“Anna,” Lydia demanded in a voice that allowed for no back talk. “I need you to walk over to me now, slowly, all right?”
Anna nodded, but the moment she started to take her first step, the Viscount grabbed her and used her as a human shield, hiding behind her with his hands firmly planted on her shoulders, digging into her soft flesh.
“Lydia?” Anna called out, her voice trembling with fear.
“It will be all right, Anna,” Lydia assured her with her hands at the level of her chest, trying to keep everyone calm. “Just do as the Viscount says.”
“Yes!” the Viscount shouted. “You shall all do as I say! Stay where you are! Do not come a step closer, or you shall force me to hurt Anna!”
Edwin swallowed heavily. This man was dangerous. Edwin knew that much. They’d better not make him angrier than he already was. Edwin also knew that this was his one chance to find out where Rachel was. If they lost sight of the Viscount now, he doubted that the Viscount would ever fall into their hands again. That would be devastating because Rachel might be lost forever.
However, Edwin couldn’t ask him about Rachel now. They had to save Anna first. He couldn’t be so selfish as to value his own sister’s life more than Anna’s.
“Get back!” the Viscount hissed, adjusting his entire arm underneath Anna’s neck. Edwin could tell that the Viscount could do Anna grievous bodily harm just by choosing to squeeze more tightly, so he did exactly what the man demanded of them. He took a step back then another one. Lydia did the same although she was doing it reluctantly.
He wanted to tell her that they had to obey the man’s orders now. There was no other way of doing this, of saving Anna. But he was certain that Lydia already knew this. They took a few more steps back until the Viscount was at a safe distance.
At that moment, the man pushed Anna down onto the ground then started to run away. Lydia and Edwin ran to her aid, and Lydia bent down to help Anna.
“Are you all right?” Edwin asked her.
“We’re fine,” Lydia nodded. “Go after him!”
Edwin didn’t need to be told twice. He started running in the same direction that the Viscount was headed. At first, he couldn’t see anything in the darkness, but he kept on running, hoping that some inner, invisible guide would allow him to find his way.
Somehow, through some fluke of providence, he did. Right in front of him, a silhouette of a running man appeared. Edwin hastened his pace, using up all of his remaining energy. It was hard. Harder than anything he had ever done before, but he pushed himself.
When he was close enough to man, Edwin jumped onto him, and they both started to roll down on the ground. Edwin grabbed hold of the man’s collar and refused to let go as they were swirling in the darkness. They both groaned loudly, feeling the unforgiving roots underneath their backs digging into their flesh, but both of them refused to let go.
Then, Edwin felt the man punch him in the jaw. The pain was so sudden, so unexpected, that he immediately released him from his grip. He was still on the ground when he heard the familiar click of a pistol.
“Stay on the ground,” the Viscount said, “for your own good.”
Edwin was still breathing heavily when he propped himself up on his elbows, feeling the coppery tang of blood in his mouth. He believed that he had just breathed his last breath. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to even get up from the ground, and the pistol would fire. He couldn’t risk that. If he got killed, who would save Rachel? He needed to stay alive, if for nothing else, then for her.
He closed his eyes thinking about Rachel and about Lydia. He remembered their childhood games, how he would always let Rachel win and how happy she was. He remembered Lydia and her laughter and the way she tasted. He wanted to taste her again and hear that laughter echo all around him.
When he opened his eyes a moment later, he was alone. That guilt was there, eating him up alive. He had his chance, and he squandered it. That pistol was there, but that was only an excuse. He should have been a man; he should have done something.
That treacherous voice again tried to convince him that he wasn’t man enough, just as it tried to convince him that it was all his fault that Rachel was gone. He couldn’t allow that voice to win again. Not again. Not ever again.
He found his way back to Lydia and found the two girls embracing. Anna was sobbing in Lydia’s arms. He approached them cautiously.
“Why don’t we head back to the house?” he suggested.
“The Viscount?” Lydia asked.
“He had a pistol…” Edwin said apologetically. “He threw me to the ground. I will go after him.”
“Father will help,” Lydia nodded. “You need to go after him right away.”
He knew she was right. All he could do was nod then he helped the girls back to the house. The ordeal was not over yet. In fact, it was far from over.
CHAPTER28
Everyone was gathered in the drawing room. Selina was sitting by Anna’s side with her arm around her sister, protectively. Lydia’s father and Edwin were standing, obviously unable to sit in one place after everything that had just happened. Lydia knew that feeling. That was why she herself was standing as well. This was the moment for the entire truth to finally come out.
“I was so frightened,” Anna said, sobbing, turning to Selina. “I want you to know, Selina, that I never knew it was the Viscount when he was sending me those letters.”