In the woodland glade, Christian peered up at the sky overhead, watching it shift from hazy twilight to true darkness. The other men in his motley crew had managed to sleep awhile, but he had remained alert, standing sentinel in case anyone from the farmhouse happened to leave.
Fortunately, there had been no activity from the farmhouse. Only the same sight of men wandering to and from the outbuildings, with no sign of Victoria or any of the other ladies anywhere. He didn’t know why, but he sensed they were there somewhere, even if he couldn’t see them. Victoria, Helena, all of them.
What will I do about Helena? He exhaled slowly, rubbing his hands together to urge some warmth back into them. I know I cannot marry her, but how do I break our betrothal without causing an uproar? What if Miss Longacre was wrong—what if Helena doesn’t have another object of her affection? What if I wound her by breaking our engagement?
Determination centered in his mind. I must do whatever is necessary to be happy. In the space of a day, he had discovered what it felt like to feel as though he had lost Victoria. It steeled his resolve, letting him know that he never wanted to be without her again. He only hoped he could be the man that Benedict had spoken of—a man who could love Victoria as she was, never seeking to change her, but being there through the difficult days that may come.
“Are we ready, My Lord?” Foster walked over, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
Christian nodded, his heart jolting. “Yes, I rather think we are.”
Within a matter of moments, the constables and Benedict had gathered on foot, forgoing their horses in case it alerted the enemy to their presence, and awaited Christian’s command. It unsettled him, for it reminded him intensely of the battlefield. Why, if he closed his eyes, he could almost smell the gunpowder, and hear the whinny of frightened steeds, peppered with the sniffle of terrified men who didn’t want to die that day.
“Does everyone know what they are to do?” Christian turned to his would-be soldiers.
“We surround the barn,” Foster replied. “We bar any exits, and then half of us will enter, apprehending anyone we see. If they try to flee, those waiting outside will stop them.”
Christian turned back; his eyes fixed on the farmhouse. “Come, we must act now.”
He set off into the gloom, leading his band of eager men through the dense forestry, toward enemy lines. They were all armed with the weaponry that the constables had brought, though Benedict possessed a pistol of his own. Violence didn’t sit well with Christian, but he would not shy away from it either, if the moment came where it had to be used. Still, he prayed that he wouldn’t have to kill anyone this night, for when he had returned from the war, he had vowed never to take a life again.
Under the night’s shadowed cloak, the group approached the building through the trees. They paused at the tree line for a moment, to make sure that no one was guarding the vicinity. But there was no sign of anyone. With the evening being so bitter, it seemed as though they had all retreated into the barn, just as Christian had anticipated they might.
Christian hurried away from the woodland and up to a door to the side of the barn, pressing his back flat to the wall and beckoning for the others to spread out, as per their plan. With a nod, they all darted forward, and disappeared into the darkness, with only Benedict joining Christian at that particular entrance.
He had just fixed his knife into the narrow gap of the doorframe, intending to break the lock that held it closed, when the door swung open of its own accord. Christian’s breath hissed out of his lungs in alarm. If anyone spotted them now, they would sound the alarm, and the plan would come tumbling down.
“Lord Galbury?” a familiar voice whispered, as a figure appeared in the doorway.
“Green?” Christian gaped at the driver.
Simon smiled. “I’ve been waiting for your arrival.”
“What? How?” Benedict chimed in.
“They had me bound in the hayloft, right next to the window. I saw the constables arrive and knew you couldn’t be far away. I’ve been watching ever since, ready to let you in,” Simon explained quickly. “It didn’t take me long to get out of the ropes they’d tied me with. The first trick an investigator learns, right?”
Benedict cocked his head to one side. “Right.”
“I’ve opened the other doors already, so the others won’t have any trouble gaining entry.” Simon glanced over his shoulder. “What’s the plan?”
“Arrest everyone,” Christian said simply.
“No problem. I’m at your service.” Simon bowed his head.
“Wait… do you know where Victoria is being held? Is she here?” Christian remembered that this man had been stationed as a temporary driver, in order to keep watch over Victoria in case she attempted anything foolhardy. Which, of course, she had. Though he had to admit, with some reluctance, that it had been a stroke of genius. After all, it had led them to the very hub of these kidnappings.
Simon nodded. “There is a set of stairs in the center of the barn, which leads up to an office of sorts. She is in there. The man in charge—I don’t know his name, as nobody refers to him by it. They all call him ‘Father’ instead—took her up there.”
“They call him ‘Father’? What, is he a priest or something?” Benedict muttered.
Simon shrugged. “I have no idea. It’s just what they call him.”
“Come on, we need to move.” Christian grasped the hilt of his pistol and steadied himself. Now that he knew where Victoria was being kept, nothing could stop him. He had done his waiting—too much waiting—and now it was time to act.
“After you, My Lord.” Benedict took up his pistol and raised it, awaiting the signal.
Christian lifted his head to the heavens and pursed his lips, releasing a loud coo, that sounded very much like a wood pigeon. The sound drifted out across the silent woodland, where he hoped the others would hear it. With that, he took one last, deep breath, and swept into the barn. At the exact same moment, the rest of the constables burst in through their respective entrances, and all hell broke loose.
Caught by surprise, the unsuspecting minions warred with fight or flight. Some froze, and were easily captured, while others sprinted for freedom, only to find their way blocked by the constables. Shouts rose up, ricocheting between the barn rafters, as the kidnappers tried to escape. But Christian’s men were too fast, and too organized, and were using the element of surprise to their advantage.
Two men barreled toward where Christian, Benedict, and Simon stood. They skidded to a halt in front of the trio, their eyes darting wildly in panic.
“Stand aside!” one bellowed.
Benedict leveled his pistol at the fellow’s chest. “No, but I suggest you stand down. You can choose to live, or you can choose to die. One pull of this trigger will decided, but I’ll only pull it if you do something stupid.”
The two kidnappers exchanged a worried look.
“I’ll count, if you like?” Benedict warned. “Five… Four… Three… Two…”
“All right, all right!” the second man gasped. “We surrender. We surrender. Don’t shoot. We’re not armed.”
As it turned out, the kidnappers were not as prepared as Christian had supposed. There were muskets and pistols strewn about the place, but the kidnappers had been so relaxed in their situation, that they had not thought to keep their weapons on them. He noticed a few trying to reach the weapons, only to be tackled by a constable on the way. It was not quite like shooting fish in a barrel, but this had been far easier than Christian could ever have anticipated.
“I need to find her.” He looked to Benedict, who nodded.
“Then what are you waiting for?”
With an anxious smile, Christian sprinted past the trembling duo of kidnappers and headed for the staircase that Simon had pointed out. He took the steps two at a time, praying he would find Victoria unharmed.
I am here, my love. I am here.
Victoria’s head had snapped up, the moment s
he had heard the ruckus begin in the barn below. Shouts and cries and panic had filtered through to the office, prompting her to rise and rush to the window, to see what was happening. Constables flooded the domain beneath, apprehending her father’s minions left, right, and center.
“What have you done?” a voice behind her made her turn, to find her father standing in the doorway.
“What I had to,” she replied quietly. “You taught me what justice was, Papa. I had to see it delivered, for the sake of these girls. They did not deserve this. They were no more at fault than my aunt, your sister, and the poor creatures who were killed by the Duke of Rowntree. I understand your grief, and I understand why it made you do this, but this is not right. And it is not you.”
His eyes widened. “I thought you said you didn’t want to see me hang?”
“I do not, which is why you have to go, and go now.” She hurried toward him. “Is there a way you can escape unseen?”
He frowned. “Yes. I know of a way.”
“Then go, before it is too late! I may believe in doing the right thing, always, but I will not see you punished for this. Your intentions were well-meant, but poorly executed. Consider this my one foray into the wrong side of the law.” She put her hand on his arm. “Please, go. Please, find somewhere safe and stay there.”
A sad laugh escaped his throat. “I raised you well, my girl. Perhaps too well.”
“You did, Papa. I only did what you would have done, before you let revenge twist you up inside,” she replied. “I love you, Papa. I love you beyond sense. And I am not going to see you die again. So, go!”
He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, squeezing her tight. “If anyone was to bring down my operation… I am glad it was you. I love you, my girl. I’ve missed you, so very much.”
“Go…” she broke away from him and pushed him out of the door, “please, go.”
“Think of me kindly, if you can?” he asked quietly.
“I will, but only if you promise to live well.”
He smiled. “I will try.”
“Goodbye, Papa.”
“Goodbye, my girl.” He whirled around and raced for a window across the rickety landing outside the office. A rope ladder lay coiled beneath. In one deft movement, he untied the fastening that held it together and threw it over the sill. Next thing she knew, he had disappeared over the edge, clambering down toward freedom. She hurried after him, bracing herself against the window frame as she peered down into the darkness. Just in time to see her father melt into the woodland, vanishing from sight, and from her life, forever.
“Victoria?” Another voice made her whip around. Christian pounded up the steps toward her, his eyes filled with such love, and such relief, that it made her want to sink to her knees and sob. The events of the past day had taken everything out of her. And, now that he was here, she finally gave in to the exhaustion and grief and pain that she had been ignoring until then.
“Christian…” Her legs gave way. Before she could hit the floor, strong arms encircled her, lifting her up. She tilted her chin up and peered into his eyes, her heart swollen with joy and sadness and relief and heartache. She had lost her father all over again, but she had gained Christian in return. Here he was, coming to her aid, just as he had promised he would.
“Victoria?” Christian gathered her closer to him, and helped her through to the office, where he sat her down in one of the chairs. There, he knelt in front of her and lifted his hand to her face. “Victoria? Are you hurt? Are you injured? Has anything happened to you?”
My father is the mastermind behind all of this. He staged his death and made my mother and I endure his funeral, thinking we had lost him. He escaped, because I let him… because I was too weak to allow him to be punished for this. I feel as if my body has been gutted and my heart has been left hollow by his actions. I do not think I will ever see him again, but I will know that he is alive in this world, somewhere. She wanted to say it all to Christian, but nothing came out. If she said any of that, then it would reveal the secret of Solomon’s involvement. And a secret was no longer a secret, once someone else knew of it.
“Victoria?” Christian pressed. “Are you wounded?”
She shook her head. “No… I am… not hurt.”
“Do you know where the ringleader is? Simon Green told us that the leader of these people brought you up here. Is he still around here? Do you know where he went?”
Victoria cleared her throat. “He told me he had some business to attend to about an hour ago, and then he left. I have not seen him since.” The lie flowed effortlessly from her tongue, because it had to. Her father would always be her father, no matter what he had done. And she had to protect him now, even if it pained her to lie in front of the man she loved more than anyone.
“Blast!” Christian muttered. “He must have escaped.”
She nodded. “Yes, he must have.”
“And you are certain you are not hurt?” He brushed his thumb across the apple of her cheek.
“I am unharmed,” she replied. “But I am glad to see you. Gladder than I can possibly say.”
“I have been going out of my mind with worry. We lost your trail, and I feared I might never find you. But here you are… here you are, unharmed. I am the one who is glad.” He leaned forward and the world seemed to stop for a moment, despite the chaos still reigning below. His lips were so close to hers, and she sensed that he was about to kiss her.
“Wait,” she murmured. “What about Lady Helena? She is here somewhere. You cannot kiss me, if you are still betrothed. It would feel improper, and I do not want my first kiss to feel improper.”
He tucked the unruly strand of her raven hair behind her ear. “There is no betrothal, Victoria. I intend to break it. From the moment I met you, you changed everything. I couldn’t even contemplate marrying another, when you are in this world. I adore you. I cherish you. And… I love you, Victoria. I love you more than I have ever loved anything in my life. If I am to be married, then it will be to you… if you will have me, of course.”
“I love you,” she whispered. “I did not think I was capable of it, but I love you, with all of my heart. I have thought only of you, but I was so afraid that we would reach this point, and you would have to return to the duties you promised your mother and father.”
He shook his head. “I wish to be happy. I wish to make you happy. And I can only do that if I am forever at your side, bound to you in holy matrimony—the only ties that I am sure you cannot pick your way out of.”
She chuckled. “Then… kiss me.”
He cupped her face in his hands and gazed into her eyes, making her heart beat that much faster. She didn’t know how this had come to pass. Nor did she know what she had done to deserve his love. This cold, spiky, independent creature had found someone who adored her, precisely as she was. And there was no finer feeling in all this world. It could not even be marred by the knowledge that she had let her father go. After all, if he had not done any of this, then she would never have met Christian. A small silver lining in an otherwise heartbreaking situation.
Slowly, he leaned in, and she ceased to breathe. His lips touched hers, and sparks of pure bliss erupted in her veins. A tender graze, unlike anything she had ever experienced. Her palms pressed against his shoulders as his kiss deepened, his mouth moving in an exquisite rhythm which she instinctively matched.
Nothing else mattered as their kiss continued, her arms looping about his neck as he pulled her from the chair and held her on his lap, cradling her close to him. Their dance in the bedchamber of Christian’s home had been the most joyful moment of her life, but this put that firmly in second place.
“I love you,” he murmured, pulling away for a second so he could look upon her.
“And I love you,” she replied, flushed with contentment.
“May I kiss you again?” He smiled.
She giggled, which was something she never did. “Please do.”
He sli
d his hand along her neck and encouraged her head to move toward his. Their lips connected as if they were always meant to be joined in a kiss, her fingertips running through his hair as she sank into the moment entirely. If this was happiness, then she wanted more.
Chapter 28
“We should help downstairs.” Victoria broke away from their kiss, much to Christian’s dismay. He had known the blissful moment couldn’t last, with so much mayhem surrounding them, but he had hoped for a few seconds more before they had to return to reality.
“I suppose you’re right.” Slowly, he released her and got to his feet, helping her to stand.
“But do not think, for a single second, that I am done with you,” she chuckled as she looped her arm through his, and they exited the office.
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