Tiger's Eye Read Online Free PDF Page B

snorted, but whatever he might have said by way of a reply was cut off by a hiss from one of the other men, who was galloping down the path in Paddy’s wake.
    “There’s sommit going on up at the ’ouse,” he hissed. Alec stiffened and thrust Isabella at Paddy.
    “Hold on to the damned noisy wench this time, would you? I’ve no more time to chase her down for you.” With that he swung back down the path with the third man trotting along at his heels like a pet dog.
    Paddy wrapped his huge hand around Isabella’s wrist. She was shackled to him as securely as if by an iron bracelet. Clearly he did not mean to let her get away again. Isabella didn’t much blame him. She had only just become acquainted with Alec’s wrath, but it was enough to frighten her.
    “What you did wasn’t nice,” Paddy muttered reproachfully, dragging her after him back up the path. He stopped in the lee of the trees, near where Alec stood with the other men, his eyes fixed on what was happening at the house. Isabella, stumbling to a halt at his side, had perforce to watch the sudden flurry of activity as well.
    Whether alerted by her screams or through some other means, it was clear that the people in the house had just learned of her escape. One man was standing in front of the house holding his head, looking wildly around. A lantern rested on the frozen ground at his feet. Two other men quartered the open field armed with lanterns, while a fourth stood near the first man, who was shouting in his rage.
    “She got away! The bitch got away! Bloody ’ell, what do we do now?”
    “Find ’er, that’s what! You great lummox, how could you have let that scrawny gentry-mort get away from you? ’Twill be your neck if ’e finds out we’ve let ’er escape!”
    “Tricked me, she did!”
    “Bah! ’Tis the brains of a bloody bullfrog you’ve got, ’Arris, and no mistake! All of you spread out and look for ’er! She can’t have got far!”
    It was suddenly clear to Isabella that she had indeed managed to escape from the cutthroats in the house. They clearly had no idea that there was another group of men in the woods, watching their every move. The men who held her were not part of her original captors’ band. Who, then, were they? Perhaps a rescue force, hired by her father or Bernard? Bow Street Runners, even? She dismissed that idea instantly. Whoever or whatever they were, she did not think that they were on the side of the authorities. If they had indeed come to rescue her, there would be time enough to alert them to her identity. At the thought of Alec’s consternation when he realized how he had hurt and insulted his employer’s wife or daughter, she smiled. The arrogant creature deserved a comeuppance.… But then her smile died. With the best will in the world, she did not think he had come to rescue her.
    Alec stepped out of the trees, into the open field. The pale moonlight silvered his hair. With the now well-lit house for a backdrop, he was in silhouette, his back to her. Isabella saw that his hair was confined with a black ribbon, and that he was broad-shouldered and lean of hip. He appeared to be reasonably well-dressed, in a frock coat and breeches that were fashionably snug, hugging long, muscular legs. Dusty boots rose almost to his knees, and he carried a pistol in his right hand.
    Isabella’s eyes fastened on the pistol. Her heart speeded up again as she saw that the three men following him were armed too, and ready.
    Another man emerged from the house, followed by Molly for a total of six. Each now carried a lantern—and a pistol.
    “Spread out and find ’er. But don’t shoot unless you must. ’E don’t want it messy. No blood.”
    Isabella recognized the voice. It belonged to the man who had dragged her from her coach, and it sent shivers down her spine. Apparently he was the leader. But who was the “he” the man kept referring to? The ultimate boss? Perhaps—horrors!—Alec? Had there been a falling out