“Wait until they get a little closer.”
“For what?” Blake asked in response.
But the marquis made no reply.
Blake watched Carlotta like a hawk, waiting for the exact right moment to shoot the gun out of her hand. There was no finer shot in all of England, and Blake was confident he could do it, but not while Caroline was blocking his way.
But then, before Blake could stop him, James stepped suddenly out into the clearing, both of his hands in the air.
“Let her go,” the marquis said in a low voice. “I'm the one you want.”
Carlotta's head swung around. “You!”
“In the flesh.”
Caroline's mouth fell open. “James?”
Carlotta's gun made an arc through the air as she changed her aim. “I have been dreaming about this day,” she hissed.
James jerked his head to signal to Caroline to move out of the way. “Is that all you've been dreaming about?” he purred.
Caroline caught her breath. James sounded positively seductive. What on earth had happened between those two? And where was Blake?
“Caroline,” James said in forceful tones. “Move aside. This is between Miss De Leon and me.”
Caroline had no idea what he was up to, but she wasn't about to leave him to the mercy of a woman who looked as if she wanted to skin him alive. “James,” she said, “maybe I—”
“MOVE!” he roared.
She did, and in less than a second a shot rang out. Carlotta howled in pain and surprise, and James charged forward, pinning her to the ground. There was a scuffle, but James outweighed the tiny Spanish woman by a good six stone, and she didn't have a chance.
Caroline ran forward to help, but before she reached them, she, too, was tackled from the side.
“Blake? Oh, Blake!” She threw herself into his arms. “I thought I would never see you again.”
He crushed her to him and held with all his might. “Caroline,” he gasped, “when I saw…When I heard…”
“I thought you were dead. Oliver said you were dead.”
Blake clutched at her, still unable to believe that she was safe. He knew he was holding her too tightly, that her tender skin would bruise from the force of it, but he couldn't let go. “Caroline,” he said hoarsely, “I have to tell you—”
“I didn't leave Seacrest Manor!” she interrupted, her words coming out in a rush of air. “I swear it. I wanted to, but I didn't because I didn't want to betray your trust. But then Oliver snatched me, and—”
“I don't care.” He shook his head, aware of the tears rolling down his cheeks but completely at the mercy of his emotions. “I don't care about that. I thought you were going to die, and…”
She whispered his name and touched his cheek, and he was undone.
“I love you, Caroline. I love you. And you were going to die, and all I could think—”
“Oh, Blake.”
He held on tight to her arms, his entire body strangely off balance. “All I could think was that I would never be able to tell you, and you would never hear me say it, and—”
Caroline placed a finger against his lips. “I love you, Blake Ravenscroft.”
“And I love you, Caroline Ravenscroft.”
“And I don't much love Carlotta De Leon,” James grunted. “So if one of you is inclined to help me, I'd like to tie her up and be done with her.”
Blake broke away from his wife with a sheepish expression on his face. “Sorry, Riverdale.”
Caroline followed and watched as the Spanish spy was bound and gagged. “How do you mean to get her up the hill?”
“Oh, bloody hell,” James muttered. “I certainly don't want to carry her.”
Blake sighed. “I suppose we could send out a boat tomorrow.”
“Oh!” Caroline exclaimed. “That reminds me! I nearly forgot. I saw the people on Oliver's boat before they sailed off. It was Miles Dudley, just as we thought. I didn't recognize the other man, but I'm certain if you apprehend Mr. Dudley, he will lead you to him.”
At that moment, Chartwell skidded down the hill. “What happened?” he asked.
“I'm surprised you didn't see it all from the safety of the cliff,” Blake said bitterly.
But James's face lit up. “No, no, Ravenscroft, don't scold the lad. He's just in time.”
Chartwell looked suspicious. “Just in time for what?”
“Why, to guard Miss De Leon. We'll send out a boat to fetch the both of you in the morning. And while you're at it, you can pull those two bodies out of the water.”
Chartwell just nodded, knowing he had no choice.
Blake looked up the hill. “Damn, I'm tired.”
“Oh, we don't need to go up the path,” Caroline said, pointing east. “If you don't mind walking a half mile or so down the beach, the cliff disappears, and it's a relatively flat walk to the road.”
“I'll take the path,” James said.
“Are you certain?” she asked with a frown. “You must be terribly weary.”
“Someone has to fetch the horses. You two go ahead. I'll meet you on the road.” And before either of the Ravenscrofts could argue, James had taken his leave and was scrambling up the steep path.
Blake smiled and tugged on Caroline's hand. “Riverdale is a very smart man.”
“Oh, really?” She tripped along behind him, leaving Chartwell to guard the prisoner. “And what prompted you to make that observation at this time?”
“I have a feeling he would be a bit uncomfortable accompanying us.”