Her face twisted in confusion of his description of her motives. When you put it like that…
It was in Hamilton’s expression to protest, but before he could, Daley started to count. “One,” he boomed, “Two! Three!” And man, did he have a powerful set of lungs on him.
Despite herself, she shrugged at Hamilton.
“You better hurry, cousin,” said Daley, “Your time is running down. Six!”
With that, Shea once again lifted her skirt and ran into the darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Remembering the room she’d discovered below the stairs on her first day here, Shea ran to the stairs. She was pretty positive that Hamilton had arrived in the hall after she’d closed that door, and as far as hiding places went, she couldn’t think of any better. Pushing against the curve of the staircase she waited for the give, like with the secret room behind the tapestry in the ballroom, and when she found it, she pulled the door open and went in. After pulling the door closed behind her, she took a seat on the small dusty chair she’d seen on her first day.
The candelabra still sat on the small dusty table, and the candles had yet to be lit. This was a great hiding spot. Not that she intended on staying in it forever, but at least for fifteen minutes. She wanted to be concealed longer than Miss Gray had been.
It wasn’t long before she heard the telltale sounds of heavy footfalls, loud whispers and poor attempts at muffling laughter. It made her chuckle. Ten minutes passed and when she was nearing fifteen, most sounds of life had faded into the distant halls to the left and right. She decided she’d give it five more minutes and then she’d come out and find a more accessible hiding spot.
When she heard the unmistakable sounds of footsteps, two sets of them, walking upstairs, she sat a little taller and listened. They’d all agreed not to go up there. She hoped no one would think that she would be one to break the rules and that was why they were heading up there. Then she heard a low, seductive, female laugh. A laugh she knew all too well. Miss Gray was sure quick to forgive Mr. Daley.
Several more minutes passed, and the house became eerily quiet. She figured that everyone, excepting Miss Gray and Mr. Daley, of course, were probably at the far ends of the hall now in their search. She stood, and brushed the dust from the back of her skirt, and went to the door. That was long enough.
A loud crashing sound, wood hitting wood and the shattering of glass, echoed down the stairs from the second floor. Shea froze, listening for more noise to follow but there was only an eerie silence that made the hair on her arms raise. Treading softly, she went round the curve of the stairs, and after seeing no other players in the halls, she took the stairs two at a time. When she reached the second-floor a deep foreboding swirled in her gut as she looked down the darkened, empty hallway.
Someone had cracked open the window at the end of the hall by Cross’s room, and the white iridescent curtains floated in the wind. Heavy rain splattered onto the windowsill, curtains, and floor. The small decorative table across from her room lay across the middle of the hall, and down a door from where it normally sat. The vase and white lilies that had been fresh this morning were sprawled out on the carpet.
Someone had already gone through her room; she couldn’t imagine a second break in. She stepped away from Daley’s door and toward her room.
“Elizabeth?” a low, concerned voice called through the dark.
She spun around, catching her foot on the runner carpet, and tripped.
The figure on the stairs rushed toward her, up the last stair, and caught her before she fell. It was Mr. Daley. She peered up and at this distance, even in the dark, could see the merriment in his eyes. If he wasn’t up here with Miss Gray, then who was? Still, in his grasp, she let her gaze flit down the hall again.
“I thought—” she stopped speaking. What was she going to say? That she thought he’d come up here with Miss Gray to have his wicked way with her. Bleh. Her gaze fell on the flowers again and she clenched her jaw.
“What?” he asked. “What did you think?”
She stared back at him, over aware that she was still in his arms—her hands on his chest. She tried to step back, because she thought that would be the appropriate thing to do. He held tight.
“I thought I heard someone come up here,” she said.
“You heard the crash?” His gaze left her face and scanned the hall. His thick blond brow furrowed when it found the mess.
“You heard it too?” Her heart thudded in her chest. “Where were you?”
“Near the sitting room. I knew if you’d heard it you’d come to check.”
Wait! Hold up. She pulled her chin back and pushed against his rock-solid hold. “You figured I’d check it out? Why would you figure that?”
He chuckled. “It’s what you do. And getting attention is what Miss Gray does.”
Her face warmed. “Let go.” It’d be so easy to slam him face first into the carpet, but for some inexplicable reason, she didn’t want to.
“No.” He tightened his grip. “I like having you in my arms.”
Her flush flared over the back of her neck and down her chest, and she felt grateful for the dark. “This is inappropriate behavior between cousins,” she snapped. Then, randomly, pictured her real-life cousins giving her wet willies when she was a kid. Thank the Lord her cousins didn’t act like this.
“Still haven’t met Mr. Collins yet, have you?” he asked in a highly suggestive tone that made her stomach clench with nerves.
She pulled her chin back. What on earth did that silly man from her book have to do with their current situation? “What are you—”
“Cousins frequently behaved this way during the Regency era—well maybe they didn’t hold each other in the dark.” His grip loosened enough that she could easily pull away, but secure enough to hold her up in case she decided to swoon like Gray had done. He ran a hand up her back. “It wasn’t uncommon for them to marry, however. And then one could only guess what they were up to after that.”
Her mouth fell slack, and it took her a moment to compose herself. This! This was a step too far. “In the real-world cousins don’t do this.”
“Ah, but in the real world, we aren’t cousins,” he said. She felt his warm breath on her cheek. He leaned forward near her ear and sniffed her hair. “You smell wonderful.”
Her arms dropped, and hands fell stiff at her sides. What. Is. Happening?
Her brain fumbled for something—anything that might bring reality back or release her from this awkwardness. She wasn’t expecting what came out of her mouth. “I know you had Miss Gray in your room the other night. And if you think for one moment that I have any intention of becoming your next bit of stuff, you can forget it.”
He pulled back to look at her. “Is that what you think of me?”
“Well, was she there or not?” She knew the answer, yet hearing what he had to say unexpectedly felt vital.
He nodded. “For about five minutes. Then I kicked her out. It wasn’t easy. She’s a determined woman. Even tried to get me to have a little tete-a-tete with her when she was the killer. Told me where she was going to hide.” He laughed. “Didn’t work out so well for her, did it?”
Shea put her hands on her hips. “You set her up?”
“Yes.”
“I’m confused.” Wasn’t Gray his job? Shea couldn’t imagine how causing the woman to trip over Asher fell into that category.
“I can see that.” He kissed her cheek.
She shivered. “Stop.” Her plea came out in a desperate sort of way that made her want to hit herself or him for making her seem and feel needy. Actually, him. She was mad at him. She wanted to hit him. Just what did he think he was playing at?
“I’m not going to kiss you, Elizabeth,” he whispered into her ear, “not yet anyway. Not even if you begged me.”
“You already did.” She wanted to stomp her foot. Agh, what was he doing to her?
Releasing one hand from behind her ba
ck, he dragged a finger over her bottom lip, tugging it down a little.
A harried breath escaped her.
“Not here,” he whispered.
She shook her head and cleared her throat. Okay, that was enough of this. “I believe, cousin, that you are obliged to call out bloody murder.”
His body shook from mirth against her, and her muscles tightened. “Coward,” he muttered.
She shoved him back and narrowed her eyes. She wasn’t sure if he could see her eyes had narrowed, but it made her feel better for doing it.
He shook his head. “As the lady wishes.” At that, he fell to the carpet on his back, crossed his legs and placed his hands behind his head. “Bloody murder!”
“That’s two victims for Miss Shea, then,” Mr. Asher said with an easy laugh. “But I still don’t see Hamilton, Bayliss or Miss Gray, are you sure you didn’t catch them in the hall as well?”
“No, I just got Smith and…” her gaze fell on a self-satisfied Daley; she looked away instantly, “Daley.”
She’d gotten the same amount as Miss Gray. That sucked.
Miss Smith laughed from her spot on the couch that faced away from the doors and turned to face Shea who was still over by the door, and Mr. Daley who sat at the card table. “She caught me at the stairs. I didn’t even see her coming. How did she catch you, Mr. Daley?”
“She ran right into my arms,” he said in a tone that was far above pleased. “If only I could’ve seen the blush.”
Shea stared resolutely ahead.
“Into his arms?” Lee asked from his seat next to Cross on the opposing arched-back gold couch.
Shea avoided his gaze too.
“Oh, really,” Cross cried, “don’t be such a tease, Mr. Daley. Elizabeth hates it.”
Shea wanted to die. Probably not literally, but the conversation had just started, so there was time for her to change her mind. She had managed to tell Lee to meet her in her room later tonight when everyone was running in. She just hoped he’d leave this alone.
“Is the game over already?” Captain Bayliss darted past. “I missed the fun. I went back to the kitchen.”
Upon entering the room originally, Shea had taken a spot near the door when she realized there were stragglers, hoping to catch them as they came in. She missed Bayliss, but when she heard more footsteps close behind him, she reached out and tagged Hamilton just as he was about to come in the room. He grabbed her hand, then when he saw it was her, held it firmly against his chest.
“You got me,” he said in a whisper, “now what are you going to do with me?”
She pulled her hand away and stepped aside so he could come in. “That makes three,” she announced to the room. Yes! She got one more than Gray.
Cross giggled. “You beat Miss Gray.”
“Where is Miss Gray?” Mr. Asher asked. “Shouldn’t she be back by now?”
Bayliss sat in the chair near the end of the couches and exchanged a knowing look with Hamilton who in turn clenched his jaw and looked down.
“What? What is it?” Shea asked, and later realized it might have come off a little too enthusiastic, then she saw a smear of red lipstick on Hamilton’s cravat. There was no reason for it, she knew he was an actor, but she couldn’t help the anger that swelled within her. Why, oh why had she let him kiss her earlier? She felt so used. She stepped back, making him lose his grip on her hands.
Bayliss waved a hand in the air. “Hamilton and I passed her in the hallway on the way here. She was headed to her room. Said she wasn’t feeling well.”
“Should we check on her?” Miss Smith asked.
“She had a headache and needed to lie down. She’ll be fine by morning.” Bayliss smiled.
Shea frowned. “I’m suddenly tired myself,” she said, then after one quick glance in Lee’s direction, she headed to her room.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Shea knelt on the floor of her bathroom and picked up pieces of the glass that had been broken during the intrusion. Faint laughter came from the hall over the rain, announcing that everyone else was heading to bed now too. At this point, she wondered how many of them were going to their own beds, but whatever.
She dropped her handful of glass shards into the waste basket, scanning for any other pieces. She couldn’t see any, but decided she’d wear shoes if she needed to use the bathroom tonight. As she came out of the bathroom, three rapid knocks sounded from her door. She froze, staring.
“Elizabeth,” Mr. Daley called. “I know you’re in there; I can see the light under your door.”
Rakehells, the lot of them, Shea thought. She still didn’t know what the word meant, but somehow that made it more fun to use. She could imagine the worst.
“Please, I want… I need to talk to you.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“All right, fine.” He spoke quietly, but not in a whisper.” I’m leaving your book by your door. You left it in the sitting room. I think subconsciously you were hoping I’d bring it to you.”
You wish. She had the good mind to open the door and say that to his face, but she was sure that’s exactly what he wanted.
He cleared his throat. “Hmmm. I thought for sure that’d get you to answer. I’m impressed.”
She threw her hands up. Bleh.
“Okay then. Sweet dreams.”
She tiptoed over to the door and pressed her ear to it. His room was just far enough away and the storm outside just loud enough that she almost didn’t hear when his door clicked shut. As soon as it did, she went back to cleaning up her ransacked room, leaving the book outside. She was so done with this game. She wanted out of here. And the sooner, the better.
She hung up the last dress that had been thrown out of the closet, then went to the bed and straightened the mattress. By the time she was finished making the bed, she was certain no one would be coming out of their rooms again.
Going to the bathroom, she retrieved the fishing line from the basket of cleaners under the sink and went to her door. She opened it, and winced when her book tipped over and thudded against the wood floor. After a few minutes, she decided that the rain probably drowned out the noise and with her toes pushed the book out of the way of the door and down the hall a little. She then went about tying the fishing line to the foot of the table. The cheery blooms of the lilies seemed to mock her from the table, and she almost regretted picking them up.
She went back to her room and finished securing the line to the candelabra, making sure it was tight, then stood with her hands on her hips. Now what? Looking at the grandfather clock across the room, she took a deep breath. It’d be awhile before Lee would come. He’d want to be sure everyone was asleep first.
She took a shower and got ready for bed. After that she paced her room for a while and finally, getting bored, she opened her bedroom door and retrieved her book.
It wasn’t the book’s fault the men here were scoundrels. Though, after reading about Mr. Collins, she was pleased to know that they had irritating men back then too. She suspected what Daley had wanted her to read was that cousins married. Insufferable.
Around eleven-thirty, she finally heard Lee’s light tap at her door.
She pushed the candelabra to the side and opened the door for him to slip in. She grinned at the long white men’s nightshirt he wore and the dark socks pulled tight over his calves. Man, his legs were white by comparison. Still, her old-fashioned nightgown wasn’t much better, so she reined in her amusement fast, and tugged at the collar tied with a bow round her neck.
He stared at her tripwire. “Smart.”
She shrugged. “Did you know trip wire was invented in the 1800s?”
“Yeah.”
Oh.
He walked over to the window. “If it keeps up like this all night, we’re in for trouble.”
Shea had been worried about the mud. She didn’t know the logistics of driving a carriage in these conditions, but it couldn’t be impossible, could it? “Is it that bad?”
; He faced her and placed his hands on his hips. “If the river floods we’re not going anywhere.”
The bridge! Shea squeezed her eyes shut and breathed out. She’d forgotten about the bridge. The bed had been dry when she’d crossed it.
“What did Brown say?”
Her eyes flew open. Right, she hadn’t told him about the ransacking yet. “This place. Argh. Someone broke into my room this afternoon and stole my phone. They also cut the line in the office.” She hadn’t told him because the sword fight had happened, and then after that, she hadn’t been able to get him away from Cross.
Lightning flashed out the window, not much farther than the tree line, followed by a deafening boom. Shea covered her ears. Was the whole universe conspiring against them?
Lee ran a hand through his black locks and breathed out. “All right, first thing in the morning, I’ll walk down to the bridge and check, it’s only a little over a mile from here, I can be there and back—”
The candelabra slide across the floor an inch. “Ouch.” Came a voice from the hall. “What is that?”
“It’s Cross,” Shea whispered, “hide in the bathroom!”
Lee rushed to her bathroom and Shea ran to the door. She pushed the candelabra behind it, then yanked it opened. “Miss Cross, is everything all right?”
Cross looked up from where she’d been examining the floor. “My foot got caught on something, like a string or something.”
“Oh, huh, that’s weird.”
“Yeah.” Cross shook her head, then something fell over in her bathroom, and Lee let out a small groan. Shea’s heart thudded in her chest.
“What was that?” Cross asked.
“A mouse, I think. I’ve seen droppings,” Shea said.
“A mouse?” Her brows lifted. “Are you sure?”
Shea hummed deep in her throat. “What’s up? You okay?”
“I was just startled by the lightning and I saw your light on…” She peered over Shea’s shoulder.
Shea pulled the door tight behind her.
Cross frowned. “Who’s in there?”
Regencyland- The Bristle Park Murders Page 16