In all the years she and her family had lived in this townhouse, she’d had no idea of its existence. How long had it even been here? Had Travell had it built when he became a spy?
Hundreds of questions ran through her mind, but she knew there was plenty of time for answers later. Right now, she had to focus on her objective.
Beyond the meeting room, she found a tunnel, and a rather narrow one at that. It was fashioned out of dirt, although there were wooden beams that reinforced the sides and roof in order to prevent cave-ins. She shuddered, and the sudden image of her becoming trapped made her quicken her steps with a bit more trepidation.
She walked for some time, the passage taking quite a few twists and turns, although it thankfully all led in one direction with no forks to choose from. Finally, she noticed a faint light ahead. She doused the candle, lest it give her presence away to whatever lay beyond this hidden cavern, her heart thumping the entire way.
As she drew closer, she realized it was the exit, although it was half covered by brush, allowing in only a sliver of illumination. Triana paused and listened for any sound that might tell her where she might have ended up, but upon hearing nothing but the chirping answer of a few crickets, she began to push her way through the debris. The sticks and leaves clawed at her clothes, but she managed to make it out virtually unscathed.
It was only after she’d begun to glance around at her surroundings, that a strong hand clamped tightly over her mouth, muffling her instant, terrified scream, before a gruff voice whispered next to her ear, “And just where do you think you’re going?”
***
Gabriel had heard someone coming down the secret passage long before anyone climbed out, the echo of footsteps practically indiscernible — unless someone was specifically listening for them — as he had been.
He’d quickly concealed himself behind a large rock and hunched down to wait for the intruder to appear, for he knew that light tread did not belong to the viscount.
With the squirming figure in his arms, Gabriel wasn’t so sure that he’d caught any major threat. A small wisp of a thing, it was likely nothing more than a curious lad who’d stumbled on to the tunnel by accident and had decided to investigate, although he’d bet the boy would think twice about such an endeavor the next time he had an inclination to poke around.
Not until he was preparing to let the boy go did he catch the familiar scent of roses; the smell assaulting his brain more thoroughly than any weapon. The “boy,” whose face was concealed by an overly large hat, had Gabriel barely withholding a curse, for he had only to wager a single guess as to who was truly beneath the guise.
He prayed he was wrong, although he knew in his gut that he wasn’t. “Triana.”
Immediately, the figure went stock still in his arms. “Gabriel?”
Bloody hell.
He was torn, glad to see her lovely face again, and wanting to wring that graceful neck for taking such a foolish risk in that ridiculous disguise. She’d obviously been following Travell, but for what end?
While he wanted to growl at her to return home, he had to find out what she knew.
If his own suspicions were correct…
***
He spun her around to face him, those stony, silver eyes taking in her baggy, masculine attire in one fell swoop. “What in God’s name are you doing out here dressed like that?” he snapped.
Normally, Triana would have taken great pleasure in catching the Duke of Chiltern off guard so easily, but she actually had the good grace to appear a bit sheepish as she said defensively, “I was following Travell.”
He stared at her as if she’d completely taken leave of her senses. “And you felt it wise to peruse Hyde Parkaloneat two in the morning?”
Her eyes shifted past him as realization dawned. “That’s where we are?”
“Triana.” He stated her name firmly in an apparent effort to regain her attention, and her eyes flew back to his. The expression on his face seemed to say it was all he could do to keep from shaking her.
“He’s in trouble,” she quickly explained.
Those glorious eyes of his narrowed to mere slits. “So your idea of helping him was to endanger yourself?”
Her face heated, although she shot back, “Of course that wasn’t my intention! I only wanted to—”
“Let me guess,” he interrupted dryly. “I suppose you were planning on charging to his rescue?” He scoffed. “And without even knowing what you were getting yourself into. Isn’t that right?”
She opened her mouth, but promptly snapped it shut. In truth, she wasn’t sure what she had been prepared to do, only that she had to act.
“Tell me everything.”
She complied, relaying everything that she’d overheard. He listened without interruption until she’d finished, although his frown grew deeper as she recounted the past half hour’s events.
