swoon.
The men were gathered around the table talking urgently. Now was her opportunity. She toppled sideways so that she was resting with her head beneath the bureau.
Had they heard her? Was someone watching her every move?
It was too dangerous to open her eyes – that would reveal she was dissembling and her chance would be lost.
Forcing herself to breathe deeply and evenly, she slumped further until she could feel the edge of the cupboard door beneath her cheek. This was the difficult part; she must nudge it open with her nose without arousing suspicion.
The leader was becoming impatient. 'I'll give him another ten minutes. If he ain't back by then we'll take the girl and go and find him. He'll hand it over soon enough if I stick my knife in his little lady.'
'And then what, guv?'
'Then we'll recover the book and tie the others up. We ain't got time to search for the rest of the staff. I want you two to set a fire under the stairs and burn this place down. We want no witnesses left behind to identify us.'
They were going to murder everyone. It was one thing for her to give up her life for King and country but she could not sit by and let innocent people die as well. The women upstairs must be saved. She had to make her move immediately. Simon must be warned. If he returned with the book they would all perish.
Chapter Ten
The men were occupied, checking their weapons, preparing to spring an ambush on Simon and his men when he returned in good faith to exchange her for the book. She was ignored for the moment. Slowly, the cupboard door opened an inch or two. She nudged it again until she could see inside. There was a broken knife in the tray on the bottom shelf; this would be better than nothing. How was she to remove it with not even her teeth to assist her?
She eased up until her head and shoulders were inside the cupboard. Any moment she expected to be struck down from behind. Using her chin, somehow she fumbled the knife out. Balanced on the edge of the tray, it fell bouncing against her chest to land between her knees.
She'd done it.
Her elation made her incautious, made her forget she was supposed to be asleep. From nowhere, rough hands gripped her shoulders and hauled her backwards.
'You'll not try nothing a second time,' a voice snarled in her ear.
Her eyes widened and she braced itself. His fist rose and her world went black.
*
'Are we ready, men?' Simon asked. The group murmured their agreement and all but Jenkins and Smith shuffled nervously. 'You stay here, David. Anything goes wrong, guard the real book with your life. Put it back on the shelf. You must never reveal its whereabouts.'
Peterson clasped his hand. 'Save Lydia. She's the world to me.'
On impulse, Simon threw his arm around the young man's shoulders. 'And to me, my boy, and to me. When this is over, I intend to marry your sister.' He grinned. 'I take it I have your permission? Although by rights it is Edward I should apply to. Is he not your guardian?'
'In name only. We send him any paperwork and his man of business attends to it.
'Anyway, Lydia does as she pleases. You don't need my permission, but you have my approval. I knew as soon as I met you, you're the man for her.'
What was he thinking of? Now was not the time to be talking of such matters, all their lives depended on the next few minutes. Leaving the young man to hide the book, he strode out. He was taking only his own men with him. He addressed the others. 'I've decided to give them the book. I believe there's an excellent chance they will be caught before they can hand it on. I cannot sacrifice Miss Peterson.'
A round of approval greeted this remark. No one, apart from David, knew there had been a substitution.
'You all know what to do: you must throw down your arms when told to do so. I want none of you killed tonight.'
The barricade was removed. Billy and Fred had instructions to replace the furniture, leaving all the doors available
The men were gathered around the table talking urgently. Now was her opportunity. She toppled sideways so that she was resting with her head beneath the bureau.
Had they heard her? Was someone watching her every move?
It was too dangerous to open her eyes – that would reveal she was dissembling and her chance would be lost.
Forcing herself to breathe deeply and evenly, she slumped further until she could feel the edge of the cupboard door beneath her cheek. This was the difficult part; she must nudge it open with her nose without arousing suspicion.
The leader was becoming impatient. 'I'll give him another ten minutes. If he ain't back by then we'll take the girl and go and find him. He'll hand it over soon enough if I stick my knife in his little lady.'
'And then what, guv?'
'Then we'll recover the book and tie the others up. We ain't got time to search for the rest of the staff. I want you two to set a fire under the stairs and burn this place down. We want no witnesses left behind to identify us.'
They were going to murder everyone. It was one thing for her to give up her life for King and country but she could not sit by and let innocent people die as well. The women upstairs must be saved. She had to make her move immediately. Simon must be warned. If he returned with the book they would all perish.
Chapter Ten
The men were occupied, checking their weapons, preparing to spring an ambush on Simon and his men when he returned in good faith to exchange her for the book. She was ignored for the moment. Slowly, the cupboard door opened an inch or two. She nudged it again until she could see inside. There was a broken knife in the tray on the bottom shelf; this would be better than nothing. How was she to remove it with not even her teeth to assist her?
She eased up until her head and shoulders were inside the cupboard. Any moment she expected to be struck down from behind. Using her chin, somehow she fumbled the knife out. Balanced on the edge of the tray, it fell bouncing against her chest to land between her knees.
She'd done it.
Her elation made her incautious, made her forget she was supposed to be asleep. From nowhere, rough hands gripped her shoulders and hauled her backwards.
'You'll not try nothing a second time,' a voice snarled in her ear.
Her eyes widened and she braced itself. His fist rose and her world went black.
*
'Are we ready, men?' Simon asked. The group murmured their agreement and all but Jenkins and Smith shuffled nervously. 'You stay here, David. Anything goes wrong, guard the real book with your life. Put it back on the shelf. You must never reveal its whereabouts.'
Peterson clasped his hand. 'Save Lydia. She's the world to me.'
On impulse, Simon threw his arm around the young man's shoulders. 'And to me, my boy, and to me. When this is over, I intend to marry your sister.' He grinned. 'I take it I have your permission? Although by rights it is Edward I should apply to. Is he not your guardian?'
'In name only. We send him any paperwork and his man of business attends to it.
'Anyway, Lydia does as she pleases. You don't need my permission, but you have my approval. I knew as soon as I met you, you're the man for her.'
What was he thinking of? Now was not the time to be talking of such matters, all their lives depended on the next few minutes. Leaving the young man to hide the book, he strode out. He was taking only his own men with him. He addressed the others. 'I've decided to give them the book. I believe there's an excellent chance they will be caught before they can hand it on. I cannot sacrifice Miss Peterson.'
A round of approval greeted this remark. No one, apart from David, knew there had been a substitution.
'You all know what to do: you must throw down your arms when told to do so. I want none of you killed tonight.'
The barricade was removed. Billy and Fred had instructions to replace the furniture, leaving all the doors available
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