37. Chapter 37 #2
Lord Vane’s countenance darkened with indignation. “How dare you, you impertinent buffoon. You do not order me about. Now do as you’re told and be glad you still have a position with me.”
Grogan gazed back at Vane. His beady eyes glinted with unmistakable challenge.
Vane had all but told Mr. Jasper he would be replacing Grogan as the top man. But Annabelle got the distinct impression Vane’s authority was tenuous at best. She wondered if he knew.
“If you want to get paid, you’ll do as you’re told. A large bonus awaits both of you once we’re safely out of here.”
Mr. Jasper glanced between the two of them and started out. “Come on, Grogan.”
The gravel-voiced man followed without another word.
Nearing the narrowing tunnel entrance, they both froze.
“Did you hear that?” Grogan asked his partner.
“What?” Vane demanded.
“A scrape, like a boot—outside,” the other man said.
Eyes wide with alarm, Lord Vane pulled out his pistol in a swift move and waved it toward the dark opening. “One of you, go and see.”
In unspoken agreement, Grogan set off through the darkened tunnel. A moment later he returned. “No one is there.”
Lord Vane jammed his pistol back inside his waistcoat pocket and jutted out his chin. “As I expected. It was probably a rat or field mouse. Go on, then. Get out of here. I wish to have a word with the lady.”
Annabelle heard a distinct snort, but Vane’s men departed, leaving her cornered.
She tried to swallow with a throat gone dry as dirt. “Whatever you wish to say, you can do so while we walk.” She employed her most regal tone, in the hopes her feigned self-assurance might sway him. “I should very much like to return now. What are you—stop that.”
Lord Vane pressed his body into hers, mashing her against the stone wall. His lips sought hers.
Just in time, she turned her head to avoid the full onslaught. He still managed to slide his wet mouth over her cheek as his grasping hands moved with surprising speed over her person.
One hand squeezed her breast in a greedy, painful knead. The other worked at the fly of his trousers. His trousers.
She tried to push him off her, straining with the effort.
Scuffing sounds, his harsh breathing and disgusting groans filled the air. “Oh, yes, I like a wench with a bit of fight.”
“Get off me, you giant piece of garbage,” she said through her teeth, struggling for all she was worth. But despite her best efforts, he got her skirts high enough to wedge a meaty knee between her thighs, then laughed. “I’ll bet the viscount loves your fire in the bedroom.”
Unable to think of anything else to try, she opened her mouth and clamped her teeth over his shoulder, biting him with every ounce of her strength.
He howled in outrage.
And then the distinct sound of a rifle being loaded and chambered echoed off the walls. “Get. Off. My. Sister.”
Vane froze.
Caroline had come. Annabelle would have sagged in relief if not for Vane’s body pressing into hers.
“Move away from her this instant,” her sister-in-law said through her teeth.
Vane held his hands aloft and stepped back from Annabelle.
A choked sob sounded. Hers, she realized. Anger surged through her—that he’d forced himself on her. Overpowered her. Frightened her. She didn’t think. She hefted one knee in a ferocious strike to his groin.
He made a choking sound and doubled over in pain, and she ran to Caroline who opened one arm to embrace her as she held the armed rifle steady. Annabelle wrapped both arms around the slender woman’s waist.
“We’re going to leave now. Do not follow us. Try, and I will kill you,” Caroline said and the two began backing away.
“I won’t. I won’t. I promise,” he hastened to say in a wheezy, pained voice from his half-hunched position.
“Wait,” Annabelle said and dashed back to the man who was just beginning to straighten. His trousers had dropped around his knees, she noted with renewed outrage.
She grasped the lapels of his waistcoat, ripped them apart to bare his sweaty shirt and snatched out the pistol that had been jammed up against her ribs a moment ago. Eyes narrowed on him, she aimed, held it with two hands and cocked the barrel.
His eyes widened in fear as it dawned on him what she intended to do. “Milady, no, I beg you.”
“As I begged,” she said bitterly. She took one step backward and aimed the small pistol straight at his loins.
“Lady Randall, think of your husband, the scandal he’ll face.”
Now he called her by her married name.
“Annabelle, don’t,” Caroline said, her voice very calm and very sure. “Don’t. He’s not worth it. Not worth the nightmares that will follow. Trust me.”
“He tried to force himself on me,” she gritted out.
“I know.” The two words conveyed a wealth of understanding. “I know.” Something in her tone struck Annabelle.
Never lowering her arm, she turned her head to study her sister-in-law. Read the world-weary look in her eyes. Suddenly she understood. The truth had been right there in front of her all along.
She hurried to Caroline’s side. “He’s not alone. He has two men with him. Hired muscle.”
“I saw them. They should be reaching the shore about now, but there’s no saying they won’t be back for him.”
“No. No they won’t,” Vane assured them. “You have my word. Just let me leave and you will never see me again.”
“Annabelle?” Caroline asked, eyes holding hers.
“I trust you.”