Tobias stepped towards Dorian, growling.
Dorian let go of my hand.
I tried to wrest a bawling Freddie from his arms.
Dorian fended me off, gasping, ‘No, he’s mine!’
Before anyone could stop him, he rushed out the side door with Freddie into the falling snow.
***
‘Nooooo! Bring him back!’ I screamed at his disappearing form.
But Dorian was gone, swallowed up by the darkness. He didn’t hear me or, more likely, chose not to hear me.
Tobias grabbed my arm, but I shook it off and shot out the door after Dorian before he could restrain me.
As soon as I took two steps onto the path, my thin dance slippers were soaked through, and my arms erupted in gooseflesh. But I ran anyway, ignoring the biting cold. Freddie was wearing only a thin nightgown and pantalettes. He didn’t even have bootees on. He was going to freeze to death!
I could hear him crying out to me somewhere up ahead, ‘Mama! Mama!’ And it spurred me on. Rounding the side of the house, I saw a Dorian-shaped figure reach one of the carriages, rouse the driver, and bundle a squirming Freddie inside. The carriage took off down the drive, and I let out a scream of frustration.
Wiping snowflakes from my eyes, I whirled around on numb feet and stumbled towards the stables.
George was not pleased to be woken from his doze.
He was even less pleased when I began saddling him. He snorted and moved around to make it difficult.
‘Yes, yes, I know. It’s warm in here, and you don’t want to go outside. But ... but we have to save Freddie!’
My fingers were so stiff from the cold I couldn’t do up the buckles, and the saddle slipped off his back onto the stable floor. I burst into tears.
The next thing I knew, strong arms were around me, and I was enveloped in a familiar masculine scent.
‘Hush, dearest,’ said Max, kissing me on the temple. ‘Tobias told me what happened. I’ll go after him on Apollo. He hasn’t had much of a head start.’
I sagged against him in relief. His voice was calm and confident. The way he was talking, it was a done deal: Freddiewouldbe coming home if Max had anything to do with it.
‘It’s my fault. I never should have gone to London,’ I gabbled guiltily.
Max sat me down on a hay bale while he quickly saddled Apollo, who was much more cooperative than George, I have to say.
‘There is no point blaming yourself, Fliss,’ said Max, swinging into the saddle. He was bundled up in his greatcoat, but he was still wearing his mask, so he looked like a highwayman. ‘Go inside now, before you freeze. I’ll bring himback safely.’
I stood on shaky legs, feeling helpless. ‘Is there anything I can do?’
‘Yes, look after our guests and deflect any questions they and our families may have about our absence. It’s important to act like nothing’s wrong. Our reputations depend on it.’
I nodded. ‘All right.’
Apollo was stomping and pulling at his bit, eager to be off on the adventure.
Max gave me a wry smile, as if to say, ‘Look at the pickle we’ve got ourselves in.’
‘I love you, Fliss.’
‘I love you too.’
Then Max was away, speeding down the snow-covered drive, white flurries kicked up by Apollo’s hooves and his black greatcoat billowing out behind him. The drama of the scene wasn’t lost on me.
