"I won't help you hurt him." She whispered.
He laughed again as he kicked Lucy away.
"No, my lady. I'm not planning to hurt him. I'm going to kill him." Elise heard him pull something from his waist and then a metallic click. "If you do as your told, you won't join him. I just need you to scream a bit."
Elise shook her head and pulled away from him as hard as she could. He hauled her back, his grip tightening as he chuckled.
"You're mad! I'll never help you trap him!" She spat.
He pulled her close and licked her cheek.
"Be a good girl. I'd hate to hurt you. If all goes well and I have the time, I might show you how I prefer to make women scream."
Elise pulled away. Bile rose and she felt dizzy.
"I hope he kills you!" She hissed.
"He won't get the chance, princess. I'm going to put a bullet through his chest as soon as I see him. I almost killed the brother this morning but my aim was off. Not something that happens very often, I promise. This time, I'll have a clear shot."
She felt as if the ground was rising and falling and spinning all at once.
"You're going to have to kill me, I won't help you." She vowed.
"We'll see about that." He pulled her arm behind her and twisted. Elsie felt her muscles pulling and burning but she clenched her jaw and shook her head. The man laughed and twisted harder as he pulled her arm higher. Again, Elise shook her head and breathed through her nose.
"Oh! I love a stubborn lass! Perhaps I'll take you with me and we can have a tumble." His lips were against her ear and he ground his hips suggestively against her. Elise stomped her foot on his boot and he grunted. "Don't push me, pretty!" He twisted harder and Elsie was sure her arm would snap. She shook her head violently as tears streamed down her cheeks. The man cursed and relaxed his grip. Elise's arm began to tingle and the pain subsided. She sagged in relief until she heard the hiss of a blade being pulled from it's sheath.
"You did this to yourself, princess. Hurting women's never been something I enjoy but I'll do it if I have to."
Elise felt the tip of the blade dig into her forearm as she ground her teeth and prayed for strength. She thought of Gilles and tried to cling to calm. More tears poured from her eyes and her jaw ached.
"Scream, damn you!" He ground out behind her. Elise shook her head and he swore. She felt the blade dig deeper and it started to drag, ripping her flesh as it moved down her arm. Elise felt her skin tearing as heat and pain flooded her body, radiating out from her arm. Nausea and heaviness began to pull at her and everything started to become muffled. Elise felt her head fall back and her hearing stopped. A second later, a scream exploded from her mouth and the world came rushing back to her. The man released her and she sagged to the ground, sobbing.
Chapter 41
Half an hour earlier, Mirabelle descended the stairs into the hall and decided she'd see what Elise was up to. Her mother was with Madeline, Anna and Alice, finishing a walking gown. There wasn't much time until they'd need to go up and dress for dinner, perhaps they could practice at the piano. Mirabelle passed the study and heard Gilles and Alastair's voices. They were muffled but she could tell it was serious. She knew Lucien was in the stables, he'd just returned from a ride. Cursing herself for knowing that, Mirabelle sailed through the ballroom gallery. Once she was in Elise's sitting room she was surprised to find it vacant. She went to the glass doors and looked out at the garden. Lucy's basket was empty. Perhaps Daniel had come and they had taken her for a walk. Mirabelle shrugged and sat at the piano.
She played the opening chords of a sonata and Daniel ran up to the door. He stopped and looked disappointed.
"Hello, Daniel!"
"Is her ladyship about, miss? I've been waiting to take Lucy for the evening." He twisted the cap in his hand and peered around Mirabelle. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck and arms stand up.
"I thought she was with you. She's not here. Perhaps she couldn't wait and took Lucy herself. Did you check the garden?" Mirabelle stood and looked out. Daniel shook his head.
"No! I came here first, then checked the garden, came back, then checked again. She ain't there, miss!" He looked like he was about to cry. Mirabelle smiled weakly and patted his shoulder.
"Go check the stables. His Grace is there, maybe she's with him. If she's not, ask him to come at once." Daniel nodded and took off running. Mirabelle turned and ran for the door. She dodged the furniture in the sitting room and then weaved through the statues in the ballroom. She rounded the corner and threw open the study room doors, hoping Elise was in there. Her heart sank when her brothers looked up at her and rose, their brows furrowed.
"Do you know where Elise is?" Mirabelle begged, nearly frantic.
Gilles rushed forward as Alastair slowly turned and looked out at the garden.
"She was in her sitting room when I left her, not quite an hour ago." Gilles was heading out the study door.
"I just came from there, Gilles." She called. He stopped and turned around.
"Daniel says she's not in the garden. I sent him to check the stables and send for Lucien." Mirabelle could feel her voice rising. She tried to calm herself as she saw Gilles' face pale. "She's not upstairs." She whispered.
Alastair walked onto the terrace and surveyed the garden. Mirabelle pushed Gilles and they followed. She knew Elise wasn't in the house. All three stood on the terrace, scanning when they heard a terrible scream from the forest. Mirabelle felt the blood drain from her face and she clutched at Gilles' arm, terrified. He pulled away from her and crouched. He pulled a knife from his boot. He rose and turned to Alastair.
"Get pistols, wait for Lucien and then follow me." Gilles looked hard yet wild, his voice was like the cracking of a whip. "Mirabelle, I want you armed and here with The Mothers." She nodded. He ran down the steps and tore through the garden, jumping over what he could and crashing through whatever he couldn't that was in his way.
Alastair turned and ran into the house. Mirabelle saw Lucien running from the stables. She met him at the bottom of the terrace, nearly hysterical. He pulled her to him.
"Daniel said Lady Elise is missing and I heard a scream."
"It came from the forest. It's her! Gilles said to wait for Alastair to get pistols and follow after him." Mirabelle was terrified. She leaned into Lucien and he wrapped his arms around her just as Alastair came rushing out of the study with five pistols. Alastair placed one in Mirabelle's hand and tossed two at Lucien, keeping two for himself. They both tucked one into their waistbands and ran after Gilles.
Mirabelle pulled herself together, turned and strode through the study, yanking the bell pull on her way. Once in the hall she called for maman and Madeline at the top of her lungs. Holderson came rushing into the hall and stopped abruptly at the sight of the pistol.
"Holderson, there's a very good chance someone has abducted Lady Elise. I need you to gather every man available and send someone for a doctor. Lock the house down and put a guard at each entrance to the house."
Holderson nodded and turned to fulfill Mirabelle's commands. He halted.
"A doctor, miss? Are you afraid Lady Elise is injured?" He was pale.
"Let's hope not, Holderson. But I can assure you that whoever has Lady Elise will most certainly need a doctor. If he survives."
"Yes, ma'am!" Holderson bowed and ran down the hall.
Within minutes the staff was in motion. Doors and windows were being locked and men were gathering on the terrace. Mirabelle and The Mothers held each other and looked out the gallery windows, waiting for any sign of their men and Elise.
Chapter 42
Gilles made his way through the forest as quickly and quietly as he could. At first, he went in the direction of Elise's scream. He followed a footpath until he began to see traces of Elise's dress. Bits of fabric and threads hung from low branches and thorns. Now and then he saw what appeared to be blood on the rocks and dirt and felt rage surge within him. Whoever had her was dragging her alon
g, careless of her feet.
As Gilles rushed through the forest, a familiar panic filled him. He hoped that this time he wouldn't be too late. He begged and prayed as he tried to listen to the forest around him over the pounding of his heart. He couldn't fail again, he thought. This time, he wouldn't survive it.
He continued along, ducking and hugging trees as Gilles searched for anything out of place until he finally saw a flash of pink. He stopped and surveyed the scene.
Elise was on the ground and a man stood behind her. Gilles didn't recognize him. He was average height but athletic build. From his clothing, he didn't appear to be a gentleman, but he wasn't a laborer. His tall boots and buckskin breeches and greatcoat suggested he had a horse waiting close by and intended to flee. Gilles saw a pistol in one hand and swore when he saw what he had in his other hand. Wrapped around his fist was Elise's golden blonde tresses. He was holding her in place and from her expression, he was pulling ruthlessly. Tears streamed down her face and Gilles saw blood running down her arm and saturating the front of her dress.
"Let her go!" He roared. Rage and the urge to destroy overwhelmed Gilles as he gripped the hilt of his knife. His back against a tree, he wished he'd waited until he was better armed.
"No! Go back, please! It's a trap, he's going to kill you!" Elise screamed. "Just kill me please, don't take him." She whimpered. Gilles felt his gut twist.
"Let her go and you might survive." Gilles yelled.
"I have no plans to hurt your lovely wife. She's a brave one, you'd be proud." The man twisted his fist tighter in Elise's hair and she hissed. Gilles knew he was trying to provoke him. It was working.
"What do you want?" Gilles growled.
"I want you to step out where I can see you."
"And then you'll shoot me. That wouldn't be too smart, would it?"
The man laughed.
"You have a choice, my lord. Step out and take the bullet to the chest or I put it into her pretty head." The man said with no emotion. Gilles knew he'd do it.
"Gilles, don't! Please!" Elise begged.
"Is that a flintlock pistol?" Gilles asked casually.
"It is."
"I hope you're a good shot. If you miss, I'll rip your chest open and show you your own heart."
"Lucky for me, I'm a good shot. Now, you've got about ten seconds. I know you've got reinforcements coming, so I need to be on my way."
"Noooo!" Elise cried.
"Everything will be alright, my love." Gilles called. He gripped the hilt of his knife and raised his hands as if in surrender. Praying he had the split second he needed to spot the man's eye to aim, Gilles stepped into the clearing. Three things happened quickly, almost simultaneously: Gilles brought his arm down, throwing the knife and turned his body, the man raised his arm and fired the pistol and Elise and Lucy dove at the man's legs and bit as hard as they could.
The man jerked in shock as their teeth clamped down seconds before the knife buried itself in his throat. He staggered back against a tree and slid, blood and bubbles poured from around the blade. Gilles felt heat and pain explode in his side and looked down. Blood began to saturate his clothes. He looked at the man to make sure he was dead. Seeing the lifeless stare he'd grown accustomed to during the war, Gilles looked to make sure Elise wasn't further injured before he let himself fall.
"Gilles?" Elise began crawling towards him. He saw her on her hands and knees to trying crawl towards him. The ground was covered with sharp debris.
"Stop, darling. You'll tear up you hands." He called weakly.
"Keep talking! I'll find you." Elise begged as she tried to move forward.
"Just stay. They'll be here soon." Gilles could feel himself slipping into unconsciousness. His vision began to blur and narrow. "Je te aime, Elise." He whispered as he tried to focus on the branches above him. He needed to hang on until Alastair and Lucien came.
"No! Keep talking! Don't leave me!" Elise was starting to get hysterical. "Please! I love you, I love you, I love you! Keep talking!"
"Be still. Je te aime. Be still." Gilles heard foot steps crashing through the forest towards them. His prayers were answered when Alastair fell beside him and began inspecting his wound. He saw Lucien searching the woods, his pistol ready. Gilles grabbed Alastair's hand. "Elise. She's bleeding."
Alastair looked at Elise.
"Lucien, check her injuries." He yelled.
Gilles turned his head and saw Lucien kneel and called to him.
"Lucien, take care of her."
Lucien nodded grimly, understanding what was being asked. He whispered to Elise.
"The blood's from her arm, Gilles. The rest is just cuts, scrapes and bruises. She's alright."
"Good." He squeezed Alastair's hand. "Take care of her."
Alastair nodded as he pressed his cravat to Gilles' side. He lifted Gilles' head so he could remove his.
"I'm certain you'll survive. Once I can get the bleeding to stop, I'll get the bullet out and clean it well. My only concern is infection." With the exception of the tears that stood in his eyes, Alastair was his usual precise self. Gilles laughed weakly.
"Then I'm sure I'll be fine." He closed his eyes and heard an army of feet stampeding towards them. Alastair began barking orders.
"I need a man on each arm and leg, we need to get His Lordship to the house quickly!" Seconds later, Gilles felt himself being lifted and he finally let darkness take him.
Chapter 43
Elise couldn't feel anything but she knew Lucien was looking at her arm. She was listening with her entire being to Gilles and Alastair.
"I can't hear him! Gilles? Say something!" She tried to pull away from Lucien but he held her tight.
"He's just unconscious. We're carrying him to the house." Alastair called, his voice was fading. He was moving away.
"Lucien! Help me up! I need to be with him!" She tried to stand but was immediately swept into Lucien's arms. She felt him striding forward, his steps swift and sure.
"I can't lose him! Please, don't let him die!" Elise sobbed. Lucien pulled her closer to him.
"If Alastair says he'll survive, he will. I believe in Alastair. And Gilles has been shot and stabbed plenty of times before. He's a stubborn bastard."
Elise turned her face into Lucien's chest and began crying. The fear of being abducted and alone with the man, the pain of him twisting her arm and cutting into it, her fear of losing Gilles overwhelmed her and she crumbled.
"I tried not to scream, Lucien. I didn't want Gilles to come. He hurt my arm so badly, I thought he was going to break it." A long gasp tore from her throat. "I was so scared, I didn't know where I was!" She began to shake. "He kept twisting my arm and saying things but I wouldn't scream. I tried so hard but I couldn't help it. He cut my arm and he just kept cutting. I didn't want to scream but I did!" Elise finally gave in and sobbed against Lucien.
He did his best to sooth her. Shushing her sobs and holding her tight.
"You were so brave, gorgeous. I don't know a lot of men that could have endured that."
Elise heard Lucien's boots step onto the terrace and felt them rising. A moment later, the study doors opened and she heard Mirabelle, Celine and Madeline rushing towards them.
"Mon Petite! Look at you!" Celine wailed as she stroked Elise's hair.
"Thank God, you're alright!" Mirabelle cried.
"Let's get her inside, Lucien." Madeline said as she opened the door.
"She needs to have her wounds cleaned. Her arm has a long slice down it and her feet and hands are quite torn up. Where should I take her?"
"I need to go to Gilles!" Elise twisted and pushed, trying to get Lucien to put her down.
"No! We need to take her to the kitchen. Cook and most of the kitchen staff is rushing about helping Alastair but with some help, we can take care of her." Mirabelle commanded. Elise heard her walk into the study and felt Lucien follow.
"No! I need to go upstairs. What if he needs me?"
"No, Mignon. Gi
lles would want us to take care of you and we would only be in the way right now." Celine answered firmly.
Suddenly, a loud crash and a roar came from upstairs.
"Son of a whore!" Gilles screamed.
Lucien chuckled.
"He lives. I'm guessing Alastair has removed the bullet and is cleaning the wound with Holderson's strongest spirits."
"He's alive!" Elise relaxed slightly. She finally felt the stinging in her arm. "Very well, but can we hurry, please?"
If Elise had to guess, she'd say that the ladies and one of the kitchen maids spent hours clucking and moaning over her injuries. She winced and nearly cursed herself when the wound on her arm was cleaned. Elise did her best to be brave knowing that Gilles had suffered worse. Lucien returned after checking on Gilles and confirmed that he was going to survive as long as there wasn't a serious infection. A doctor was checking on him and would probably need to tend to Elise's arm.
"I'm afraid you're going to need stitches." Lucien sounded grim, Elise began to worry.
"There's going to be a terrible scar. You'll have to get used to gloves and sleeves, Elise." Mirabelle fretted. Elise heard Lucien patting her as he chuckled.
"All things considered, we'll take it."
"True. But look at her arm, Lucien! It's starting to bruise dreadfully!" Mirabelle sounded angry.
"If he weren't dead already..." With that Lucien kissed Elise on the forehead and left.
A short time later, the doctor came to the kitchen and confirmed that Gilles would indeed recover as long as he did not suffer an infection. He credited Alastair's quick response, steady hand while removing the bullet and liberal use of spirits. Both on the wound and poured down Gilles' throat.
"I dare say, Sir Spencer is well on his way to getting foxed himself and His Grace looked ready to join them." He added.
"Alastair is getting drunk? I can't wait to see this!" Mirabelle declared.
"Perhaps after we get her ladyship taken care of. This is going to require a lot of stitches and she's going to need a lot of support." He said softly.
Saved By A Siren: Spencers in Love Book One Page 22