Elyse's eyes widened. "You can't mean...?"
"They will want to question everyone." He repeated and glanced once more out into the hallway. "That is unless you're willing to leave with me now."
Sneaking into White's in disguise was one thing. But this was an entirely different matter. If she was questioned, she would be found out and that could cause all sorts of embarrassing questions for her grandmother, as well as others. And she couldn't risk Jerrold knowing she had been there.
However, depending on this man to get her out didn't sit well with her. He was completely unpredictable and, as she had pointed out on more than one occasion, certainly no gentleman. His prank with Fatima had proved it. She wondered just how long he would have left her in this room if circumstances hadn't changed.
Clearly, he didn't want to be questioned by the London police any more than she did. Which only piqued her curiosity all the more.
"All right," she agreed. "I'll go with you."
Zach smiled. She might be angry at him, but she'd go along to keep from being questioned by the police. He nodded. "I know a way out of here, but we first have to get downstairs." He took her hand and led her out into the hallway.
It was a mass of confusion. Up and down the hall, doors stood ajar. The respectable and wealthy gentlemen she'd seen hours earlier now hurried about in various states of undress.
A young woman cursed from inside one of the rooms and then emerged from it with her partner.
"I thought you knew a way out of here," she complained. Zach pulled her into one room and then another, searching the closets. When they again emerged into the hallway, it was clear time was running out. Voices came from the bottom of the stairs.
"It's got to be here somewhere."
"What the devil are you talking about?"
He pulled her with him toward the stairway.
"What are you doing? They're coming up the stairs. We'll be caught!"
Reaching the end of the hallway, Zach ran his hands over the paneled wood. It had to be here. The voices below grew steadily louder.
"What are you looking for?" Elyse bit at her lower lip as she kept an eye on the landing. She could just see the look on her grandmother's face at hearing she'd been taken in for questioning after being found disguised as a man at the notorious men's club.
"This!" Zach announced as a section of paneling swung away from the wall, revealing a compartment. "Every respectable establishment has one. After you." He gestured to the wall as a panel opened.
Elyse stared. A set of cables were at the back of the compartment. It was approximately four feet deep, of the same width, and somewhat greater height. At the moment it was occupied by a silver service cleared no doubt from one of the rooms. It was a servant's lift!
"There's no way we can both fit in there."
"Then you can wait until I send it back up," Zach informed her as he climbed inside, ducking his head.
The sound of voices was much closer now. She knew perfectly well there'd be no time for her to escape if she didn't get in immediately. Whoever belonged to those voices would be at the top of the stairs within a matter of seconds. And she was certain they weren't club members returning to resume their activities.
She climbed into the lift and found herself pinned against him. He immediately tucked her legs in and closed the panel, plunging them into complete darkness. When he pulled on the handle attached to the cables, the compartment immediately began a slow downward descent.
Elyse fumed in the cramped darkness of the lift. "Please move your hand," she said sharply, and tried to shift her position. "There's no need to hold onto me. I can't possibly go anywhere."
Zach smiled. "I was merely trying to reassure myself that you weren't a man, after all. And please quit wiggling around."
Elyse tried to sit up straight, so that they had as little physical contact as possible, and cracked her head on the ceiling of the lift.
"I must be crazy to let you talk me into this."
"Crazy perhaps, but I assure that you managed this situation all by yourself." Zach shifted, enjoying her soft curves. He smiled, trying to visualize the expression on her face as she let out an exasperated sigh.
He knew there was no question about the way her eyes looked at that moment—brilliant blue and undoubtedly ablaze with anger. The lift bumped to a stop.
"I think we've arrived," he announced with maddening humor. "Shall we stay in here the rest of the night, or take our chances outside?"
Struggling from her cramped position, Elyse braced both feet against the door and pushed. What if someone had seen them crawl into the compartment and was waiting for them even now? They could hardly return to the top. She pushed again and tumbled out into the dimly lit kitchen.
