Page 41 of Lord of Deception

“Never. And I have eyes to see exactly how much danger I am in. Should I take a weapon, do you think?”

“Foolish girl. They are more likely to harm you if you threaten them. Besides, all the powder is soaked.”

“I daresay it can be dried out. I’ll help myself to this thing.” She paused in front of the firearms in the rack.

“It’s an arquebus. But you would do better to take a dag. It is smaller and can be concealed amongst your skirts. I’ll take the arquebus—it will serve as a walking staff. And we’ll need powder and shot as well.”

She knew the agony Kit must be feeling as the blood rushed back into his wrists and ankles, but he forced himself onwards, trying not to lean too heavily on her. As his cramped body became used to movement, he was able to exert himself more. By the time they arrived at the cellar steps, he seemed to have recovered some of his strength.

He pulled her to a halt. “No, wait, Alys. We are going back into danger instead of away from it. Go back to the tunnel—it leads from the room where you found me and out towards the highway.”

She shivered. “I’ll not get far in my nightgown and bare feet. We need not flee—they may not discover you are gone until daylight. And where will they look for you then, do you think, in the house, or on the road?”

“More likely on the road, I suppose. But I cannot remain in the house. Every moment you spend in my company puts you in peril. Think on that, Alys. You know we had much better part company.”

“But you’ve lost blood. Even if I were to let you run from the hounds, you’d not last long. Allow me to at least bind up your arm before we decide what’s to be done.”

“I never imagined you were so stubborn, woman. Whence comes this new war-like character?”

She decided to take that as a compliment. “You said yourself, you can never truly know a person until you see their mettle tested. I am being tested now, and I believe my entire future may depend upon the next few hours.”

When he opened his mouth, she pressed her fingers against it. “No more protesting. The die is cast, and we are in alliance. All are abed as far as I know, and my room will be the safest place of concealment.”

If she judged rightly, Kit was in too poor a condition to put up much resistance. She helped him limp through the kitchens, grabbing the bottle of aqua vitae as they passed through, then paused at the foot of the stairs. Was he up to ascending them?

She indicated his arquebus. “Come, give me your piece so you may grasp the handrail and ease yourself up.”

“Under other circumstances, I would gladly give you my piece.” He gave her a look that made her blush.

“Tush!” She reached for the gun. “You’re too ill to pun with me. Save your breath for climbing.”

She made him walk behind her, indicating how to avoid creaking treads on the stairs. Her heart pounded as they made their way along the corridor—despite them both being armed, she had no wish to confront anyone with a weapon, especially not her cousin. Could she really bear to threaten someone’s life, even take it?

As soon as she reached her chamber, a tide of relief flooded over her. She locked the door while Kit eased himself onto her bed, massaging his ankles and raw wrists.

Necessity banished her doubts. “I’ll do that for you.” She propped the arquebus behind the door and secreted the large pistol, the dag, beneath her bed. “But in a moment. For now, I think your wound needs greater attention.”

There was no point having rescued him if she were to let his wound fester. Taking a deep breath, she steeled her stomach to the task and reached for her ewer of water.