‘Fiend seize it,’ swore Max as he realised the smell of smoke was coming from behind the door in front of them.
‘We need to find another way in,’ Adam bit out. ‘If the rooms beyond this door are on fire, we may not be able to get through.’
‘Thunder an’ turf,’ muttered the Reverend, shaking his head. He glanced up into the ever-darkening sky. ‘If you’ve got any ideas up there,’ he mumbled hopefully, ‘now would be a good time.’
They were about to retrace their steps when suddenly Nicholas stopped and held up his hand. In the silence that followed, they could hear yelling and banging.
‘Someone’s trapped.’ Malcolm voiced all their fears.
‘PATIENCE,’ Reverend Shackleford bellowed in panic. In answer, the yelling increased.
‘She’s in there,’ growled Max. Without further ado, he stepped back and slammed his boot against the door. There was an ominous groaning sound, but the lock held. Without pausing, the Marquess kicked at the wood again. This time it gave slightly, and finally, viciously he slammed his foot against the wood for the third time, and the door shot open.
Max was first in, just in time to spot Patience burst through an open door at the other end of the room. As soon as she saw him, she burst into tears.
‘What took you so long?’ she sobbed running towards him.
‘Are y …’ started Max but his question was cut off as without any hesitation at all, Patience threw herself into his arms. Holding her to him, Max groaned softly then looked over her head towards four other figures who were fleeing the smoke behind her.
‘Max, take her outside,’ Nicholas ordered, striding towards the terrified women. ‘This way,’ he thundered, as he tried to shepherd them towards the exit. Panic held the women rooted to the spot.
‘Who the bloody ‘ell are you?’ one of them blurted.
‘There’s no time,’ Nicholas bit out. ‘Can we save introductions for later?’
‘We’re God’s agents,’ boomed the Reverend in his bestslippery slope downstairsvoice. He stepped past the frustrated Duke with his hands together as if in prayer. ‘The Almighty has sent us to aid you.’
‘Bloody hell he’s a God botherer,’ breathed Lolly in awe. She couldn’t imagine why the Almighty would send a man of the cloth to someone of her ilk - even discounting her most recent profession, the last time she entered a church was probably … well never. But then she didn’t think it prudent to scoff at divine intervention. Especially when at any moment his holiness might decide he’d made a mistake. Hurriedly, she turned and ushered her frightened companions towards the entrance, clearly visible in the moonlight. ‘Bless you, my son,’ Bess shouted back helpfully as they disappeared up the steps.
By now, thick black smoke was billowing towards them, along with the distinct crackling of flames.
‘Ye need to get out now,’ shouted Malcolm from the bottom of the steps. ‘The ceiling could collapse at any moment.’
The three men needed no further urging, but just as they hurriedly began to retrace their steps, the smoke unexpectedly parted behind them to reveal a huge apparition. With half his face burnt and blackened, the giant looked like something out of Dante’s inferno as he lumbered towards them with a roar.
‘Tare an’ hounds,’ muttered the Reverend transfixed with horror.
‘Augustus,’ yelled Nicholas, ‘Move.’ The order released the clergyman from his paralysis, but by then, the monster was almost upon him. Abruptly, the sound of a gunshot pierced the air, and looking behind him, the Reverend saw Adam’s pistol smoking. Turning back, Augustus Shackleford watched helplessly as the giant slowly toppled to the ground at his feet.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Nicholas grabbed the Reverend’s shoulder and propelled him up the steps. Both were coughing helplessly as they emerged into the fresh air. ‘Father,’ shouted Patience rushing towards her parent anxiously.
‘I am fine,’ he muttered, ‘Don’t fuss. It’s not like I haven’t been shot at before.’
‘I wasn’t shooting at you,’ growled Adam, shaking his head.
‘A valid point,’ the Reverend conceded. ‘It’s a deuced good job you’re not a bad shot.’
Adam grinned. ‘You’re welcome,’ he said with a small bow.
‘We’re not out of the woods yet.’ Nicholas’s grim tone put an end to any lightheartedness. ‘There are ten of us, and we only have a carriage large enough to take six at the most.’ He paused before adding in a low voice, ‘And we don’t know where Bamford is.’
‘The devil take the rogue,’ ground out Malcolm.
‘I wish he would,’ agreed the Duke drily.
‘Can we not simply make use of his carriage as long as he’s not currently in it?’ suggested Adam.
