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“I’ve got you, Lil.” Ben held her. “I’m here.”
“What direction Cooke?” Leo snarled. “Point. You have to find her a doctor and stop the bleeding.”
“You don’t know the area,” he snapped back. “You’ll get lost.”
“She’ll die if you don’t get her to a doctor. Point.”
“I’ll take the carriage. Leave you the horses. Against my better judgement.” Cooke raised his arm. “Through the trees and across a small clearing. There’s a pond. You won’t be able to miss it. The Griests have a farm just on the other side. “I assume you’re armed.”
Leo jerked his head. “Of course. I run a gambling hell.” He touched Lilian’s hand.
Her eyes focused on him for only a moment. “Ah. Leo Murphy.” Her voice was weak. “Don’t let him hurt Georgina or Daniel.”
“I won’t.” He turned and jogged down the steps before he took off running, looking at the ground for any sign of either Georgina or Harold. He’d hunted a bit from time to time. Didn’t enjoy it. But still, he could follow tracks, especially in the snow. A bit of blue fabric fluttered on a branch, and he plucked at it with his fingers.
Georgina.
There were two sets of footsteps in the fresh snow. A woman’s. And a man’s.
He ran as quietly as he could, straining his ears for any sound, but the thick trees surrounding him stayed silent. Rounding the right side of the pond, Leo finally spotted her. A bundle was clutched to her chest as she moved slowly around the thick grass at the edges of the water. She was using the grass for cover.
“Georgina.”
She turned, hearing his voice, and stepped back from the still water of the pond. Ice was forming around the edges. He looked away. The very sight of the pond filled Leo with a sort of mindless, irrational terror. And now was not the time to relive a bloody fishing trip.
Leo put his pistol back in his pocket. “Thank God. Georgina.” He was nearly at her side, his arms outstretched, when her face collapsed into rabid fear.
“I thought you’d show up eventually, Murphy.” The cocking of a pistol met his ears. “Thank you for flushing her out.”
Leo didn’t think. He couldn’t. He ran forcefully at Georgina, hearing her gasp of surprise before he pushed her out of the way. The move would send him into the pond, but it was the only way to shield Georgina and Daniel.
A searing pain shot across his right side as Leo fell into the water.
Georgina rolled away, falling against a pile of downed branches and limbs.
A splash sounded as the cold invaded his legs and back. A scream bubbled up his throat at the smell of mud and decaying vegetation. Filthy water rippled over his chest.
The pond at Cherry Hill. The one the duchess sometimes took Tony to on sunny days. Leo hadn’t liked fishing. Putting a hook in a defenseless worm felt wrong to him. But Tony liked to fish and wanted to show Leo. He’d slipped into the water. The algae on the top of the pond had been thick. So thick he couldn’t see. Where was Tony? He thrashed about, but he was wrapped up in the fishing line. The worm was still attached, wiggling against his cheek. Tony was screaming his name. The dirty water was in his mouth, choking him. The algae invaded his nostrils. He couldn’t breathe—
Leo forced himself to turn his head, terrified to be in the water.
Please let me die on land. Not in this pond. Not in the dark water.
Where was Georgina? Had the pistol shot gone through him only to hit her? A painful rasp left him as he struggled to catch his breath. He touched his side and grabbed at the strands of grass to keep from floating completely into the pond, his fingers coating the dying cattails with blood.
Harold, leering at him like some insane jester, stood at the edge of the pond, the pistol still in his hand. “I suppose my plans will have to be revised yet again. Well, no matter. That is no longer of any importance. Only the child matters.”
Leo rather hoped Harold would just shoot himself accidentally in the head with the way he was carelessly handling the pistol.
“My brother,” Leo croaked. It hurt to breathe. The water was so cold. Filthy, as it had been that day. He swallowed down his panic, not wanting Harold to notice. “Will ensure you are stripped of everything you own, Masterson. He’ll ruin you in London.” Leo coughed, seeing a shadow moving behind Masterson.
Georgina.
No. She needs to run. Get away from Harold.
“I suppose it goes without saying that your membership to Elysium is revoked.”
Harold gave a bitter laugh. “Never cared for your club anyway. Always holding that bloody membership over everyone’s head. I’ll gamble elsewhere.”
