She was half Gideon’s size, but her fury made her ferocious. Her eyes communicated disgust. Gideon saw himself reflected in her contempt. Saw theGeneral. But she did not fear that aspect of Gideon. She had nothing but scorn for the brute force that he represented, the victory of anger and animal rage. Her words struck deep.
He froze, breath heaving, releasing his victim. Stafford slid to the floor, then scrambled away on all fours into the corner of the room. He wheezed, eyes wide with fear.
Meredith’s eyes blazed.
“If Catherine is with you, she is in danger. Better she remain hidden than endure such rage.”
“I will find her,” Gideon said hoarsely.
“You will not.” Meredith’s voice was iron. “Leave this house at once, Mr. Tarnley.”
For a moment, he nearly obeyed. His fury had undone him, cast him in the very image his enemies painted. But then his gaze swept the hall as he strode out. There, on a side table, lay Catherine’s bonnet.
He stopped.
“She is here,” he muttered.
Stafford swayed into the doorway and recoiled when he saw that Gideon had not left. Gideon ignored him.
“Keep your papers,louse. Take the money. I care not,” Gideon spat.
He tentatively raised the bonnet to his nose and breathed in. He could smell her hair, her perfume. It was as though she were in the room with him. Stafford jostled him as he ran fromthe house, shouting for his driver as he hurled himself into the carriage. Gideon closed his eyes, breathing in deeply.
“Your… I mean, sir… I mean, Mr. Tarnley! He has hoodwinked you. If you don’t stop him, he will go directly to Sir Obadiah and claim your share!” McKay cried, the injustice breaking through his steely self-control.
“Let him,” Gideon replied, simply.
“Let him?” Meredith echoed. “You care nothing for your money?”
“Nothing. Now, where is she,” Gideon pressed. “Bind my hands if you fear for her safety. Only, take me to her.”
Meredith seemed to consider it, pursing her lips. Gideon presented his hands, clasped together, and she gave a laugh.
“Not what I expected. But it makes no difference. A tiger does not change his stripes.”
Gideon smiled tightly. “Then, if you will excuse me, madam.”
He strode past her, deeper into the house, calling Catherine’s name. It didn’t take long to search each room. At one point, a groom appeared, blocking his way and looking for orders from Meredith. The man was twice Gideon’s age and diminutive in stature.
Without a word, Gideon took hold of the man by his upper arms and lifted him, carefully, out of his way. Meredith and the groom gaped as Gideon carefully set the man down and continued his search.
Finally, he saw the back garden through a window.
And then he saw her.
At the far end of the overgrown grounds, a man was half-dragging, half-carrying her into the trees. Catherine struggled, her hair flying about her. Gideon’s heart leapt to his throat.
“Isthatthe man you think she is safe with?!” he demanded as he hurtled past Meredith to the door that would lead him to the garden.
She looked dumbfounded.
Gideon almost ripped the house’s back door from its hinges and sprinted across the overgrown lawn towards the trees.
CHAPTER 33
Catherine’s heart seized when she heard Gideon’s voice ring through the air. It was faint at first, almost lost among the calls of the woodland birds and the rustle of leaves. Faint but unmistakable.
Gideon.
