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A tremulous child’s whimper carried to her above the fire’s roar.

“Auntie Egg?”

Premonition screeching a warning, she spun toward Prentice. Eyes huge and terror filled, he cowered by the empty chicken run.

“Prentice. What are you doing here?” Simon demanded from behind her. “I expressly forbade you to ever come here again.”

“Prentice?” She ran to him.

Kneeling before her nephew, she gripped his small shoulders.

“Where’s your brother? Tell me, Prentice. Where is Timothy?”

Lower lip trembling, he pointed to the cottage, the roof now completely engulfed in flames. “He went into the cottage. He said he wanted something to remember you by. Father said you were going away and we’d never, ever, ever see you again, Auntie Egg.”

Oh no. Oh no!

Prentice collapsed against her, inconsolable.

Cradling his small, shuddering body fast against her, Eden on her knees, shifted to face Chester. Terror beat a brutal path from her heart to her lungs.

“Dear God. Timothy is inside the cottage.”

“No. He cannot be.” Simon stiffened and blanched.

The fire’s unrelenting rage commanded her attention.

Timothy was in there.

“Oh God. He’s inside that,” she cried.

Simon whirled and seized Dockery by his collar, shaking him like a wild dog intent on breaking its prey’s neck. “I told you to make sure no one was inside, you bloody imbecile. So help me, if anything happens to my heir, you’ll regret ever approaching me for a position.”

“I walked through all the rooms.” Dockery yanked himself free, his lack of remorse stark and unforgiveable. “If the disobedient brat was hiding, it’s no fault of mine.”

With an infuriated growl, Simon planted him a facer.

Dockery folded to the ground in an unconscious heap.

Chester had already removed his jacket. He draped it over his head like a protective mantel.

Simon immediately did the same.

“I’ll take the back entrance. You go in the front,” Chester told Simon. “Stay as low as you can, and don’t inhale the smoke. We’ve but minutes before the roof goes.”

Eden closed her eyes as both men disappeared inside the inferno.

“God, please protect them. Let them find Timothy safe.”

If she’d thought time inched by as they sprinted to the cottage, it now ceased to move at all. Every breath she took, every sob rattling Prentice’s small body, every angry crackle and snap of the fire drew out endlessly.

Dockery roused and struggled to his feet. A vile sneer curled his lip as he brushed the back of his hand against his bloody nose.

Eden barely spared him a glance. She spoke into Prentice’s hair. “Come on, Simon and Chester. Find Timothy. Hurry. You have to hurry.”

Dockery mounted his horse, calling evilly as he galloped away, “I hope they all burn, the snobbish arses.”

Minutes passed—Three? Five? More?