“You meant it, didn’t you?” Harry asked after a time.
“Meant what?”
“What you said to Aunt Maude back there. That you love my brother.”
“Of course I meant it.”
“Even though he didn’t protect Nicky?”
She turned a shocked face toward him. “It wasn’t his fault. It was mine. I was the one who goaded Count Anton to—”
“Nonsense,” Harry cut her off bluntly. “That job took a lot of planning. He had his plan in place long before you said a word to him. It wasn’t you at all. But it was Gabe’s job to protect Nicky and he botched it. And yet you still say you love him?”
Callie was shocked by his simplistic view of things. “Is that what you think Gabriel expects? That if he fails, I would stop loving him?”
“Of course.”
“Well, I won’t. What sort of a love is it that treats everything as a test? If he—if he fails, I will need him more than—” her voice broke.
Harry covered her hand with his and patted her. “Don’t worry,” he said gruffly. “He’ll bring Nicky back to you.”
“Yes, yes, I know he will,” she said, trying to stay positive. She stared out into the black night and prayed for her son and the man she loved to be returned to her safe and sound.
She needed quite desperately to hold them in her arms and know they were safe. Both of them.
The lights of London were behind Gabe now. The notorious Black Heath lay a short distance ahead. Footpads, highwaymen, all kinds of criminals lurked on the wild heathland, picking off coaches and lone travelers.
Gabe was some miles ahead of the others, thanks to Trojan’s speed, stamina, and great heart. The others had been forced to make do with whatever horses were in Lady Gosforth’s stables.
But even Trojan was tiring. Gabe would have to get a fresh horse soon, perhaps at Rochester, on the other side of the heath. There was a livery stable there, he recalled.
He pressed on. He had to catch up with them before the count reached the yacht. Once the yacht cast off, it was anyone’s guess where he’d take Nicky. He couldn’t believe the count had gone to all this trouble to return Nicky to Zindaria. All kinds of possibilities chased through Gabe’s mind. The boy could be sold into slavery, put on the galleys, tossed overboard…
But the count would need a body before he could inherit the throne. Whatever he planned, it had to look natural. Was that his plan, return Nicky to Zindaria, let a few people see him, and then…another dose of poisoned milk? Dreadful as it seemed, the thought was almost reassuring. It would give Gabe more time to reach them.
He reached Black Heath but didn’t slacken his pace. It was a fine, bright night and the road ahead was clear. The areas with scrubby vegetation were the danger spots. His pistols were primed and ready. If there were footpads, he would be ready for them.
Trojan was blowing hard, so Gabe slowed his pace to a fast trot. He glimpsed a movement up ahead. Gabe narrowed his eyes but the moon chose that moment to slip behind clouds. He pulled out a pistol and continued on his way, keeping a wary eye out.
He heard it before he saw it, one horse, coming fast, heading directly toward him. He pulled Trojan up to the side of the road, cocked his pistol, and waited.
The horse came closer and closer. Gabe frowned. He could hardly see the rider. He must be lying down along the horse’s neck. Tricky devils, highwaymen.
The horse was almost upon him. Gabe lifted his pistol just as the moon came out. The moonlight glinted on its barrel.
“Mr. Renfrew, don’t shoot!” a thin, high voice screamed. “It’s me, Nicky. I escaped!”
Eighteen
“Nicky! Thank God!” Gabe was so relieved he simply leaned over, lifted the boy out of the saddle, and wrapped him in a big hug. Nicky hugged him back.
“Are you all right?” Gabe demanded. “How did you get away? I can’t believe it!” He hugged the boy again. “Thank God.”
Nicky grinned up at him. “I escaped.”
“All by yourself?” He laughed and ruffled the boy’s hair. “How did you manage that? No, wait.” Gabe squinted into the darkness. “Is anyone following you?”
“Probably,” Nicky said. “It will depend on how long it takes Count Anton to discover which way I went.”
