“Why are you doing this?”
“Be quiet. You will know soon enough,” Blanchet said. His face wore a sneer now and was nothing like the man she’d thought he was. Samantha forced down the fear and focused on the anger and betrayal. She’d spent days with him painting and talking about art, and the entire time he’d been plotting to take her from Warwick.
Had Blanchet been behind the abduction attempts or the letter? Or both?
The carriage finally rolled to a stop. There were no streetlamps here, just darkness. Even the moon was behind a cloud. They were once again gagged.
“Out.” Blanchet pointed his pistol at them as his sister threw open the door.
Samantha looked at her feet.
“Untie their ankles, Eloise. No attempting to run, please, ladies. I care nothing about shooting you in the back.”
With their ankles free, they stepped from the carriage. Samantha briefly pressed her head to Maddie’s. Her sister returned the gesture. She was not alone, and even if she wished it were so, she was glad to have someone she loved at her side.
“Walk along that path, then through the gate at the end,” Blanchet said.
She saw the outline of the headstones the second she, Maddie, Blanchet, and his sister passed through the gate. A hand pushed her as she stopped.
“Follow this path.”
They moved deeper into the cemetery.
“Take those steps down.”
It wasn’t easy with her hands bound, but eventually they reached the bottom. They now stood before a gate made of iron railings. Blanchet produced a set of keys and opened it before swinging it closed behind them. He left it unlocked. Samantha hoped this was because they were leaving again soon.
This was a crypt, she was sure of it. Beside her, Maddie was as wide-eyed as her.
“Go to the end,” Blanchet said.
Samantha tried to speak, but it came out muffled.
“I’ll take your gag off when we have reached our location. Right now, you need to do as I ask.”
She and Maddie walked the long stone-lined corridor until they reached another iron door at the end. This was opened, and there were more stairs down.
“Go slowly, as it is damp,” Blanchet cautioned.
She stumbled as did Maddie, many times. Blanchet and his sister steadied them, until finally all four of them reached the bottom. It was so dark she could see nothing. No moon, no snatches of light anywhere. The air was damp and it was wet underfoot. They were now in a tunnel.
“Walk.” A hand prodded her again.
This time, they walked for longer. The slippers that were comfortable in her brother’s ballroom were not now. They offered no protection to what they walked over or the water they sloshed through.
“Halt now,” Blanchet said.
Samantha and Maddie were forced to their knees and their feet were bound once more. Her gag was removed, however, which allowed her to take a deep breath, even if the air was fetid.
“You cannot expect to get away with this!”
Blanchet dropped to his haunches before her, his hand cupping her cheek. She jerked her head back.
“I like you, Lady Samantha. You are kind and sweet natured, it is a shame you must pay for your father’s sins.”
“She is nothing to us,” his sister hissed.
“Who are you?” Samantha demanded.
