At least she recognized her stubbornness. Max held back a laugh. He longed to hold her and erase all the pain from her heart. She needed this. He would not let her feel bad about it. But goodness, her light touch on his arm filled him with a heat that made his body sizzle. He wanted more of her. His need to protect her occupied his thoughts, reminding him he had left both of his body knives on his dresser that morning. It was stupid of him to forget the one lesson they made him learn repeatedly in the service of the Crown. Never leave yourself unprotected. He did not even have a cane.
His neck and shoulders suddenly tensed with alarm. Something felt off.
He would go to the stables, then get everyone back to the house. The stables were closer than they were at most estates, and for once he was grateful they were near. His father had preferred it with his love for his horses and dogs. They could always find him training them there. They had given the hunting dogs to the villagers as pets with his father’s demise. Max loathed hunting. He never saw the point of running a small fox to exhaustion only to kill it. It seemed unfair. He hated hunting of any kind unless it was for food. That was the only hunting he permitted on his land.
As the small party neared the stables, a shadow passed just inside. That was unusual. “Meg, please wait here. Mother and Shep are just behind you. I would like to check on Percy. He was due at the house and never showed.”
“Very well. I will remain out here.”
He watched her stand there, unconvinced she would stay in place. He hurried inside, convinced he would be back in two minutes. His mother and Shep were a stone’s throw away.
Max heard it before he saw it. Horses and a coach pulled out from behind the stables. His mother screamed Maggie’s name at the top of her lungs.
“Meg!” Her name tore from his throat with the chilling realization something had happened as he rushed to her.
When he got to the door of the stable, he saw Shep tearing after a nondescript black coach careening down the driveway. The tiny dog had almost made it to the carriage when he collapsed into the snowdrift, whimpering.
The sight of the small dog disappearing into the snow trying to save Maggie shocked him to the core. Roaring with pain, Max slammed the stable door out of his way and ran after the carriage. He heard his name called from behind him but only stopped when he realized the carriage had disappeared. The tracks would be easy to follow in the fresh snow if they hurried.
He would find her.
Harlow and two footmen rushed from the house.
His mother caught up with him. She leaned over, grabbing her waist, her breath coming in large gasps. When she saw the dog laying there wheezing, she fell to her knees and picked him up, cradling him to her chest. “Oh, Shep, you sweet baby.” She hugged him, smoothing his wet hair from his face.
“Mother, let me.” Max could not believe his mother had gotten as attached to this little dog as she had. He felt numb with pain as he helped her up. Max pulled off his coat and wrapped it around his mother and the dog. “Harlow and I are going after her as soon as we get you and Shep safely back to the house.”
“Two men…grabbed her…put a cloth on her mouth…happened so fast…”
“Mother take a moment. We want all the details, but you need to catch your breath.” He hugged his mother closely and turned to a footman. “Get Dr. Perth here quickly and help my mother and Shep into the house.” His voice shook with anger.
“What the deuce happened out here? Where is Lady Tipton?” Harlow asked, astonishment in his voice.
“She is gone. Two men in a black coach took her. I was only in the stables for two minutes and asked her to wait. I was looking for Percy and saw someone dart across the inside. They planned it. We have to find her.”
“Who planned it? Slade?” Harlow probed.
“I am not sure. Although Meg spotted him here, Slade’s involvement makes little sense. We will talk on the way. We must find her, and quickly. Wait!” He caught the attention of the second footman. “Send for the magistrate.”
“Yes, my lord.” The footman left immediately.
Max had just about saddled Willow when he heard groans coming from the back of the stable. He rushed through the corridor of the barn, pushing open the empty stalls, eventually finding the source of the noise. Percy lay gagged and trussed up in the corner of a stall. Harlow helped untie him.
“My lord, there were two men. I heard talking behind the barn, and when I investigated, they hit me from behind. They were planning to take Lady Tipton. I heard them.”
“Did you hear anything else? Think, man!” Max nearly shouted.
Percy nodded. “Yes, my lord, they spoke of taking her to the old man. They did not give a name. ’Tis all I remember before waking strung up like this.”
“Saddle your horse, Harlow. I will be back in a minute. I need my gun and will dispatch a footman to move Percy inside. Perth left to check on another patient this morning but should be here soon. The fresh snow will make it easy as long as we can follow it before others ride over them.”
Within a few short minutes, the two men and their horses left the estate in pursuit of the mysterious black carriage.
* * *
A tall, dark man wearing a worn black plaid woolen coat edged out from behind a thorny icy brush. He watched the two men clear the estate, then he and his borrowed horse rode at breakneck speed across Hambright, staying off the
