Page 79 of A Dangerous Engagement

His ears rang with the stinging blow.

When he opened his eyes, Lady Blackstone was leaning toward him, her face only inches away from his. “Do you know what we do to traitors?”

He could easily imagine.

“Let’s torture him,” one man said.

“Yes, we should make him suffer.”

“He planned to give us all up to be hanged.”

Lady Blackstone raised her hand to silence them. “Since we cannot risk his escaping, we should kill him right away.”

“He won’t escape,” someone said. “We’ll make sure of that.”

Wilmott, a tall, heavy man, lumbered up to Philip, shaking his own fist as if weighing it. “Let me take a shot at the little traitor.”

Had it occurred to them that they were the actual traitors to England, not him? Philip braced himself for the blow.

Wilmott drew back his huge, meaty fist. This was it. Philip was going to die.

A scream split the air. Wilmott stopped and turned his head.

Felicity Mayson stood in the doorway, Ratley hurrying up behind her.

“What are you doing to that man?” Miss Mayson’s voice was almost high enough to be called hysterical. “Are you savages? What are you doing?”

He did not want her to see him like this, stripped to the waist and hands tied behind his back, about to be beaten to death, but he was still grateful for the reprieve, no matter how short.

“Get her out of here,” Lady Blackstone hissed.

“Please!” Miss Mayson’s eyes were full of tears. “Please don’t do this. He is a human being. Have you no conscience? Have you no fear of God?”

Ratley pulled on her arm, but she shook him off.

Lady Blackstone went toward her, talking in a mild, pleasant, low voice, blocking her view of the room, urging her away from the door.

“Is she gone?” Wilmott asked.

“I think so.”

“Good.” Wilmott drew back his fist and his knuckles connected with Philip’s face.

Stars exploded in his head, and he hit the floor on his side. He couldn’t move, couldn’t feel, except for the explosion happening in his head.

“You killed him,” someone said, but the voice seemed to drift from far away.

Miss Mayson cried out again. He lay still.

Felicity heard the words, “You killed him,” and a strangled cry escaped her throat. She pushed her way past Lady Blackstone, who grabbed her arm and stopped her. Mr.Merrick lay on the floor, blood oozing from his mouth and nose. Her knees went weak. He couldn’t be dead.

“Leave him alone!” Lady Blackstone was talking to the men, who all backed away.

Felicity broke free from Lady Blackstone’s grip and started toward Mr.Merrick’s motionless body, but someone caught her around the waist and held her fast. She struggled but couldn’t get away.

“How could you?” Felicity screamed to the men all around. “You monsters! Send for a doctor, please,” she said, turning to Lady Blackstone.

“Are you also a spy, working with this man?” Lady Blackstone’s eyes bore into her.