“Look, down there,” Flynn yelled.
A man, presumably the magistrate, leaned out the window beside him. “Stay right there,” the man ordered. He pointed at them and then disappeared from the window.
“Run,” Max said as he grabbed Sabine’s hand and quickly pulled her to her feet.
Fortunately, Sabine’s long legs afforded her the ability to keep pace with him as they made their way across the grounds toward the main road. He scaled the wall, then pulled Sabine over. They ran into the woods lining the property.
Max could hear voices behind them, but they’d had a decent head start, provided the two men didn’t chase them on horses or in a carriage. They might be able to make it to the road and then get back to their own rig.
“Are they coming?” Sabine asked, her voice husky with exertion.
“Yes. This way.” He pulled her along, and she made no complaints as she followed closely behind him. “Our carriage should be waiting just over this bluff.”
The voices behind them became louder, shouts actually, and Max realized that the men had, in fact, jumped into a carriage to chase them.
Max and Sabine burst through the trees and onto the main road, but the rocks would provide no easier terrain for them to navigate on foot. And their carriage was not there waiting. Had he gotten turned around in their escape and gone in the opposite direction? He didn’t have time to figure it all out. Perhaps he’d misjudged the distance, and their rig was farther down the road.
“They’re getting closer,” Sabine said.
They fled as quickly as they could, but the noise of wheels grew louder, the horses’ hooves bearing down on them as they clopped along the road. The carriage drove up beside them and pulled to a stop. But instead of the men who were chasing them, a familiar voice came from the inside.
“Max, what a pleasant surprise. You and your friend”— the female voice stumbled over the last word—“seem to be in a pinch of trouble. Might I be of assistance?”
“Cassandra, you have impeccable timing, as always.” Max helped Sabine into the carriage, and it rolled off into the darkness in the direction opposite the men who pursued them.
“My country home is not far from here. I will be glad to offer you sanctuary for the night.” She smiled. “I take it you had a disagreement?” she asked, and a delicate brow arched over her right eye.
“Minor,” Max agreed.
“You always did have a knack for causing trouble.” Cassandra’s cool gaze fell to Sabine. “Aren’t you that girl from the shop in Piccadilly? Having to resort to peddling your wares in the country now?” she asked, doing nothing to hide her acerbic tone. Cassandra never did hesitate to show her claws when the mood struck her.
But Sabine did not allow the insult to affect her. Instead, she held her head high and gave Cassandra a luminous smile. “I am. I believe it might be time for you to purchase some more of my products.” Sabine touched her own smooth forehead, then nodded in Cassandra’s direction.
Cassandra’s hand immediately moved to her own head to rub at the skin.
“I’d be happy to send you a few jars to any address,” Sabine offered.
Max wanted to laugh, but didn’t dare. It would not help matters if Cassandra scratched out Sabine’s lovely eyes.
CHAPTER17
Cassandra had graciously put them up for the night and offered a carriage for them to ride back to London in the morning. Max hoped his own driver had had the good sense to flee from the magistrate. Currently, Max stared out the darkened window of his borrowed room, a glass of scotch in his hand. He still hadn’t deciphered the next riddle, but the words kept running through his mind. He wasn’t certain that Sabine believed the dagger was not the one they were looking for, but he felt certain. Whoever had hidden the dove had gone to great lengths to keep it hidden, ensuring that only those willing to seriously search might actually find it. Yet there was something about the ordeal that felt off. Perhaps Sabine’s aunts might know more about who had created this quest.
A slight rap sounded on his door, then it creaked opened.
“I was wondering if I’d see you tonight,” he murmured as he turned around. But instead of finding Sabine, Cassandra lingered in his doorway.
“Cassandra,” he said, unable to keep the surprise from his voice.
“Were you expecting someone else?” she purred.
He gave her no answer.
Dressed head to toe in some silk confection the color of blood, it left little to his imagination. But then, he didn’t need to speculate when it came to Cassandra. He knew her body, knew every contour, even though the last time he’d touched her, they’d both been younger. They’d had an affair nearly ten years before that had lasted for about eight months. He’d almost fancied himself in love with the blonde beauty, but then he’d found her in bed with another man. A man she’d claimed was a servant. It had been the last time Max had kept a woman in his bed for any length of time.
“Quite fortunate I came upon the two of you this evening,” she said. His bedchamber door shut behind her.
“Indeed. We appreciate your assistance.” Her rescue was timely and most convenient, though Max knew he would have been able to get them to safety one way or another. Still, it was nice to know Sabine was safe, and they had comfortable beds for the night.
