The rain drummed against the stone with soft thuds, picking up speed as we slowly inched our way downward. The damp intensified the stench of mold and mildew until it was almost cloying in its intensity, as if the walls themselves were nothing but slime and moss. I avoided touching them as before, grateful for Will’s solid back at my front. The gust of the wind across my shoulders blown down the stairwell from above made me shiver and squirm, worried some large insect had crawled across me.
A step or two before the first landing, where the opening to the fourth-floor chamber yawned to our left, providing us with a little light, a faint howl rent the night air and made all the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I wasn’t certain the sound had been real, and not some trick of my mind, except that Will had also stumbled to a stop, his spine bristling in much the same manner. It sounded like a dog, perhaps some kind of hound, but before I could contemplate it further, the shuffle of feet in the darkness of the staircase beyond the landing alerted us to the presence of someone else. Apparently that person had been surprised by the noise as well. And given us just enough warning to stop Will from stepping onto the landing and into the dim light cast by the chamber window.
I gripped Will’s waistcoat even tighter and he reached back to wrap a hand around my hip, urging me to move toward the curving inner wall of the spiral staircase. I followed his guidance, careful not to make a sound as I did. Although my heart pounded so loudly in my ears I began to worry the intruder would hear it.
I had three guesses as to who stood in the darkness below us—Donovan, Dr. Sloane, or Constable Paxton. Of the three, Mr. Paxton would be preferable. But I had a sinking suspicion it was not the blustering lawman, and neither of the other two meant anything good for Will and me. I wondered again where Mac had gone and then closed my eyes in dread. If someone was standing seven feet away, waiting to ambush us, then it was likely he had already taken care of Mac.
I gritted my teeth, furious at myself for getting into another situation like this and not having a weapon of some kind tucked away on my person. When I had been threatened at Gairloch, I had sworn if I survived I would get a pistol to carry with me. Philip had promised to help me choose the right-sized gun and teach me to fire it when we reached Edinburgh. Unfortunately I had yet to make it there. And so here I found myself, again empty-handed, facing an assailant who I was certain had not come so ill prepared.
Will’s gaunt body was pressed up against mine. I didn’t think he was carrying a weapon either. So that left us with only our brains, and hopefully some element of surprise.
Time stretched, each of us waiting for the other to move. I had no idea if the person beyond knew we were there, or still believed us to be above on the roof. I suspected it was the latter; otherwise there would have been no reason for his continued silence. Clearly if he’d heard us pause here, he knew we were aware of his presence.
I shivered, growing colder and colder by the second, from the drop in temperature and the perpetual draft from above and the fear crowding out my other senses. Will’s back was stiff against my hand and I could feel him tremble slightly. Our assailant was going to have to do something soon, or I worried Will was going to collapse.
Finally the man shifted again. The crackle of dirt on the stair below him seemed to echo throughout the space after all the tense silence. He shuffled his feet one more time and then seemed to come to a decision. He took one cautious step up onto the landing and then another, steadily crossing the distance toward us.
I felt Will’s muscles tense, knowing he was going to spring at the man, and I prayed to God the assailant was not expecting it and did not have a weapon drawn.
The attacker was large. I could see that in the faint light, but not much else. It must be Donovan, I decided, and I cringed at the memory of the man’s bulging biceps. Will didn’t have a chance of defeating him.
But there was no choice now. He was almost upon us. And in the next breath, Will leaped forward into him, knocking him to the ground.
I didn’t stop to see what happened next, but darted into the chamber, knowing I had to find some way to help Will. Diving into the fray would do no good. I needed a weapon, something to hit Donovan with.
Several steps into the room I found it as I bashed my shin against something, tripped, and went sprawling with a muffled yowl of pain. I sucked in a harsh breath and rolled to the side, reaching down to cradle my leg. I could feel a knot forming, but I didn’t think it was broken. And, in any case, I didn’t have time to worry about it. I could hear a series of punches and smacks coming from the doorway, along with grunts and groans.
I patted around the gritty floor near my feet and found the chunk of stone that had toppled me. It was half the size of my head and just small enough that I could lift it without wrenching my shoulder. I pushed to my feet and hefted the stone. Stumbling just once from the pain in my leg, I crossed the room toward the men.