“You’ll pay for that, bitch,” he snarled, a small trickle of saliva dripping from the side of his mouth.
“Boss!” Rat’s voice came from somewhere downstairs.
“What?” Ballantyne snapped, shoving away from Amelia and moving towards the door.
“Company.” Although Rat’s voice was significantly quieter, his words were enough to make Amelia’s heart thump crazily in her chest.
Sebastian.
It was all she needed to look at the bonds. As Ballantyne disappeared downstairs, she bent her fingers down enough to loosen the thick rope and within seconds had one hand free.
Seconds later she jumped from the bed, quickly glancing around the room for her clothes, but couldn’t see them.
Downstairs, raised voices became louder as Ballantyne shouted his orders. Amelia knew he would be back at any moment, and felt her stomach heave at the thought of what they would do to her if they came back. The possibilities gave her the courage to do what she needed to.
Ignoring her unclothed state, she quickly slid the window upwards. She didn’t stop to look down, and jumped across the short distance to the thick branch of the large oak outside of the window. It was very high, but she had little choice. With a silent prayer heavenwards, she clambered down the branches she could reach, before she had to let go and fall to the ground with a thud.
Winded for a few moments, she heard voices outside and felt a wave of panic sweep through her. It wasn’t Sebastian. She took a fortifying breath and looked around frantically, not knowing what to do.
She was dressed in a white shift, and would stand out like a beacon if she ran down the drive. Where else could she go? Easing around the edge of the house she looked across to the tree line. In the far distance to the right, she spied the tip of a church spire. She could remember passing it as she rode through the village with Isobel only a few weeks ago.
Without hesitation, she left the sheltered protection of the stone wall and took off across the grass. Despite the increasing winds tearing at her ears, and the pain in her feet from the running across the ground without shoes on, Amelia ran as though the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels. She was vaguely aware of the surprised shouts from men behind her but didn’t stop to look backwards, and instead lengthened her stride as much as she could.
If she could get to the church, or the village, she could find somewhere to hide until morning. Then she could seek help. With her eyes firmly locked on the ground before her, she headed straight for the tree line and the church beyond.
As she reached the protection of the trees, Amelia felt panic sweep through her. The men were closer than she thought. She could distinctly hear Ballantyne’s voice issuing threats as he gave chase.
Crashing through the harsh branches, her feet were cut to ribbons and littered with thorns, but fear drove her onwards without mercy. Branches tore at her thin shift, scraping her arms and chest as she pushed through them. A sob lodged in her throat as she tripped over an unforgiving branch, and landed on the floor with a thud.
She lay panting in the undergrowth for several moments, certain that at any moment she would feel Ballantyne’s hands on her shoulders, dragging her to her feet.
When nothing happened, she glanced backwards. She could hear branches snapping and leaves rustling, but couldn’t see anyone. Lurching to her feet again, she ran for her life.
“There!” Peter shouted, pointing towards the figure of a man heading toward the tree line. Without hesitation he took off after him.
“Wait, she could be inside,” Sebastian gasped, jumping down from his horse. Even from outside, the crackling of burning wood was loud. Smoke billowed out of the rooms on either side of the entrance hall, immediately encasing them in foggy heat.
The acrid burning in his throat made his eyes water, but nothing could deter him from searching the house for Amelia. Although he had little doubt she had fled, there was still the possibility she was inside, and they were trying to burn the house around her. If she was there, he had to find her.
With Dominic and Edward beside him, they entered the large hallway. Orange flames were visible, flickering beneath the wooden door leading to the back of the house.
Coughing against the choking smoke, Edward began a quick sweep of the downstairs rooms he could get into.
Dominic and Sebastian headed for the stairs. As Sebastian reached the top, muffled thumps and cursing blended with the popping and hissing of flames that were steadily engulfing the house.
Despite the thick fog of smoke, Sebastian turned towards the long corridor leading to the bedrooms, and came face to face with Rat.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t my lord, the carriage jumper,” Rat sneered.
“Where is she?” Sebastian demanded his voice cold and deadly.
“She’s gone. You wouldn’t want her now, even if you could find her.” He smirked lasciviously and tugged at the placket of his breeches meaningfully. “She was good too. Screamed a lot, but took us both.”
Sebastian fought the raw fury that rose in his throat. “If you’ve hurt her, hanging will be a mercy,” Sebastian spat. “Where have they gone?”
Rat shrugged unconcernedly. “Somewhere.” He didn’t see the big man move, and gasped when Sebastian’s rapier appeared at his throat. His eyes popped wide with surprise, and his bravado vanished in an instant.
“You know what? I hope they hang you last so you can see the fate that awaits you,” Sebastian ground out. “Get out of my way!”