Haunted by the Earl's Touch - By Ann Lethbridge Page 0,94

courage, had made him want more than vindication for his mother. She’d made him want her, when he had known all along that he shouldn’t. And now he’d failed her, too.

If only he could know she’d escaped. If he knew that for certain, he wouldn’t care about the sea encroaching higher with every cold wave.

Because he loved her more than he loved his own life.

He loved her.

The thought filled him with despair. He’d carelessly put her in terrible danger. Again he yanked on the chains.

A glowing figure in white floated towards him. The seawater had affected his brain, because what he was seeing was the White Lady. There was no mistaking the feminine figure outlined beneath the filmy robe and her long hair floating behind her.

His heart pounded wildly. Was this the signal that he was about to die?

‘Bane,’ she called out.

Not a ghost. But, oh damn, he wished it was. ‘Mary,’ he pleaded desperately. ‘I told you to leave. Go before he finds you.’

‘I—I hit him over the head with the poker,’ she said, crouching down. ‘I—I think I killed him.’ Her voice wavered badly. ‘I have his pistol.’

Relief washed through him. Dear God, never had he met such a courageous woman or one so frighteningly resourceful. ‘Do you think you can shoot at the pin holding me fast to this wall without killing me?’

She chuckled. ‘Probably not. But I have something better.’ She put down the lantern and reached for his hands. ‘I have the key.’

The next wave was coming. He could hear it rushing into the cavern. He held his hands steady while she fumbled with the lock. ‘Whatever you do, don’t drop it.’

‘I’ll try not to,’ she said, her voice grim.

The first shackle fell away. But he could see the wave rolling towards him in the light from the lantern. ‘Get back,’ he said, hating the idea of her moving away from him, but terrified that the next wave might carry her off.

Instead of doing as he said, she continued jiggling the key in the lock. And then it was open. He leaped to his feet and picked up her and the lantern and ran from the onrushing wave.

‘Oh,’ she said when he put her down. ‘That was...remarkable.’

Cold and shivering, he leaned against the wall of the cave. ‘Where is he?’

She took the lantern from his numb fingers. ‘I hid in the muniment room and tripped him with the poker as he ran by. Then I hit him over the head and pushed him inside. I barred the door with the poker. Just in case.’ She winced. ‘But there was blood on his face.’

A very clever woman, his Mary. His? His heart stilled. His mouth dried. He would be lucky if she agreed to speak to him again after the way he had endangered her life. And he wouldn’t blame her at all.

He put an arm around her shoulders. ‘Let us make sure he is no danger to us or anyone else, then find some dry clothes and a warm fire.’

She nodded, but her eyes were huge, her face pale and her expression fearful. He cursed the day he was born for causing such a look on her face.

* * *

Gerald was screaming invective when they reached that part of the tunnel. He’d managed to get the door open a fraction, but he barely seemed rational and was tossing papers and boxes around as if they were live things he was trying to murder.

Bane hurried Mary past and got her back to his chamber. He rang for his man and then sent him for her maid and a bath.

‘I can’t bathe in here,’ she cried.

‘You are not going back to a room that has a secret entrance,’ he said. ‘You can rest easy, I won’t disturb you. There are many things I need to take care of before morning. But not until I am sure you are well protected.’

There was a strange look on her face. He wanted to ask her what she was thinking, but he didn’t have the right. He had taken far too many liberties already.

A sleepy-looking Betsy arrived, followed by two footmen with a tin bath and another two with buckets of water.

Bane skewered the maid with a look. ‘Take care of your mistress. She has been through a great deal this night and deserves every consideration.’

Betsy’s mouth gaped. She dropped a curtsy and hurried through the door. Bane turned and left before he was tempted to remain, to help Mary bathe