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At the sight of the villain, Tabitha’s pulse thundered in her neck and panic swelled in her chest. What was he doing here? How had he gotten in? It didn’t matter.
She dashed back into the study then spun around to slam the door, but Vance threw his weight against it, knocking Tabitha to the ground. She scurried backwards, trying to regain her footing, but Vance lunged for her.
The look on his face was a mixture of sick satisfaction and anger.
“You’ve run from me for the last time, you little bitch.” He brought his hand down and struck her across the face.
Tabitha gasped in surprise. She tried to free herself, but Vance held her arm in an iron grip. This was it, she thought. Lord Vance would finally take his vengeance out on her. Hopefully Andrew and Phillip were safe.
“What do you want? Whatever it is, get on with it!” The last bit of her courage sparked one final defiant streak.
Vance chuckled. “We have to wait for the others first.”
“What others?”
“Why, your brother and your lover, of course. I wonder if they have found Mr. Herr yet. It shouldn’t be too hard, given he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.”
“What did you do?”
“I was fortunate enough to know the man’s whereabouts, so I had my men pay him a visit earlier today. Needless to say, Herr will not be speaking to anyone. Some of my men also had an encounter with your brother and Holcombe this afternoon. The buffoons lost them, but no matter. I had hoped to tie up most of my loose ends today, but at least I have you.”
With slow mounting terror, Tabitha realized Vance would not stop until all of them were dead. Sheer panic froze her to the spot.
“Either way, I’m hopeful either Crestwood or Holcombe will want to pay you a visit tonight, since I was not given a report that either was yet seen here today.”
“You’ve been watching the house!”
“Of course, my dear, that’s what spies do. We watch from the shadows and then when people are at their weakest, most vulnerable, that is when you strike, as I did tonight.”
“How did you get in?”
“Someone forgot to lock the door to the garden leading into the house.”
Tabitha winced. All this time she’d thought herself safe in her own home, but it turned out she was far from it. Would Andrew or Phillip come to see her? What then?
Lord Vance released her and settled onto the couch, but not before he removed a pistol from his coat.
“Now, we will wait and see who comes.”
“What if no one comes?”
Vance shrugged. “Then you will be a guest in my house, and this time, you will not leave.” He said the last part with a grin that made Tabitha sick to her stomach.
Tabitha was standing by the windows when she heard noises out in the hall. Vance must have also heard as he rose and motioned for her to be quiet.
“Tabitha.”
It was Andrew. She wanted to answer, but Vance moved next to her, his steel grip once again on her. A second later, the cold tip of the gun was against her head.
The door to the study opened to show Andrew. She would never forget the moment their eyes met and the look of terror on his face.
“Well, it looks like once again all three of us are together. Although this time, I won’t be taken by surprise, Your Grace.” Vance spat out the last two words in contempt. “Luckily, I was given the good news earlier tonight that Mr. Herr would no longer be a thorn in my side.”
“So, it was you,” Andrew accused Vance.
“Not me personally, of course. I have experienced men whom I pay to do the more... tedious work.”
“You need to get some who are in better shape. The poor bastards couldn’t keep up with Phillip and me today.”
