Chapter Thirty-One #2
“You are rambling like a mad man, my lord. What are you talking about disposing of me and Lord Corbyn?” Liberty sounded furious now.
“Be quiet,” Michael snapped. “How much do you know?”
“About what?”
“Don’t play me for a fool, Lady Liberty. I saw you at the warehouse in London, and you were seen today talking to Lord Corbyn by one of my men. He overheard some of your conversation.”
“I have no idea what it is you speak of,” Liberty said, continuing with her lies. “Why are you pointing that pistol at me?” she then asked loudly.
“If you don’t tell me what I want to know, I will shoot you here and your family will find you dead on their floor.” Michael no longer sounded calm but panicked.
“You are the one who is causing all this harm to the Bidham villagers, aren’t you?” Liberty demanded, clearly deciding the pretense was up. “That warehouse in London, all of it, is part of whatever nefarious game you are playing with these people. You are a—”
“If you keep talking, I will shoot you where you stand, my lady. So shut up. I need to think.”
“Clearly, not your strong suit,” Liberty said. His love had a backbone, and when she was safe, he’d be happy about that. Right now, his veins were filled with ice that she was in that room with a man pointing a gun pointed at her.
“You can’t honestly think you’ll get away with this? To murder me and then Lord Corbyn would see you hanged.”
“I doubt anyone will miss that fool,” Michael sneered.
“He is no fool! And ten times the man you could ever be,” Liberty snapped back. “You are a gutless coward to have treated him as you did.”
Stop provoking him, Liberty. Toby couldn’t say the words out loud and alert Michael, but he wanted to. She would get herself shot if she didn’t shut up.
Toby turned at a noise behind him and found Anthony and Jamie. Behind them were two footmen.
“Go,” Jamie mouthed as they heard Michael curse, and then Liberty shriek.
Toby entered the room seconds later and found Michael with his arm around Liberty’s neck, and a pistol pointed at her head.
“Let her go, Michael. Your scheme is up. Even now the magistrate is on his way, and we have all the evidence we need over you and Landon,” Toby said, keeping his eyes on the man and not Liberty.
“Back away, Corbyn, or I’ll kill her.”
“You’re not getting out of here with her,” Toby said, his voice hard. “And if you harm her in any way, I will make your death slow and painful. A little like the punishment you allowed us to be subjected to in Blackwood House.”
The man’s eyes were wide, and moving from left to right, panic clear in the depths.
“It was discipline,” Michael said, his voice shaky. “Boys need discipline.”
“It was torture at the hands of a select few sadistic and evil men and older boys,” Toby said with a calm he was far from feeling. Liberty was in the hands of a man who could, with a single movement of his finger, end her life. The woman he loved.
“Let her go now,” Toby said, moving his eyes to Liberty, trying to convey to her to stay calm, which wasn’t easy he knew with a pistol to her head.
“We are leaving, and you will let us,” Michael said.
“Are you to murder two peers this night, then?” Toby asked. “Because my friends, and the staff in this house know you are here, Michael.”
“You lie! I slipped in unnoticed!”
“I didn’t,” Toby said.
“No. I can fix this!” Michael said, the pistol now jabbing into Liberty’s neck. “Walk out the door, and we will follow. One misstep, and I will shoot her, Corbyn.”
He knew his friends and the footmen would be outside and likely now hiding. Knew that Liberty’s best chance was to walk out of here. Toby made himself turn and retrace his steps. And it was the hardest thing he’d ever done.
“Keep walking to the stairs,” Michael said.
“Oh dear!”
Toby turned at Liberty’s cry. She stumbled and fell. Michael had to release her or go down too. Toby didn’t hesitate, but fired.
“Liberty!” He ran and had her in his arms in seconds. “Tell me you are all right?”
She was sobbing, which he took as a good sign.
“It’s over now, my love,” he whispered into her hair. “You are safe.”
“We are safe,” she said into his neck.
Picking her up, Toby carried her back into the parlor, ignoring the man writhing on the floor. He poured a brandy, and then forced it down her throat until her tremors had stopped.
“I can’t believe that just happened,” she said, her voice stronger now. “He could have shot us. Bastard!”
Toby smiled. Now she was angry, and that made color return to her cheeks.
“I love you, Liberty.”
Her hands flew to his face, cupping his cheeks, as she looked deep into his eyes. “I love you so much, Toby.”
“Liberty!” They eased apart as Edward ran into the room pale faced. “There is a man bleeding in the hallway!”
“It’s all right now, Edward,” Toby said as Liberty went to hug her brother. “Your sister is well, and that man deserves to be bleeding on the floor.”
The duke and duchess were next to arrive, shock evident on their faces as well as they hurried to their daughter.
“All is well,” Liberty said, comforting them.
Anthony appeared next, and Toby knew by the look on his friend’s face he was needed.
“I must go now, Liberty. I have to deal with Lord Michael. Unfortunately, the bullet didn’t kill him, so we need to get him to a doctor. Then we will speak with the magistrate so Landon can be taken into custody.”
“I don’t want you to leave,” Liberty whispered leaving her family to come to him.
“Soon, I will never have to leave you again.” He kissed her softly, and then left the house, knowing that one day she’d be his for always, and he’d never have to walk away from her again.