She closed her eyes and let her body go slack as the coach came to a shuddering halt.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Sebastian woke with a headache, a sore throat, and a sore hand. He lay staring up at the silk bed hangings as the events of the night seeped back into his consciousness with sickening clarity.
What was he doing lying in bed when Isabel remained in the hands of a madman?
He sat up, coughing, and cast a disparaging glance at his bandaged right hand.
‘Sebastian?’
He turned his head and smiled at the sight of his sister in the chair beside his bed.
‘Connie?’ His voice sounded hoarse, and the act of talking caused him to cough.
She stretched and smiled. ‘The good lord in his wisdom built you tough, Sebastian Alder.’
‘What time is it, Connie? How long have I been asleep?’
Connie glanced at the window where daylight clawed its way around the folds of the curtains.
‘At least eight,’ she said.
‘I’ve lost hours!’ Sebastian said.
‘Harry put together a search party, Bas, but they came backan hour ago—no trace of the coach in the dark. Where are you going?’ she added as Sebastian swung his legs out of the bed.
‘I’ve got to rescue Isabel.’
Sebastian stumped around the room, trying to find where Bennet and Pierce hid his clothes. He gave a groan of exasperation and sank into the chair and buried his face in his hands. ‘I’m an idiot, Connie. I underestimated Freddy’s capacity for evil.’ He looked up at his sister, seeing the distress in her face. ‘Where’s Harry?’
‘Downstairs. When I last saw him, he had his breakfast plate piled high.’
Sebastian nodded. ‘Tell Harry I’ll be down in a few minutes—and can you find Bennet? I’ll take him along as well. I’ll need Pharaoh saddled and ready as soon as possible.’
‘M’Lord, you’re surely not thinking of going after the man yourself?’ Pierce chided him from the door.
‘Clothes, Pierce. Now! Where’s Bennet?’
Pierce opened his mouth to utter another protest but Sebastian fixed the man with a cold glare.
‘Mr. Bennet is with young Mr. Alder, sir,’ Pierce replied.
Still half dressed, Sebastian threw open the door to Matt’s bedchamber. His brother, deathly pale, appeared to be asleep. Bennet sat in a corner, polishing Matt’s boots.
‘Get the pistols, Bennet.’
Bennet’s eyes gleamed. ‘Action, sir?’
‘I hope not, but I need you. Snap to it, Bennet, I’m leaving now.’
As Bennet scuttled from the room, Matt turned his head on the pillow.
‘Bas? Give me a few minutes, I’ll come with you.’
Sebastian crossed to the bed and put a hand on his brother’s shoulder. ‘You’re not going anywhere.’
Matt screwed up his face in pain. ‘Damn it. Why did he shoot me, Bas.’
