grunted, fell heavily to the ground and didn’t move.
Reynolds, alerted by the commotion, paused in his efforts to force himself upon Florentina and glowered at Adam.
‘Give it up, Reynolds. You’re alone now and can’t possibly win.’
‘I can whilst I still have her.’ He gave Florentina’s arm a vicious twist, causing her to cry out. ‘Back off or I’ll do for her.’
‘And then what?’ Adam leaned against a tree, forcing himself to speak with casual indifference. ‘Kill her and I will take considerable pleasure in killing you immediately afterwards.’
Reynolds pulled Florentina to her feet with a growl of frustration, pressed a dagger against the soft skin at the base of her neck, and edged toward the carriage, shielding his own body with hers.
‘Still hiding behind a woman’s skirts, Reynolds?’ Adam asked. ‘Why not let her go? I’ll tell Madison and his men to stand down, and it will be just the two of us. Face me like a man, if you dare, and we will resolve this matter once and for all.’
