I could see very little, but I could tell that Donovan’s bulkier form was straddling Will’s. He landed one punch to the face and then another. I raised the stone above my shoulders and brought it crashing down on Donovan’s head. It connected with a satisfying thunk, the impact ricocheting into my hands.
Donovan toppled like a felled tree. I lowered the stone to the floor and knelt to help push his body off Will, panting from the effort. Whether Donovan was dead or simply unconscious, I didn’t know, and I didn’t care to check. All that mattered to me at the moment was getting Will and myself out of there.
Will’s breath wheezed in and out of him, and I reached up to cradle his head, feeling a wetness that must be his blood smear my hands.
“Will,” I gasped. “Are you all right?”
“I’m alive,” he mumbled in a funny voice, and I realized Donovan must have broken his nose.
“Can you move?” I asked him, trying unsuccessfully to keep my distress from showing. It made my voice shake.
He groaned. “Help me up.”
I looped my arm under his and around his back and hoisted him to his feet. Once standing, he pressed his hand to the wall to steady himself and took several deep breaths. “All right,” he murmured, removing my arm from around him. “Let’s go.”
We resumed our descent, with Will once again in front and me at his back. Though, this time, I kept both hands securely fastened around the sides of his torso, to stop him should he begin to topple forward. I couldn’t gauge how severe his injuries were in the darkness, so I had no idea what he was dealing with in the way of pain and disorientation, but it didn’t appear to be too debilitating, for his pace picked up the farther we descended.
I supposed the element of surprise was gone should there be anyone else farther down waiting to jump us. They would have undoubtedly heard Will and Donovan’s scuffle. I could only hope that Donovan had been acting alone.
But I discovered how wrong I was only moments later when on the third-floor landing a man stepped out of the darkness and into the dim light, pointing a pistol at us. He was tall and slim, and from the way Will reacted, becoming rigid as a board, I knew this must be Dr. Sloane. The light was too faint. I couldn’t see his face. But I had no trouble imagining the nasty smile curling it.
“William,” he proclaimed in an oily, cultured voice. “So good to see you. It’s been some time.”
Will didn’t respond, just continued to stare at the man. I could feel his heart pounding against my fingertips where they were pressed to his chest.
“I see you’ve overcome Donovan. I must say, I’m reluctantly impressed. But, then again, you always were a fighter.” The malicious tone of his voice made it clear that this wasn’t a compliment. It made my skin prickle with disgust.
I wished I had something to hurl at him. Like the rock I’d dropped on Donovan’s head. If only I’d thought to bring it with me. But, of course, it was far too large for me to throw.
I couldn’t see his eyes, but even so, I knew they had shifted, gazing at me where I peered around Will’s shoulder. It felt like the slimy skin of an eel slithering over me.
“And this must be the illustrious Lady Darby. I’ve been anxious to meet you.”
Those words coaxed the first reaction from Will since Sloane had stepped into our path. He reached back and fisted his hands in my cloak to pull me tighter against his back, shielding me with his body when I would have stepped to his side to face Sloane directly. I didn’t resist him, at the same time grateful to him for placing himself between me and Sloane and concerned about what that meant.
“I can’t say I feel the same,” I retorted, knowing the best way to keep Sloane from firing his gun was to keep him talking.
Sloane chuckled, a gravelly sound that grated on my nerves. “No, I suppose not. But not to worry, we’ll have plenty of time to change your mind.”
Will and I stiffened as one.
“She’s not going anywhere,” Will told him.
Sloane almost seemed surprised he’d spoken. “Of course she is.” In the hazy light I could see him tilt his head. “Oh, were you hoping I’d come to take you back?” he crooned in mock sympathy.
Will reared back, bumping my forehead with the back of his head.
“I’m sorry, William. But I’m afraid you’ve worn out your usefulness. Especially since the authorities suspect you in Mary Wallace’s death.” He tsked. “I simply cannot have that kind of notoriety associated with my asylum, you understand.”
“What did you do to her?” Will asked. “I know you kidnapped her. Just like Meg.”
Sloane’s voice became harder, less sardonically polite. “Yes. Meg. Did you tell Lady Darby how you killed her?”
Will didn’t answer, and I couldn’t bear for the man to derive any pleasure out of thinking he’d broken the news for him. “I know.”
“Really?” he declared in curiosity, drawing out the word. “Well, Lady Darby, you are proving to be interesting.”
“What did you do to Mary?” Will demanded with more force this time.