Iris wasn’t sure how long she lay on the floor of that carriage, but when it slowed, she wished they would keep moving longer, because now she was to meet her fate… whatever that fate may be.
The road beneath them became more rutted, and she was jostled again before they stopped.
“Out you get, my dear sister-in-law,” Renton said. She was then thrown over his shoulder again.
They walked up stairs, and she was sure they entered a building, as the floor sounded different, more solid. Soon they were walking down what she guessed were steps. The air was colder now, and Iris shivered. She was in her nightdress and nothing more. She heard a door creak.
“Did you have any trouble?” a voice she didn’t know asked.
“None. The boy and staff all slumbered, so there was no need to subdue either,” someone said.
Iris shuddered at the thought of anyone subduing her son. He was safe, for now, but she had to get back to him. To do that, she had to keep her wits about her, as no one would know besides Henry that she’d been taken. There was no help coming. She had to find a way to escape herself.
She was lowered to sit on something. The sack was removed, and she stared into her former brother-in-law’s evil eyes.
“Well now, Iris, I warned you to yield to me, but you didn’t. Now I’m going to ask you some questions, and if you want to see your son again, you will answer them.”
She didn’t respond.
“Who saved you at the White Swan?”
Iris stayed silent.
“You found my brother’s papers, didn’t you? The ones with information about the Brothers of Faith. Where are they?” Renton bent so his face was inches from hers.
“I gave them to someone who will find every one of you and make you pay for your crimes,” Iris hissed back at him.
“What crimes? We are but a group of men who—”
“Partake in nefarious deeds,” Iris said. “And you wouldn’t have shown your face to me if you weren’t going to kill me, Loftus, so why would I tell you anything?”
“You always were too intelligent for your own good, but my brother just never saw it.” He ran a finger down her cheek. Her hands were bound in front of her, so she raised them fast and got him under the chin.
His curse was loud and vulgar.
“Where are my brother’s papers?” he demanded.
“I gave them to the magistrate,” Iris lied.
His face turned the color of a ripe plum. “You lie!”
“Do I? You’ll never know what I found in my late husband’s things. The papers I handed over to the magistrate had an interesting letter about the late Lord and Lady Montgomery. There was also a bundle of papers tied with a black ribbon, which was what whoever was in that room in the White Swan asked me to find and hand over. It had an interesting wooden symbol attached to it.” Iris watched the color now drain from Loftus Renton’s face with every word she uttered.
“I don’t believe you. You’re not brave enough to hand those over and thereby sully your son’s future heritage,” Renton said, but she saw he wasn’t so sure of himself now.
“Really? Well, you’ll just have to wait and see who comes knocking on your front door,” Iris said with far more confidence than she had.
“Liar!” He moved so fast she couldn’t stop him. His hand clenched around her throat and squeezed. “Tell me the truth!”
Iris felt her vision waver as she struggled to make a sound.
“She can hardly speak if you have your hand around her neck, Renton. Release her at once.”
They pulled him off her, and Iris sucked air into her mouth. She looked at the other man who had just arrived. It was Lord Picton, one of her husband’s friends and one man who had been insistent about searching his study.
“Forgive him, Lady Challoner.” He smiled at her, and the evil in his eyes made her shiver. His thin lips formed a sneer as he gave her a mocking bow. “Now I want you to tell me. Who rescued you in the White Swan?”
“It was you that night!”
