“Have you mentioned the important work Croft is carrying out?” She dug her nails into her thighs and tried to focus on that pain instead of the one taking hold of her heart. “If you let him finish, there’s a chance he’ll lead you straight to the killer.”
Time. It was all she could bargain for now.
“And how many more crimes will he carry out before that happens?” Kendrick stood. He gave his jacket sleeves a quick tug. “My superiors have assessed the risk as being too great. I’m afraid it’s out of my hands now, Mrs. Croft.”
There was no telling whether the man meant the words as a warning or as a threat, so Samantha chose to take them as both. Her fingers twitched, eager to wrap around Kendrick’s neck. She resisted the urge, her breath frozen halfway up her throat as she watched him take his leave.
And then he was finally gone, the sound of the front door closing behind him sending a rush of anxiety through her.Adrian. She had to warn him, maybe urge him to leave the City before an assassin hunted him down.
“Murry?” Not caring what anyone thought, she hollered the servant’s name as she sprinted upstairs, two steps at a time.
“I believe he’s in the kitchen.” Elks halted her progress, his voice calm though everything else about him appeared to be on alert. “Is everything all right?”
She shook her head. “Far from it. If you could please ask Murry to meet me upstairs. I need to speak with him right away.”
“Of course.”
The butler went to fulfill his duty and Samantha turned, coming face to face with Isak, whose eyes were wide with concern. “What’s going on?”
Samantha considered lying, but since the change in circumstance would affect the boy too, she decided she ought to be honest with him. “The authorities are out to get my husband.”
“But—”
“I don’t have time to explain, but you need to get out of the house. Go to Murdoch. Tell him what’s happened and keep a low profile. Can you do that for me?”
“Of course.”
“Good boy.” Samatha pulled him into a quick hug then marched to the bedchamber she and her husband shared. It didn’t take long for her to locate the traveling bags she kept at the ready, both of them already fully packed in case of emergency.
A knock at the door came less than five minutes later. Despite being in the process of changing her clothes, Samantha granted Murry entrance.
He blanched when he saw her undressing and instantly turned to leave. “Sorry. I’ll return when—”
“I told you to come in because there’s no time to lose.” A seam tore in her haste to remove her gown, but she finally managed to rid herself of the garment. “We must be practical now, not hindered by etiquette or sensibilities. Croft’s life is in danger.”
“How so?”
Good. Murry was taking a soldier’s approach, his concern with her state of deshabille already buried beneath a fierce scowl.
“An order has been issued for Croft’s termination.” Samantha flung a shirt over her head, then beganputting on a pair of breeches. “An assassin will hunt him down, make it look like a mugging, I’m sure.”
“Kendrick told you this?”
“Not specifically. Why?” She glanced at him while pushing her arms through the sleeves of her jacket.
“Because I find it odd that he would reveal a plan to attack Croft unless it’s some kind of trap.”
A quick pause to think and assess. Kendrick hadn’t said when or how the plan would unfold. All she knew was how she’d do it if she were tasked with such a mission. Plus, Kendrick’s wording had certainly hinted at using extreme methods.
Whether the constable let all that slip on purpose or not, however, she couldn’t be sure. He’d never struck her as clever enough to deceive anyone, but that might be his strength. It might be foolish to underestimate him.
“We’ll assume Kendrick means for me to issue a warning – that he knows I’m no longer on his side.” She dropped to a crouch and pulled a wooden box out from under the bed. Inside were a new pair of daggers she’d purchased and an additional pistol. She grabbed the lot and proceeded to arm herself for battle. “Put the household on alert, and tell Emma to come here at once.”
The maid in question arrived as Samantha finished putting on her boots. Her firm no-nonsense expression conveyed that she was ready to do as her mistress asked. No need for elaborate explanations or even coercion. As with the rest of the servants, Adrian had chosen her well.
Samantha gestured toward the dress she’d removed. “Please put that on.”
If Kendrick had indeed laid a trap, he’d soon be led astray by the wrong woman.
