The breath rushed from her lungs on a wheeze, and terror fluttered in her heart.No fear, she reminded herself.Not now.Remember your training.
The muscles of her arm burned and strained as she reached, her fingertips just brushing her dagger’s handle.There!She slid it toward her with the tips of her nails and clutched it tightly, prepared to stab wildly over her shoulder. Then searing pain lanced through the flesh connecting her neck and shoulder.
Maria screamed, bucking again and finally throwing off his weight. They both clambered to their knees, a thundering noise in her ears drowning out the heaving of her own breaths. With one hand pointing the dagger at the bastard and her other holding her neck, she cursed.
“Did you bloodybiteme?” She staggered to her feet. The man was like an animal, for Christ’s sake!
“Maria!” Her heart flipped over at the sound of Jasper’s voice.
“In the parlour, Jasper!” she called over her shoulder. “Francis is—” Her words died as she turned her gaze back to where the man had been, and saw nothing. “Gone.”
* * *
“Are you well,Maria? Where is he?” Jasper asked breathlessly as he rushed into the parlour, Harris and two other men at his back.
With a racing pulse and a twist in his gut, Jasper took her in. She had her blade at the ready and was clutching at her neck. Alarm sparked in his chest. Was she hurt?Christ, please don’t let her be hurt.
Eyes wide, Maria shook her head then hissed a breath. His gaze narrowed on her.
“I am well enough,” she said. “Francis left the same way in which he arrived: shrouded in darkness and all but entirely silent.”
Jasper’s spine stiffened and his stomach churned once more. “Is he armed?” His feet moved, carrying him into obscurity.
Harris and the others spread out through the room, looking for traces of Francis.
“Not that I could ascertain,” Maria said with a wince.
Cool air blew about his ankles and sent gooseflesh skittering along his skin, tightening his nipples into little nubs.
Movement caught his attention from the edge of his vision, and he swung toward it. Air billowed the heavy green curtains, and he silently cursed.
“The window is open.” Tugging the fabric wide, Harris exposed the opened window, which led out to the shadowy, moonlit gardens. “Had this room been inspected?
“No,” Maria returned. “I entered through the sitting room’s adjoining door and heard a noise. I opened the door and ventured briefly into the corridor, and when I returned, the window had been opened and Francis was inside.”
Jasper turned toward Harris. “Do you suppose he was waiting for us to leave Maria alone in the home?”
Harris’ jaw bunched. “I imagine so. No doubt he knew you and I had ventured into the stables and the others had begun their rounds out of doors.” He sighed self-deprecatingly. “My apologies, Maria, Your Grace. He slipped past us somehow.”
“Acknowledged.” Maria sheathed her dagger. “What I would like to know ishowhe was aware of our movements, and how it was so easy for him to slip past. From now on, we ought to have at least two of your men keeping guardwithinthe house, as well as those without, regardless of shift change or rounds.”
Despite the circumstance, warmth rushed through Jasper at once again seeing Maria take charge. And yet, she continued to hold her neck…
Harris nodded. “Of course.”
“Are you certain you are well, Maria?” Jasper asked.
She waved her free hand insouciantly through the air. “Of course.”
Another gust of cool wind brushed past him, and with another lingering glance at Maria, Jasper strode to the window. He slid down the sash with athunkand turned the lock. But it kept turning. “Bloody hell, the lock’s broken.”
“The staff checked the locks in the windows belowstairs, and I tested the others on this floor, but found none with a broken lock. This must have been his only access point,” Maria offered from behind him.
“Who among my staff broke the lock from the first?”
Maria returned his frown with one of her own. “When Francis is apprehended and your guard relieved of duty, I daresay we ought to conduct interviews of your staff to ensure your safety. Come to it, we must uncover Francis’ method of escaping the noose—for, once caught, he could very well do so again.”
Jasper hummed in agreement. “In the meantime, we require a wedge to keep this window shut until the lock can be repaired.”
