Chapter Twenty-One
Captain Trentchester was already on his feet, heading for the back door to follow Pippa.
“Flaherty is going to need to know what his wife is up to,” Mrs. Green warned.
“Warn the baron!” Roarke slipped the sling over his head, shoved it in his frockcoat pocket, and grabbed the brace of pistols from the sideboard where he’d placed them. He stuck them in his waistband. “I’m going after her.”
“But you’re injured,” the cook protested.
“Thank you for tending to my wound, Mrs. Green—I’m grateful—but if anything happens to Pippa, my wife will have my head on a platter.”
“Be careful.”
Captain Trentchester nodded and slipped out the door. A muffled shriek had him bracing in time to catch Pippa in his arms. “It’s Grant,” she gasped. “He’s—”
“Get inside. Now!” As his brother rode toward them, Roarke had the satisfaction of watching Grant pull back on the reins and slow to a stop. He drew his weapons, pointed them at his brother, and shouted, “Looking for someone?”
“You’re supposed to be dead!”
“Ah, then the ploy worked. My superiors knew someone has been feeding our enemies information from the War Office.” He cocked his pistols and aimed them at Grant. “I had no idea the extent you would go to, coveting Millie—but to be a traitor, too? You’re despicable!”
The sound of a horse fast approaching had Roarke calling, “Dismount slowly. I’ll make certain that you answer for your crimes against the Crown, threatening my wife while she was pregnant, and attempts to kidnap Millie, our son, and Pippa!”
“But Roarke,” Grant rasped, “I’m your brother.”
“Don’t move!” Flaherty yelled, riding toward them.
The split-second distraction had Grant digging his heels into his horse’s sides and bending low in the saddle.
Flaherty’s shot went wide. Roarke’s grazed his brother’s arm, but it didn’t slow Grant down. He gained momentum as his mount galloped along the back of the house, turning at the corner.
“I’ll go after him,” Flaherty shouted. “Warn the baron! Protect the women!”
Roarke ran inside to deliver the message, then turned back around to follow after Flaherty and was nearly trampled by Pippa’s brother. Winston leaned to the side, held out a hand, and yanked Roarke up onto the back of his horse.
“Are my sister and your wife and son safe?”
“Aye. What of the six armed men?”
“Minor skirmish. Nothing to worry about. My brothers, O’Malley, Garahan, and Tremayne have things well in hand. Is that Flaherty up there, headed north through the woods?”
“Aye. Follow him!” Roarke urged. “Flaherty was right behind my brother when I went inside to warn the baron.”
As they rode past the rear of the house, Summerfield waved at them, shouting, “Grant has Pippa!”
Winston slowed long enough to hear the baron add, “Pippa slipped outside before anyone realized she was gone. Millie said Pippa insisted she would create a diversion to keep Grant away from the women and save Millie and your son.”
Roarke shouted, “After them!”