“Can we go any faster?” murmured Mrs. Schuyler, who was bringingup the rear. “I think we’re no longer alone down here.”
The major heard the warning. He shifted the lantern to his other hand and pulled one of his pistols from his coat pocket. “Dare I hope that you and Miss Kirtland are armed?” he said to Arianna.
In response, she pulled out her pocket pistol. Sophia did the same.
They continued on, silent save for the rasp of their breathing and the scrabbling of their boots, as the tunnel took another jog to the left.
And then a glimmer of light appeared in theblackness up ahead, only to disappear an instant later.
Prescott halted and waited for the others to press close together. “That must be the entrance to the tunnel complex,” he whispered. “The question is whether we’ll meet friend or foe.” He took a moment to extinguish the lantern flame. “Our best option is to try to come upon them unseen.”
A metallic click. “Cock your weapons and tread carefully.”
They crept forward, and as they eased into the bigger tunnel, the major tapped a hand signal that both Arianna and Sophia should come up to flank him. The light from the unknown party was now spilling out from one of the side tunnels.
Arianna’s heart began to thud against her ribs.What if . . .
Whatifwhatifwhatif . . .
Without thinking, she found herself moving ahead of the others. Arianna heard a warning hiss from Prescott.
Too late—she was almost abreast of the side tunnel’s opening.
Arianna took another quick step as she squared herself to take dead aim into the interior—
Only to have the steel-cold snout of a pistol press up against her forehead.
“Don’t move,”came a growled order.
“Don’t shoot,” she replied, careful not to twitch a muscle. “And please take your finger off the trigger. The dueling pistols of Durs Egg are just as sensitive as those of Joe Manton.”
“Luckily for you, I have a very steady hand.” Grentham nonetheless did as he was asked. “However, you weren’t in any real danger. It was merely a precaution.”
Saybrook, however, was looking a trifle pale. “Why are you down here?” he demanded. Seeing the others appear in the opening, he quickly added, “What has happened?“
“A number of things have forced us to improvise,” offered Prescott. “But we haven’t a great deal of time to explain. Judging by the sounds in the connecting tunnel, we are being pursued by a rather large force.”
“Orlov is dead—murdered by the bishop,” said Arianna. She looked around. Behind the earl was an iron gate guarding a small cell. “Any sign of our friends?”
“It looks like someone has been imprisoned here recently, but the gate is unlocked,” he replied.
“Damnation,” muttered Prescott. “This was one of the places marked on the map—”
“What map?” snapped Grentham.
The sounds of pursuit were growing louder.
“Take us to the other one,” urged Arianna. To Saybrook she added, “I’ll explain as we go.”
“Sophia and I will guard the rear,” said Grentham after a glance back into the gloom. “Get moving, Prescott.”
The major turned and set off at a half-jog.
“Orlov and Bishop Sergius quarreled in the cathedral,” began Arianna in between breathsas she quickened her steps. “I think the bishop has become increasingly unhinged as he saw his plans go awry . . .”
“What were you doing in the cathedral?” asked the earl after she finished a quick recount of the argument.
“Following a hunch,” she answered. “I—”
