behind the high windows of the servants' hall. He hammered on the door. It was flung open by a rough individual.
'You cannot escape, I have rifles trained on you. The soldiers will be here in a couple of hours. Surrender or die.'
'We have the girl, you have the book. Fair exchange: give it to us and we'll leave. No one will be harmed. Why have the little lady damaged for the sake of a book that ain't no use to you?'
'I cannot give you the book. It's government property. It is my duty to protect it at all costs.'
The man gestured. Simon heard scrabbling feet and then Lydia cried out in pain. She was dragged forward, tied hand and foot with a filthy rag rammed into her mouth. But her eyes blazed back at him and she shook her head vigorously. It was almost his undoing. She was so courageous. He could not let these villains harm her further.
'You are surrounded. I have the ascendancy. I demand that you hand over Miss Peterson.'
'You ain't in no position to make demands, mister. You give me that book or I'll slit her throat.'
Simon barely restrained himself from smashing the lantern into the man's sneering face. 'If you release the girl I shall let you and your men leave unharmed. That's the best I can offer.'
'The girl dies unless you bring the book.'
'I need time to decide, I have never betrayed my country.'
The man stared at him for a long minute, then he nodded. 'You got half an hour. Be back with the book or your fancy woman will be dead.'
Simon tried to communicate to Lydia by his expression that she would be saved but he was certain she hadn't understood his signals. He backed away from the room, not trusting the villains not to open fire on him.
'Jenkins, Sam, come with me. We'll be going back with the book.'
In the library, Peterson raised his head and a faint smile flickered across his drawn features. 'Another fifteen minutes, no more, and it'll be done.'
'Good man, I'll leave you to finish. I'm expecting Dawkins and his troop to be here within the hour. Now the rain's stopped…'
'They'll not be here that soon, Colonel. The roads will be impassable and the ford flooded; they must make a detour of fifteen miles to the bridge. We can't expect help for several hours.'
'Then we shall have to make this substitution work. If those villains get away, then so be it. They will take nothing of value with them.'
What he hadn't yet told the young man was that it was inevitable they would all be taken prisoner. Lydia would not be exchanged. The men would be forced to give up their weapons, then the rest of his group would be rounded up.
Jenkins said it for him. 'Shall I warn the others to surrender, sir? No point in anyone being hurt.'
To his surprise, Peterson grinned. 'Don't worry, I'd already surmised that's how it would go. You're banking on the traitors being happy with the book, aren't you?'
'I am. Hopefully they'll not have discovered the two stable hands hiding in the yard. With luck they can release us when the coast is clear.'
'And if they've been captured?'
'Then we shall have to remain incarcerated until Dawkins and his troop arrive. It's a small inconvenience compared to what could happen.' Simon sent a fervent prayer to the Almighty that his opponents were not bloodthirsty murderers determined to leave no one alive to identify them.
*
The gang threw Lydia back into her corner. Her heart was pounding and her mouth dry; if she was to escape she had to do it immediately. Simon had decided to give up the book. She saw it in his eyes. He had been telling her that she would be released unharmed. The only way that could be achieved was by betraying his country and handing over the precious volume.
There were knives stored in the cupboard. There must be some way to get into it.
With one at her disposal, surely she could cut her bonds? It was a remote possibility, but the only idea she had. Far better to fight than remain cowering in a corner. She sighed loudly and slipped down the wall, pretending to
'You cannot escape, I have rifles trained on you. The soldiers will be here in a couple of hours. Surrender or die.'
'We have the girl, you have the book. Fair exchange: give it to us and we'll leave. No one will be harmed. Why have the little lady damaged for the sake of a book that ain't no use to you?'
'I cannot give you the book. It's government property. It is my duty to protect it at all costs.'
The man gestured. Simon heard scrabbling feet and then Lydia cried out in pain. She was dragged forward, tied hand and foot with a filthy rag rammed into her mouth. But her eyes blazed back at him and she shook her head vigorously. It was almost his undoing. She was so courageous. He could not let these villains harm her further.
'You are surrounded. I have the ascendancy. I demand that you hand over Miss Peterson.'
'You ain't in no position to make demands, mister. You give me that book or I'll slit her throat.'
Simon barely restrained himself from smashing the lantern into the man's sneering face. 'If you release the girl I shall let you and your men leave unharmed. That's the best I can offer.'
'The girl dies unless you bring the book.'
'I need time to decide, I have never betrayed my country.'
The man stared at him for a long minute, then he nodded. 'You got half an hour. Be back with the book or your fancy woman will be dead.'
Simon tried to communicate to Lydia by his expression that she would be saved but he was certain she hadn't understood his signals. He backed away from the room, not trusting the villains not to open fire on him.
'Jenkins, Sam, come with me. We'll be going back with the book.'
In the library, Peterson raised his head and a faint smile flickered across his drawn features. 'Another fifteen minutes, no more, and it'll be done.'
'Good man, I'll leave you to finish. I'm expecting Dawkins and his troop to be here within the hour. Now the rain's stopped…'
'They'll not be here that soon, Colonel. The roads will be impassable and the ford flooded; they must make a detour of fifteen miles to the bridge. We can't expect help for several hours.'
'Then we shall have to make this substitution work. If those villains get away, then so be it. They will take nothing of value with them.'
What he hadn't yet told the young man was that it was inevitable they would all be taken prisoner. Lydia would not be exchanged. The men would be forced to give up their weapons, then the rest of his group would be rounded up.
Jenkins said it for him. 'Shall I warn the others to surrender, sir? No point in anyone being hurt.'
To his surprise, Peterson grinned. 'Don't worry, I'd already surmised that's how it would go. You're banking on the traitors being happy with the book, aren't you?'
'I am. Hopefully they'll not have discovered the two stable hands hiding in the yard. With luck they can release us when the coast is clear.'
'And if they've been captured?'
'Then we shall have to remain incarcerated until Dawkins and his troop arrive. It's a small inconvenience compared to what could happen.' Simon sent a fervent prayer to the Almighty that his opponents were not bloodthirsty murderers determined to leave no one alive to identify them.
*
The gang threw Lydia back into her corner. Her heart was pounding and her mouth dry; if she was to escape she had to do it immediately. Simon had decided to give up the book. She saw it in his eyes. He had been telling her that she would be released unharmed. The only way that could be achieved was by betraying his country and handing over the precious volume.
There were knives stored in the cupboard. There must be some way to get into it.
With one at her disposal, surely she could cut her bonds? It was a remote possibility, but the only idea she had. Far better to fight than remain cowering in a corner. She sighed loudly and slipped down the wall, pretending to
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