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rear yard.
Yet. Was the fire an instrument of their enemy? Or had it been set by those within to keep them out?
He spied three men running toward the school, but they went straight around to the back. He had to assume they belonged to Boucher. Anyone else would’ve tried to raise those within. Shrinking into the shadows, he signaled the others to wait.
As soon as the way was clear, he darted to the front door and began to pound on it. On the other side, he heard Mrs. Sloane’s muffled, frantic voice, followed by screams and two gunshots. Adrenaline surged. Again he pounded. “Mrs. Sloane! Let me in!”
There was a heavy rasp—the bar sliding back. Tensing, he prepared to fight. When the door opened, however, it wasn’t the enemy who greeted him, but his own Jacqueline. Crushing her in arms that shook with the strength of his relief, he breathed in her scent. “Thank God you’re safe!”
“What of the fire?” prompted Loxdon. “Ought we not to get everyone to safety?”
“No!” answered Jacqueline before he could speak. “The fire is ours—it guards the gate.” She broke away and beckoned. “Come inside, all of you. Quickly!”
Will captured her hand and held her back. “There is no need. The fire in the rear yard has drawn them all away. We can get the others and escape.”
She shook her head. “There was fighting in the street only—”
“Good!” he cut in, excited. “They came, then. I asked some friends to watch over the school.”
“Then I fear they may have met a bad end,” she replied. “Shots were fired, some of them at the school—the windows were targeted.”
“Was anyone hurt?” He was relieved when she shook her head.
“Your men and my fire may have drawn them off,” she explained, “but it’s only a matter of time before they come back or more are sent in. Boucher won’t give up easily. Doubtless, she has this whole area surrounded.”
“I heard gunfire inside,” he said, looking past her to Mrs. Sloane.
“Before we set the fire, some men climbed the wall by the gate and got onto the roof,” explained Jacqueline. “They came in through one of the windows in the servant quarters and made their way here. There may be more. We have not yet questioned them…”
Releasing her, he turned to peer back down the dark street. Lightning flickered briefly, illuminating it. Though he could see nothing, his neck prickled ominously. “I think you’re right and we had better get inside. If the men you shot came to the front, then they meant to open the door and let others in. If they see it open now…”
Once everyone was safely in and the door again secured, he went over to the two men sprawled on the foyer floor. One was plainly dead. The other groaned when he toed him. “How many of you got in?”
No answer.
Patience was in short supply. Drawing back his foot, he kicked the man hard in the side. Ignoring his howl of outraged agony, Will again inquired.
“F-four!” The prone man thrust out a hand to ward off further blows.
Turning to those gathered around, Will addressed them. “Gerald and Thomas, you and Peg go with these women—Jacqueline, I’m assuming you have everyone gathered in a safe place?”
“The dining hall,” she answered, flinching as a loud rumble of thunder shook the floor beneath them. “There is only one way in now. The kitchen door to the courtyard has been sealed and barricaded. We also collapsed the wall between the inner court and the outer yard.”
A sound like pebbles hitting the door told him the rain had come.
“The fire will soon be put out,” said one of the women softly. “They’ll come for the gate again.”
“Unlikely in this deluge,” muttered Richards.
Will nodded. “But two of the enemy remain unaccounted for. Richards, you and Loxdon come with me. We must hunt them down.”
“I’m coming with you,” said Jacqueline.
Grasping her shoulders, Will peered into her eyes. “No. Go with the others and defend the girls. I’ll come as soon as I’m certain all is secure.”
“What if he lied?” she said, pointing to the man on the floor. “What if more than four got in?”
“Then we’ll deal with them. Go.”
