by Wendy Vella
“Something is wrong,” he said, running to the place with the rest of them on his heels.
“Eden, Warwick, take out your earplugs and listen for them!” Dev said as he switched his vision. “Lilly, take off your gloves and step into the circle.”
She did not hesitate. Throwing her gloves at Emily, she took Dev's hand, and Eden held the other. Then the other Sinclairs all linked hands and the circle was formed.
Lilly felt the jolt of awareness travel through her as they concentrated on the twins.
“I hear them!” Eden cried, breaking free. She pointed to the back of a fast-moving carriage hurtling down the road some distance away.
“I see them!”
Lilly watched as Devon and the other Sinclair siblings started running down the road. She did not hesitate and started in pursuit.
“Emily, take Samantha and Warwick back to the house in the Sinclair carriage!”
“Of course, James, and God speed to you all,” Emily cried, hugging the two now tearful children close.
Realizing she had no hope of catching the Sinclairs, or the carriage that held the twins, she changed direction to where a man stood holding horses.
“M-my sisters have been kidnapped,” she lied, as a full explanation would take too long. “Th-they are in that carriage.” Lilly waved a hand down the street. “P-please, lend us your horses!”
“I'm being paid to hold them, the men would kill me,” the man said, gripping the reins tight, his eyes suspicious.
“I'm the Duke of Raven, here is my card!” James rasped, arriving on her heels. “I will pay for their hackney home and then personally deliver the horses to them later!”
Lilly watched the man waver. Fishing out her reticule, she took out a handful of notes and thrust them at him. “Take these to soothe your worries!” she said, ripping the reins from his fingers.
James threw Lilly onto the back of one of the horses. Vaulting onto another, he then took the reins of the third.
They reached Eden, Essie, and Cam first.
“Cam, take the horse, and pull Essie up behind you!” James called to him.
Lilly galloped on as James pulled Eden up behind him.
Lilly hiked her skirts high and rode low over the horse’s neck. She heard the others give chase behind her. Ignoring the shouts and waved fists as they flew down the street, weaving between the carriages and forcing pedestrians crossing the road to run to get out of their way, she searched for Devon and found him up ahead, still running. Surely the carriage that held the twins could not be that far ahead with so much traffic on the streets. Urging her mount closer, she drew alongside Devon.
“Hold out your hand!”
He did, and she gripped it hard, hoping they weren't being incredibly foolhardy to attempt this while the horse was moving. She watched him take one large leap and then he swung up behind her. His arms came around her waist and he held her tight. Lilly could feel the deep heaving breaths he took as he struggled to suck air into his lungs.
“Dear God, Lilly, the twins!” She heard the desperation in his voice, the terror that his two precious sisters had been taken from him.
“I know, my love, but we will get them back!”
She felt him shudder and then briefly rest his forehead on her back.
“Where is the carriage?” Cam said, drawing even with them, a ferocious expression on his face.
Dev pointed. Lilly looked and found it up ahead in the distance. She winced as it veered left, nearly overturning.
“Ease back but keep them in sight. We cannot afford to have them take risks and hurt the twins!” James shouted.
“We can't lose them!” Eden cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Never!” James replied, his handsome face mirroring Cam's.
They rode in single file once the carriage had slowed; presumably the kidnappers believed it was not being followed. Lilly and Dev took the lead, and kept the carriage in their sights as it traveled through the streets.
She felt sick inside, fear eating away at her as she imagined the terror those sweet little girls were going through. They had been so excited not one hour before, and now their entire world had been tossed upon its head. And the elder Sinclairs were suffering too. Lilly had heard the pain in Dev's words and seen the stark terror on the faces of the others. They must get the twins back safe; there was simply no other option.
“They are taking the road out of London!” Lilly shouted. Where the hell were they taking the twins?
“Should we attempt to take the carriage and force it to stop?”
“No, Lilly, it's too dangerous. We will follow and then when they stop we will take back what is ours.”
She shivered at the threat in Dev's voice. He would show no mercy. Someone had dared to harm what he protected and loved, and there would be retaliation. Lilly would be there to help mete it out.
They rode in silence, all determined. Lilly fidgeted, trying to get comfortable as her skirts rode up. Hands lifted her, and then she was resettled across Devon's lap. An hour passed, and then thirty more minutes, and finally the carriage pulled off the main road and started down a long driveway. Lilly eased the horse to a halt and the others followed suit.
“Danderfield lives here.”
Lilly looked at James wide-eyed. “Dear God, are you sure?”
“Yes, I once visited here to view a horse he was selling. The place is etched in my memory.”
Lilly knew by the dark look he threw her that James's memories were not happy ones.
“None of this makes sense,” Cam growled. “Why the twins? What reason could force Danderfield to take them?”
“Tether the horses and we will walk up the drive. Keep to the trees,” Dev said, jumping down and lifting Lilly to stand beside him.
“Do you think Danderfield could somehow be involved in kidnapping the children?” Lilly said as she started to work through things in her head. “I mean, he tried to marry me and I could never quite work out why, and yet perhaps it was to shut me up, as he is behind this thieving ring?”
“It sounds far-fetched, but it could be possible,” James said.
“It matters not why he has taken them, only that he has, and will now pay. After we have them back we will discuss the why.”
“Of course,” Lilly said, touching Devon's arm to let him know she understood. His muscles felt as though they had been forged in iron, each one clenched and rigid.
They walked through the gates and then made for the trees. Running between, they crept to the front of the house, where they could see the carriage.
“They are no longer inside.”
“I hear them, Dev!” Eden whispered. “They just told someone that they would be very sorry they had taken them when their family arrived.”
“Thank God they are all right.”
Lilly moved in front of Devon as he briefly lowered his head.
“It will be all right, my love.” She touched a hand to his chest, and he gripped it hard, pulling her into his body. “I promised her I would keep them all safe, yet I have failed so many times.”
“You are not God, brother.” Cambridge's words were cold and clipped, and a long way from those of the happy man he usually was. “No one could have raised or cared for us better than you, so I will thank you to stop talking in that ridiculous manner.”
No one spoke again as they moved to the next cluster of trees.
“Christ, I'm scared, Lilly. They are so small,” Devon whispered into her ear.
“And strong, Devon. You have taught them well, and they will be safe until we reach them.”
He squeezed her hand but said nothing further.
They got as close as they could without detection. The shadows were beginning to settle, yet if anyone looked they would still notice any movement in the trees. The house was made of dark gray stone. To Lilly, it looked bleak and empty. The windows on all levels were shut, curtains drawn, and not one speck of light could be seen.
; “What do you see, Dev?” Essie asked.
“No one is inside.”
“The twins’ voices have faded, almost as if they have moved beyond the house,” Eden said, frowning. “Outbuildings,” she then added softly. “There must be outbuildings, and if Lilly is correct, maybe the other children are being held there also.”
“What reason could Danderfield have to be kidnapping children, sister,” Devon said.
“Then why kidnap the twins?”
“True,” Cam agreed. “We know this is his property, but not that he is involved.”
“James, you take Cam and circle the house from the far side while we take this way,” Devon said, pointing to his right.
Lilly watched James brush Eden's fingers as he and Cam left. Lilly, Eden, and Essex held hands as they followed Devon. He motioned them to hunch over as he did, and keeping parallel with the house, they made their way to the rear. If Devon lifted his hand, they stopped, and restarted only when he lowered it.
Dev wanted to kill someone; he wasn't picky who, just someone who was responsible for the pain that had taken up residence in his chest. It had been bad when Lilly had been taken; he had felt a furious burning rage that someone had dared to harm her, his woman. And now his little sisters had suffered the same fate. Dorrie and Somer, who looked on the world as a vast and entertaining treat, filled with wonderful, exciting experiences. They were not supposed to feel pain or terror. He and his siblings had done their best to ensure this didn't happen to the youngest Sinclairs. Yet now it had, and he would see whomever had done this deed in hell.
Moving to the shelter of a bush, he looked at the long low building still some distance away. They would have very little cover to reach it and to do so with so many of them would be folly.
“We saw nothing on our way,” Cam said, arriving at Dev's side with James on his heels. “In fact, this place looks deserted.”
“There is what we are after.” Dev pointed to where the building lay. “And there are four armed men patrolling the outside. I can see colors inside, multiple colors, all children, therefore your guess, Lilly, appears to be accurate. The twins are now in there too.”
“There is no cover, just that bloody lane in.”
Everyone grew silent as they studied the landscape.
“They won't shoot at women.”
“Definitely not!” James whispered to his wife. “I will not allow you to go up to that—”
“No!” Dev snapped at the same time.
“And yet we have no other choice,” Essie said, removing her bonnet. “This is our only chance. If we can distract them long enough for you, James, and Cam to approach, then well and good. If not, you will have to rush them.”
“Exactly,” Lilly said, removing her bonnet also. She then took Dev's necktie and tied it around her head in a band. Eden quickly did the same.
“This is ridiculous,” Dev hissed, gripping Lilly's wrist. He could not allow something to happen to her.
“Trust us, Dev, and know we will be safe until you reach us.”
He held her eyes, saw the determination, and knew he had to let her do it because he had no other way to get to his sisters.
“I don't want to let you do this, but I can see no other way—”
“We are wasting time,” Lilly said.
“You are to take no chances,” he said, scowling at her. “Any of you,” he added, turning the look on his sisters.
“Take my knife,” Cam said, handing it to Essie who slipped it into her bodice.
“Can you shoot?” Dev said, removing his pistol and handing it to Lilly, who in turn lifted her skirts and put it in her stocking.
“I walk the streets of London at night, Sinclair; of course I can shoot.”
He could lose himself in those eyes, and planned to do so, along with her body, when they were home safe. “Be safe,” he said, running a finger down her nose.
Checking Essie over to make sure she looked more like a village woman and less like a noblewoman, he nodded. “Remember you are just to lure them away from the front of the building so we can get there undetected. Attempt nothing further,” he cautioned.
“Any sign of trouble, you run, but not in a straight line,” James added in a harsh voice. Dev saw the fear he felt in his eyes.
“What do you plan to do?” Cam said, looking worried.
“Flirt.” Eden looked scared but determined.
“I've changed my mind—” But it was too late, they'd left Dev's side and walked out onto the rutted lane that led to the outbuildings.
“Watch carefully, Sinclair, and if you see anything, no matter how small, we run,” James whispered. “Simply put, that is my life walking down that lane, and without her I am nothing.”
Nodding, Dev stayed silent, because he knew he felt something similar for Lilly. His love, his life.
“Dear Christ, are they singing?” Cam hissed.
They were putting on quite a performance, laughing and swinging their skirts. Linking arms, they skipped along, apparently without a care in the world, singing at the tops of their voices.
“I feel as though my lunch is going to make a reappearance,” James whispered. “It should be us out there, not them.”
“And yet we would have been shot and be no help to my sisters or whoever else is in those sheds.”
Dev remained silent, letting James and Cam talk. They were close now, and looking at the guards he could see their attention was firmly caught. Lilly rolled her hips in an enticing way, and he watched one of the guards lick his lips and run his eyes over her body.
“I'm killing him first,” Dev snarled.
“What? Tell me what you see?”
“It's best you don't know,” Dev replied. As if he hadn't been angry enough, he felt his spleen begin to boil at the lecherous looks the men were giving his fiancée and sisters.
“Those bastards are comparing the size of our breasts!” Eden hissed, forcing a smile on her face. “So we are going to flirt and then take them around the back so they believe we are going to lift our skirts—”
“Eden!” Essie gasped.
“I'm practicing being bawdy.”
Lilly's snort held little humor.
“Remember, try to speak a little coarser,” Essie whispered.
“Don't come any closer, ladies!”
Lilly sauntered forward, ignoring the gun waving in her face. “We heard in the village that there was some gents here need a bit of fun.” Pushing the barrel of the shotgun aside, she ran one hand up the man's chest and fought a shudder of revulsion as he leered down at her. “Me and my friends is bored,” she added, running one finger down the barrel of his gun, now lowered to his side.
“How much?” one of the other men said, crooking his finger at Essie, who moved slowly forward. Lilly blinked at the sultry look on her face.
“How much you got?” Eden said, moving to the last man.
“Enough for you lovelies,” the man boasted, wrapping an arm around her waist and hauling her close.
“Got anywhere a bit quieter?” Lilly said, placing her arms around the man's neck. Lord, he smelled foul. She could almost feel the heat of Devon's eyes as they watched her.
“We can't leave here; the boss might see.”
“The boss is busy and will be for hours. Come on.”
Essie pressed closer to her man as he appeared to waver. Lilly watched his eyes glaze with lust, and then he tossed aside his gun and followed the man who led Eden.
“Got anything to drink?” Lilly asked as they walked away to a smaller shed.
“I got everything a lady could need,” he said, then laughed, showing yellow teeth. She prayed Dev arrived soon, because she felt ill at the prospect of this man touching her.
They walked into the building and he let her go to light several candles. It was a small, cramped space and obviously used as sleeping quarters, judging by the belongings spread everywhere. Wrinkling her nose as the foul odor reached her, she looked at Eden and Essie.
Both had smiles on their faces; their eyes, however, were like their brothers’: cold with rage.
“We'll have an all in,” one of the men said, eyeing Eden's breasts. “I like the look of your one’s titties.”
“Charming,” Eden muttered as her man all but fell into her cleavage.
“Perhaps you gentlemen should make yourselves comfortable while we put on a little show for you,” Lilly said, pushing her man in the chest and sending him sprawling backward. She toyed with her bodice as he tried to rise.
“Get down here, boys!” he said, licking his lips as she ran one finger down her chest.
Lifting her skirts slowly, Lilly slipped her hands beneath and pretended to fiddle with her stockings, and then pulled the pistol free.
“Hands in the air, please, gentlemen,” Lilly said. “And I use the term loosely, I assure you.”
“Don't speak if you want to live,” Essie said, drawing her knife and waving it before the now wide-eyed men.
“Lie on your stomachs and put your hands on your lower back!” Eden demanded. Once this was done, she and Essie began to bind their hands with the neckties and scarves. Lilly stood over them, pistol at the ready.
“And here comes the cavalry,” she muttered as the door burst open.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“Thank God!” Dev found Lilly and his sisters standing over the men. He took the pistol from her as he reached her side. “Did they harm you?”
“No.”
Kneeling beside one of the men, Dev pushed the gun into his side. “Are there more men inside that building you were guarding?”
“No, just Finnegan, the man who is training them.”
“If you've lied to me I'll come back and put a hole in you.”
“I'm not lying!” the man squealed.
“Let's go,” Cam said from the doorway. “We need to find the twins.”
They shut and locked the building and then ran back to the front. Lifting the heavy wooden bar, they pulled the door open and slipped inside.
Dev raised a hand as he heard voices.
“My brothers are going to make you very sorry you ever took us.”