Zeb was aware of his heart beating a little too fast, the odd clarity of crisis battling with the dragging sensation of oncoming exhaustion because the last days had just been too damned much, and he was fast running out of steam. He exhaled hard and turned to the wall. This house was a Swiss cheese of secret passages on Rachel’s account: there would surely be one in the library. And most of the walls were covered in bookcases, so—
He went to the painting of Walter Wyckham, hanging in the only free wall space, and examined the panelling around it. There was a row of carved bosses like the one Rachel had used; he pressed them in order and the third one clicked.
Nothing happened. He pushed the panel, working out where the concealed door must be, and felt a tiny bit of give, but it wouldn’t open, no matter how hard he pushed.
It must be latched on the other side, like the door in Elise’s room had been. It was latched, and there was no other spot in this damned room for another secret door, and now he was outof ideas, out of energy, out of time.
Despair swamped him, washing the strength from his legs. He sat on the nearest chair and put his face in his hands.
If he broke the window, he’d be caught, and Gideon with him. But if he stayed here and waited for Wynn to come back with his twisted plans and angry men—well, it was Zeb they wanted. Gideon could get away if he had the sense to run, if he wasn’t waiting for Zeb to come back. If Zeb hadn’t ruined them both, this time for good.
“Please go, Gideon,” he said aloud, voice scratchy. “Please be going. Please, please, please have gone without me,please.”
There was a quiet scrape. The panelling swung open, revealing a dark space and a tall form in it.
“Not a chance,” Gideon said.
Zeb wasn’t sure what he responded. He wasn’t sure of anything except that somehow he was on his feet, in Gideon’s arms, holding on because Gideon was here, not escaping, and that was terribly right and even more terribly wrong.
Gideon gave him an ungentle shake. “Zeb! We have to hurry. Here, put this on.”
He scooped up a coat he’d dropped on the floor and thrust something into Zeb’s arms once he had it on. “Don’t lose this. Quick, now, and whatever you do, stay quiet.”
He gestured Zeb into the passage and shut the door behind them. It was instantly, horribly dark. Zeb stumbled and put his free hand out, right into a dusty, sticky mass that rustled against his skin.Cobweb. He tried to swallow his instinctive noise ofhorror, batting the filth from him.
“Zeb!” A hand grabbed his. “I have you. I’ll take you. Just follow me and stay quiet.Please.”
I can’t. I can’t.
You have to.
Zeb didn’t think he could speak, but he squeezed Gideon’s hand. “Thank you,” Gideon said softly, and led them, feeling his way, Zeb gripping his fingers. It smelled like spiders in here. It would be full of spiders and he couldn’t see and they could be landing on him in the dark and he wouldn’t know…
There are people out there who are going to kill you. We are not going to fuss about fucking spiders.
He couldn’t help fussing about fucking spiders. He put every scrap of willpower he had left into the acts of breathing, walking, and holding Gideon’s hand like a lifeline.I will not scream. If I scream they will catch us so I won’t, I won’t, I won’t…
Eternity passed, and then at last there was a click, and light, and they lurched out into the anteroom where Gideon had been imprisoned. Zeb released his hand with a gasp of relief, and brushed frantically at his shoulders.
“You did it,” Gideon breathed. “Only a few feet more and then we’re out.”
Zeb set his teeth. “Lead on.”
Gideon opened the other panel and they plunged into the passage. It was just a few steps this time, then Gideon opened the door, and they were outside Lackaday House, in the fresh breathable air of a cold, grey-bright winter day. It felt as thoughhe’d been airless for the whole terrible time he’d been here.
Gideon set off at speed. Zeb hurried to match his stride and realised within seconds that something was wrong.
“Gideon? Are you all right?”
“My ribs hurt like blazes.”
“Oh hell. Can you walk this fast?”
“I’ll run if I have to,” Gideon said through his teeth. “We have definitely outstayed our welcome.”
He was marching down the curving path to the follies, breath steaming in the cold air. “Shouldn’t we head to the main drive?” Zeb said.
“When we’re out of eyeshot of the house.”
