“Louisa! Her name is Louisa!” Phoebe snapped with anger. It showed how little notice Lord Ridlington had taken of his own household.
“Put down the pistol, you stupid girl,” Baron Notley said distractedly, evidently not seeing her as a credible threat. “You could end up shooting yourself.”
“Believe me, she is a fine shot,” Francis said. His simple words made Baron Notley stiffen and stand a little straighter, turning to look at just how much Louisa had the pistol trained on Lord Ridlington.
“Lower your pistol, my Lord,” Louisa said, still addressing him so formally despite the agonizing situation.
“Like I’m going to do that,” Lord Ridlington scoffed. “Put the pistol down.”
“No!” she screamed the word. “I will fire, my Lord. Let my mistress go. Let her leave, not just tonight, but your life as well. She deserves her own life back.”
Francis felt his lips flicker into the smallest of smiles. The scales of power in the room had turned a little, and all that power now rested with Louisa.
“You will let her go,” she said again. Her voice tremored a little, as did her hands, for the pistol shook back and forth.
Don’t shake, Louisa. Remember, you could end up shooting any of us then!
“I don’t fancy dying, Lord Ridlington,” Baron Notley said with strength. “Lower the pistol.”
“I am not coming this far to give up now,” Lord Ridlington spat the words. The pistol was still trained on Francis, though he was looking up the stairs to Louisa, and where she stood at the top of the staircase.
Francis could feel Phoebe shaking behind him with fear. He tried to subtly push her a little further behind him, terrified that if either of the pistols went off, they could strike her.
“You will have to give up,” Francis called to Lord Ridlington. “Shoot us, and Louisa shoots too. You have no choice.”
Lord Ridlington snapped his gaze back to Francis. He was like a man possessed, the whites of his eyes visible around his pupils, sweat beading on his forehead and making the loose strands of his red hair damp.
“Lower the pistol and give up your claim on Phoebe’s life,” Francis ordered.
Louisa began to walk down the stairs, just a couple of steps, but the creaking boards were enough to make Lord Ridlington snap his gaze back round to her. It made her freeze in the middle of the steps.
“Lower the pistol now, or I shoot,” Louisa ordered, her lip trembling and her hands shaking even more.
Keep your hands still, Louisa!Francis silently begged.
“I can’t do that.” Lord Ridlington’s words were final.
Francis backed up instantly, seeing the danger even before Lord Ridlington could pull on the trigger of the pistol. He shoved Phoebe even further back, even as she shouted Louisa’s name, calling for her to shoot.
“Louisa!”
Francis felt Josiah’s and Diana’s hands on the two of them as well, pulling them backward.
“No!” Baron Notley’s shout of fear joined the cacophony of the commotion. Francis looked up to see what the Baron was objecting to – Lord Ridlington was spinning round in the center of the hallway and turning the gun on Louisa.
He’s going to shoot Louisa!
“Shoot, Louisa!” Francis ordered her, but she didn’t.
Her hands trembled even more around the pistol, shaking so much that the barrel was barely pointed in one direction. Lord Ridlington aimed up the pistol, closing one eye in order to narrow his gaze and aim perfectly.
“It’s you or him, Louisa. Shoot!” Phoebe screamed from behind Francis.
Two pistol shots went off, one straight after another, echoing around the entrance hall.
Chapter 29
“Louisa!” Phoebe screamed her name’s friend in panic as the shots ricocheted around the room.
