Gantry nodded, and two men gathered Markham by the arms and dragged him.
“The duke’s a fool and doesn’t know that you’ll endanger that gold mine. Have Repington come down to the drawing room. I need to get my things from there anyway.”
“Nothing here is yours. You, evil man, you’re never to be welcomed here.”
Gantry opened the doors. “Guards, take the man and dump him far outside the gates. You trespass again, you’ll know my sword.”
“This isn’t over. I’ll get the administrators on Mrs. Jordan and Repington. Tell him I won’t let this stand . . . like him.”
He sneered, and I wished I could slap him again.
The fiend struggled, but the soldiers overpowered him. “The duke has to be insane to side with Mrs. Jordan over the boy’s safety. You know what you did to that boy. You know what you let happen to Colin. May he keep haunting you.”
That was a curse from the gods, to have Colin not at rest, still hurting.
The soldiers did their duty, carting Markham away. Soon, I saw nothing more of his dusty boots.
This was a momentary battle.
Hamlin wasn’t safe.
With the duke hurt, his men had become lax.
“You were right, Mrs. Jordan. We need to get back to drills and security.”
Gantry’s words faded. The evil man’s threats repeating, repeating in my brainbox.
Markham wasn’t just coming for me and Lionel. He was after Repington, too.
CHAPTER 28
OLDDREAMS, NEWDREAMS
Ibolted up in my bed.
My heart raced around my chest. It had no place to hide since my lungs had shriveled. Gasping, I saw my Lionel sleeping soundly in the crib next to me.
He was safe, but I still wanted to run, to throw off blankets and flee.
But where could I go that my horrible dream, my guilt wouldn’t follow?
Colin.
Two days ago, Markham, that blackguard, called him down to haunt me once more.
Laying back on my pillow, I found it was damp. Did I cry in my sleep again?
One swipe at my sticky eyes said the truth.
Gaze pinning toward the ceiling, I dare not drop my lids again, for he’d be there, screaming at me the words in his last note.You did this. You did this.
“I didn’t mean it! I didn’t.”
“Patience. Patience.”
That wasn’t Jemina’s voice.
She’d returned to sleeping on the third floor. This was the companion room to the duke’s.
