Page 37 of Two Secrets to Surrender (Blackwood Legacy #2)

Chapter Thirty-Six

F rom the cover of trees, Conrad regarded the old mill. Moonlight gave the building an eerie, Gothic appearance; with its boarded-up windows and crumbling stone walls, it looked like a residence fit for Chuddums’s famous ghost. Conrad had secured his horse farther downstream to make his approach as stealthily as possible. Otherwise, he’d followed the kidnapper’s instructions to the letter:

If you want to see your wife alive, meet me at the old Chuddums mill at midnight. Come alone, or she will die. Slowly and unpleasantly.

The note had been accompanied by a lock of Gigi’s hair and her engagement ring.

Afraid to risk Gigi’s life, Conrad had made the trip from London alone. Traveling by train to Reading, then by horseback to Chuddums had allowed him to arrive just in time. He hadn’t informed Gigi’s family: if they came charging to her rescue, there was no telling what might happen. It was clear to Conrad that he was the true target. It was a fair exchange: his life for hers…one he would make without hesitation.

Given the choice, however, he would rather they both lived. There was so much he wished to say to his wife, amends he needed to make. He told himself there would be time for all of that…later.

He focused on his plan. In his surveillance of the place, he’d seen four men, armed, patrolling the building. A clearing separated Conrad and them, the distance too great for him to pick them off by gunfire. Sneaking around back was likewise unfeasible, given that the mill backed onto the stream.

His only path was through the guards.

So be it.

He recognized one of the brutes as Gregory Johnson and cursed himself for not capturing the bastard the other day. And for removing the guards he’d put on Gigi. He’d believed the danger was over when the real villain had been lying in wait.

Another figure emerged. A woman. Christ, he recognized her too.

“Any sign of him?” Anne asked.

Like father, like daughter. Of course, my niece would be behind this. What a bloody family I was born into.

“No, milady,” one of her lackeys replied.

“Keep your eyes sharp. Godwin’s wily as a fox. If you wish to get paid, you must shoot him on sight. Understand?”

Hell, Robert’s daughter might be worse than he was. While he was a malicious bully, his offspring was capable of cold-blooded murder.

“Yes, milady.”

When she cast a look in Conrad’s direction, he quickly retreated behind a tree. Heart thudding, he hoped that his hiding place and the darkness kept him concealed.

“Well, don’t just stand there, gawping like idiots.”

Even from a distance, Conrad could hear Anne’s contempt.

“You two—patrol the surrounding area. Godwin could be hiding beneath our noses. I will keep watch here with Johnson and Heller.” Anne pulled a pistol from her skirts, her voice dripping with disdain. “If one wants a thing done, one must do it oneself.”

Conrad risked another look. Johnson and a mountain of a brute who had to be Heller flanked Anne. The other two cutthroats were fanning out, one headed in his direction.

Perfect.

Conrad returned his firearm to his pocket. He had to attack swiftly and quietly—Gigi’s life depended upon it. He concealed himself behind foliage, listening as the heavy steps approached.

“Uppity bitch.” The cutthroat was muttering to himself. “It’ll be a miracle if I don’t strangle ’er before the night’s over?—”

Conrad moved. Lunging from the shadows, he wrapped his arm around the brute’s throat, preventing the other from releasing more than a muffled sound. With his forearm, he crushed his foe’s windpipe, locking the hold with his other hand. As the cutthroat thrashed, clawing at his arm, he held on with determined strength.

Eventually, the brute stopped struggling. Conrad felt the telltale jerking—the signal that the cutthroat was down for the count. He held on for a minute longer before letting the dead weight sag to the ground. The bastard wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon.

Exhaling sharply, Conrad rolled his shoulders.

One enemy down.

He slipped into the night, in search of the next.

“Evie, wake up. Please.”

When Evie’s lashes finally lifted, Gigi could have cried with relief.

“What is going on?” Evie asked groggily. “Where…where are we?”

“We were taken by cutthroats hired by my husband’s niece, who wants him dead.” It was the fastest explanation Gigi could give. “They tied us up but, luckily, not very well. I managed to get us loose. Now we need to escape before they use me to barter for Conrad’s life.”

Evie’s pupils were dilated, and she was trembling. Before shock could take over, Gigi gave her sister-in-law a ruthless shake.

“Swoon later, dear,” she said. “I have a plan and need your help.”

She tugged Evie toward the back wall, where the sound of rushing water was unmistakable.

“There are guards outside the doors, but I’ve found another way out. See that opening up there, where the board has fallen off?”

She pointed to the small window about twelve feet off the ground. The frame was empty of glass. The moonlight illuminated a thick branch just beyond.

“I don’t understand. How will we escape through there?”

Evie sounded strange and unlike herself. Her voice was oddly devoid of emotion.

Dear Lord, please help Evie hold it together until we escape.

“I can reach the window if I climb on your shoulders,” Gigi said. “Once I’m out the window, I’ll use the tree to climb down. My plan will work—I’ve done it before.”

“But what about me?” Evie whispered. “Are you going to leave me here?”

“Of course not, dear. You are going to climb out after me. Once I get to the tree, I will secure a rope, which you may use to climb up.”

“Where are you going to get a rope?” Evie looked at her with frightened eyes.

“We are going to make one,” Gigi explained. “See the cloth on the looms and worktables? Help me gather some pieces and we’ll tie them together. Quickly now.”

She went off to collect the remnants, and Evie did the same. The fabric was tattered but strong enough, and soon they had a rope. However, they quickly realized that their clothing would hinder their ability to climb. They helped each other unhook their skirts and petticoats, letting the heavy layers drop to the ground. Dressed in their bodices and drawers, they were ready to make their escape.

Winding the rope over her shoulder, Gigi said, “Ready to give it a go?”

Evie gave a tentative nod.

To Gigi’s relief, Evie was stronger than she looked and managed to keep her balance while Gigi climbed onto her shoulders. Straining, Gigi tried to reach the edge of the window but came up a few inches short. At the same time, Evie wobbled, and Gigi teetered, her arms windmilling, before the former steadied her stance.

“Sorry,” Evie said breathlessly.

“You’re doing splendidly.” Perspiration dotted Gigi’s brow, her heart thumping. “Can you manage to give me a boost?”

“I shall try my best.” Gritting her teeth, Evie bent her knees in readiness.

“On the count of three,” Gigi said. “One, two, three .”

Evie pushed, and Gigi used that momentum to propel herself past those final inches. She grabbed onto the edge, holding on despite the pain slicing into her right palm. Straining with effort, she pulled herself up and through the opening, grabbing onto the branch. Thank heavens, it was sturdy. She glanced below, and seeing no guards, eased herself onto the limb, then crawled toward the trunk. She secured the rope and crept back toward the window, tossing down the loose end.

“Your turn, Evie,” she called softly. “You can do it.”

Looking scared but determined, Evie grabbed the rope. Gigi’s breath stuttered when her sister-in-law slipped a few times, but Evie braced her feet against the knots and kept on climbing.

“You’re almost there,” Gigi encouraged. “Stay toward the left. There’s some jagged glass on the right side of the window.”

Nodding, Evie followed the instructions, and when she reached the opening, Gigi pulled her onto the branch. When the wooden limb creaked in protest, Gigi scooted toward the trunk.

“Follow me,” she said.

She descended nimbly, landing on her feet. Evie’s movements were slower and less confident, and she lost her grip on the last branch, falling a few feet and landing with an awkward stumble.

“Are you all right?” Gigi helped her up.

Wincing, Evie said, “I twisted my ankle. But I think I can walk.”

“Lean on me. We’ll try to get to the woods, hide there until?—”

A shot rang out.

Gigi’s blood chilled as Anne’s voice rang with triumph.

“I got Godwin. I killed that bastard at last.”

Conrad had only seconds before his maniacal relation discovered his ruse.

After subduing the second cutthroat, he’d bound the man’s hands with his neckcloth and gagged him with a handkerchief.

“Run back to the mill.” He’d waved his pistol in front of his quarry’s wide eyes. “Run as fast as you can, or I will put a bullet through you.”

The bounder had taken off. He’d barely made it out of the woods before Anne took aim and fired. The cutthroat fell, landing face down.

Two down, two to go.

“I got Godwin. I killed that bastard at last,” Anne gloated. “Johnson, verify that the dead body is Godwin’s.”

Conrad crept forward, his pistol at the ready. Once Johnson was in range, Conrad would shoot the bastard. This would leave one cutthroat to deal with, plus Anne…who was probably deadlier than all her hired ruffians combined. Johnson neared, and Conrad tightened his finger against the trigger.

At that moment, he saw a movement at the side of the building.

Christ…it was Gigi .

Even as his heart leapt at the sight of her, she dashed toward the fallen body and into the line of fire.

“Conrad,” she cried.

“Grab her, Johnson!” Anne screamed.

“Gigi, get down,” Conrad shouted. “ Now .”

Gigi came to a halt. Obviously confused, she paused…then dropped to the ground.

Conrad pulled the trigger, and Johnson gave a pained cry, hitting the ground a few feet from Gigi. Breaking cover, Conrad sprinted toward her. She lifted her head from the grass, and even in the moonlight, he saw the bright relief in her eyes.

“You’re alive,” she breathed.

“Stay down!”

An instant later, he was there with her. He kept his pistol aimed at Anne and Heller, who remained by the mill.

“Stay in the woods and head toward the stream,” he said tersely. “I’ve a horse waiting about a mile away. Go for help while I take care of these two.”

“I can’t leave?—”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I’m not worried about you. It’s Evie,” Gigi burst out. “James’s wife. When I thought you got shot, I told her to hide behind the building while I came to you.”

Bloody hell.

He stiffened as Anne moved. Not toward them but to the side of the building…

“I’ll fetch Evie. You get to the horse. Go.”

He took off in a run. When he was close enough, Heller let off a shot, which he dodged before firing his own pistol. He hit the other in the shoulder, but the brute charged at him like an enraged bull, tackling him. Hitting the ground, he lost his grip on his weapon. When Heller crushed his windpipe with a massive hand, Conrad delivered a solid punch to Heller’s jaw. Heller’s hold slackened, and Conrad dug his fingers into his foe’s wound. Heller howled, and Conrad reversed their positions, smashing his fists in the brute’s face until the other lay still.

Retrieving his pistol, Conrad held it at the ready as he hunted down Anne. He found her by the stream’s edge. She was using a blonde woman as a shield, her pistol pressed against the other’s temple.

“Throw down your weapon,” Anne said. “Or I’ll shoot her. Don’t think I won’t.”

The blonde whimpered, her eyes blank with terror.

“I want your word,” Conrad said. “Your word that you will let her go.”

“You have it.”

He didn’t trust Anne. But what choice did he have? He couldn’t let an innocent woman die.

Maybe after Anne takes her shot at me, Evie will have a chance to make a run for it.

“Be strong, Evie,” Conrad said. “Tell Gigi I love her.”

Slowly, he lowered his pistol, tossing it in front of him.

“Goodbye, Uncle,” Anne said.

The shot pierced the night.