Chapter Thirty
When Flynn’s carriagepassed through the tall gates of Greystones Manor, John took his fine pair of Manton’s pistols out of their case and checked them. He handed a gun to Guy. The men searched the dense woodland bordering the road, alert for any sign of trouble as their carriage trundled on.
When they rounded a bend, a giant carrying a shotgun lurched from the trees onto the road. The horses were pulled to a stop, plunging and rearing. “It’s my man. O’Mainnin!” Flynn yelled. He threw open the door and leaped onto the road.
The big man loped up to Flynn. “A carriage passed through ’ere a short time ago with two men inside, milord.” He scowled, drawing in great gasps of air. “We was expecting them, ’cause her ladyship spied the blighter in Dublin. I got off two warning shots. I’m on my way to the ’ouse.”
“Jump aboard, O’Mainnin.” Flynn climbed back inside. “Crowthorne has found his way here, but Althea was expecting him! Let’s hope that gives us more time.”
O’Mainnin scrambled onto the box, and the coachman urged the horses on with a crack of his whip. They careered along the rutted forest road. The sky lightened as they emerged from the trees into parkland. Moments later, the wall bordering the formal gardens came into view.
“Let’s turn this to our advantage and surprise them,” John said. “How far to the house?”
“We’ll be within sight after the next bend,” Flynn said. “We’d best stop here.” He banged on the roof, and they filed out of the carriage before it came to a stop. “Go to the stables, O’Mainnin. Warn Gaffney. Both of you keep away from the house.”
With John and Guy following, Flynn ran through the gardens and entered the lime walk. They emerged from the trees, and keeping their heads low, crossed the terraced area and skirted the fountain. They followed the beech hedge toward the front aspect of the mansion. There was a wide lawn which offered little cover ahead. Flynn peered through the branches and swore under his breath. An armed man stood guard at the front door.
“I’ll distract him, tell him my horse went lame back on the road,” Guy said.
“I don’t like it, Guy…” Flynn began, but Guy was already on the move.
“Shoot him if he looks at you twice,” John urged in a low voice. “We’ll be close behind you.”
Guy set off at a fast gait down the carriageway and soon approached the house. The man at the entry leveled his gun at him. He called out.
“No need for thatmon ami.” Guy raised his hands and continued toward the armed man.
Flynn and John darted to the rear of Crowthorne’s carriage while Guy burst into outraged, excitable French. The man’s mouth fell open. He stared, engrossed. “Speak English, ye heathen, or you’re dead,” he yelled and took aim.
Guy dropped to a crouch as John stepped clear of the carriage. His shot brought the rogue down. The man rolled to the bottom step and sprawled there, unmoving.
Guy walked over and nudged him with his foot. “Dead.”
Inside the great hall, Quinn lay in a crumpled heap on the floor, blood gushing from a wound on his forehead. Flynn knelt beside him. “He’s alive, thank God.”
Had Crowthorne found Althea? She would be hiding somewhere. Surely they would’ve left if that were so. Flynn sprinted to the stairs. “We’ll spread out,” he called as he ran. “I’ll take the upper floors, John, you take the ground, Guy, see what you can learn from the staff. Keep them all out of the way and do what you can for Quinn.”
Flynn reached the landing and raced along the corridor to Althea’s chamber.Empty. Doors banged back revealing empty rooms as he ran, calling her name. No answer. His heart beating, he threw open another door, his mind dealing with the facts as he found them. She’d had time to strip her bedchamber of her possessions and arrange a signal to alert them when Crowthorne was on his way to the house. Therefore, she would’ve had time to choose a hiding place. But where?The oubliette. Would she go down there? She’d turned away in horror when he’d shown it to her. Hardly daring to breathe, Flynn ran down the winding stone stairs. The dungeon door was locked, the key gone. Did Quinn have it? Damn, he wished he’d thought to check him for it. He would have to go back.
Flynn spun around.
The loud blast of a gunshot echoed hollowly around him. Surprised, Flynn crashed back against the wall. When his legs failed to hold him up, he slid to the floor. A dark mist began to blanket his sight, and he could just make out Crowthorne aiming a kick at his side as he stepped over him. The key in his hand, Crowthorne laughed and stood at the dungeon door. Flynn felt his blood drain from his body, his pistol wavering in his weak arm. He raised it in Crowthorne’s direction while he fought to make his useless fingers work. Then he knew no more.
*
Had she heardgunshots? Not knowing what was happening made her bite her lip in frustration. Althea feared for Quinn and the other servants. Crowthorne wouldn’t care who he shot. He could hold them for ransom and demand to know where she was. Why hadn’t she thought of that?
She shivered violently, her clothes damp, the dank air filling her lungs. Goosebumps sprung up on her arms. At the bang of the trapdoor, she started. It was too dark above her to make out who was at the top of the ladder. She didn’t dare cry out for it could be Crowthorne. Had he tortured poor Quinn to find out where she was? Not able to stand it a moment longer, she jumped up from the chair dropping the blanket. She edged backward and came up against hard cold stone. Please let it be Quinn! All they need do is light a lamp and they would discover her here. There was nowhere to hide. She removed the safety catch from the pistol and waited.
At the clank of the grill, she held her ground, taking huge breaths to steady herself.
A dark shape appeared on the ladder.
She stepped forward and raised the gun.
“That’s quite far enough. Declare yourself, or I’ll shoot you,” she said, forcing the words out with a gasp.
“Please don’t shoot, Lady Brookwood,” a pleasant voice said. “It would be an embarrassing way to die.” The big, fair-haired man came swiftly down the ladder. “And I’ve no doubt you want to leave this cursed place.”
