I was caught swiftly up in the strong arms I feared I would never again feel. “Dear God!” Cad pressed a series of wild kisses onto my face. “Until I heard him shout your name, I thought I’d lost you, Dita. Oh, my love. My darling girl.”
“Eleanor,” I gasped hoarsely, gesturing to her inert body, and he released me. I knelt beside her and felt her wrist. “She is alive, Cad, but barely. We must get her to the house…” I turned my head in time to see Eddie struggle to his knees, his hand scrabbling for the knife.
“My darling girl? My love?” he snarled, staggering to his feet, and gazing wildly from me to Cad and then back again. “What a fool I’ve been! My master was right about you, Dita. You are a treacherous little bitch.” He mimicked my voice. “I’m your friend, Eddie. Oh, how I love you, Eddie. Let me help you, Eddie. And all the time…” He wiped his hand across his trembling lips, his voice rising on a sob. “With my brother? With him, Dita? Him! You could not have chosen a man I hated more if you tried.”
He lunged toward me with the knife outstretched, and Cad, with those lightening reflexes Eddie had bemoaned to me once, stepped between us. I cried out in anguish as the blade struck home and Cad went reeling back, clutching a hand to his upper arm. Blood glistened black between his fingers. “You will only get one chance to kill me, Ed,” he said, his voice unmoved. “And that was it. You failed. As you have failed at so many things throughout your life.”
With an animal snarl, Eddie whirled away from us and ran up the cellar stairs.
“Cad, he must be stopped. He will try to kill your mother,” I warned.
“I’ll go after him. Don’t worry, I’ll send someone to help Eleanor out of here and take you both to safety.”
I grasped his lapels. “What about you? Because he knows about us, he wants to kill you, too, now.”
He pressed his lips to mine briefly. “He has always wanted to do that. But, unfortunately for him, I’m not a defenceless young girl. Trust me, bouche.”
Chapter Fourteen
Sergeant Ross, the young officer who had cast shy, admiring glances my way such a short time ago, arrived soon after Cad left us. Accompanied by two other police officers, he had a considerably more businesslike manner on this occasion. On his instructions, one of his companions lifted Eleanor into his arms and carried her back up the cellar steps. The harsh light of a lantern held aloft stung my eyes as I emerged from the gloom and, although the day was fading fast, I found it hard to comprehend that only hours had passed since my incarceration.
“The doctor is on his way to the house,” the sergeant told me. I nodded and then swayed slightly. With gallantry, he offered me his arm and I took it gratefully, leaning against him as, very slowly, our little procession wound its way back along the path to the main drive.
When we stepped into the house, it was oddly silent. My reflection in the huge mirror that lined one wall of the entrance hall, showed a pitiful sight. I was coated from head to foot in coal dust, my hair hung in rat’s tails halfway down my back and my neck was plastered with a paste made from soot and blood. What price now, the Divine Dita? Small wonder that the sergeant’s interest had waned somewhat! I had time to spare only a second for the discordant thought before I led the policeman carrying Eleanor up the stairs to her room.
“Where is the earl? Or the countess?” I asked, smoothing Eleanor’s hair back from her face. Beneath the layers of grime, her flesh was marble pale. Her chest barely moved with each shallow, indrawn breath. “Anyone?” I turned to look at Sergeant Ross over my shoulder. His face was solemn. “Tell me what has happened here,” I ordered.
“When Mr Cad Jago got back to the house, he found evidence of a struggle in the parlour and his mother was gone. He and his father went off to look for the countess, and Inspector Miller organised a search party comprising those of our officers who were already here and some of the servants. I was detailed to fetch you and Miss Jago to safety, and the butler sent a carriage for the doctor.”
As if on cue, I heard a carriage draw up in the courtyard below, and within a minute, Porter had ushered Doctor Munroe into the room.