Higgins stopped breathing. His jaw dropped completely open. No sound came out of his throat.
His mind raced with sheer, unbelievable, paralyzing shock. How did the Crown Guards know about the hidden floorboards? Only he and Lord Farrington knew about that secret space and the silks.
The realization hit him like a blow to the chest. Lord Farrington's perfect, untouchable shield had been completely, utterly shattered.
Someone on the inside had betrayed the Earl. The absolute secrecy was gone.
Higgins looked around the large, dim room. His men were all tied up securely, kneeling on the dirty floor with heavily armed guards standing over them. He looked at the swords and the loaded guns. He looked at the open doors where he had just ordered a fortune thrown into the sea.
