“We heard she had been taken.”
Gabe told them what he had learned, and Forrest knew this was because they were part of Alexius.
“Well then, let’s go,” the duke said.
And just like that they were seven, and Forrest cared little who rode with him, only that he got Ruby back and soon. He listened as his cousins mentioned the name Ezekiel Knight.
Had Ruby’s father used his daughter to take that message to theGodfrey, and kidnapped his son? It seemed unlikely.
Thoughts churned around and around inside his head. Thoughts about Ruby and where she was. That she may be hurt and needing him. He had to block those out or go mad. So he focused instead on what he’d do when he got hold of the men who took her from him. How he would make them pay. He would then take his woman home and never let her go.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
The secret passage had many doors. Beside each there was a sliding window. After opening the first, she did not do so again. She found stairs that took her down to another floor. Narrow, they turned sharply and descended once more. At the bottom was yet another hallway, with more doors and secret windows. Was this where the women had been taken after they’d been kidnapped from ships like theGodfrey? Could she find them and help them escape?
Reaching the end of the hall, she found another door, but no secret window. It had a sturdy piece of wood barring it, plus a lock. There was, however, no key.
Moving closer, Ruby pressed her ear to the keyhole. She heard nothing.
“Is there anyone in there?”
She heard noise, almost like a shuffling sound.
“Hello,” she said again, pressing her mouth to the keyhole. She raised the lamp and looked through it, and an eye met hers.
“Help,” a soft voice whispered.
“I will get you out,” she said.
The sound of a door opening had her extinguishing the lamp and backing up, frantically searching for somewhere to hide. The only place was a dark corner. Clutching the lamp, she pressed herself to the wall. It was dark, but someone would easily see her if they had light.
A man stopped beside the door and lowered a candle to the floor. He pulled out some keys. Ruby realized that to escape she would likely need those keys. Raising the lamp, she stepped up behind him silently, and brought it down hard on the man’s head. He crumpled to the floor.
Dear Lord, had she killed him?
Heart thumping, she pressed her fingers to his neck and felt a pulse. Lowering the lamp with trembling fingers, beside the candle Ruby stepped over him. Grabbing the keys, she pushed one into the lock. Her fourth attempt found the right one. Grabbing the candle, she stepped inside and raised it.
Four women were in the room. All seated on a mattress on the floor.
“I mean you no harm,” Ruby said quickly. “I am here to help you escape.”
They said nothing, just stared at her.
“Come, you must hurry.” She moved closer to where they sat.
“There is no escape,” one of them said. Her words were cold and empty.
“We must try,” Ruby said.
The woman rose, staggering slightly when she stood. She had long black hair and dark skin and was exceptionally beautiful. In fact, all the women were. One blonde, another had hair the color of sunrise. Each had an empty look in their eyes.
“What have you been given?”
She pointed to a large bottle by the door. Beside it was a spoon. Ruby shuddered. It was likely laudanum, like she had been given.
These women had been given it to make them slow and manageable. Her anger climbed. She had to get them out.
“Now you must all listen to me.” She grabbed the woman’s hand as she bent at the waist to look at the others. “We must get out of here, but I need your help.”
