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“No!” Belle turned about and rushed the door. She peered through the barred window, but with the weak illumination of the candle inside the room, she couldn’t see Philip’s face all that well. “You said you wouldn’t leave us here!” Fear twisted down her spine, for there would be no rescue.
His laughter further drove home the fact there was no hope. “Haven’t you guessed by now that I lie?” Another burst of laughter echoed in the tunnel. “It will take me a few trips to carry all this into the Dower House. Don’t go anywhere, Amelia, dear.”
“No, no, no, no, no!” Belle kicked the door in frustration, but that only sent pain into her foot. She tried to open the thick panel, but of course it didn’t move. Not wishing to expend the remainder of her strength, she wandered to where Hawk had fallen. He was still unconscious, and the rest of her will dissipated. “Please hold on,” she whispered and sank onto the floor next to him. Then, carefully, she maneuvered his head so that it rested on her lap.
What started out as a beautiful, magical night had been reduced to chilly hopelessness, and once the candle nub guttered out, the rodents she heard in the edges of the darkness would come forward in curiosity.
Oh, please, don’t let that happen!
Time had ceased to exist in the darkened hole in which she waited. Eventually, the sound of Philip’s movements outside the door ceased. Then Hawk came back to consciousness, and her heart rejoiced.
“Where am I?” Pain echoed in his voice and reflected on his face.
Quickly, she related what had occurred while he’d been out.
“Damn.” He struggled into a sitting position with a grimace. “Ravenscroft got away?”
“I’m afraid so. It had been my plan to convince him to let me go so I could summon help, but he locked me into this room instead.”Damn the man’s eyes.
“He took the treasure.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes. Every bit of it, unless there is still some out in the tunnel.”
“Hellfire and damnation.” He glanced from the guttering nub of the candle then to the door. “I assume he found a way to bar the door?”
“Of course. We are well and truly trapped.” Tears sprang into her eyes. The evening had been beyond stressful, and now they might die down here where no one could find them. “I am so sorry you failed at your mission.”
“We are absolutelynotgiving up until all avenues have been explored.” The determination in his voice cheered her only slightly. “Dry your tears, my dear. Our story is not finished yet.”
Chapter Sixteen
Hawk refused to accept their fate. It didn’t matter that the pain in his shoulder had him gritting his teeth against it, nor was the fact that he had to ignore the throbbing ache in his head from where the damned viscount had cold cocked him.
Nothing mattered except escaping the prison, getting Belle to safety, and then acquiring the treasure Ravenscroft had absconded with.
“I won’t let him win.” With effort, Hawk struggled to his feet. A spate of dizziness overtook him, but he clutched at Belle’s hand until it passed. Once she stood, he approached the door and tried to ignore the persistent pain in his shoulder. The bastard would pay for shooting him. At the door, he tried the handle, but the panel didn’t budge.
A huff of frustration escaped her. “I already did that.”
Damn, but she was adorable in her pique. “I thought I should try it for myself.” Then, because he was apparently the world’s greatest nodcock, he rushed at the door and rammed it with his good shoulder. Pain ricocheted through his body. He staggered backward with a curse.
“Would you stop?” She frowned. “Nothing will be gained by stupidity, and you don’t need to further batter yourself.”
“That is readily obvious.” But he laughed even though it hurt to do so.
“What is wrong with you? Nothing about this is amusing.” There was so much annoyance in her voice that it reminded him of their first meeting.
“I am as well as can be expected, and I maintain full control of my faculties, in the event you wondered.” He couldn’t help a grin. “I am glad you are with me because you make everything better. Even being shot.” Despite the dismal circumstances and the worry pressing in on him, Hawk pulled her into an embrace the best that he could with his slinged arm. He kissed her with every ounce of feeling in his being. Though his original plan of telling her how he felt had been crushed, if they survived this ordeal, he would confess the contents of his heart to her. To her credit, Belle kissed him back just as frantically. His shaft tightened with appreciation, but now was not the time to act upon that desire. Eventually, he set her at arm’s length. “I’m not going to let that bastard get away with my treasure.”
Slowly, she nodded though amusement twinkled in her eyes. “Or killing us?”
How much did he adore her? “There’s that, too.”
She drew in a deep breath and then let it ease out. “There is a door on that wall that doesn’t seem as fortified as the one we came through.” As she crossed the room, she pointed at the rotting boards. “Perhaps we should concentrate on this before we lose the light altogether.”
“Clever girl. I’m afraid you’ll have to help me with the bulk of the digging.”
“I don’t mind. Being useful takes my mind off the worries circling through it.” She handed him a board while taking up a second one.
