Druid Temptation (A Druid Quest Novel Book 2) (26 page)

A faint whimper came from the servants’ domain downstairs. In her rush to reach him, she missed a tread and tripped. The only thing that saved her from plunging down the remaining stairs was her grip on the railings.

Unerringly she followed Jack’s faint trail to a tiny closet.

Diana hesitated at the door, terrified of what she might find. She couldn’t live with herself if he died because of her. She twisted the knob then dropped to her knees when she saw Jack lying so very still. He rested on his side, his chest heaving, foam frothing out of his mouth and nose. He was so weak he couldn’t even lift his head in greeting, his tail thumping once in misery.

Tears burned her eyes, the back of her throat aching as she carefully lifted his head in her lap.

“Diana!”

Gabriel’s roar echoed in the hall as he thundered down the stairs, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave Jack’s side. Gabriel’s shadow darkened the small room, and she could barely lift her head to meet his gaze. “They poisoned him.”

Gabriel bent and scooped Jack up in his arms, quickly carrying him up the stairs and depositing him on her bed as gently as possible. Jack’s pain-filled whimper clutched at her heart.

Kathy rushed in the room and gasped, immediately going about trying to comfort the dog.

“I’ll send for a doctor.” Gabriel turned and headed for the door when Ashmore staggered into the room, blood trickling down the side of his face from an ugly gash near his hairline. “They took Emilie.”

Gabriel staggered at the news.

Guilt slammed into her like a blow. Diana rushed toward Ashmore and helped him sit in front of the fire. “Did you see who took her or the way they went?”

He shook his head, then winced at the movement, gazing at Gabriel in apology. “He sneaked up behind me and bashed me over the head. When I came to, they were gone.”

Servants began to gather in the hall.

“Jack is the only one who could track her, and he is in no condition to go after her.”

“Milles, send for a doctor.” Gabriel grabbed a rag and put pressure on Ashmore’s wound. “Have someone saddle me a fresh horse.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Ashmore started to stand, but Gabriel easily pushed him back into his seat. “You’re in no condition to go anywhere.”

When he opened his mouth to protest, Gabriel straightened. “You’ll only slow me down. You can help by loaning me your gun. Everything I own has been left back at my country estate.”

“Of course. It’s already loaded in a lockbox under my bed.” He dug out a key from his pocket and handed it over to Milles.

Gabriel surveyed the servants. “Did any of you notice anything odd? Or see anyone enter the house who didn’t belong?”

Diana studied the servants as well, when she noticed Mrs. Ketterling lingering in the background, not bothering to conceal the smug smile on her face when she glared down at Jack.

“You!” Diana pointed to Mrs. Ketterling. “You poisoned him.”

The woman drew herself up and sneered. “How dare you accuse me of such a thing!”

Gabriel took her word as truth and whirled toward Mrs. Ketterling. “What did you do?”

“I am sure I couldn’t say what that beast got into.” Her nose crinkled up in distaste. “I warned you what would happen if you didn’t watch your dog. You should have taken better care of him.”

Diana was ready to lunge for the woman’s throat when Gabriel spoke.

“Did you know this
beast
, as you called him, prevented my daughter from being stolen out of her room last night?” He took another step closer, seeming to grow in size as he advanced. “Did you know that when you poisoned this
beast
, he was not there to protect my daughter?” His voice rose with each word. “Because of you, my daughter is gone.” The last ended in a roar.

Mrs. Ketterling flinched but held her ground, pointing an accusing finger at Diana. “None of this would have happened if she’d never come here. We were—”

“Mrs. Ketterling, you helped the people kidnap my daughter by telling them when we would be out of the house and our location.
You
did this.” Gabriel voice thundered in the hall, and everyone fell silent at the accusation. “Whom did you tell? Was it Williams?”

“I never betrayed you.” Her voice grew shrill as she backed away. “Everything I did was for the good of the family. I—”

“Where has he taken my daughter?” Gabriel roared.

“No.” She shook her head wildly in denial as she backed away from his accusation. “He’s a man of God! He didn’t do this.” She shrieked when Milles grabbed her arm, and she clawed at him to get away.

Milles released his hold, lifting his hands to protect his face, and Mrs. Ketterling lost her balance. Gabriel rushed forward to catch her, but she flipped over the railing and fell. Her scream was cut off abruptly by a horrible thud.

Gabriel swore and raced down the stairs. After checking for a pulse, he rose. “Damn it all. She was our last link to Emilie.” He grabbed his hair as though to tear it out by its roots.

“Not exactly.” Diana clutched the railing as she glanced down at him. “Williams.”

Gabriel charged the door, as if to hunt down the man right now. “No! You cannot go off making wild accusations. We have to have a plan. As he said this morning, he has witnesses. Everyone will assume you are blaming him for slandering me.”

He pinned Diana with a hard stare, and she did her best not to flinch at the sight of his pain. “Do you expect me to leave my daughter with that madman?”

“He does not have your daughter with him at the moment. He ordered it done.” Diana’s heart shriveled. She caused this. It was her fault. Williams wanted to punish her for evading him.

Gabriel stepped closer. “Do you expect me to do nothing? She is
my
daughter!”

Diana stood frozen when he turned on his heel and left the house without another word.

The comment, even made in pain, shattered the fragile hope she held for their future. Unwilling to reveal how her heart was breaking, Diana took a moment to gather her composure. “Milles, I want you to follow Lord Mendenhall and keep him out of trouble. Whatever you do don’t give him Ashmore’s gun. If you can manage it, keep him away from Williams.”

The man gave her a respectful bow, seemingly pleased to be given a task.

She nodded in return, grateful for such unstinting support. For now, until Gabriel returned, she was still the mistress of the house. “See if someone can find a sheet to cover Mrs. Ketterling, and alert the authorities right away.”

Not bothering to see if they obeyed, Diana walked down the empty hall, the silence echoing loudly with Emilie and Jack gone.

Ashmore was waiting for her. “He didn’t mean it.”

Diana nodded, and they both pretended she believed him. “The doctor will be here shortly. There is nothing you can do to help but get some rest.”

He opened his mouth as if to say more, but hesitated, as if sensing how close she was to breaking. “Call me if you need anything.”

She waited until he left to examine Jack more closely.

Hours passed, the doctor came and went, unable to suggest any diagnosis besides poison. She tried one concoction after another, Kathy and Cook at her side fetching ingredients. Even Conway stopped by to offer his support and a tonic. Veronica kept Jack calm by lavishing all her attention on him, while Diana racked her brain to think of a cure. It helped keep her busy. If she could cure Jack, he could hunt down whoever did this and find Emilie.

In the meantime, she waited for Williams to contact her for the trade.

When Emilie returned, she would need Jack to protect her after Diana was gone.

“Cook, would you be a dear and prepare tea for me?”

The woman jumped to her feet. “Of course, dear. You haven’t eaten all day. I’ll make you up a little something.”

Diana didn’t have the heart to tell her she wouldn’t be able to choke down anything.

Just before sunset, Jack started breathing freely, resting peacefully in his sleep. After sending everyone off to bed, Diana remained in her room, unable to stop thinking that she had no business masquerading as a lady or wife.

She was a Druid, and that would never change.

Diana stripped out of her fancy clothes, donning the dress she was wearing when she first met Gabriel. She crouched and removed a larger wooden box from the back of the wardrobe. Flipping the latches, Diana stared a moment at her stockpile of weapons.

It was time to put away her dreams and do what needed to be done to protect those she had come to care about. She slipped as many weapons as she could carry on her person, secreting them away on her body. Diana glanced back at the bed to check Jack’s progress one more time and hoped this was not good-bye.

Diana picked up the tray of tea and replaced the tea leaves with a blend of her own herbs.

Hand on the knob, she slipped out into the hall, making her way to Ashmore’s room. He appeared to be sleeping peacefully when she entered. She checked the bandage on his head, relieved to note no blood seeped through the bindings. The doctor had stitched him well. Diana turned away to leave when he spoke.

“Where you going?” He slurred his words, his voice weak, but he was aware enough of his surroundings to make her stop.

Diana turned back and saw his eyes widen at her outfit. A small smile quirked his lips.

“I’m going to bring Emilie back.” She said it without a trace of arrogance. The alternative wasn’t an option.

He reached up and touched his forehead. “Where’s Gabriel?”

She concentrated on pouring them tea. “Searching for his daughter.”

“And you were going to join him?” The doubt in his voice made her smile.

“No. The last thing he would want is my company.” She held up her hand as he opened his mouth. “His words, not mine.”

Incredulous, he tried to sit up. “He would never say that.”

“Not in those words, but you heard the same thing I did.”

Ashmore opened his mouth then shut it. “You must have misunderstood.”

Diana shook her head even before he finished. “No. It is not something a wife would forget a husband telling her.”

She tried to smile and failed. “Would you like some tea?”

She added sugar, then handed him a cup.

“Don’t do anything foolish.” He gingerly took a sip of tea.

“Never.” She looked at him fondly.

“Maybe you should wait—”

“It might be too late by then.” She sat by the fire and took a sip of her tea, wincing at the bitterness.

“How do you expect to find Emilie?” When Ashmore struggled to rise, she rose and pushed him back down.

Quick as a snake, he grabbed her wrist in a surprisingly strong grip. “What—”

“I cannot let you leave by yourself.”

Diana twisted away, easily breaking his hold. “And I cannot let you be hurt further by something that is my doing.”

“Yours! Don’t be foolish. You had nothing to do with Emilie being taken.” He scoffed at the very idea. “Everyone can see how much you love that girl.”

“That’s the very reason she was taken. Because of me. And I intend to find her and return her to her father.” Diana picked up her tea and tipped it back until it was gone.

Ashmore raised a brow. “No matter the cost to yourself.”

Diana studied the bottom of her cup, not wanting him to see the truth. “I will do what needs to be done.”

“How?”

“I may be a woman, but I am not helpless.”

“I never said you were, but how do you think Gabriel—”

“He will be relieved to have his daughter back.” Diana turned, facing him, daring him to disagree.

Ashmore nodded slowly. “Yes, but at what cost? Do you think he would ever forgive himself if anything happened to you?”

Diana shrugged it off. “He would do anything in his power to save his daughter.”

Ashmore could not counter the truth in her statement. The frustrated looked in his eyes let Diana know he wanted to argue further but knew it was pointless.

“At least tell me where you are headed, so I can let—”

Diana shook her head. “I don’t know yet.”

Ashmore pounded a fist on the bed. “At least a direction—”

“Ashmore.” She paused until she had his complete attention. “I don’t know where I will be going. Not yet.”

He remained quiet, his stare accusing. “Then stay here. It is unfair for you to put me in the middle of this.”

“You are correct. Gabriel and I should never have brought you into our troubles.” Diana trailed off as he waved an arm.

“That is not what I meant, and you know it.” Ashmore flinched, grabbing his head at his own shout.

“Hush. It is the truth.”

“Then it is also my fault for not protecting Emilie better. We’re all to blame. None of us are going find her unless we work together.”

Diana touched the weapon at her side, her finger trailing over the crescent moon symbol carved on the pommel, the same symbol that she stamped on all her weapons as a talisman against evil, and debated whether she should tell him the truth. “I am not as I seem.”

Ashmore laughed, but cut it short as he sucked in a sharp breath of pain. “I guessed that at our first meeting.”

“I was born into a different world—a world of magic.” She peered up at him, a little surprised not to see ridicule in his expression. “We were raised to believe the impossible is possible.”

Ashmore nodded, his expression more interested then doubtful. “Go on.”

“
W
e have to head back
. We’re not going to find anything in this darkness.” The former pugilist kept an eye on the shadows, alert for threats. “There may be a ransom note, or even reinforcements.”

Gabriel knew Milles was correct, but his daughter was out there alone. Leaving felt like giving up. He still wanted to go after Williams and force the man to talk, but Milles was right—he had the ache and bruise on his jaw to prove it. Going after Williams was a trap.

At the thought of heading home, guilt festered in him over the way he had treated Diana. He owed her an apology. The house was eerily silent upon his arrival. Gabriel went directly to her room and found Jack resting peacefully on the bed.

Then his heart nearly stopped when he saw her torn dress lying on the floor.

When the search of the house led to no clues, dread began to claw through him, and he hurried to Ashmore’s room to find out what the hell was going on.

When he found Diana sitting calmly before the fire, jealousy reared its head. Then their words reached him and he froze, hardly daring to breathe.

A small nod let Gabriel know Ashmore saw him. “So with your dreams, you believe you can find Emilie?” No hint of ridicule or doubt touched his voice.

“As soon as she falls asleep, I should be able to locate her.”

“Absolutely not. I forbid it. You said dream traveling is dangerous. There is no guarantee that you’ll be able to find her. I won’t put you at risk that way.”

Instead of standing up to him the way she normally would, Diana just seemed terribly sad, and he cursed the careless words he spoke earlier. “This is what Druids were created to do. It’s the only thing I know how to do.”

Gabriel bit back a sharp retort, afraid that if he said the wrong thing, he’d do irreparable damage.

She smiled sadly at his silence, then lifted the tea cup next to her. “Anyway, it’s already too late. You were right. None of this would have happened if not for me. I will fix it. The brew in the tea will make me sleepy. As soon as Emilie falls asleep, I should be able to locate her.”

Gabriel stormed forward. “I never said that. I never once blamed you.”

She flinched when he reached for her, and her rejection stung. His gut felt like acid, and he dropped his hand. Watching sleep claim her was the most painful thing he’d ever done, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her, determined to be there with her in case she needed him. At the first sign of trouble, he would wake her.

She was always so vibrant that it unnerved him to see her so still. A line of bruises colored her jaw, but it was the dark smudges under her eyes that worried him most…because he knew he was the one who put them there.

Even so, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

Her skin was so pale it seemed almost translucent, her features were regal, making a stunning combination.

Her eyes opened so suddenly, Gabriel staggered back in surprise. The color nearly disappeared, her once pale blue eyes now a light silver. A shiver raked down his spine and the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He didn’t think she could see him. “Diana?”

“She’s alive.”

Relief was instantaneous, his breath leaving him in a rush that they were both alive and okay. “Where is she?”

She cocked her head and glanced around the room, clearly no longer seeing her surroundings. “She’s at an orphanage.”

Gabriel fisted his hands and paced to keep from touching Diana and reassuring himself that she was all right. She wouldn’t welcome his touch, not until he had a chance to make things right. “There are too many orphanages to search them all properly. Can you give me any other clues where to look?”

Diana appeared frozen, as if not hearing him. He started to walk toward her when Ashmore’s words reached him.

“Gabriel, don’t. Give her a chance to gather herself. Why not start a list to narrow down the search?”

Gabriel nodded at the suggestion, rushing to the study. When he had two sheets of all the possibilities, Gabriel jogged up the stairs.

“I have them.” He rushed into the room, halting abruptly to see Ashmore struggling to get out of bed, teetering around like a drunk.

Diana was nowhere to be seen.

“Thank God. She gave me that damned tea of hers. I couldn’t stop her. She just left. If you hurry, you can still catch her.”

The papers slipped from his nerveless fingers and fluttered to the ground, much like his heart.

Then he whirled and charged down the stairs. The garden was empty, but the back gate sagged open when the latch didn’t catch securely. Gabriel ran to the stables and threw the doors open wide. Conway had a horse saddled and waiting.

Gabriel grunted with approval and mounted, never so thankful in his life. “Where?”

“Can’t say, sir. She took off in that direction.” Conway pointed east, where the darkness swallowed the road several yards away, leading directly into the Hells, a slum notorious for the number of murders and lesser crimes.

Terror grabbed him by the balls, and he took off in pursuit, praying he would reach them in time.

In the inky darkness, he could only see a few feet in front of him. Street lamps lit the roads, but only at infrequent intervals. Not enough to be of real help.

In the back of his mind, Gabriel began formulating a plan. Though it went against every fiber of his being, he veered away from the elusive path his wife took and headed toward the Patrards’ house.

“Gabriel! Is there anything wrong?” Rand stood when Gabriel barged into his office, concern for his friend written clearly on his face.

“I need your help.”

“Anything. What can I do?” Rand led Gabriel forward, only to stop when his friend didn’t move away from the doorway.

“I need to speak with Samuel.” He hesitated only a moment before issuing a tentative invitation. “Join us?”

For answer, Gabriel received a hearty slap on the back. They gave a perfunctory knock on the library door before entering. Even though late into the night, Samuel sat enthroned behind a desk piled high with books, squinting behind his glasses as he flipped through various texts. Samuel glanced up and smiled, only to have it dim when he noted their serious expressions. “What happened?”

“Trouble. Emilie has been taken, and Diana went after her.” Gabriel rubbed his brow, his head beginning to pound with worry. “You think she will be able to find—”

“Of course.” He gave Gabriel a censorious look for doubting his wife. “If she says she will find your daughter, you may believe it. What do you need?”

Gabriel dropped his hand. “While Rand and I search for them, would you be willing to use your connections to get in to see my uncle?”

“Bishop Fredrick?” Samuel rubbed his chin. “Yes, I can do that.”

“Tell him about the situation with Williams. The man will keep coming after my family. It’s time to stop him, or I’ll end up killing the scrawny bastard with my bare hands, no matter how many witnesses are gathered.”

“I think I have a solution.” Samuel gave a sharp nod, as if to himself, then smiled. “Leave it to me. You two worry about Diana and Emilie.”

Rand quickly checked in with Tallie, and then the men left. “Where are we searching?”

“I want to check the orphanages. My guess is Diana will beat us there, and I am hoping the commotion she causes will lead us right to her.”

Gabriel didn’t bother to turn at Rand’s question, but continued searching each alley for any sign of Diana while he replied. Abject poverty and an air of grim survival clung to the people and buildings. It was no place to be out at night, much less for a single woman alone. He had only himself to blame for driving her away. What could she have been thinking to go alone?

“My lord!” The hail came from behind them, less than twenty feet down the street. The two men stiffened, then reached for their guns and turned in unison. A lad of thirteen, breathless from a hard run, hurried toward them. “Milles sent me. A message.”

Taking the sealed page, Gabriel nodded to the boy and watched him dart off before breaking the seal. Gabriel’s blood ran cold with each word. At the end, he crushed the missive in his fists.

“What is it?”

“A message informing me my daughter is safe, but only for the moment. I am to hand the witch over in exchange for my daughter’s life.”

“The cocksucker.” Rand swore colorfully, his horse sidestepping and tossing its head. “Did he sign it?”

“No, but
safe from the witch
leaves me little doubt that Pastor Williams is behind this new threat.” Gabriel resisted throwing the sheet into the gutter, not wanting them to fall in the wrong hands in case he needed them for evidence later.

House after house in this eerie world appeared dark, and not a soul stirred. The building labeled
New Friar Indigents
was the opposite. Lights blazed in every window, while a large group of people milled around outside. Gabriel exchanged a grim look with Rand when he spotted Diana’s horse.

It felt like someone had kicked him in the gut. He forced his horse through the crowd, then dismounted and charged up the steps.

“You cannot go in there, sir.” Gabriel ignored the voice and forced his way through the knot of people until he made it to the door. He would not be denied. His hands shook at the prospect of finding them, his stomach churning with the need to see for himself that they were all right. The wood structure remained bolted shut, and he put his shoulders to the door.

The wood splintered on the second try, the pain only an annoyance.

Screams of frightened children echoed around him. Gabriel grimaced at the commotion and charged toward where a large knot of women were gathered by the stairs.

“I say! You cannot take that child.” An older woman with steel gray hair barked the order.

Gabriel followed to where her attention was locked and slowly released a breath.

Diana.

“This child is mine. The man who took her—”

“Is a Holy man of God.”

“—is stealing from the people he is supposed to protect. You would best remember that before you open the doors to him again. Now stand aside.”

Gabriel saw Diana at the top of the stairs, his little girl clutched in her arms. Instead of listening to the claptrap, Gabriel picked the arguing woman up by the waist and set her aside. After her initial shriek, the whole group quieted. Gabriel took the stairs two at a time, stopping abruptly two feet away, suddenly uncertain of his welcome.

It hurt not to be able to touch them and claim them as his own.

“Honey, look who’s here.” Diana whispered to Emilie.

She burrowed closer, before reluctantly peeking out of the corner of her eye. “Daddy!” Her scream quickly turning into a sob. She reached out, almost tipping Diana over in order to get to him.

His eyes stung as hugged his precious burden. “Hey, baby. Did anyone hurt you?”

Gabriel studied Diana over her head, searching for any sign of injury, hungry for just the sight of her.

He thought he’d never see her again.

It took a few moments for Emilie to calm enough to answer. “No, but he said bad things about you and Mommy.”

Gabriel saw the devastating effect the word had on Diana.

Tears gathered in her eyes before she could blink them back, and Gabriel vowed to do everything in his power to fix what he’d broken. Diana deserved to be happy, and he was the only one capable of giving her what she wanted most.

She thought she wanted protection, when what she really needed was love.

Nobody else could come close to loving her the way he did.

“It’s all right now.” He descended the stairs and stopped at the bottom, glaring at the worried faces around him, then drew himself up to his full height until he towered over them. “This is my daughter, Emilie, kidnapped by your friend, the supposed man of God. This woman is Lady Mendenhall, my wife.” Gabriel snagged Diana’s arm and pulled her within his embrace.

It felt like coming home.

He turned to the steel-haired woman who’d carped like a fishwife. “In the future, you will address her as Lady Mendenhall. I will have the authorities and my solicitors here tomorrow. They will make sure everything is in order.” With a curt nod of his head, Gabriel exited the building, pulling Diana behind him.

Gabriel wanted to gather Diana in his arms and kiss her senseless until she forgot her anger, but more people had gathered outside, a few rough men in the back looking a little too interested in them for his comfort.

“Mount up.” Even as he spoke, Gabriel swung up on his horse with Emilie in his arms. He waited until Rand and Diana mounted before kicking the horse into motion. Gabriel cast frequent glances over his shoulder to assure himself that Diana was still there, their separation irritating him all over again, not liking that she wasn’t in his line of sight.

That it didn’t seem to bother her only frightened him more.

Anxious to get her alone so he could explain himself, he urged the horses faster.

They pulled up outside of Rand’s house some twenty minutes later. Rand dismounted, then shook his head at how peacefully Emilie slept. “I will call in the morning.” He nodded to Diana, his face softening. “Get some rest.” With a nod, he went inside without another word.

Gabriel nodded and turned the horses toward home. Conway met them at the stables, taking control of the horses without a word. Since they’d left the orphanage, Diana had yet to speak a work.

Hell, she had yet to even look at him.

He felt like he’d swallowed acid.

“Come.” Gabriel walked behind her, herding her to the house so she wouldn’t try to disappear on him. Once inside, they both headed up the stairs. Gabriel slammed his palm on her door before she could shut him out. “Let me settle Emilie. I will return shortly. We have things to discuss.”