by Maggie Ryan
Lucas nodded for Stefan to release Lucy. Taking her into his arms but holding her loosely, he spoke as calmly as possible. "Tell us, kitten. What else do you see? Do you know who the man is?"
"No. Louisa doesn't know him and Fran… Franny is-is… oh, God, she's on the floor and she's not moving." Lucas saw Samuel turn white but was grateful he didn't attempt to interrupt.
"That's okay, she's okay. Listen to Louisa, kitten. What else can she tell you?"
Lucy closed her eyes again as the people in the room murmured softly, the music long stopped as the eerie scene played out before them. It was another moment before she spoke again. "It's a black carriage with two horses, brown I think, but it's dark. There's a red crest on the door with a scrolled letter. I-I think it's a 'D'."
Her eyes opened and tears filled them. "Oh, God, it's Walter Drakemore, isn't it? Papa, he has Franny and Louisa! He-he must think Louisa is me!"
"Walter Drakemore?" Martin said. "That man was definitely not invited!"
Edward didn't give a fuck that the man had no invitation. All he cared about was that he needed to find him and then kill the man who had dared lay a hand on his wife.
He didn't realize he'd spoken those thoughts out loud until Lucas said, "You'll have to stand in line, but first we have to find them." Forcing himself to be calm even though he wanted to rage, he turned back to his wife. "You're doing really well, Lucy," he said, hoping she could continue. "Do you have any idea where they are going?"
"No…" Lucy moaned, her body beginning to tremble. "Louisa can't see. The windows are covered. It should be me… he thinks Louisa is me! Please, God, don't let him hurt them! You have to stop him, Papa."
"We will," Lucas said. It only took another few moments before the men were organized. "We'll try his estate first. Samuel, you take one carriage and Stefan you take another, in case we have to split up."
Several men, including servants, began to gather; they would ride with the group.
"It might be faster on a horse," Martin Westmoreland suggested. "I'll ride with you…"
"No," Lucy said. "I'll ride."
"You'll stay here with Frank," Lucas said even as the men began to stride out of the house.
"I won't!" Lucy said. "You need me. You won't know where to go! I-I have to go, and I'll steal a horse and go alone—"
"She's right," Edward said, cutting off her words. "She's connected to Louisa." When Lucas appeared ready to argue, Edward reached out and laid his hand on his arm. "We need her with us, Lucas. We'll keep her safe."
"All right," Lucas said. "Let's get going."
Soon two carriages were tearing down the drive but were quickly passed by three horses Martin had provided. Lucy's cloak flew out behind her as she raced between her husband and Edward. They didn't pause until they reached the fork in the road. Lucas waited until she nodded and took the road to the right.
They raced on, the thunder of their horses' hooves loud in the still air, with the clatter of carriage wheels distant but audible as they followed behind. Every time they came to a fork, Lucy had to pause and close her eyes. Edward never hurried her, though his worry increased each time they made a choice and saw no evidence of the Drakemore carriage.
"I-I think left," Lucy said, the doubt in her voice evident for the first time. Lucas didn't question her even though the road going left wasn't the one leading to the Drakemore estates. "Oh, Papa, I-I'm not sure!" Lucas could barely understand her and realized that her teeth were chattering.
"Just relax, kitten, we'll find them."
"Don't push it, sweetheart. Let Louisa guide you. Listen for her voice." Edward's voice was soft but flat, and Lucas knew how hard it was for the man to remain in control of himself. He was having the exact same problem.
He watched as her eyes closed again. He realized that not only could he hear the clicking of her teeth, he could see she was trembling almost violently. It was cold, far too cold to be riding astride with her dress at her waist, her legs covered only by her stockings and drawers. Moving his horse next to hers, he grabbed her reins as the carriages pulled up behind them.
"Stefan!" Lucas shouted and the man was instantly beside the them. "I'm going to put Lucy in the carriage…"
"No!" Lucy protested even as she was being lifted from the saddle. "No! You can't!"
"Sweetheart, you are freezing," Lucas said, trying to avoid her flailing arms and kicking feet.
"No, please, I can't… I won't!"
"Shh, okay, but you are going to ride with me," Lucas said, settling her in front of him and pulling off his coat. He draped it around her, tucking it as tightly as possible. Stefan mounted the other horse and waited for instructions.
Lucy calmed, then looked around and gave her husband a puzzled look. "Isn't this the way home?" she asked, lifting a hand to point to the beginning of a fence line. Lucas realized she was right.
"Why would he take them to Hunter's Ridge?" Edward asked; a question one that no one could truly answer.
"I hear water," Lucy said. Lucas looked around as if expecting to hear the same.
"The pond? That's the only place that Drakemore has been." He turned to instruct Stefan but Lucy was shaking her head.
"No, it's running water… wait, no, it's like the sea." Stiffening, she turned in his arms. "The cliffs. He's taking them to the cliffs!"
Lucas felt his heart stop again. There was no reason to drive a carriage to the cliffs unless… he couldn't let his mind complete the horrid thought. Another possibility occurred to him. "Lucy, do you see a cabin?"
"A cabin? What cabin?"
Realizing he'd not yet taken Lucy to the small hunter's cabin, he had to make a decision. He couldn't imagine Drakemore intended to kill the women, but he could easily imagine him discovering the cabin one day while attempting to find a place to hold the girls hostage while making demands for some sort of ransom. Nowhere in town would do. No, he'd obviously thought to hide them in plain sight. Turning again, he explained his thoughts.
"I agree," Stefan said. "He's been disowned by his family and must be truly desperate."
"He's out of his fucking mind," Edward countered. "He'll have no use of money if he's harmed a single hair on their heads!"
Lucas agreed but knew they needed to get going. Every moment they remained still allowed Drakemore to get further ahead. "The carriages are slower and must take the road. Perhaps we can cut him off by riding across the fields."
The three others nodded and once he was sure that Lucy had a secure hold of his horse's mane, he kicked his heels against the horse's flanks. The horse surged forward and when they reached the fence, Lucas bent forward, praying his grip on his wife was secure as they left the ground to sail over the fence. Again and again the horse made the jump, until at last he could hear the pounding of the surf against the cliffs that ran along the end of his property. The cabin sat in a small clearing at the end of what was little more than a rutted path. It was accessible only from the front, as scattered boulders leading to the cliff were at the back.
Pulling up, he waited until Edward dismounted and then passed Lucy to him so he could dismount as well. They hid the horses in a grove of trees a short distance from the small cabin and moved towards the road. They all strained to listen but could hear nothing above the sound of the crashing waves. After several minutes, Lucas shook his head. They must be in the wrong spot. The cliffs ran for miles, and Drakemore could have pulled off anywhere. He was about to suggest they mount up and try again when Lucy stiffened in his arms.
"They're coming."
"You'll stay here," Lucas said, pulling her behind a boulder. When she attempted to pull away, he shook his head. "Please, God, Lucy, please stay. I-I can't bear the thought of you being hurt."
"I'll keep her safe," Stefan said, pulling her into his arms. When she attempted to pull away, he spoke calmly. "Honey, your Papa can't concentrate on what he needs to do if he is worried about you. Let him go, sweetheart."
"I-I…" With a sob, she
stopped fighting. "Be careful, please, don't either of you get hurt."
"It will be okay, kitten…"
"I-I think he might have a gun."
Lucas and Edward exchanged glances. Neither would have a problem with taking on Walter hand to hand. However, both knew they weren't invincible when it came to a bullet. Still neither had a moment's thought of anything other than saving Louisa and Franny.
"We will, kitten. We'll be careful, I promise." Hearing the sounds of hooves, Lucas stopped speaking for a moment. "Keep her safe."
"I will."
Edward and Lucas moved back towards the house, slipping from tree to tree now that they knew the carriage was heading to the cabin. "I know the layout of the cabin," Lucas said softly. "Drakemore doesn't—"
"No," Edward said. "Once inside, we'd have to worry about the girls. I think it's better if we take him outside."
Lucas was about to speak when the moon broke through the clouds enough to illuminate the crest on the door as the carriage drove through the break in the trees. It was exactly as Lucy had described.
Lucas was surprised to see that Drakemore himself was the driver. It was the advantage they needed, as it provided the one and only chance of surprising the man before he could pull any weapon he might have. As he climbed down from his seat and went to the carriage door, Lucas and Edward leapt from their hiding place. Walter evidently heard the sounds of their boots, as he whirled to face them. His hand reached into his pocket and he pulled a pistol from its depths, aiming it at the two men.
"No!" Lucy's scream had the gun wavering towards the new threat and even as Walter gasped at the sight of the woman he thought he'd kidnapped, Edward launched himself directly at him. Their bodies collided and the sound of the gun discharging had Lucy screaming again and again. Stefan tried to grab her as she raced past but she was too quick. Lucas grabbed the buggy whip from its holder and the sound that cracked through the air rivaled the one heard from the gun.
Walter howled like a wild animal as the lash caught him across his back. He arched backwards. It was enough for Edward to draw back his fist and send it flying into Walter's face. Bone crunched and the man screamed, dropping the pistol as his hands reached for his broken nose. Stefan grabbed him from behind, pinning his arms down as Edward grabbed the gun and aimed it at the man he hated with every cell in his body.
"One move and I swear to God, I'll send you to hell," Edward said, his tone one that not a soul could question. Lucy cautiously moved towards the carriage door as the other carriages pulled up.
"You… how… I… you are inside…" Walter sputtered, blood and mucus dripping as his eyes locked onto Lucy. "You bitch! You took Franny from me! You ruined my life!"
"Franny was never yours and you ruined your own life, you bastard," Lucas growled. He joined his wife, who didn't even seem to hear Walter as voices from inside the carriage called to her.
"We're here!"
Lucy was keening as she attempted to pull the carriage door open. "It won't open! Louisa! Franny!"
"Honey, let me," Lucas said. Seeing the door had been secured with a rope, he'd stepped into the cabin to get a knife but had to pick up his wife and set her aside to get to the rope.
An elegantly dressed man took a moment to convince Edward that he was indeed a constable. Edward surrendered the gun and pulled Lucy to him as Lucas began to saw through the rope. "Louisa, Franny, we're all here. You're safe now. We'll get you out." His voice was calm as he spoke to the women but was almost a growl when he urged Lucas to hurry up. At last the rope gave and Lucas tossed it aside.
Edward yanked open the door and leaned inside. The moment he stepped back, Lucy flung her arms around her twin, who was cradled in her husband's arms. Edward dropped one arm to include her in his hold, hugging both girls to him.
Lucas lifted Franny out and after assuring him that she was fine, he understood when she reached for Samuel, whose arms were already opened wide. Lucas watched as she flung herself into them and despite his horror of the last hour, had to smile to see the man wrap his arms around his sister and kiss her again and again, as if to reassure himself that she was really in his arms and unhurt.
He went to Edward, and Lucy, assured that her twin was safe, allowed herself to be pulled into his arms. It was only once she was also wrapped securely in arms of a man who loved her more than life itself that she burst into tears.
"Shh, kitten, you are safe. Everyone is safe," Lucas crooned against her hair. "You saved them, sweetheart."
Lord Westmoreland approached. "I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. The connection you have is truly a miracle," he said, looking between the twins. "Thank God everyone is unharmed."
A moan belied his statement and they saw Lawrence stepping away from Drakemore after applying a makeshift bandage to his flattened nose. Not a soul had a bit of sympathy for the man who had attempted to kidnap the two women. They watched as he was stuffed into his own carriage. "I'll come by tomorrow to take your statements," the constable said, "but I can assure you that with all the witnesses, the bastard won't see the light of day anytime soon."
Lucas thanked him as the constable climbed in with his prisoner and one of Martin's servants climbed up onto the driver's seat.
The client, George Maxwell, whom Edward had been speaking with before Lucy's scream, willingly gave up his spot in one carriage to mount the horse Edward had ridden, and Stefan and Martin would ride the remaining two horses back. Two men who worked for Westmoreland climbed into the driver's seats and waited for the others to climb into the carriages. Lucas and Edward and their wives went to the first carriage, while Samuel carried Franny to the other. Lawrence went with them, and while Samuel had no intention of releasing his fiancée, he did allow the doctor to examine the back of her head. Once satisfied that the small bump she'd received when hitting her head against the door wasn't bleeding or in need of medical attention, Lawrence gave Samuel an understanding look.
"I'm a good doctor but make a horrid chaperone," Lawrence said as he leaned back and closed his eyes. It was all the newly engaged couple needed. By the time the carriages were pulling away, their mouths were sealed against each other's.
The group left the cliffs and the pounding surf behind to return to the ball. Though they were already very close to home, Lucas didn't even consider asking to be driven to Hunter's Ridge. There were others left behind and until their pack was complete, he'd do what the alpha of the group should to make sure they were together again.
Once back, the group was greeted with applause as they entered the house. Miranda, their hostess, led them to the room where their family was pacing and waiting. Frank saw them first and then Bea, who began to cry and allowed her husband to lead her to a chair. Emmie ran to her husband, throwing her arms around him. It was only when Miranda called Ettie's name loudly that they looked to see the normally bouncy young woman standing frozen. Her cheeks had no color and she began to moan and sway. Before Lucas could react, Lawrence raced forward and caught her before she hit the ground.
"Ettie, sweetheart, it's okay. Everyone is safe, everyone is here."
"Y-you are hurt," she whispered, her hand moving to stroke his cheek, and when it came away smudged, Lawrence understood.
"No, no, my love. It's not my blood. I'm fine."
"Promise?"
"Yes, I promise," Lawrence said, giving her a hug.
"I'm so glad," Ettie whispered and then slapped at his arm. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"
If anyone in the room had a doubt that Ettie had made her choice, it disappeared when she wrapped her arms around the doctor's neck and pulled him down. The kiss they shared was not the kind given to a friend—not even a very close friend.
While their wraps were brought by servants, several guests approached to express their pleasure that everyone was safe. Though they were encouraged by their host as well as a roomful of guests to stay, Lord Westmoreland understood that was impossible. He smiled as
his wife spoke to a servant, who soon returned with a large basket
"Since you will miss the midnight feast, the least we can do is provide a picnic," she said with a smile.
Lucas thanked her and Lucy giggled when Ettie, recovered from her near faint, asked if some of the baskets included sweets.
"My darling girl, there are lots and lots of goodies," Miranda assured her before turning to Lucas. "Lord Huntington, I know you just want to go home, but please, don't strike us off your list of friends."
"I assure you that won't happen," Lucas answered. "I apologize for bringing such a horrible thing to your doorstep."
"Pshaw," Miranda said, waving her hand. "I don't doubt that this will be the most talked about ball of the century. After all, your sister became engaged to our barrister, your wife and her beautiful twin have proven that love can conquer distance, and all you men have proven that your love will be forever given to these women." She actually giggled and motioned to Lucas, Edward and Samuel, who hadn't allowed their wives to move out of their embraces. "You three remind me of the Three Musketeers—ah, so romantic!"
Turning towards Ettie, who was trying to convince Lawrence that a cupcake would certainly help her regain her strength, she smiled. "And, if I'm not mistaken, I believe there will be not one but two brides in your future."
"In the very near future, if this little minx will have me," Lawrence said, grinning as Ettie's mouth dropped open as he dropped to one knee. "Marry me, Ettie. I promise to love and cherish you for the rest of your life." When she burst into tears while repeating the word 'yes' over and over again, he stood and gathered her into his arms and their earlier kiss was repeated. A ruby ring surrounded by diamonds was slid onto her finger and another round of hugs, kisses, giggles and congratulations were given. Though David Whitmore gave the couple a nod and a small bow of his head, Raymond stepped forward.
"I-I hope I didn't hurt you," Ettie said, "I never—"
"You have brought me nothing but happiness, Lady Huntington," Raymond said. "It is because of you and your love of life that I see that, while I have been existing, I have not been living. I wish you and Lawrence the very best and hope that one day I, too, shall find true love again."