‘Let my brother go, Freddy. This has nothing to do with him.’
In answer, Freddy pushed Matt to his knees, keeping the pistol at the back of his head.
‘Who are you?’ Sebastian asked, desperate to keep Freddy talking.
Freddy shook his head. ‘If you are so curious, Somerton, my father was a farrier in Bristol. My mother died in childbirth, and my father drank himself into an early grave. Fan and I were left on our own. Let’s just say I worked my way up from the gutter where he left us.’
‘How much does Fanny know?’
His mouth worked as he framed his answer. ‘I love my sister and she deserved a better life than that she was born into.’
‘It was all for Fanny?’
Freddy didn’t answer and, for a moment, Sebastian almost believed that Freddy’s motives were born purely out of love for his sister, and then he remembered the card party and the well-honed team that guaranteed Freddy’s wins. The petty thievery had probably netted the Lynchs a tidy sum over the years. Fanny had been no innocent in Freddy’s plans and schemes.
Freddy tossed his head. ‘This is so annoying! It all started with that silly unpleasantness over the Thompson girl. He blamed me for that. Can you credit that?’
‘Did you kill her?’ Sebastian’s blood ran cold.
‘No.’ Freddy sounded indignant. ‘I told you I had nothing to do with her death, but, for some reason, Anthony seemed to think I did. As if I would succumb to the charms of a servant girl. I blame Isabel. Anthony was besotted with the infant, and, as for his fawning over Isabel, really it was all too distracting.Then he had the gall to threaten to expose Fanny and me as imposters and, most hurtful, blackmailers.’
‘Does Isabel know any of this?’
‘Of course not, but he was going to tell her. He told me so himself that day. Said he wanted us out of the house by the next morning. So you see, Somerton, he had to be punished, and he made it so easy. That night, he rode over to see Lady Kendall. All I had to do was follow him. I found he’d left his horse saddled in a deserted stable. I cut through the girth and slipped away—’ Freddy stiffened and swung his pistol to the door. ‘Who’s there? Come out and show yourself or Alder dies.’
‘Don’t hurt me!’ A small, very young voice came from the doorway, and young Peter Thompson took a small step into the room.
‘The wretched boy I gave the order to,’ Freddy snapped. ‘It was you, wasn’t it, you little urchin. You decided to keep the saddle?’
Peter’s lips trembled as he nodded his head. With Freddy distracted, Matt took the opportunity to lash out jerking his elbow back into Freddy’s knee. The pistol discharged with a blinding flash as Matt rolled away from Freddy and made a bolt for the door where the petrified boy stood.
Freddy gave a cry of anger and produced a second pistol from his jacket. Before Sebastian could shout a warning, the pistol discharged. Matt gave a sharp cry and fell forward onto the ground.
Freddy reached the door in a bound, seizing Peter by the scruff of his neck. He kicked at Matt’s prone body and relief flooded Sebastian as he heard his brother groan.
Looking back at the two bound men, Freddy shook his head.
‘Why did you have to make this so difficult?’ he complained, raising his eyes to the ceiling. ‘Now I suppose I should get out of here before the whole household descends on us. You ...’ he kicked Matt again.
Matt rolled over and pulled himself into a sitting position,clutching his right arm. Freddy jerked his head in the direction of Harry and Sebastian.
‘Over there with the others.’
Matt complied, dragging himself across the floor until he sat with his back against the chaff bins.
Peter Thompson began to cry as Freddy’s fingers tightened on his shoulder.
‘Sorry, my lord. I was just checking on Millie and the foal when I heard voices. This is all my fault.’
‘No, it’s not, Peter,’ Sebastian said.
Freddy looked around the room, his gaze lighting on the three men. A nasty smile curled the corners of his mouth. His grip firmly on Peter’s arm, he walked over to the lantern that still burned on the table, collected the discarded pistols and picked up the lantern.
‘Good evening to you, gentlemen.’
Propelling Peter before him, he left the room, shutting the door behind him. In the silence, Sebastian heard a key turn in the lock. He held his breath at the sound of rustling hay on the other side of the door. Freddy laughed. A chilling sound in the dark silence.
Harry spoke first. ‘Can you smell smoke?’
