Page 81 of When You Rescued Me

“You shall not get away with this!” Despite the tremor in her voice, Lady Telford kept her chin high. “The moment you use that pistol, others will rush in here and seize you.”

With a contemptuous snort, Grimsby cocked his pistol, and Hannah knew she could wait no longer. Crossing to the end table in two steps, she grasped the nearest book and hurled it at Grimsby’s back. It brushed his shoulder one second before the second book she sent flying hit his head. He roared with anger, swinging around and leveling his gun at Hannah. She dropped to her knees behind the armchair one heartbeat before the crack of the gun filled the room.

The armchair jolted as the bullet impacted the upholstery. Lady Telford screamed. And as the thud of Grimsby’s rapid footsteps started toward her, Hannah scrambled to her feet. Keeping her head low, she darted across the short distance to the next armchair. But Grimsby was closer than she’d anticipated. He swiped at her, catching the voluminous skirt of her gown in his fingers. She stumbled. Lunging at the end table, she swiped the remaining books off its surface, sending them tumbling onto the floor at Grimsby’s feet. He staggered sideways, and Hannah yanked her gown free from his clutches and raced across the room to take shelter behind a small writing table.

Like an angry bull, Grimsby charged after her. With strength borne of sheer desperation, Hannah pushed over the table. Sheets of paper, an inkwell, quills, a paperweight—everything scattered into his path. She caught the glitter of metal as the paper knife slid beneath the nearest chair, and she choked back a cry. The blunt blade was no match for a gun, but it would have been something.

“Seek help, my lady!” she shouted. Hannah had been so focused on escaping Grimsby she no longer knew exactly where Lady Telford was located, but surely the older woman would have had the good sense to make for the door while the felon was distracted.

Grimsby must have caught the rustle of skirts behind him, because in an instant, he pivoted and shot. Slivers of wood flew off the door. Lady Telford cried out and reeled back.

It seemed that Grimsby’s bullet had hit the door rather than Lady Telford. Had her ladyship been hurt by the flying splinters? Hannah lifted her skirts and ran to Lady Telford’s side. But Grimsby anticipated her move. With a furious roar, he pounced, grabbing Hannah’s arm and yanking her toward him.

“You ’ave crossed th’ wrong man, lady,” he snarled, pressing his pistol to Hannah’s side.

Hannah forced herself to meet his dark eyes, and time seemed to slow to a crawl. Music coming from the ballroom reached her through the partially open door. Somewhere in the deep recesses of her mind, she realized that it must have been loud enough to mask the gunfire and downed furniture in the library. It hardly mattered now. Any possible help would come too late. Her father and sisters would be devastated by this outcome. She wished she had managed things better. But her greatest regret was that she’d never told Samuel that she loved him.

“You may take my life, Grimsby,” she said, clenching her fists in an attempt to stop their shaking. “And perhaps you shall even leave this place with Lady Telford’s necklace. But your victory will be short-lived. Ultimately, the Bow Street officers will ensure that you pay the price for your misdeeds.”

“Better yet,” came a steely voice from the doorway, “you shall pay for them now.”

Hannah gasped, unforeseen hope flooding her as Samuel stepped out of the shadows, his pistol aimed at Grimsby.

“If ya shoot me, she dies too,” Grimsby said.

“Hannah.” Samuel’s focus on Grimsby did not waver. “How many shots has he taken?”

The barrel of Grimsby’s pistol pushed down upon her stays as though pressuring her to remain silent.

Hannah held completely still. “Two.”

“Two shots,” Samuel said thoughtfully. “You were wise to bring two pistols, Grimsby, but by my calculations, no matter which gun you are now holding, you have no bullet in the chamber.”

“Ya can think that if ya will,” Grimsby said, “but I don’ think yer man enough t’ take the chance.” His lips curled into a cruel smile. “Don’ think I haven’t seen th’ way ya look at ’er, Ross. She may be outa yer league, but yer smitten regardless.” He tightened his grip on Hannah’s arm. “All I need is th’ necklace, an’ then I’ll be leavin’.”

Lady Telford’s whimpers had yet to abate. “Let her go,” her ladyship said brokenly. “I shall give it to you. Please, just let her go.”

“Lady Telford.” Hannah heard the strain in Samuel’s voice. “Do not remove the pendant from your neck.”

“But Miss Dennington—”

“We’re going to do this just like we did with Alfie, Hannah,” Samuel said, cutting her ladyship off before she could go any further.

Alfie? Hannah’s thoughts spun. What about Alfie?

“Shut yer mouth, Ross,” Grimsby said.

Samuel’s words had put Grimsby on edge. Why? Was it the mention of Alfie, or was it because he thought Samuel had communicated something to Hannah? Hannah frantically sifted through her memories of rescuing Alfie from the burning warehouse. What did Samuel want her to know?

“One!” Samuel said.

The moment she heard the number, Hannah understood. Two! He was going to act on two. Just as he had when he’d lifted the burning beam.

Grimsby shifted. “I said shut—”

“Two!” Samuel said.

Hannah swiveled. Catching Grimsby off guard, she wrenched her arm free and threw herself onto the ground to the sound of Samuel’s gunshot.