Because he loved her. She understood that now.
And she couldn’t let him be hurt again by love.
“You don’t have to do this,” she said in what she hoped was a reasonable voice. “I’ve regained control of my trust, replaced the trustee that Adam had in his pocket. I give you my word that Billings Bank will not call in your loans until your project is complete. I will honor my father’s pledge to you.”
De Villier studied her, his head cocked. “Hmm, an interesting notion. But I’m afraid I cannot leave my fate up to a stranger, no matter how pretty she may be. Now you’ll have to excuse me, Mrs. Garrity, for I have to prepare for the evening’s festivities.”
He collected his lamp, went to the door. Desperation gripped her. She couldn’t do nothing, be the bait for Adam’s trap. Powered by sheer determination, she ran full-tilt toward the open door, toward De Villier’s retreating back…
A hand shoved her in the chest. She flew backward, sprawling on the ground. Head spinning, she looked up at a scarred and menacing face—the guard from the ball.
Her limbs shook as he scowled down at her and barked, “Stay put.”
He slammed the door, sealing her in darkness.
37
Nearing dusk,fog cloaked the Thames, obscuring everything but the black water beneath the stealthy trio of lighters. Scanning the environs from the prow, Adam was grateful that Mother Nature was on his side. The dense grey miasma would provide excellent cover for his siege.
For the greatest battle of his life, one he could not lose.
Wait for me, my love. I’m coming.
With a nod to Kerrigan to keep watch, he descended into the ship’s cabin, shutting the door to prevent the leakage of lamplight. The faces that greeted him were somber but determined. Once again, he was thankful that his wife’s sweet nature had won her so many friends. Despite the danger of the night’s mission and the short notice, Kent, Strathaven, and Ransom had offered their assistance, their men following in the other boats. Murray joined them around the table.
“We’re almost at the foundry.” Too on edge to sit, Adam remained standing. “The good news is that we’ll have surprise on our side. De Villier has no idea that I have a man on the inside who tipped me off to this location. The bastard thinks he has hours to prepare for our meeting. When we attack, he won’t be expecting it.”
“How many men does De Villier have?” Strathaven asked.
“Close to a hundred, according to my man. De Villier apparently hired some additional cutthroats for the occasion,” Adam said grimly. “Given that we didn’t have time to do the same, we will be outnumbered.”
“My devices will make up for any disadvantage.” Kent’s spectacles glinted.
The other had brought along an arsenal of smoke-emitting canisters and explosive devices. When Adam’s brows had lifted at the stockpile Kent’s men loaded onto the ship, Tessa Kent, who’d come to see them off, had given her husband a fond smile.
“Harry likes to be prepared,” she’d said impishly.
Adam had to admit that it was damned useful to have a scientist on his side.
“Before you start tossing detonating devices pell-mell,” Strathaven said wryly to his brother-in-law, “we’ll have to ensure Mrs. Garrity’s safety first. Garrity, did your man mention where De Villier is keeping her?”
Adam gripped the table’s edge. “He didn’t know at the time when he sent the message. He was with De Villier when their guards arrived with Gabriella. He barely had time to get a note off to me before De Villier ordered them all to the foundry.”
“One of my colleagues in the Royal Society toured the foundry and was able to give a rough idea of its layout. I made a sketch.” Kent unrolled a drawing on the table. “There are four main buildings, one facing each direction. Each building is accessible with a door to the outside—a precaution should there be a fire or any other need for escape. The doors will likely be bolted, but one of my milder explosives ought to do the trick.”
“Who needs a key when one has explosives?” Ransom drawled.
“We can each lead a team to search a building,” Murray put in.
“We need a signal,” Adam said. “To let the others know when Gabriella is found.”
“I brought fireworks,” Kent said. “The blue sparks will be visible even with the fog, and the devices make a sound like a thunderclap that can’t be mistaken.”
Despite his grim mood, Adam felt a prick of humor. “Anything else in your pocket, Kent?”
Kent lifted his brows. “What do you need?”
“I’ll take the northern building,” Murray said.
