Oscar knew what he was demanding. Diana and Willowby couldn’t allow for an escape. They were here to protect the Crown and they might trade that for Imogen’s life. But he had a different purpose. Crown be damned, he wasn’t going to let her die in front of him.
“You—you promise you’ll release her?” he choked.
Roddenbury smiled. “The chance of me cutting her down in front of you is one hundred percent. It’s much lower if I’m allowed to depart this house.”
Oscar had pulled his gun the moment they’d heard Roddenbury’s admission in the other room, and now he slowly trained it off of the earl and onto Willowby. “Let him go.”
Diana’s eyes went wide as she looked at him. “No, Fitzhugh. This isn’t the way. If he takes her to another location, the chance of her dying is much higher. And he’ll escape anyway.”
“Please don’t do this,” Imogen whispered.
He shook his head. “I have to.”
Her eyes filled with tears that ripped him apart. Willowby lowered his pistol slowly, as did Diana, and let out a curse as he said, “Then go.”
Roddenbury smiled and urged Imogen forward. As she passed him, Oscar locked eyes with her, praying she would understand the message he was sending. Praying she would take it with her until they could be together and safe again. Her eyes went wide, and he thought she did know.
They were almost past him when Oscar shot out a leg and hit Roddenbury squarely in the knee. The earl yelped in surprise and tipped forward on all fours. Imogen dove to the side as the Willowbys raised their weapons toward Roddenbury. He growled in anger and pivoted the gun in his hand on Oscar.
But before he could fire, Imogen let out a scream and kicked him squarely in the face. His gun fired as Oscar dove to the left, and Diana and Lucas both shot at the same time.
And then it was quiet. Eerily quiet in the aftermath.
“Oscar!” Imogen screamed as she ran to him. He straightened and opened his arms to her.
“I’m fine. I’m not hit. Your clock can’t say the same.” He motioned to the clock on the mantel behind his shoulder, which was shattered from the bullet.
“Is everyone unharmed?” Derrick Huntington asked as he and Barber hurried into the room.
“We’re unharmed,” Imogen said.
Then Imogen and Oscar turned their attention to Roddenbury, motionless on the floor as Diana felt his neck for a sign of life. She glanced up. “He’s dead.”
From the opposite side of the room, Maggie let out a moan of pain and began to cry. Lucas motioned one of the agents toward her, who bound her hands before taking her out.
Willowby looked at Oscar. “You never intended to let him go.”
“No,” Oscar admitted as she held Imogen closer. “I wouldn’t have shot you either. I hope you know that.”
“I think I do,” Willowby said. “And your quick thinking saved the day.”
Oscar got up and pulled Imogen to her feet as he did so. He looked at the still form of the once Earl of Roddenbury with a shake of his head. “Will this end the threat to Imogen?”
“Roddenbury had lackeys, not partners,” Barber said with a frown. “It shouldn’t be too hard to break them up and bring whomever is left to justice.”
Willowby nodded. “I agree. And since you can’t name any of them, Imogen, there would be no reason for them to pursue you. You are safe.”
She pivoted into Oscar’s chest with a great cry of relief that warmed him to his very toes. She had always had such a good attitude, despite all that had happened, but when her fear bled away, her expression was even brighter and more beautiful than it had ever been.
“And the women?” she asked. “The ones he talked about?”
Diana cocked her head. “He said there was a place they were kept before they were sent off to their next destination in the chain. If you listen closely, you can hear Miss Monroe screeching as she’s put in a carriage for transport. I believe she’s confessing everything. We’ll send agents to wherever those women are as soon as possible. I promise you we’ll help them and determine the fates of any others.”
“Louisa,” Oscar whispered, and it was like a dagger to his heart. “There was a woman named Louisa Tucker. She’s…dead…I’ve heard she’s dead. But I need to know the rest. I need to know what happened and when. If there is a body that can be recovered for a proper burial.”
He thought of her, the woman who had loved him. Who he had loved but refused to admit he could. If he had been able to give her what he was giving Imogen now…he might have saved her life. But now, at least, he could honor it.
Imogen took his hand in both of hers and he looked down into her upturned face. There was no jealousy there, no hesitation. Only her loving support. Only her understanding. Only everything he ever wanted for the rest of his days.
Willowby stepped forward and placed a hand on Oscar’s forearm. He nodded. “I will make a special effort to determine her fate and recover whatever I can for you. We owe you that and much more. Both of you.”
Oscar cleared his throat. “Thank you.” He shifted. Perhaps one day this kind of vulnerability wouldn’t make him hesitate, but one step at a time. “Then may we go?”
“You may,” Diana said with a smile for Imogen. “We’ll likely need to speak more and you may both need to present your stories to our superior, but for now you are free to go back to your lives.”
“Then that’s
