Chapter 28
Michael and Colin followed Louisa to the place where Emmeline had marked the treasure’s location.
“She was already here,” Louisa breathed as she saw the hole in the ground where the marking had once been. “We are too late.”
“Search the grounds,” Michael commanded the Bow Street Runners who had accompanied them. “She must be here somewhere. Interview the staff of both estates, perhaps someone saw or heard something.”
His heart felt as if it were going to thunder out of his chest. Fear gripped him as he frantically searched the surrounding area for any sign of Emmeline’s presence.
“There was a struggle,” one of the Runners announced, several meters away from the hole.
Michael ran toward the spot and stared down at the bit of black lace that was embedded in the dirt at the Runner’s feet. Bending down, he picked it up and held it up to the sun’s waning light. It was clear that it had been ripped away with force.
“That is Emmeline’s,” Rebecca confirmed. “It is the lace trim from one of her dresses.”
“She was here,” Michael breathed, clutching the lace in his fist. “If anyone has harmed her in any way…” He let the threat hang in the air with such intensity that Rebecaa stepped forward and laid her hand on his arm.
“We will find her. Norman could have killed her here, but he did not. He may need her for something else, and that will keep her safe,” Rebecca reassured him in spite of her own fears.
“Over here!” another Runner shouted from the trees beyond where they stood.
Michael raced toward the voice and found an elderly man lying on the ground, blood on his head.
“John,” he said in surprise. “Is he alive?”
The Runner nodded. “He is.”
“He is my head groundskeeper,” Michael explained. Kneeling beside the older man, Michael examined his wound. “Please have the physician that you brought with us come and tend to this man,” he told the head Runner.
“Of course.” The head Runner nodded and barked a command for the physician to be brought forward.
“How did this happen, John?” Michael asked as the man came around to consciousness.
“The marchioness has been taken,” John croaked out.
“Who took her, John? Where did they take her?” Michael asked, his heart racing with a fresh burst of energy.
“He said that he was her husband, but that cannot be, my lord. Is her husband not dead?” He looked up at Michael with confusion.
“He was, but he is not now,” Michael answered, not bothering to clarify his meaning, given the fact that they had limited time. “Where did he take her?”
“Dover, then France,” the groundkeeper answered. “I am sorry, my lord, that I was not able to save her. There were too many men. I could not fight them all.”
“I understand, John. You have nothing to be sorry for. Because of you, we may still be able to save her, “Michael reassured him. “How long ago was this?”
“I do not know, my lord.” He looked at the waning light and the position of the sun on the horizon. “It could have been hours ago.”
“The horses are too tired to go on,” the head Runner informed Michael. “We cannot continue the search without fresh horses.”
“You can use all of my horses in the stable,” Michael argued.
“Michael, we all need to rest,” Colin gently reminded him.
“I cannot rest while she is out there with that man,” Michael’s voice reflected the desperation that he felt in his heart.
“Mr. G will be forced to stop and rest as well. No man or horse can make that journey without resting,” Colin attempted to be the voice of reason.
“We will set out before first light,” the head Runner informed Michael, his tone leaving no room for argument. “The roads are too dangerous to travel at night, and we will not reach the marchioness in time without our horses and men being healthy and alive enough to do so.”
Michael had to physically bite his tongue to keep from shouting at the man. His logical mind knew that Colin and the Runner were right, but his heart was screaming for him to take immediate action.
Unable to express himself without saying or doing something that he would regret, Michael walked away, taking a brief moment to collect himself. Unable to let it go, Michael returned to the group.
“If we trade out the horses for those in my stable, I will agree to stop at an inn along the way to rest, if you agree to continue on until there is no light left to see by.”
The Runner and Colin exchanged a look, but after a moment of consideration, in the end, they agreed to do as Michael requested.
“Do we have your word?” Colin asked, his eyes holding Michael’s. “Rebecca has been through a great ordeal herself and needs rest. Emmeline would not want her life or health placed in any jeopardy.”
Understanding filled Michael’s mind about Colin’s resistance to continuing on, and he felt a moment of guilt that he had not taken Rebecca’s needs into consideration.
“You have my word,” he agreed.
Nodding, Colin went to inform Rebecca of the plan.
“Runners!” the head Runner barked orders to his men, and they all rode out toward the stables of Ravenshollow.
Once the horses were traded out for fresh ones, they set back out onto the road.
True to his word, when all the light had left the sky, Michael agreed to stop for the night at a roadside inn.
He arranged for rooms for the entire group, paying for the rooms himself, along with a meal for each person.
That night, Michael lay awake, his mind and heart with Emmeline, praying that she was safe. I am coming for you, Emmeline. Hold on, my love. I am coming for you.