Barnabas opened his arms to his mistress. ‘I swear, I love none but you, my darling. But I had to guard the door. I couldn’t let my cousin escape.’
Her cousin’s broad form still blocked Louisa’s way out as Belinda allowed him to put his arms around her. Then Louisa heard a clunk and a thud and her cousin’s body hit the floor.
Belinda was holding the kettle. She must have struck Barnabas with it. He was sprawled out at her feet.
Louisa gulped, touching the column of her throat. ‘Is he dead?’
Belinda pushed back her hair with her free hand. ‘Nah... He’ll wake with a bloody headache in a bit, and then I’ll kick him out. I’ve got no need for a broke protector.’
Louisa’s eyes stung from the smoke, and she couldn’t quite believe what she saw. ‘I am glad. He is quite odious, but I didn’t want him dead.’
‘Run for it, love,’ Belinda said with a wink. ‘Before he wakes up and tries to stop you. Thanks for saving my cottage. ’Tis bought and paid for in my name.’
Louisa didn’t have to be told twice. She gave a thankful nod to Belinda and dashed out through the front door. Outside the cottage it was dark and wooded, and she didn’t know which way to go. But the farther she was from her cousin when he woke up, the better.
She continued to run, her throat dry and her lungs burning.
Chapter Thirty
The sound of Mantheria’s chewing grated on Wick’s nerves. How could she eat at a time like this?
He kept glancing out of the window—not that it helped much. It was growing too dark to see anything more than the outlines of trees. He was glad that Miss Perkins had accompanied them. He doubted if Mantheria’s driver would have been able to find a rarely used path at this time of night with only the light from the carriage lanterns.
Suddenly the carriage turned sharply and his sister gasped as they almost slid off the seat. The path seemed to be made of stones, for they all bumped up and down for a most uncomfortable mile or two.
Wick knew they must be close when he smelled smoke. When the vehicle came to a stop, he swung the door open and saw a cottage with its front door ajar and a lantern lit on the table. Pulling his pistol out, he cocked it. He rushed in to see Lord Barnabas on the floor and a pretty buxom woman sweeping up what appeared to be the remnants of a fire. Even with the door open, the smell of smoke was strong in the room.
‘If you’re looking for the lady,’ the woman said, pointing, ‘she dashed out five minutes ago. I told her to hop to it before he awoke.’
Wick swallowed; his mouth tasted of ash. ‘Was she harmed in any way?’
The woman shook her head and leaned against her broom. ‘A regular firecracker, that one. Escaped the cellar and stood up to His Lordship. Then the clunch dropped a candle and she helped put out the fire. So I knocked him out and told her to run for it. ’Twere the least I could do after she saved my cottage.’
Louisa had been locked up. Had she also been ravished? He had to find her.
Miss Perkins entered the cottage and pushed up her spectacles. ‘Miss, do you know in which direction she went?’
‘No.’
‘Thank you,’ Miss Perkins said, and then gestured to the prone Lord Barnabas on the floor. ‘Do you require any assistance with Mr Brecks?’
The mistress snorted. ‘Nah. I’ll send him on his way as soon as he can stand upright. ’Tis my cottage, after all.’
Wick had no sympathy for an abductor and possible rapist. ‘Thank you for your information, madam.’
The woman winked at him. ‘It’smiss.’
He could only nod and make good his escape from the smoky cottage.
Miss Perkins trailed behind him. The door to the carriage was still ajar and Mantheria was sitting on the edge of her seat.
‘Where’s Louisa?’
Wick took a deep breath, his chest swelling with pride. ‘Escaped on her own.’
Mantheria clapped her hands. ‘Bravo!’
‘But we do not know where,’ Miss Perkins reminded him.