Page 92 of Sacrificing the Untamed Lady Henrietta
Not daring to turn back, she sensed a darkness following them. It moved through every shadow, dancing between the flickering torches, hellbent on snaring its prize.
Chapter 34
Before long, the pretty torches ceased to exist. The guided pathways did not lead this far, though she could still see by the silvery light of the full moon overhead. Gerome had been slightly ahead of her this whole time, acting as her beacon, but he soon began to fall behind. His breath came in ragged bursts, the exertion evidently taking its toll on him.
“Are you well, Gerome?” she asked, worried. If Seth was following them, and Gerome was struggling, how was she supposed to keep him from attacking her?
He nodded, wheezing. “Quite well, My Lady. Though I may require a moment’s pause soon.”
“Is my father’s man not around here somewhere?” She glanced into the gloom, unable to see much ahead of her. Clutterbuck was supposed to be stationed along this path, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“When I was standing with him, he was some way up this trail,” Gerome panted. “He had taken up his position at the bridge to prevent anyone from crossing that way. I suppose he thought Mr. Booth would refrain from trudging through the water, if he attempted to make a swift escape.”
“A short way, you say?”
“Yes, it is not much further now,” Gerome assured.
“Very well,” she said, trying to push away the terror that crept across her skin, setting the fine hairs on edge. The world around her felt eerie and wrong, as though there were monsters lurking nearby. She could not see any, but that did not mean they weren’t there.
I only wish to see my husband again. I want him to hold me and tell me that everything will be fine—that he will garner information from Molly and have Seth arrested forthwith. Please, allow me to live, so that I may see him again.
She realized, in that moment of abject fear, that she had fallen truly in love with Ewan. He was her ever-fixed star in the sky, guiding her home. And she did not wish to be anywhere but by his side.
For a further five minutes, they walked in stilted silence. Gerome was still wheezing a few steps behind her, but the sound of his grating breaths brought her some sense of comfort. At least she was not alone.
Up ahead, she spied the bridge that Gerome must have been talking about. Carved from sandstone, it bore two sculptured vases at either side of the entrance, the stone fruit and foliage tumbling over the lip. There were Doric-style gaps all along the curve of the bridge proper, showing glimpses of the rushing river below.
“I thought you said that my father’s man was stationed here?” she said, with trepidation, for the bridge was entirely empty.
Gerome stared in surprise. “He was here, but a short while ago. I left him with the accomplice and His Lordship, as I ran back to the ballroom for you. He was just here, I swear it.” He began to scour the banks on either side of the bridge, peering for any signs of foul play.
“Where are they, Gerome?” she whispered, her throat constricting.
“My Lady, I cannot say. They were here, I promise you.” He looked close to tears.
“What if something has happened to them?” she gasped, trying to drag breath into her tightened lungs.
“I am sure it has not,” he said, reassuring her. However, it was too late for that. She could not be calmed.
“How can you be sure?”
He sighed. “I cannot, My Lady. Indeed, perhaps you should stand in the center of the bridge in case someone comes,” he warned, his demeanor equally perplexed. “It may be that they have decided to bring the carriage closer, so you do not have to walk as far. Or, perhaps, the accomplice made her escape and they have chased after her. I do not know.”
Taking a shaky breath, she heeded his advice and stepped up to the center of the bridge, leaning against the balustrade. Her knees were trembling, threatening to give way at any moment.
Ewan, where are you? Come back to me, as you said you would. Hurry.
She glanced towards the opposite bank, squinting at the darkness there. A rustle of leaves made her pulse quicken, and the snap of a distant branch went off like a gunshot. There was somebody out there, she was certain of it. She could feel their eyes, watching her. Determined not to be captured by Seth, she kept her gaze fixed on the woodland. Nobody would creep up on her unawares, not with Gerome watching her from the other side. Here, she was safe.
Suddenly, a shadow flitted in front of her eyes. She staggered backwards, bumping into something—or rather, someone—solid. She tried to turn, to see who it was, but strong hands held her forwards, preventing her. Before she could open her mouth to scream, that same, strong hand clamped over her mouth and something scratchy slid around her neck. It tightened, with just enough pressure to warn of what might happen if it tightened any further.
“Don’t make a sound,” a voice warned. A familiar voice. Painfully familiar. “I’ll kill you where you stand if you make even a squeak. Nod if you understand.”
With tears streaming from her eyes, she nodded slowly.
“Good. I would prefer it if you could speak,” the voice said, releasing her mouth from his grip.
“Why are you doing this?” she whimpered. “What have I done to you?”
