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“Hardly. Collins went to get Lucas. He got Lucas so drunk, he is barely lucid, then he brought both of us back here.”
Before Mary could say more, they heard the opening of the front door and a man cursing. It sounded like Collins. There was a moan, Lucas, then more cursing. Drunk as he was, Lucas was still managing to give the other man trouble.
“Quick! Sit back down, pretend you are still tied up,” Evie whispered, darting across the room to stand behind the door. Mary scrambled back into position, watching as Evie paused to pick up a fire poker before taking up position where Collins would not be able to see her.
The tension in the room felt far greater than it had when Mary had actually been tied up.
She was relieved to see Collins was no longer holding the gun when he finally came into view—his hands were full of Lucas. The man had gone completely limp, deadweight, and Collins was dragging him bodily through the door. Looking up, Collins checked to see she was still where he left her before dropping his head again, breathing heavily and grunting as he pulled Lucas across the floor.
Drag.
Pause.
Drag.
Pause.
Behind the door, Evie lifted the fire poker but… with his back to Mary, as soon as he was clear of the door, Collins might lift his head and see her.
“Collins!” Mary jumped to her feet as noisily as she could, and Evie’s eyes widened with shock. Collins dropped Lucas on the ground and spun around, his mouth opening in shock when he saw her standing there, cut ropes dangling from her fingers.
“How did you…?” Collins lunged toward her, hands outstretched, and Mary finally screamed and turned, grabbing the chair and holding it in front of her as a shield. Evie swung the poker, catching Collins across the back. Howling, he stumbled, and Mary screamed again—a warrior’s cry this time—swinging the chair at him.
The sturdy wood furnishing slammed into his face and chest. Mary’s muscles strained, and she could not maintain her grip. The chair was so heavy, it was a wonder she had managed to lift it. Letting go, the momentum of the chair sent him reeling back, hand clutching his face where one of the legs had nearly impaled his eye.
Evie swung the poker again, catching Collins on the back of his knees, and he went down hard. Hand still over his eye, his legs flew out from under him, making a comical picture as he fell backward, landing headfirst with a terrible crash. Mary actually winced, though he did not deserve her sympathy. That had looked excessively painful and possibly, fatal.
Kneeling, Evie tilted her head above his lips, one hand on his chest. After a moment, she looked up at Mary. “Alive. Though he likely needs a doctor.”
“Should we tie him up?” Mary lifted up the long strands of the rope she was still holding. Evie only considered the question for a moment.
“Might as well. You tie him up, and I will keep watch out the front in case he has an accomplice coming.”
Mary shivered. One traitor was bad enough, surely, but she did not argue with Evie. This was an arena in which Evie had far more experience. Kneeling to tie Collins’ wrists together, she glanced over at Lucas’ supine body. His breathing looked to be even and heavy… Had he slept through the whole fracas? Amused, now that the danger was past, Mary gave herself a shake, breathing out a sigh of relief.
Only for alarm to flare again when Evie came rushing back to the door. The expression on her face was like nothing Mary had seen before—not exactly frightened, but worried and anxious, perhaps a touch panicked.
“I have to go. He’s here. I cannot let him see me. You will be fine. I will see you on Sunday!” Evie spoke the words so fast, it took Mary a moment to understand everything she said, and her friend was gone before Mary could reply. Still kneeling beside Collins, Mary stared at the empty doorway, trying to figure out what had just happened.
A loud knocking at the front door was her first clue. Josie and Lily must have gone to get Rex… perhaps he had come with Elijah or one of the other Stuarts? Mary could not think of anyone else Evie would want to hide from. Getting to her feet, she stepped over Lucas—trying not to feeltooguilty since she really was fairly sure he was sleeping off his drink—and hurried to the front door.
Yanking it open, she was met with a somber, glowering husband. When he saw her standing there, his expression turned stunned. He pulled her into his arms, squeezing her so tightly, she could barely breathe. So much of the fear and anxiousness she had pent up began to shake free, and she almost began crying when she felt his strong body against hers, holding her and keeping her safe, the familiar smell of his cologne making her brain say ‘home.’
It was one long, gloriously comforting moment, then she felt his muscles stiffen, and he straightened, glaring down at her.
“You are in so much trouble, petal.”
Oh, bother.
Chapter 25
Rex
Refusing to relinquish his hold, Rex kept his arm wrapped around Mary as she led the party into Lucas’ drawing-room, where the man himself was lightly snoring on the floor. Collins was also on the floor, but his state was not nearly so peaceful, and despite being unconscious, he was moaning in pain. Rex was more than a little tempted to add to the man’s agony. He had arrived ready to do battle and instead found his wife unharmed—for which he was grateful, and the villain defeated—for which he should be grateful but found himself frustrated and disappointed.
No longer confined to the carriage with Cormack, now that they were assured there was no danger, Misses Pennyworth and Davis had fallen all over themselves, alternatively ministering to and scolding Mary.
“Oh, look, your poor wrists!” Miss Pennyworth exclaimed, causing Rex to lean over to see as well. Truthfully, Mary had not looked much worse for the wear. Her skirts were a bit creased, and a few strands of hair had come undone from her coiffure, but he had not detected any hurt to her person. That a wound had been discovered enraged him.
