Ambrose crouched before her again. “I need you to find the others who are looking for her now, Ginny. A big red-haired Scotsman, two women, and six men. Can you do that for me and send them here?
She nodded and then took off as fast as she’d run here, disappearing into the shadows without another word.
“So, we could be walking into our doom, or Tilly is in there. Considering the agitation of the woman in my head, I’m thinking it’s the latter,” Alex said. “I say we give it a few minutes, and Ginny some time to find them, before we enter.”
“We need?—”
“I know, but we will only do Tilly harm if we go in there and are confronted by more than two men and are captured ourselves, Ambrose. I feel your fear, as it matches mine, but we must do this right.”
Fear. He wanted to refute the word. His fear had grown into terror. Instead, he walked back and forth across the few feet on offer to him and waited until he could stand it no more.
“You know Tilly is a wonderful woman, and I’m sure when we get her back, and life returns to normal, she will be quite happy with Howard,” Alex said, as if they were strolling in the park gossiping, which privately he loathed.
“What?”
“Howard is a good man, and I gather has shown an interest in Tilly. It is an excellent match.”
He stalked over to where Alex stood, stopping a foot away, and glared at him. “I cannot believe we are having this conversation now, when she is terrified and alone somewhere.” The words came out a snarl. “And it is not a good match.”
“Why, when she has accepted no other and has had several seasons?”
“Are you suggesting she is not worthy of the attentions of someone of higher rank?” Ambrose hadn’t realized his fist had clenched until he looked down. He opened his hand wide, splaying his fingers.
“A woman of her age and position must be reasonable,” Alex said calmly.
Ambrose wanted to punch him hard. “Shut up,” he said precisely.
“Admit you have feelings for her, Ambrose.”
He swore softly beneath his breath and only said, “Enough time has passed. I am going inside.”
Ambrose went to the wooden box, raised the lid, opened the latch on the half door, and then quietly took the stairs down. Easing the pistol from his waistband, he looked around the dark space. Nothing but crates and sacks of coal. Finding another set of stairs, he climbed. At the top, there was a trapdoor.
“My hope is they are not playing cards directly above us,” Alex whispered having followed him.
Ambrose pushed the door and eased it up a few inches so he could look inside the warehouse. Weak light came from somewhere to his right, but it was the shape a few feet from where he stood that held his gaze. A crate. She was inside, he was sure of it. Could he feel her, or was it wishful thinking?
“She’s close,” Alex whispered in his ear.
Ambrose pushed the door fully open, then crept up the remaining stairs and out with Alex on his heels again. Clutching the pistol, he moved toward the crate.
Suddenly noise exploded around them as the door slid open. Familiar faces rushed in and toward the two men who had appeared. Mungo roared and ran at one, taking him down with a single punch. Charles kicked out with a foot and dropped the other.
Ambrose ran to the crate, opened the lock, and raised the lid.
“Tilly,” he rasped, reaching for her. He picked her up and lifted her out. “I have you now. You’re safe.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and burrowed her face into his shirt as she started to cry deep, heart-wrenching sobs that could only have come from extreme emotion likefear, which she had surely battled for the hours she’d been in that small, dark space.
“Safe,” he repeated, tightening his hold on her.
“Tilly!” Violet had arrived, her hands going to her friend’s back. “Thank God we have found you.”
But Tilly didn’t speak because she couldn’t, as right then, the indomitable Miss Wilson had no strength left. She was completely undone.
CHAPTER 24
She didn’t want to let him go. Ambrose was strong. He’d keep her safe. No one could hurt her again. Tilly clung to him like she’d seen small children do to their parents. Right then, he was the reason she was out of that box. Nothing else mattered.
