“Matthew,” said Julian, “shoot her in the head if she doesn’t come here in three seconds.”

Matthew realized he had no reason not to obey, at least by Julian’s understanding and the understanding of the others. How could he refuse? Because he was not the bad man? No, if he didn’t, someone—like the Owl or Cardinal Black—might get the slightest sense that he had gotten into the house with her help, and she might be Lash’s dear companion and advisor but her skin would be in jeopardy after he, Julian and the doctor had gotten out.

He aimed his gun at her head. “One,” he said.

“Let me through,” she told the others, because she too had recognized the inherent danger … not because Matthew would shoot her, but because a brother Black-Eyed Broodie could not. “It’s all right,” she said to Lash when he took hold of her arm. “No one should be hurt on account of these two. Especially not for that doctor … or for him.” She lifted her chin with disdain toward the cardinal.

“Two,” Matthew said.

Lash let her go, but he glowered pure hatred at Matthew and Julian.

When Elizabeth reached Julian, he grasped the neckline of her gown and turned her so his pistol barrel was between her head and Firebaugh’s. “Everyone into the parlor,” Julian said. “Go in and slide the door shut. Matthew is going to stand here with his gun on Firebaugh, and Lizzie is going to take me back to get the book. After that, we’ll be on our way.”

Brave words, Matthew thought, because Julian had no idea the coach was up the road about a hundred yards.

“You won’t get far,” Lash said. His eyes were cold and dead. “You have two guns but not very many shots, it appears.”

“We have enough, and I hope you’ll keep your own gun in its place. Firebaugh is going to be standing up against the door if anyone has the idea of shooting through it.”

“So what good is that bastard if you’ve stolen the book?” Montague said at the parlor’s threshold. “That’s not much of a—”

“The book is more easily recovered than the doctor replaced,” said Lash, still with a withering glare aimed at Matthew and Julian. “I know where they’re taking it and the route they’ll be using to get there. Unless they want to kill me right now, and use up one of their shots, I can get that book back within a day.”

“Are you tempting me?” Julian asked, with a curl of his injured mouth.

“Go ahead,” Lash replied. “Use that shot and see what happens.”

“Please,” said Elizabeth. “Samson, just do as he says.”