Mungo ran to the door with Calder.
“Eliza!” He thumped his fist on the wood. “It’s me, Mungo!”
“Mungo?”
“Aye, I’m coming in,” he called through the wood.
“No! Wait—not yet,” she replied. “We have it barricaded!”
He heard something being dragged, and then some cursing from inside the room as he tried the handle.
“There’s no key,” Mungo said rattling the handle.
“Everyone move away from the door. I’m going to fire my gun!” Leo roared.
Seconds later he raised his pistol and fired at the lock. Mungo kicked the door with a roar. Calder aimed at the hinges, and the combined strike made the door fly open.
They burst into the room.
The air was thick inside from lantern smoke and the sweet, sickly scent of something. Two beds were in the middle of the room, one on its side. Behind it, he saw her—and Fenella.
“Eliza,” he croaked, and seconds later, she was in his arms as Fenella ran to her father.
“Well, I didn’t see that coming,” he heard Alex say.
“That’s because, unlike the rest of us, you are an unobservant idiot,” his brother declared.
Mungo locked his arms around Eliza as she pressed her face into his chest and held on.
“I have you now,” he whispered into her ear. “My brave girl.”
When he’d inhaled a lungful of her scent, he raised his head and found Calder weeping with Fenella in his arms. The others were helping the three women, who appeared to be unconscious.
“Laudanum,” Eliza said, looking up at him. “He kept them drugged with that until he needed them.”
“It’s all right now. We’ll take care of those responsible. You’re safe.” He kissed her softly.
“Mungo, what are you doing? Others will see,” she whispered.
He cared nothing for that right then, only that she was safe in his arms.
“We need to get these girls help at once,” Ram said. “They can’t ride. We’ll need something to transport them in.”
“I came in a cart,” Eliza said, pushing on Mungo’s chest to be released.
She was tired, likely hurting, but still she wanted to help rescue the others.
“I’ll look,” Mungo said.
“I’ll help.”
“No. You’ll stay in that room safe until we’re ready to leave,” Mungo said to Eliza.
He went to his niece and pressed a kiss on her head before leaving the room. He moved through the barn, seeking what he needed.
“You!”
He spun in time to see Baron Ellington raise his pistol.
