Page 89 of The Lady Glass
Another minute passed, possibly less.
Nothing.
“I think whoever it was is gone.” Rolland rolled to the side and helped Theresia sit up. “We need to find them.”
He was already hurling himself over the bed toward the door before she could process what he’d said.
“Wait!”
“Stay here,” he said, but she was already following him to the door.
“I’m not staying here with a dead body!”
He yanked open the door and looked both ways. “No matter how many times you break into Ashbury Court, you always get caught.”
She was already moving toward him. “That’s only a problem if you don’t like catching me.”
The light in the corridor illuminated his exasperated grin. “Stay in my bedchamber, then, and wait for me.”
She shook her head. “I’ll take the secret passage; you take the stairs. Between the two of us, we’ll see anyone who is trying to return to the ballroom.”
With no time to argue, Rolland growled and grabbed her hand. They ran down the empty corridor together until they reached the top of the stairs. She let go of his hand, but Rolland pulled her to him, catching her off guard. He kissed her soundly on the mouth, stealing away her breath, before releasing her just as quickly.
“Stay safe.” He was already descending before she registered to keep going herself.
“Confounded man.” A smile hovered over her lips as she slipped behind the potted tree to open the passage. It took too many seconds to find the secret handhold and open the door. She threw herself inside and was immediately plummeted into darkness. Fear stole over her when she realized she no longer had Rolland’s presence to protect her.
She had to keep going. She forced her foot down the first step, but before her foot could take purchase a second time, she heard something that sent a cold shiver down her spine. Breathing.
Only a fool would leap into a passage without looking first.
And she was the biggest fool of them all.
She pushed herself back up to the top step and fumbled behind her for the latch to open the door. Where was it? Her hand moved frantically against the dusty wall. A small step soundedbelow her, but between her fear and the echo in the passage, she couldn’t tell how close. Another step, and another, coming closer to her.
She found the latch and pushed it open, throwing herself out with more momentum than she’d thrown herself in with. Stumbling, she barely made it around the tree before she felt a strong hand grip her arm from behind.
Scream. Yell.Anything!
But when Theresia’s lips parted, it was a second too late.
A hand clamped over her mouth at the same time she got her first glimpse of Lewis’s partner.
She never would have guessed him to be Mr. Stewart. She overcame her shock quickly, knowing that escaping now in the corridor would be far easier than once she was locked in a room. She kicked the pot of the tree hard, trying to knock it over. It hit the wall and stopped, the branches silencing any alarm she’d hoped to sound. Throwing her elbows against him, she valiantly attempted to break away, but he was stronger. Just like Lewis.
“Careful, Lady Glass,” Mr. Stewart said into her ear, pulling her deeper into the corridor toward his bedchamber. “This only has to be difficult if you make it that way.”
No! Rolland wouldn’t know where to look for her.
Would Mr. Stewart throw her from the window like he and Mr. Lewis had done to Michael?
She did her best to impede his progress, but he was winning. They were almost to his door. Desperate to retaliate in any way, she managed to open her mouth enough to bite down on Mr. Stewart’s fingers.
He howled and squeezed her cheeks with his hand. The pain had only begun when she heard a voice calling her name. It had to be Rolland! He must be at the bottom of the passage.
Mr. Stewart swore and pushed open his door. He hauled her inside and kicked the door shut behind her. As he turned away,she managed to grab the handle and clung to it with all her might.
“Dratted woman.” Mr. Stewart hit down on her wrist with the hand not still clamped over her mouth, the pain breaking her hold. She stumbled, tripping Mr. Stewart and causing them both to fall to the ground. This time the fall was not so smoothly orchestrated as when Rolland had pulled her down, and their bodies slapped the wood beneath them.
