Page 77 of The Masked Baron
Ellis led his horse at a painfully slow pace, searching for recent signs of disturbance. He had traveled this way himself often enough that the ground cover was worn down, long ago trampled into a dirt path.
“Who are you?”
Ellis whirled around to see Mr. Brennan; his brother, Mr. David Brennan; and two others from town he barely recognized. The elder Mr. Brennan put his hands on his hips and stared expectantly at Ellis. They must’ve had their horses stashed somewhere else and doubled back. They had caught him completely unaware.
These men had had a vendetta against Ellis since he had maimed Mr. David Brennan a few years back. But they clearly did not recognize him without his mask and wearing Birks’s worn cloak. He tried to disguise his voice as he answered, “I am the new footman, gone to search for a woman missing from the great house.”
“What are you thinking, working for such a monster? I would think twice about going back if I were you. Look what he did to my little brother just because David was better looking.” Mr. Brennan held up his brother’s stump, but David pulled back, annoyed. “That man can’t stand anyone who looks half decent because it reminds him of how hideous his own face is.”
Ellis ground his teeth together. He wanted nothing better than to wield his sword and fight the conceited imbecile, but he had to keep his head. “Have you seen a missing woman?”
“Aren’t you listening?” Mr. Brennan spat on the ground. “Apparently, you care more for money than having a reputable master.”
Ellis shrugged, falling back into the years of playacting as the Dark Rider. “Everyone has to eat.”
Mr. Brennan growled. “Tell that no-good beast to come look for his friends himself. We’ll be waiting right here for him when he does.”
Ellis looked back at the house. He needed to hurry this charade up before the sun went down and the rain started. “I don’t know. I think you might have something there about my master. He can be quite fierce. I wouldn’t want my face marred or worse. I’ve got a lady friend I want to marry. How about you let me work for you instead?”
Mr. Brennan folded his arms across his chest. “You do look strong enough to take care of yourself. You could undoubtedly take on the Dark Rider better than any of us.” Mr. Brennan’s tongue rolled around in his mouth. “That is, if you have the courage to back up your muscle.”
Ellis tried his best to appear sheepish. “I’m just a footman.”
One of the men Ellis couldn’t name tapped Mr. Brennan on the shoulder and whispered something into his ear.
Mr. Brennan huffed. “It seems Hans here recognizes his lordship’s blood horse. He never goes anywhere without him. Explain yourself.”
Ellis thought quickly. “I’m new here. I didn’t know it was the Dark Rider’s horse. I liked the looks of this one, so I took him. Not to worry, because I have an idea. What say you take the horse instead of the woman? I’ve heard the Dark Rider doesn’t care for anyone but himself. On the other hand, it sounds like he likes this horse a great deal. He’d probably be more riled up about the horse than a useless person.”
David elbowed his brother. “Footman’s probably right. His horse has got to be mighty valuable to him.”
“Shut your mouth! I told you I was making the decisions here.” Mr. Brennan dug his foot into the ground. “All right. I’ll take his horse from you. Maybe when he sees I have his lady friendandhis horse, he’ll see reason.”
Ellis was realizing too late that he had underestimated Mr. Brennan. The man was smarter than Ellis had figured him to be. He had, after all, managed to sneak into the manor house, nearly kill Birks, and kidnap Annie.
“What do you meanreason? What exactly do you want from his lordship?”
Mr. Brennan frowned. “Did I say it was any of your business?”
Ellis shrugged again, trying to keep his nonchalant act going. “No, but I do not want to hand over this nice piece of horseflesh for nothing.”
“You want to know so badly? I will tell you. I want his blasted money, I want his lands, and by George, I wouldn’t mind his title. He didn’t just maim my brother; he embarrassed him. He humiliated my whole family. My own mother can’t bear to go to church.
“And after I take all his worldly possessions from him, I will rip his dignity from him too. I will tear his mask from his face and make him live the rest of his miserable existence out in shame. Then, just maybe, I’ll feel we are even.” Mr. Brennan was breathing heavily by the time he was done speaking. He yanked his head backward and yelled, “Someone had better gag the girl before I knock her out again. I can hear her coming to.”
Hans turned to do Mr. Brennan’s bidding. David walked a few paces back with him but then stopped, likely not wanting to miss out on the fun. That left three men, but only two were close enough for Ellis to fight. He had what he wanted to know—Annie was alive and hidden not too far off. He gauged the position and physique of each men he faced. The Brennans were trim, but the third was short and pudgy. He had fought in more-difficult situations before, only this time more was at stake than justhislife. He couldn’t help but think of Annie before he pulled out his sword.
The blade seemed to whisper through the air as he charged Mr. Brennan’s back. He was close enough to cut at his belt before Mr. Brennan was completely aware of what was happening. The belt held a pistol, and before Mr. Brennan could reach for it, Ellis used the end of his sword to pick the belt up and swing it high, where it landed in a branch, far from reach. Ellis noted movement in his peripheral vision—David, rearing his arm back to throw something. Ellis sensed the knife without actually seeing it and ducked. He said a silent prayer of gratitude as he heard it sink into the tree behind him with a whack. That was close... much too close.
Ellis received a swift kick from Mr. Brennan, which sent him sprawling backward to the ground. He managed to keep hold of his sword, which was fortunate since the third man charged at him with a heavy stick while he was still down. Ellis jumped to his feet and sparred with him, keeping the shorter man between himself and the Brennans so they could not surround Ellis. It was nothing like fencing. He knocked the stick from the man’s hand and, with the butt of his sword, rendered the man unconscious.
When the shorter man fell, Ellis saw David aiming a blunderbuss—an ugly gun Ellis preferred not to be shot with—at his chest. The weapon made it necessary for David to get closer for a deadly shot. Mr. Brennan yelled at him to stand back, but David was incensed, as men often got in the heat of battle. Ellis recognized this as his chance to change the cards to his favor.
He made a show of moving as though putting his sword away.
“See? I told you I had him,” David gloated.
When David relaxed his posture, Ellis jumped slightly to the right to avoid getting shot and used his sword to knock the blunderbuss from David’s hand. He sliced at David’s good wrist, and the weapon dropped. David shouted and curled up in pain. Ellis lunged forward and wrapped an arm tightly around David’s neck, his sword hand keeping the weapon’s edge to David’s throat. With panting breaths, Ellis demanded, “Your brother’s life for the woman you hold captive. Now!”
