Lilah saw fury light up in Cons eyes, but he kept his voice even. He knocked you down?
Megan nodded, then winced at the movement. Yes. I hit the ground. I remember that but nothing afterward. I must have hit my head when I fell. Next thing I knew, I was lying on the ground and Miss Withers here was trying to awaken me.
Con looked at the other women. What happened after that?
Those men threw all of them in the carriage and took off. They were gone before any of the rest of us could move a muscle. Im so sorry. Tears sprang into Miss Witherss eyes. I wasnt any use at all.
Which way did they go?
Down the side street. She pointed.
They turned left at the first street, one of the other women offered. Then they were out of sight.
Con shoved the handkerchief into Lilahs hand and took off at a run.
He wont see them. They must be long gone. Lilah watched Con as she held his handkerchief to Megans head.
That wont keep him from trying, Megan replied, a thread of amusement in her voice. Lilah looked into Megans eyes and saw that they were clearer.
Con stopped at the end of the block and stood for a long moment, looking to his left, before he loped back to them. With Lilahs help, Megan rose to meet him.
Cons jaw was set and his eyes blazing. Lilah, take Megan back to the house. Im going after them.
How do you intend to do that? Lilah asked. You dont know where theyve gone.
Ill figure it out.
That sounds excellent, Lilah said crisply, taking Megans elbow and turning toward the carriage. Find a carriage and head off in the general direction they took sometime ago. No planning, no information, no idea what the duke or any of the other husbands think or why your mother and sisters were taken. Im sure you will do wonderfully well.
Beside her, Megan snickered. Cons face was a study in frustration, but he scooped Megan up and strode toward the waiting hack, saying in an aggrieved tone, Yes, I know. Im impulsive and quick-tempered, and you, of course, are logical, rational and right.
The coach took off as soon as they were settled. Con leaned back against the seat, arms crossed, sunk in a deep study. The driver set a pace fast enough it made Megan wince as they rattled over the cobblestones, but she didnt protest. When they reached the house, Megan handed back Cons bloody handkerchief and insisted on walking into the house unaided.
You are not carrying me in like some invalid. Theo will treat me as if Im at deaths door.
They found a thoroughly distressed Smeggars hovering in the entryway. He greeted them with a cry of delight and hustled them down to the Sultan Room. Even before they reached the salon, Lilah heard the agitated male voices. Inside, the room seemed to be filled with large menstanding, pacing, arguing, looking grim.
The butler, adept at gaining attention from years spent in the Morelands service, stepped in, announcing grandly, Gentlemen! The Marchioness of Raine.
Silence fell instantly and they all swung around to stare at Megan, flanked by Lilah and Con.
Thank God! Theo crossed the room in two strides and pulled his wife into his arms, squeezing her so hard she let out a squeak of protest.
What happened, Con? Whats going on? Reed came forward. Lilah saw for the first time that his wife, Anna, was also in the room, sitting against the wall. She was still pale, her face stamped with worry.
While Theo fussed over his wifes injuries, the rest of the men bombarded Con with questions. Lilah left him to the interrogation and made her way to Anna. How are you?
The other woman attempted a smile. Better. The headaches gone. It usually disappears. But it always leaves me tired.
Perhaps you should rest.
Thank you. Ill be fine here. I couldnt lie down and sleep, knowing they were still out there. I feel so awful that I didnt go with them. If only Id realized earlier
You mustnt blame yourself. If you had been there, how could you have prevented it? Its far better that you and Megan arent missing, too.
No doubt youre right. Tell me what happened. You found only Megan?
Lilah related to her everything they had done and discovered, a good deal more quickly and in better order than Con was managing with the frantic and furious men across the room. Fortunately, Smeggars wheeled in the tea cart, along with iodine and bandages for Megans injuries.
This is no time for tea, Kyrias husband, Rafe McIntyre, protested.
Oh, no, sir, I think youll find its exactly the right time. Smeggars smiled benignly.
Yes, yes, youre right, Smeggars, as always, the duke agreed. Were accomplishing nothing this way. Lets sit down and think this thing through. There has to be a way out of this. They wont hurt my girls.
Rafe started to object, but Stephen St. Leger clapped a hand on his shoulder and cast a meaningful glance at the duke. Rafe nodded and subsided.
Youre right, sir, Stephen said. We shouldnt panic. Thats what they wantto rattle us so much we cant think.
As Smeggars served the tea, Uncle Bellard slid forward on his chair, gazing at Megan in his mild way. Now, Megan, dear, is there anything else you can tell us about these men? Now that your mind is clearer. Im sure your skills as a reporter enabled you to notice more details than the average person.
Megan took a breath. Youre right. I should think like a reporter. She closed her eyes. There were three of them. They wore workingmens sort of clothes, dark, and they had on soft caps, pulled low to conceal their faces. Their carriageno, wait, it wasnt a carriage, it was more of a wagon. But enclosed like a Her eyes popped open and she sat up straight. Like a Black Maria.
A what? The duke and others stared in confusion.
A police wagon, Rafe explained. He set aside his tea and stood up, an almost-palpable energy pouring out of him. Its a nickname in the United States for the vehicles they carry prisoners in. Theyre painted black, and theyre made to keep prisoners from escaping. The doors in the back open from the outside only, and the windows are small, high and barred.
Megan nodded. Yes. Thats it. It was smaller than most Ive seen, but Im sure it had high barred windows.
No wonder some of the women thought they were the police, Con commented. But at least a vehicle like that should be easier to track.
What else can you remember? The usual lazy drawl was missing from Rafes speech now, his words as hard and sharp as steel. He began to prowl around the room, reminding Lilah of a tiger in its cage. Was it Kyria he was after? Con said he was dragging Kyria away.
IIm not sure, Megan faltered. When I first saw them, they were pulling Kyria and the duchess toward the wagon. Of course, they were all fighting them. I dont know if they meant to take one or two or everybody.
Its clear it was planned, Reed said. They had the prisoner wagon. They went straight for the Moreland women. They moved quickly.
That sort of demonstration was an excellent place to take them. People thought they were the police, so they hesitated to step forward and stop it.