Lucian had never run so quicklyin his life and he was nearly out of breath when he finally slowed as he approached the cave and then drew back when he spotted the body of one of his footmen.
His stomach tightened and he rushed forward to check if the man was dead or alive.
Lucian knelt by his side then noted the breathing as the man’s chest rose and fell, then noticed the blood that trailed down the side of his head from where he had likely been hit.
He rose and then slowly and quietly made his way toward the entrance of the cave only to note that the second footman was also on the ground, and unconscious, the same as the first.
Was Eliza still in the cave? Had she been harmed or had that man taken her?
He lifted the gun, ready to fire if necessary and quietly approached the entrance of the cave.
There was little light ahead and Lucian wished that he would have brought a lantern, but he did not have time to go back and retrieve one. Eliza could be lying in there injured, or worse.
He didn’t want to think about the worst and slowly made his way into the cave, staying in the center so as not to trip over protruding rocks along the side. Lucian remembered exploring here as a child and hoped that his memory of the twists and turns did not fail him.
As he reached the curve in the formation, he paused but a moment and listened.
Yes! Those were voices and one belonged to Eliza. He did not recognize the other, but it was a man.
Lucian took a deep breath and willed his heart to calm before he continued to ease forward ready to duck out of sight before he was seen.
“Now, come along. You do not want to miss the surprises that I have planned for you.”
Lucian stopped and waited. If they came toward him, he could come up from behind and strike the man, just as the footmen had been injured.
“Very well,” Eliza said with resignation.
How long had the two of them been in the cave? She must have been wondering what became of the footmen. And, knowing Eliza, she had likely tried to keep the man there for as long as possible in hopes of rescue. More likely, she was trying to plan an escape since Eliza was not the type of female who wanted to rely on anyone.
“I will take the lantern,” the man said.
“I do not mind carrying it,” she said. “You also have your own.”
If Lucian knew Eliza, she was probably hoping to crash it over his head and take off running. Maybe she hadn’t been given the opportunity yet.
“Very well but stay near and in front of me.”
No doubt that as soon as Eliza reached the entrance of the cave, she would take off running. Hopefully Lucian would be able to knock the man out, or kill him if necessary, so she did not have to run so far.
As he heard their footsteps approaching, Lucian flattened himself against the wall of the cave and waited.
The first to appear was Eliza and he glanced down to note that she clutched her dress, no doubt with plans to lift it high enough to run the moment she got the chance. If he were Eliza, Lucian would throw the lantern at the man’s face then take off running as fast as he could. He then looked to her profile, but she was looking ahead, mouth set with determination and had not seen him.
Eliza was planning exactly how she intended to get away from him and Lucian admired her strength and tenacity. So many others would panic or be reduced to tears, but not Eliza.
Next came the man, but the lantern was held in a manner that blocked his face, which was a good thing because otherwise, he would have seen Lucian.
As the two passed, Lucian stepped away from the wall, lifted his pistol and with all the strength that he could muster, brought it down on the back of the man’s head.
He stumbled forward, the lantern falling from his grasp as it fell to the ground, the glass shattering and extinguishing the light.
There was just enough light from Eliza’s lantern that Lucian could tell that he was unconscious. Just how long he would remain that way was yet to be seen.
“Lucian?”
He glanced up, his eyes meeting her grey ones. As he took a step forward, over the body of that man, Eliza set her lantern aside and, in an instant, she was in his arms.
“I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost you,” he murmured in her hair and he held her close.
