A warm feeling ignited in Isadora’s chest. “You know,” she said, plucking a few blades of grass and scattering them to the wind, “I will always be here for you if you ever need something. No matter what.”
Sophia smiled. “I know. You and Papa will always be here for me. You’ve told me that before, and I believe you.”
The kitty in Isadora’s lap squirmed, its mewling a little louder this time. “This one misses its mother still,” she murmured. “But she’ll be all right.”
“That’s because she has you.” Sophia tilted her face to the sky with childish, innocent certainty. “Just like Papa and I have you. We’ll all be all right so long as we’re together.”
An unnatural movement caught Isadora’s eye, and she turned to find a strange man approaching them from the tree line. He walked cautiously, glancing at the empty windows of the house as though he feared discovery, and a strange, unsettled feeling built in Isadora’s stomach.
“Quickly,” she said, rising and standing protectively before Sophia. Her heart fluttered in her throat. Something about the way the man moved—with purpose—and the fact she did not recognize him and he should not have been approaching them, sent icy fear rattling through her bones.
Sophia looked up at her, confusion written across her face. “What is it?”
“Collect the kittens.” She tugged Sophia to her feet. The man was closer now, his eyes never leaving them. There was nothing of note about his features, but that very fact sparked a memory within her.
Nicholas talking to a man who looked just as nondescript at the park. The muted anger in Nicholas’s actions and the sly smile on the man’s face.
He wore that same sly smile now, as though he knew exactly what he was doing, and that they wouldn’t like it.
Isadora half-turned toward the house, but they had strayed too far from it. If they were to run for it now, and he gave chase, he would likely catch them. Of all the times for her to be alone, no gardeners in sight.
“Who is he?” Sophia asked, looking at the man as well.
“I don’t know, but I don’t think he should be here. I need you to run, all right. Go back to the house. I’ll speak with him.” She placed the other kitten in Sophia’s arms and gave her a little push. “Go now.”
“Where’s Papa?”
“He’s gone out. We can’t look for him.” She stood between Sophia and the man, whose gaze was locked on the girl. “Now, Sophia.Run.”
Sophia ran, sprinting back toward the house. Isadora turned to face the approaching man, who showed no signs of stopping. “Excuse me, sir,” she called. “This is private property. Please leave before I call someone.”
His smirk widened into a grin. “Callsomeone? And who are you going to call, Your Grace?”
“There are plenty of servants around.”
“On the contrary. There is a fire at the stables, and all hands have been called to help. I doubt you’ve noticed, sitting back here—any moment now, I expect you’ll see the smoke.”
The stables were quite at the other end of the house, and when Isadora turned, she did glimpse a tiny plume of gray rising into the sky. No smell of smoke yet, but the wind was not in her favor.
“Why are you here? Why are you doing this?”
“I’ve come for my daughter.”
Isadora glanced to where Sophia had almost reached the house. But the library door was locked. She would have to run around the side of the house, and she had the kittens in her arms, moving far too slowly.
“Your daughter?” she asked, turning back to him. “Sophia is not—”
The man started past her, moving in such a predatory way that Isadora’s heart clenched. Although he wasn’t running, he was moving fast enough—and if he reached her—
Ahead, Sophia tried the outer library door, not knowing it was shut. Not knowing where she could go. She turned, her small face paling when she saw the man bearing down on her, the kittens still clasped firmly in her arms.
Isadora could not let that happen. She launched herself after the man, grabbing his arm and hauling him back around to face her. “You will not touch her!” she hissed, positioning herself once more in between the man and Sophia. “Run, Soph!” she yelled. “Around to the front of the house. Go to the stables!”
“Not far enough, little mouse.” The man freed his arm from Isadora’s hold and snatched a handful of her hair, dragging her face close to his. Like this, he no longer appeared nondescript,but instead terrible, as though he were a demon who had clawed his way from the bowels of hell, and would think nothing of destroying her on his way to fulfill his aims. He yanked on her hair so hard it stung, then tossed her aside.
Isadora landed hard, smacking her head against the rocky edge of the path. Pain smashed through her world, and she blinked away tears as she struggled to her feet. Already, she could feel dampness soaking through her hair, dribbling warm down to her collar. She staggered as she rose.
The man advanced toward Sophia, who was now fleeing. Isadora needed to stop it, but she felt as though she were moving through treacle.Too slow—she was too slow, and if she didn’t move faster, she was going to risk losing Sophia.
