The Lady and the Earl (58 page)

“
I’ve known your father for some time and had the privilege of rescuing his wife earlier today.  She
told me everything.  Do
n’t
worry.  She and Maggie are safe.  Right now we need to get to your father, and then I will explain
whatever else you wish to know
,” the man said, frowning as he eyed Connor strangely.  “Do you have any idea where Hoffman might be storing him?”

“I saw them haul him off in that direction,” Connor said
,
pointing to the south hallway. 
Why is he looking at me like that?
h
e
wondered irritably.  The look on the man’s face was madd
ening.  It
seemed
he was
analyzing the younger man, trying to decide where he had seen him before.

“You have curly hair,”
the man
said quietly, his eyes darkening.

“Yes.
And…
?”  Why did his hair matter at a time like this?

“Lucas does
not
. 
Interesting…hmm.
”
 

“Is there a purpose to this observation?” Connor asked dryly.

The other man
shook his head.
 
“
I suppose not.  C
an you walk?” 

“I think so,
but may I have the privilege of your name
first
?
” Connor
asked.

“My apologies.
  I am William Meredith.  I am the leader of this rabble you see rounding up the rest of Rupert’s men,” the man said as he stretched his hand toward Connor.

Meredith?  Could it be possible?  Sophia
told him once
her real name was Josephine Meredith.  Could there be a chance the two might be related?  No, there was no connection with this man and the only wo
man Connor had ever loved.  “
A
pleasure,” Connor answered raggedly, taking Meredith’s hand and shaking it.

“
Come, we have to find your father.
”

Connor tried to take a step forward, but staggered in the process. 

“Whoa,” William said, grabbing Connor’s shoulders to steady him.
  Connor winced.
  “Here, let me take a look at that wound.”

“No, it’
s fine.  Let’s go,” Connor said trying to push the man away.  He fell to his knees before he could take two steps.  He was simply losing too much blood, and his body was too exhausted from fighting. 

Meredith
came over to Connor casually and ripped open his shirt to examine the wound.
  He prodded the wound.
  It was deep
and jagged
, but it had missed
the
major arteries.  William proceeded to tear Connor’s shirt, wrapping the wound tightly with the pieces. 

“Tr
y and keep pressure on it.  You a
re bleeding
badly.  Stay here with Erik, and I wi
ll go find Marcus,”
Meredith
said to Connor.

“What about Allana?”
Connor asked.

“Cunningham
followed Lucas
through there during the fighting,”
he answered
, pointing to a hallway to the right of them. 

Connor’s heart lightened. 
Declan
was free, and he was pursuing Lucas.

“Besides, I don’t think Hoffman
will get very far with your sister.
  I have men outside watching for any runaways,” William added.

“Yes, b
ut are they outside the wall?”
Connor paused to take a breath.  “There is a passageway that leads underground.” 
Another pause for another breath of air.
  “It exits about a hundred yards east of the main gate…
It
’s
how we got in,” Connor panted.  He was
truly
in bad shape if it took this much effort to talk. 

William looked at him thoughtfully. “Erik,” he said to the man who hadn’t left Connor’s side since poking his sword into his back.

“Yes?”
Erik replied.

“Gather six men, and go to the place he just described.  Guard that exit, and make certain no one gets past you from there,”
Meredith
ordered.  Erik nodded, taking action immediately.  He gathered the six men, leading them out of the house at a run, making Connor relax knowing Lucas couldn’t escape.

“Thomas, make sure this man does
n’t
move,”
Meredith
ordered another
man.  “Try to relax, Connor.  I wi
ll go find your father.” 

*
             
*
             
*

William Meredith headed down the hallway Connor had pointed to.  Marcus had to be down here somewhere.  He checked several of the rooms finding them empty before finally coming upon the one he knew held his friend.

“Who are these men, and how
did they know you were here!” y
elled a voice from inside the room.

“I
don’t know what you’
re talking about,”
came
the weak reply, followed by a thump and
a groan.  Yes, this was definitely the room William was looking for.  Quietly, he opened the door to find Rupert and two other mercenaries standing over Marcus who was tied to a chair.

“Step away from him,” William said, startling the three men.

“Meredith,” Rupert spat out in hate.  “I should have guessed.  Get him.”

The two mercenaries obeyed, rushing at William.  He shot one with his pistol and threw a hidden knife at the other, sending both men to their deaths in a matter of seconds.

“It’s just you and me now, Rupert,” William said, smiling pleasantly at the man.  He could see blood around Rupert’s midsection.  He was injured, and that meant an easy kill.

Rupert eyed him cautiously, slowly advancing until they were within feet of each other.  Their eyes met as they measured one another’s strengths, then Rupert lunged at William.  Injured or not, he was out for blood.  They fought ferociously, their swords clanging with each hit.  Rupert fought with hate while William fought for justice.  In the end it was justice that won.  Rupert went in for the kill, stabbing his sword at William’s unsuspecting back
.  W
illiam
twisted
agilely
,
avoiding
the blow
,
and deal
t
one of his own into Rupert’s
chest
.  In a quick motion, he withdrew his sword and Rupert fell to the ground, wheezing for air.  Seconds later the noise stopped as life passed from Rupert’s body.

“William Meredi
th?  What are you doing here?”
Lord
Tananguard asked when the fight was finally over.

“I came to help an old friend,” William said as he cut Marcus loose.  The two men shook hands vigorously.

“Well, I’
m certainly glad to see you here.  How did you know?  Was it Lilly?”

“Yes,” William replied.

Marcus sighed with relief.  “She is safe then.”

“Yes, but she is als
o about to have your baby. 
Don’t
worry.  My wife is skilled with such things, but we need to get you to her.  How are you faring?”

“I’ve been better,” Marcus replied, limping slightly.  “But it’s nothing that
won’t
heal.”

“Well, you look like hell,” William said with a laugh.  The man’s face was beaten nicely, and there was blood and dirt on him as well.

“Bruises, William.  Nothing more,” Marcus said.

“Good.  You
r son
is waiting in the main hall.  I a
m sending you and him along with one of my men back to my camp where Lilly is.  I will stay behind with the rest to ensure your daughter is returned to her husband safely.” 

Marcus smiled appreciatively.
  “Thank you, my friend.”
 

William shook his head.  “It is the least I could do. 
Now come.  We must hurry.”

*
             
*
             
*

Marcus followed
William
out of the room. 
He’d
been worried it had been a mistake to urge Lilly and Maggie to the woods, but Meredith’s presence eased those worries.  It had been the right decision.  Now Marcus hoped he would make it to Lilly’s side soon enough to witness the birth of their child. 

The trap door from the cellar down to the tunnel lay open. 
Declan
smiled.  One less thing he would have to do that would waste precious minutes.  He ran to the opening and jumped down, not even bothering with the ladder.  As he hit the ground, he rolled to the side and back up to his feet.  In a matter of seconds, he was sprinting silently down the tunnel.  He could hear
Lucas ahead of him, and after turning a corner, he could even see him.  The fool had stopped to rest near the tunnel exit, or so it seemed.

“
Don’t
come any closer, Cunningham!
” Lucas shouted through t
he tunnel.  “I know it
’
s you behind me, and if you keep coming, I
wi
ll slit her throat.  I want her, but I will kill her before giving her up, even if it means my death.”  He laughed coldly into the silence.

Declan
stepped toward the man carefully.  He was still in the dark part of the tunnel, so maybe if he stepped stealthily, Lucas wouldn’t know he
continued to move forward.

“Just keep coming,
Declan
.  You wi
ll never reach her in time,” Lucas said.  He then turned his attention to the figure on the floor.  “Get up,” he said softly.  She didn’t move.  “I said get up.”  Lucas kicked her legs hard, causing her to whimper in return. 

Declan
’s
calm shattered when he saw the act.  He moved so swiftly and silently toward Lucas, he almost made it to the man before he saw him coming. 

“Stop!”
Lucas shouted, whipping his sword up to Allana’s neck. 

The light from the tunnel exit showed fear in her eyes, causing
Declan
to stop. 

“Throw me your sword,” Lucas ordered. 

In frustration,
Declan
obeyed, not knowing what else to do.  The sword hit the ground and landed directly in front of Lucas and Allana. 

“Good.  Now your pistol,” Lucas ordered.

“I don’t have one,”
Declan
replied.

Lucas pressed the blade of his sword right up nex
t to Allana
’s
neck. 
“Your pistol!
”

“I don’t have one!  Your men took mine, and I
didn’
t find t
he time to acquire a new one!”
Declan
shouted back in frustration.

Lucas studied him for a moment, trying to decide if he should believe him.  He then
turned to Allana.  “Stand up, darling, it’s time to go,” he said pleasantly. 

Allana’s eyes seemed to plead with
Declan
,
but he
could do nothing for her. 
 

“Don’t make me tell you again,” Lucas hissed this time.

She looked helplessly around. 
Declan’s
sword was just in front of her.  She eyed it. 

Pick it up,
Declan thought. 

She did.
 
Lucas was too busy watching
Declan
’s
every move to notice. 

Now, use it!  Strike him down while his eyes are on me,
Declan’s
thoughts willed.

“Give me the sword, Allana,” Lucas said, seeing the sword finally. 

She
hesitated before reluctantly handing over the sword
, and Declan groaned within
. 

“
Very good
,” Lucas said as he pulled her body next to his.  He kept his sword poised against her neck, and the newly acquired sword he held out toward
Declan
as a threat not to come closer. 

Slowly, Lucas backed out of the passageway, forcing Allana with him. 
Declan
followed, keeping a safe distance between himself and Lucas.