Page 76 of The Earl and His Lady

Virginia didn’t look back again. She walked down the steps, lifting her skirts as she planned her route. Around the house, between the stables and out buildings? No, around those too. It would put her in the path of fewer people, but would take more time. She doubted Gerard would let her walk into a public area. Then down the hill. She would fall, trip, stumble, whatever necessary to make the time last longer. She wasn’t dressed to walk through the long grass; clumsiness would be plausible.

Then to the lake. But after that, what?

Her stomach rolled, sweat broke out on her brow. Giving in to the physical need to fall apart was not possible now. She had to keep her wits about her. Had to control herself.

She bit her lip and threw pleading eyes up to the dreary skies. She invoked every prayer she knew, every angel, to keep her sons safe and deliver her safely back to them.

Chapter Twenty-eight

Lucas rode hard, changing horses twice and travelling with more haste than care. He didn’t know if Gerard Mason was blustering in a drunken fit or would have already left to commit whatever terrible act he’d planned. All Lucas knew, all he could think upon, was that his wife and children needed him now.

He never should’ve left.

Lucas spurred his horse onto greater speed when he turned into his own lane, riding beneath the chestnut trees, but he pulled the animal up sharply when he spotted another horse idly eating grass and the front door to his home standing open.

What should he do? Assess the situation or go straight in?

He thought carefully, then determined it would be best to go around to the rear entrance. If Mr. Macon had a weapon, Lucas didn’t want to walk in blind.

He tamped down his fears as best he could, knowing if he allowed himself to dwell on the possibilities of what he might confront, what might’ve happened if he arrived too late, he would be useless to them.

Calm. I must keep calm. Going in panicked is worse than going in blind.

Skirting the property as best he could, Lucas took the foaming horse around the house and began to loop back around.

A footman appeared, running toward the stables. It was such an out of place thing to see, Lucas knew with certainty the scene had been caused by Macon. He rushed his horse through the grass and whistled. The footman stumbled and turned, looking in Lucas’s direction, then he ran straight for the earl.

The man nearly ran headlong into the horse, but Lucas pulled up in time and bent down.

“He took the countess! A man, the one we took from the house. The boys saw him. He has a gun and he said he would shoot her if she didn’t give the boys to him.”

“Are the boys safe?” Lucas demanded first. “Where is the countess?”

“The boys are hidden in the passage,” the footman said. “The house is ready to defend them. But my lady—to the lake. He took her to the lake. I was going for the stables, to send for help. Gresham went to your guns, my lord.”

Lucas’s eyes went back to the house. “Go to the stables. Send a man to the Gilberts and another to the magistrate. Tell the rest to wait for me.” He hadn’t finished speaking before spurring the horse to action again, going for the back door of the house. He arrived at it just as Gresham stepped out, a shotgun in his gloved hands.

“Have you a revolver?” Lucas asked, halting his horse again. The animal’s sides heaved. He had nearly pushed it too far.

Gresham immediately reached into his coat and pulled forth Lucas’s favorite pistol. “It’s loaded, my lord.”

“Stand guard over the boys,” Lucas said, accepting the revolver. “I’ve sent for help.” He kicked the horse’s sides, promising himself he’d make it up to the borrowed animal later, and went for the stables. He didn’t know how much time had passed since Macon had taken Virginia, or why they were going to the lake, but hurry, hurry, hurry, thrummed through his mind at the same rate as his pulse.

He rode through the stable yard and saw two men climbing onto the bare backs of horses. He didn’t bother to address them. They would know their assignment. The stable master and two younger men remained, and a gardener came forward with wide eyes and trowel.

“A man has taken your countess captive at the lake. Come as quietly and swiftly as you can, with whatever you have at hand. I will confront him but I want everyone ready, should I fail, to rush him. He has a pistol and the most he could have is two shots. We must save the countess at all costs.” The men nodded their understanding.

Lucas didn’t wait for more but turned the horse’s head to the lake.

He hoped he had not delayed too long.

¤

The third time Virginia feigned a slip in the grass, Mr. Macon grabbed her upper arm and held onto it with bruising force, leaving her no choice but to keep her feet beneath her. He dragged her down the hill and to the water. There was only one stand of chestnut trees near the lake and that was where they went. Every foul word imaginable was growled at her, but Virginia ignored his vitriol. Her hastily constructed plan had several flaws she must attempt to repair before he realized what she’d done.

Obviously, the man wasn’t thinking clearly, but that could make him more apt to shoot her should he become overly agitated.

Before they were at the trees, he started yelling for the boys. “Phillip. Edward. Come here.” Nothing about his tone was friendly. Virginia kept moving, propelled forward with him behind. They passed beneath the trees and stood under one of the turrets.