Chapter 16
“That plan is truly awful,” Simeon declared as they stood in a field of bluebells and hazels on the outskirts of a densely woodland area.
Adrien shrugged, unperturbed. “It’s worked before.”
Simeon gave him a look of disbelief. “You want me to just walk up to the cottage, knock on the door and ask to speak to Lockhart.”
“Yes. By doing so, you’ll distract Lockhart while we take out the guards,” Adrien pressed.
“That plan is suicidal.”
Benedict chuckled. “We thought so as well, but it did work out splendidly. Although, Adrien was almost shot when he attempted to rescue his wife.”
“No plan is without some risk.” Jonathon shrugged.
Simeon frowned. “I am not going to walk up to the cottage and let Lockhart shoot me.”
“Pity,” Adrien joked.
“How are you agents still alive?” Simeon asked with a shake of his head.
“Agents aren’t afraid to take risks, but Bow Street Runners are quite timid,” Jonathon said matter-of-factly.
“You say ‘timid’, but I say not idiotic,” Simeon remarked. “Your last plan got me shot.”
Benedict grinned. “That’s because you jumped in front of Emmett in an attempt to win Martha’s affections.”
He grunted. “Regardless, I propose we come up with a new plan.”
“We could proceed and improvise as we go along,” Adrien suggested.
The sound of someone approaching through the trees had everyone reaching for their pistols. A lone figure emerged, but they immediately relaxed when they recognized the form of Mr. George Larson appearing between the hazel trees.
“I counted sixteen men guarding the cottage and four men inside with Lockhart,” Larson informed them.
“Perfect,” Adrien said. “There are five of us and twenty of the bad guys. We each get to take out four men.”
“That won’t be too hard,” Jonathon agreed confidently.
Simeon shook his head. “Do all agents act like you?
“Heroic?” Adrien asked.
“Fearless?” Jonathon inquired.
Benedict spoke up. “Stouthearted?”
“No, I was going to say that you all act like jackanapes,” Simeon said, reaching down to adjust the pistol in his right boot.
Larson laughed. “That does describe them perfectly.”
Adrien tilted his head towards Simeon. “I see you’ve taken my advice about carrying a pistol in your boot.”
“It was sound advice,” Simeon admitted.
“I am full of sterling advice,” Adrien boasted.
Benedict smirked. “You are full of something.”
Simeon huffed at the banter. “Do all agents tease each other unmercifully before an assignment?”
“Yes,” all the men said in unison.
Turning towards Larson, he asked, “Did you see Emma in the cottage?”
Larson nodded. “I did. She was leaning out of a window on the second level on the front-facing side of the cottage.”
Reaching for the pistol in his waistband, Simeon held it in his right hand as he started down the right path. “I’m going to save her,” he declared.
“Hold on,” Adrien said. “I’ll go with you.”
“We’ll take the left side,” Benedict stated, grabbing Jonathon’s sleeve.
Mr. Larson bobbed his head. “I’ll go down the middle.”
Treading softly, Simeon darted between the trees and saw a short, burly guard yawning as he leaned against a tree. He crept quietly behind the guard and hit him over the head with the side of his pistol. The guard collapsed without making a sound.
Simeon held up one finger towards Adrien, who nodded in acknowledgement. Proceeding cautiously, they spread out as they continued to look for guards. Two tall guards were walking through shrubbery, chatting, completely oblivious to the fact that they were being stalked.
Adrien and Simeon ducked behind trees and waited for them to approach. Once they were within range, they jumped out and each knocked out a guard with a single blow. A rustling in the shrubberies alerted them that someone was approaching. Two guards jumped out, armed with daggers in their hands.
Simeon jumped out of the way as a thickset guard swiped the dagger at him.
He retrieved the dagger from his left boot, and lunged at the guard, slicing the man’s shirt.
The man scowled as he dove towards him, and Simeon stepped to the side, simultaneously jabbing the dagger into the man’s side.
He twisted it before yanking it out. The man cried out in pain as he collapsed to the ground.
To prevent him from crying out again, potentially warning the other guards, Simeon punched the man in the jaw, knocking him unconscious.
Simeon wiped the bloodied dagger off on his trousers as he watched Adrien strike the final blow to his assailant. He tucked the dagger back into his left boot. Without saying a word, he headed deeper into the woods, hoping the cottage would be within a few yards.
A two-level structure emerged in a clearing, and Simeon saw a guard posted near the front door.
Staying low, he approached the side of the cottage and pressed himself up against it.
Adrien ducked low in the high brush but tossed a rock towards a tree, causing a thud.
The guard retrieved his pistol and went to investigate the noise.
The moment he cleared the side of the house, Simeon held his pistol in his right hand and hit the man across the face with it.
Before the man collapsed, Adrien caught him and started dragging him towards the high brush. He dropped the man and pointed towards the open window on the front-facing second level where Emma was currently climbing down.
Simeon nodded as he tucked the pistol into his waistband and went to intercept her. However, the moment she stepped onto the ground, she sprinted towards the cover of the trees, not sparing him a glance. Not wanting to give away his position by shouting at her, he started following her.
Emma was a few yards ahead of him when she darted behind a tree. He quickly followed her and was caught off guard when she jumped out and swung a thick branch at him, hitting him hard in the shoulder. He grunted as the blow knocked him to the ground.
She raised the branch up to hit him again, and he put his hands in front of him to protect himself.
“Emma, it’s me. It’s Simeon,” he called out, mindful to keep his voice low.
“Simeon?” she asked, lowering the branch to her side. “How are you here?”
He grimaced as he rubbed his sore shoulder. “It was quite simple, although I was forced to take out a few guards.”
“By yourself?”
“No, I had a little help,” he admitted, rising from the ground and dusting himself off. “Benedict, Jonathon, Adrien, and Larson are with me.”
Her eyes grew determined. “What’s the plan?”
“Good girl.” He was secretly pleased that Emma was not acting like a simpering miss. “We are going to run to safety.”
She dropped the tree branch and closed the distance between them. “I’m sorry I hit you,” she said, reaching out to touch his throbbing shoulder.
“I barely felt it,” he lied, his voice surprisingly hoarse as he remained close.
She grinned. “Liar.”
Simeon was rooted in place. Being this close to Emma was intoxicating. He could smell the rosewater in her hair and saw a patch of light freckles on the bridge of her nose. Unable to resist, he brought his hands up to gently rest on her arms, his eyes eagerly roaming her face.
“You are so beautiful, Emma,” he murmured without thinking.
A blush came to her cheeks as she diverted her gaze from his.
A clearing of a throat came from behind him. “Do Bow Street Runners normally flirt with the people they are attempting to rescue at the most inopportune time?” Adrien asked.
Simeon chuckled. “Point taken.” He smiled down at Emma. “Perhaps I could flirt with you at a more appropriate time?”
“I would like that very much.”
As he reached for her hand, he heard a gunshot echoing through the trees near the cottage. Blast it! Benedict or Jonathon gave away their position. He knew he needed to act quickly. They started sprinting through the trees towards the coach.
He heard men shouting behind them as they continued to weave in and around trees. They needed a distraction. He stopped, released her hand, and retrieved his pistol in one synchronized move.
“Go,” he urged, “run to safety. I will stop them from following us.”
“No, I won’t go without you,” she objected, grabbing his hand.
He attempted to release her hand, but she held firm. “I need you to be safe, Emma. Trust me.”
A look of indecision crossed her face before she dropped his hand and started backing up. Unfortunately, the sound of cocking pistols stopped her. He reluctantly turned around to see Lockhart and a mercenary standing next to him, both holding pistols directed at him.
“Emma, you weren’t planning to leave, now were you?” Lockhart asked dryly.
“I have every intention of running far away from you,” Emma declared boldly.
Lockhart waved the gun in front of him. “Then I’m afraid I will have to kill your would-be rescuer.”
“No, stop!” Emma exclaimed, taking a step closer to him.
Simeon stepped in front of her, his hand tightening around the pistol at his side. “Just go, Emma. Don’t worry about me.”
“That’s utter nonsense!” she declared. “I refuse to let anyone else die for me.”
“You were always too tenderhearted for your own good.” Lockhart gave him a pointed look. “Kindly drop your weapon on the ground.”
Simeon slowly placed the pistol on the ground, his eyes never straying from Lockhart.
Lockhart smirked. “And the spare pistol from your boot.”
Leaning down, Simeon removed the overcoat pistol from his right boot, dropping it on the ground.
“Now kick them away from you,” Lockhart directed.
Simeon took his foot and slid the weapons towards Peter and his thug.
“Now, you’re free to go,” Lockhart announced, lowering his pistol.
Not sure what game Lockhart was playing, Simeon asserted, “I’m not going anywhere without Emma.”
“Then you shall die,” Lockhart replied, bringing his pistol back up.
“Stop!” Emma said, moving to stand in front of Simeon. “If you want to kill him, you’ll have to kill me first.”
Lockhart lowered his gun and gave Emma a condescending smile. “I have no wish to kill you, my dear. I love you.”