“What? Why?”
“All will be revealed. Now walk to the bottom of the garden.”
“I don’t understand?”
“Move.” The gun prodded her in the back.
“Come, Samantha. We must do as he says for now,” Maddie said.
“Yes, my lady, do as your sister suggests. It will go easier for you if you do. Walk now, and do not stop until I tell you. I have no time for your theatrics. While I had hoped you’d come alone, it is advantageous that you brought another Raven with you.”
Maddie swore at the man in French. Samantha opened her mouth to scream, but the gun pressed into her spine stopped her.
“Walk through the gate. A carriage is not far,” Blanchet said from before them.
“Let my sister go. You need only me,” Samantha said.
“I am nobody’s fool, my lady. If she runs, then they are notified. Right now, they are busy in there with all those other English fools. Your disappearance will go unnoticed for some time.”
No it won’t, Samantha thought. They’d feel that something was not right, and when they searched for her and Maddie, they would not find them and start looking.
They walked through the park, moonlight creating shadows from the trees, until they reached the narrow road that wound through this part of it. A carriage stood there, door open.
“Get inside.”
They did, and Samantha tamped down her fear and anger. Everything would be all right. She and Maddie just had to hang on until the others reached them. Mr. Blanchet and the woman who had held the gun at their backs joined them.
“And now we have them because we followed my direction and not yours, sister.”
“I don’t understand any of this,” Samantha said, looking at the man who had clearly fooled her.
“You need only understand that my sister and I will receive a great deal of money for your release, or at least that is what your family is led to believe. What we actually intend to do will be revealed soon. Tie them up, Eloise.”
Samantha thought about trying to escape, but a stray bullet might hit Maddie and she could not allow that to happen. Instead, she let Blanchet bind her ankles and wrists, then gag her. In minutes, the carriage was taking them away from everyone they loved.
Find me, Warwick. She focused all her thoughts on him. The man she now had a deeper connection with. He’d feel her fear, as Harry would feel Maddie’s.
He was her Sinclair. He had to find them.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
Warwick wandered around the ballroom, and when he could not find Samantha, he headed into the supper room, which he was not surprised to find most of his family occupying.
“I said I would save them for Maddie and Samantha, Cam, back away from that plate.” Dorrie was attempting to hold a plate above her head as Cam reached for it.
“Come, little sister, I am your favorite brother. Surely I am more important to you than two Ravens.”
“No,” Dorrie said. “Ash, take the plate. He will not attempt to intimidate you.”
Ash did as his wife said and gave Cam a look.
“Oh, very well, I shall eat a Florentine, but it will not be as nice,” Cam muttered.
“Where is Samantha?” Warwick asked.
“Apparently, Mr. Blanchet is unwell, and a note asked if she would come to his aid. Maddie went with her.”
The tension hit him fast and hard. Harry, who was just about to shove a large mouthful of cake into his mouth, dropped it.
