His hand tangled in her hair. "Shh, love, I'm fine." His voice hoarsened. "Morgan… my thanks."
"Time for that later," Nicholas said. "Can you walk?"
Gavin grimaced as he tried to move his left leg. "Don't think so."
"I'll help you," Nick said decisively. "First we'll have to figure out how to hoist you up." They all looked upward into floor above, a hellish inferno of swirling fire and smoke.
Then Percy remembered. "They kept me here in the basement earlier. There was a door, leading outside. I think I saw The Thames."
"Back of the building," Nick said. "Let's go."
Between the three of them, they managed to get Gavin on his feet. With one arm around Nick's shoulders and Nick's arm around his waist, Gavin limped along. Percy led the way, clearing the fallen debris and navigating around the growing flames. At last, they came to the familiar room at the end of the corridor.
"Over there." Racing over to the door, Percy wrenched it open. The three of them struggled up the steps... and into chaos.
The battle outside raged as fiercely as the fire within. Gavin's men and The Thames River Police were fighting valiantly against Kingsley's brutes, but they were far outnumbered. Percy called out a warning as villains surrounded Mr. Kent, knives flashing.
Setting Gavin onto the gravel, Nicholas ordered, "Stay with Hunt, Percy. I've got to help Kent."
"You'll stay right where you are, my lord." Kingsley appeared from behind them, his hair singed and a pistol in each hand. "I've got Hunt and Harteford," he shouted. "Throw down your weapons, or I'll put holes in them both."
The fighting slowly came to a halt. Kingsley's men corralled the others, who stood back to back, their glances wary.
"Now that that's settled," Kingsley said, "I believe the price for your freedom has just gone up. Fifteen thousand, Harteford."
Nicholas gave a terse nod. "Whatever you say."
"Forget it, Morgan," Gavin said. "He's going to kill us anyway."
Kingsley cocked his pistol. "Shut your mouth, Hunt. I've a mind to dispense with you for all the trouble you've caused."
Just as Percy moved to shield Gavin, the thunderous sound of horses broke through the night. A procession of carriages sped in their direction and formed a circle around them. Enormous ebony steeds pawed at the ground; from the windows of the vehicles, men in greatcoats aimed pistols at all of them. A liveried footman scurried to let down the steps of the main carriage, a monstrously elegant equipage of gleaming black and inlaid mother-of-pearl.
A man wearing a grey wig and the fashion of the last century descended. Barrel-chested and short, he nonetheless had an incontrovertible air of command. He pointed the jeweled knob of his walking stick at Kingsley.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" Kingsley stammered. All bravado had fled him, and his voice shook with fear.
Who is this man?Percy wondered.
"Is that any way to greet your own father-in-law?" The newcomer approached Kingsley, his tone deep and menacing. "Then again, it appears you're lackin' in respect for my family in general."
"I—I don't know what you mean, sir. If you're referring to this incursion," Kingsley said, his eyes darting side to side, "I meant to surprise you with my prowess. I've a fortune coming from tonight, one which I'll of course be splitting with—"
"Ain't talkin' 'bout money. Talkin' about my Mavis. The treasure I entrusted you with."
Kingsley paled. "I've made her happy. Ask her yourself. When she returns from Bath—"
"That's the one blessing in all o' this, I suppose. What my baby doesn't know won't hurt 'er." The stranger sighed. "She'll mourn, poor dove, but she'll find true love the next time. I'll see to that."
"You crazy old bastard. You're not getting rid of me," Kingsley snarled, raising his pistol.
A shot rang through the night. Kingsley fell to the ground, screaming as blood gushed from his arm. Smoke rose from the pistol of the guard atop the main carriage. Two other men came forward and dragged Kingsley, struggling and cursing, into one of the other conveyances. The door closed, and he was heard no more.
Mr. Kent spoke first. "We must attend to the fire."
Black waved his walking stick, and his men dashed to help the others gather buckets and water from the river. Mr. Kent started to follow, but stopped. He turned with his shoulders hunched.
"Mr. Black, if I may ask," he said, "where is Lady Draven?"
