Page 57 of The Seduction of Lord Sin
Charlotte swallowed, her fear caught in her throat. If she could make it to the door, she’d be outside—but then where to go? She didn’t want to run back inside the house. Most of the men were with James, and Flora and Dharma were inside. She had to draw Sanders away until help arrived. Would it arrive? Surely there was a groom left in the stable?
“I never even considered you. You fooled me.” Charlotte furtively pulled the dagger out of her pocket.
“I fooled you all, with a little help from Cook.” Lord Sanders moved toward her. “You have yet to learn it’s always the person you least suspect. Come with me without fuss and I’ll let you keep the stupid dog.” As he reached for her arm, she swung the knife down just as Sin had shown her, but his large hand swallowed her fist; he was so much stronger. He tried to disarm her. The knife slipped through her fist and a sharp pain made her cry out as it sliced her skin.
Just then, the kettle sang. Charlotte lunged for it and swung the heated implement at Lord Sanders. He ducked sideways and screamed as the hot water hit him, and she was out the door.
She ran for the stable, but as she rounded the corner, she noticed a man she didn’t recognize standing by the water trough. As quick as a flash, Charlotte knew of no better place to hide than the maze. She’d know her way around, through and over the maze even if blindfolded. But Sanders wouldn’t. It might accord her some time. Time to lose him or time for Sin to save her. As she clutched her skirts and ran, she grew slightly more confident, with the pistol in her pocket bumping against her hip.
When she tore between the boxed hedge walls of the garden maze, she took deep breaths. Getting her breathing and pounding pulse under control was essential, so Sanders could not locate her. She inched down the narrow lane, her slippers creeping silently over the cool, lush grass, her chest still heaving.
She stopped long enough to tear a strip off her petticoat and wrapped it around her hand to stem the bleeding. She’d cut her hand as she’d fought Sanders for the dagger. Allowing him to follow a blood trail would surely lead to capture. Constantly, she looked over her shoulder. Her whole body was shaking, yet with her hand bleeding and her heart pumping, she made her way into the most thick and convoluted passages. She briefly closed her eyes.Please, Sin. Come for me.
She prayed men had been watching the house and had seen the strangers slip in.
Sanders was clever. He’d fooled them all. James had thought the men were near the river, and he’d sent the men out on a wild goose chase. Would Lord Sinclair work out who the villain was in time? Sanders’ planning could rival Napoleon. He’d had all of them convinced Bann was the villain. Sanders’s disinterest and ability to play the fishing idiot had them fooled.
She looked up. The sun wasn’t helping. She looked down at her pale apricot gown and wished she’d worn the deep emerald instead. Her gown would be visible through the branches. She had to keep well away from him.
She moved to the far right of the maze to her hiding place. A small hole in the hedge was large enough for her to squeeze into. She pulled the branches back into place and prayed for the clouds or even fog to roll in.
It seemed like she’d sat in the dark vegetation for hours when suddenly he was right there. She could hear his booted feet coming down the passage, curses issuing from his villainous mouth. The acid taste of anger rose in the back of her throat. Damn the man for picking this area of the maze, but then again, it appeared he was well and truly lost.
She could see the shape of him, tall, bedecked in his lace finery. She could see the shape of the pistol in his hand. She fingered her pistol through the folds of her gown’s fabric. Sin’s words rang in her head, ‘you only have one shot’.
“Don’t be afraid, Lady Charlotte,” came Sanders’s melodious voice from several rows away. “It’s not as if I want to kill you—yet. I merely want to marry you. Isn’t that what you desire? A husband to give you a child. I can at least offer that. In exchange, I will take ownership of all you own, including your property and I don’t mean your money, useful as that will be for what I have planned for your land.”
Her property. Surely this wasn’t about a fishing lodge?
“A very valuable tin mine lies within your land. I have no idea how your husband and his son overlooked mining. When it became known you were looking for a husband, I sent men south to investigate the rumors I’d heard when your husband was alive. Imagine my surprise when they informed me that there is a large seam of tin and copper that no one has ever mined. Riches beyond my wildest dreams. I’m a tad broke.”
Tin? This was about mining? Clayton had always refused to mine his land, and she’d thought because it wasn’t feasible. The family didn’t need the money. He’d loved the peace and beauty of his hunting lodge too much. Plus, the work was dangerous, and he was therefore reluctant to become involved in mining.
“Toobury made a mistake attending your house party,” his voice faded slightly as he turned the corner, but he’d be back. That way led to a dead end. “When he overheard a private conversation with my valet, I had to, shall we say, take care of him before he could inform Lord Devlin. I thought he had spoken with Lord Sinclair, so I tried to take care of him too, but obviously I was mistaken, or else your gallant knights would not have left.”
She almost breathed a sigh of relief, but he was too close. Lord Sanders had not realized they were on to him.
She could hardly hear him once again because he’d walked back the other way. She wanted to move as a branch stuck in her ribs, but fear held her immobile.
“…Bella is waiting for you. So reveal yourself and let’s get this over with before my anger gets the better of me. You don’t want to see me when I’m angry. Bella doesn’t want to see me when I’m angry.”
He passed by her hiding place once again. Soon, his angry tones were muffled as he made his way deeper into the maze. She’d relaxed, but then a twig snapped near her hiding place and she spied another set of boots. They were not the boots of a nobleman. Who was it? Was it Lord Sanders’ valet?
He was standing right by her hiding place.
He called out. “Are you sure she’s still in here? Cook said she knows this maze better than anyone, and there are several exits.”
“Damn her.”
“Why would she hide in here if she can get away? It’s not as if anyone will rescue her.”
“Unless she is biding time until Lord Battling returns.” Sanders cursed again. “I need to abduct her today. If she informs Battling, he’ll call for reinforcements from her stepson, and then I’ll never gain access and Devlin will get everything his heart desires.”
“There is always Lady Dharma.”
“She doesn’t own the land, Charlotte does.”
So that’s why Dharma is not of interest. Thank the lord.
