The first part of my plan had been simple: I would set up a scenario that suggested that I had incriminating papers. Thus, the killer would need to come to me to get them.
The second was more complex: Once the killer tried to wrestle the papers from me, we would seize him or her.
Mr. Douglas would be right outside my window, where he could hear any scuffle and immediately come to my aid. One of his men would be positioned under the tree, and he would sound the alarm to bring the others running.
Edward would be waiting with John in Lucy’s carriage, parked two houses down, so as to be less conspicuous. Williams would be sitting in the driver’s seat, armed and ready to spring to action. Waverly had been instructed to have the roaming constable shorten his rounds, keeping Alderton House within his sight at all times.
I had planned to feign sleep, but the drugged cocoa was too powerful to resist.
I dreamed of Ferndean. Ned was on my lap, cooing up at me, squinting in the sun. Mrs. Fairfax bustled around and poured me more tea. Adèle danced and twirled until dizziness overtook her. Edward stood beside me with his hand on my shoulder. We sunbathed in the gentle spring light, enjoying the nodding daffodils and cheerful red tulips. I picked a purple violet and showed it to Ned, who laughed out loud.
Then I glanced down and spotted a snake.
My face was pressed down into the pillow.
I struggled. A weight on my back pinned me to the pallet.
I couldn’t breathe. I twisted and turned. Fighting the pressure on the back of my head, I attempted to rotate my face. But the weight on me proved too much.
The kirpan!
My hands had been beside my head when the intruder pressed on me. Now I wiggled my fingers under my pillow. My lungs cried out for oxygen! The pain was nearly unbearable! Then an image of Ned came into my mind and I bucked like a wild horse.
Had my scheme worked so well that the murderer decided I was a threat? Why wasn’t it enough to simply steal the incriminating papers?
The unexpected motion knocked my assailant off-balance. I lifted my head long enough to gasp. The gulp of air clarified my thinking. My right hand burrowed under the pillow, but the person leaning on my shoulders held me captive. I bucked again, but this time my assailant was prepared for my upheaval. The pressure never eased off.
I grasped the knife by the handle, but I could not work my hand free.
My lips were forced against my teeth. My assailant gave a mighty downward shove. A gush of warmth told me my lip had split. The blood ran toward my nose, wetting the pillow cover. The wet fabric molded to my nose.
I was drowning in my own blood!
In a panic, I raised my hips and managed to flip onto my back. The pillow fell to the floor. With my one free hand, I reached up and grabbed a handful of hair. I yanked hard.
I heard a woman sob as she put the pillow over my face again. “No, stop. I don’t want to hurt you!” she whispered near my ear as she pressed down. “Sleep! Go back to sleep!”
Was it possible that she really meant me no harm?
The world faded. Stars circled the edges of my vision. Darkness closed in on me.
I yanked the hank of hair again and used the strength in my legs to roll my body to one side. In order to stay with me, my attacker needed to shift her weight. We were close to toppling off the side of the bed. With one mighty tug, I struggled to withdraw the hand with the kirpan—and succeeded! My hand was free!
I raised it overhead and plunged it into my attacker.
She screamed in pain and rolled off of me, falling hard onto the floor, still grasping the pillow. I jumped to my feet and stood over her, with a dripping knife blade in my hand.
Whirling on me, she grabbed me around my ankles and pulled them out from under me. I hit the floor with a crash.
Edward! Help me! I thought.
Everything went black.