by A. W. Exley
“What are we going to do?” Eloise wailed and knotted her hands in her skirts. Her gaze flicked from Jared to Allie and back again, waiting for one of them to suggest a solution.
Jared pulled his brows together. Before he could respond, there came the noise of several people entering the library. They all looked round as Lieutenant Harris and five of his men came up the aisle and surrounded the nook.
Lieutenant Harris took in the assembled group and flicked a quick look to Allie, before addressing Zeb. “Lord Lithgow, if you would kindly accompany me?”
“Certainly.” Zeb started to rise, but Jared put a restraining hand on his friend from behind, pushing him back into the wing chair.
“Where are you taking him?” Jared asked. His posture was alert and ready to jump between his friend and the soldiers if needed.
“To his lab first. Then we’re escorting him to Edinburgh. General Galloway feels it would be better if he resided on base, at least until his research is completed.” Harris drew out each syllable of his explanation.
Jared bristled and pulled himself up to his full height as he glared at the lieutenant. “You can’t just take him. I’m sure Zeb is happy to conduct his research here, safe on school grounds.”
Jared stepped around the wing chair and closer to Lieutenant Harris, moving into the older man’s space. Duncan rose and stood behind his cousin. The undercurrent in the library stretched and sparked. Allie uncurled from her spot on the sofa.
Lieutenant Harris fixed Jared with a stare. “I’m sure he is better off under our protective care.” Behind him, the soldiers tensed, hands edged closer to their weapons.
Jared crossed his arms over his chest. “He’s not KRAC. You can’t just dictate orders and move him like a pawn.”
It was Harris’ turn to bristle at Jared’s words. “The point is not negotiable. His work falls under KRAC jurisdiction so by extension he is KRAC. You are not in charge here, cadet.” He drew out the last two syllables, highlighting Jared’s lower position in the chain of command. Then he waved to his soldiers who moved forward. Allie saw Jared and Duncan stiffen and she could envision the oncoming fight. Just as she decided whether to distract Jared or Christian, Zeb defused the situation.
“It’s all right.” He stood and reassured his friends. “I’ll go, I’ll be fine. It’s not like I have classes to attend.” He gave his crooked smile. Jared and Duncan exchanged looks before standing down. Harris waved a restraining hand at his men to do likewise.
Allie moved forward to Christian and placed her hand on his arm, drawing his attention to her. She had forgotten how clear his blue eyes were, as he turned them on her.
“You’ve already lost one scientist. Don’t be so careless with this one,” she murmured to him. “We’re quite fond of Zeb.”
He looked down at her. “That’s why we’re taking him into protective custody. I promise you, I’ll take good care of him.” He placed his hand over the top of hers.
“I’m sure you will, up until you lose interest and leave him to fend for himself.” She withdrew her hand from under his.
Harris’ eyes widened at the change in her tone.
Zeb turned to Allie. “Do promise to come to Edinburgh these holidays? My mother would appreciate the distraction of your, and Eloise’s, company.”
Allie heard a barely suppressed squeal of excitement from the sofa and knew refusal was not an option.
“Of course, whatever we can do to help.” She squeezed his arm. Or at least help along one romance, since the other is doomed.
After hurried goodbyes, Zeb was ushered from the library with his escort. The friends exchanged glances as the soldiers departed. As soon as the library doors banged shut, Duncan turned to Allie, open curiosity on his face.
“What did the lieutenant do to piss you off?”
“It’s a long story. And we have other things to worry about now.” Allie didn’t want to elaborate, but Christian touched a sore point by promising to look after Zeb.
Jared held his tongue. “As a priority, we need to determine what happened to Zeb’s father.”
“Shouldn’t we leave it to KRAC?” Duncan looked puzzled. “They’ll be scouring the countryside, they’ll probably have him back within the week.”
“No harm in formulating our own plan,” Jared said. “Although Marshall says most of our options are limited without further information.” His gaze seared through her. “We need to know more about who wants him, and who might hold Zeb’s father.”
Eloise and Allie headed outside to clear their heads. Allie baulked at what Marshall expected her to do, to further seek information from her guild, to find out who held Zeb’s father. He asked the fly to launch itself into the spider’s web. A chill ran down her spine and she tried to bury the thought deep in the back of her brain.
The girls sat below an old stone wall, soaking up the last of the afternoon sun. They discussed their plans for the week ahead, when they heard approaching laughter and chatter. Allie recognised one particularly strident tone in the group. She hunkered down lower against the stone, hoping they would escape notice from those passing above. As the group moved closer, they caught snatches of conversation and it was obvious they were discussing Allie.
“―she can pant after him all she wants. She’ll never have him. She’s not the first tart he’s thrown a coin at for parting her legs,” Madeline said to her friends. “That boy has a diverse appetite and a strange sense of honour. He sees no harm in dallying with commoners. It’s not like they matter—” laughter enveloped the group as they moved out of earshot.
Allie’s ears turned crimson and Eloise laid a hand on her friend’s arm. “You know she’s just saying it out of jealousy, he’s not like that. He’s different with you.”
“Is he?” Allie had yet to figure out what game Jared played with her.
“Yes he is, he relaxes around you,” Eloise said. “He changes when you enter a room. He’s not Viscount Kerr, or heir to the Duke of Lothian, he doesn’t have to assume a role around you. You let him simply be Jared.”
Allie turned sad eyes to her friend. “But none of it matters. All I can ever be is a temporary distraction.” She gave a sigh. What was the point in chasing heartache?
Tuesday, 20th September.
tudents scattered in all directions as they headed to their rooms to get ready for the big dance. All week, conversation had been of nothing else, at least from the girls. Allie was sick of hearing the other girls dissect outfits before the night even occurred.
What’s the point of a masked ball when they all know what everyone is wearing? They’ll spot each other easily by their dresses. She headed towards the library. She and Eloise agreed she would arrive late, giving her a chance to lay a false trail. Plus, it meant less time she would be at the ball and she was secretly positive she could avoid both Jared and Madeline for a short time.
She passed Jared and Duncan heading down the corridor, escorting Madeline back to the girls’ dorm, to begin the long-winded process of preparing herself for the evening. A lone matron trailed behind her charge.
“Coming tonight?” Duncan said as their paths crossed.
“I’m banned, remember?” She smiled at Madeline, who ignored her and curled around Jared like a viper wrapping itself around a tree branch, earning her a bark from the matron behind. “So I have my own entertainment planned for the evening.” Allie indicated her book.
Duncan’s smile sagged.
“But if you spot Eloise do spare her at least one dance. She’ll be missing Zeb since he’s her regular dance partner.”
Duncan’s smile dropped further at mention of their missing friend, but he agreed to make sure Eloise didn’t play the wallflower all night.
With only the briefest nod to Jared, she continued on her way. She headed down the main library aisle and curled up in the wing chair by the hugely ornate fireplace, Weasel settled in his accustomed place on the wide arm, head rested on paws and ears constantly alert.
The skirt had a small train that gave Allie the sensation of being stalked by yards of fabric. Once she had the bodice on, she reached behind and pulled the laces as tight as possible, and hoped she would run into one of the maids on the way, to tighten them further. As it was, without a covering under-shirt and with the low cut of the bodice, she had quite an impressive cleavage.
That should distract any of the boys from looking at my face. She gave a snort of laughter.
Eloise had shown her how to use the curling iron and they practiced over the previous few evenings. Seated on the chaise, she made long curls of her hair before pinning them loosely up on top of her head. She left several to tumble down and around her neck. She hardly recognised herself when she stepped in front of the full-length mirror to dare a quick look.
I almost look like one of them. I might actually succeed tonight, so long as I don’t pull a knife on anyone. She donned the mask with its ornate beaded and feathered trim and, taking a deep breath, crept out the door into the night.
The music reached Allie in the hallway long before she slipped through the door. Dancers swirled past in flashes of exotic colour and for a moment she was back in the harem. Except they didn’t have any boys. They were a much more interesting addition to daily life. She kept close to the wall, expecting at any moment to have Madeline pounce on her and demand her instant removal. She knew she couldn’t sidle up next to Eloise; she had to navigate these unfamiliar waters solo. She hadn’t felt so alone since her first day at St Matthews.
She dropped a hand to her skirt and the concealed object under the layers of fabric. She suppressed a giggle at what mayhem would ensue if she was caught with a weapon here. Earlier, her heart fell when she realised with only light dancing shoes on her feet, she had nowhere to tuck her blade. Then she remembered what she used to do in Egypt when she frequently ran barefoot. A quick search of her trunk and she located the leather thong to lash the blade to her upper thigh. Knowing the obsidian dagger was there gave her a touch of something familiar as an anchor.
The automatons played at one end of the ballroom on a raised dais. The dance, though small in scale, was beautiful to watch. The girls were brightly coloured ornaments amongst the boys, their gowns of all different brilliant hues. Many of the young women trotted out the family jewels to give their displays added sparkle, like the peacock fanning out his tail to impress. Candlelight and diamonds were a match made in heaven. The flickering light of the massive candelabras played with the precious gems, sending rainbows whirling in all directions, mirrored by the swirl of lavish gowns.
Even the staid matrons set aside their orange uniforms for the evening and wore gowns of muted purple and blue. Their eagle eyes were on constant watch to protect the reputations of their charges.
Allie spotted Eloise dancing with Duncan. Her friend was a vision of loveliness in pale yellow silk, which complimented her strawberry blonde hair and fair colouring. She danced around their room all the previous night holding the dress up, so the image was burned into Allie’s brain. She thought Duncan looked particularly handsome, although uncomfortable, in his formal wear. She was glad Duncan took the time out to dance with Eloise; he would have no shortage of partners for the night and Eloise looked so alone without Zeb by her side.
She circled the room slowly, taking in the atmosphere. With each nod of her head at fellow students, her confidence grew that she wouldn’t be unveiled as an imposter. She was asked to dance and gladly accepted, using the opportunity while circling the dance floor to try and identify students, while making polite small talk with her partner.
She soon spied Jared, as handsome but far more comfortable in his clothing than his cousin. The McLarens wore black and silver with similarly coloured wolf masks, making them easy to discern. Predators amongst the grazing gazelle.
Next to Jared stood Madeline, latched onto his arm. She wore two-tone violet and an ostentatious display of enough diamonds that Allie nearly let out a whistle. That many stones would give her an easy retirement if she slipped them from Madeline’s neck and disappeared into the night.
Jared looked up, as though he sensed her watching, and looked right at her moments before her partner whisked her around and out of his view. As she danced, Jared disengaged from Madeline and prowled the edge of the dance floor. He reminded Allie of a wolf at the zoo, pacing back and forth at its enclosure, waiting to be either fed or released. She promptly agreed to another dance when her partner politely asked, simply so she wasn’t deposited back anywhere near Jared.
After the second dance, Allie moved to another partner. She found the wild guesses of the boys as to her identity highly entertaining. She surmised the bountiful cleavage she displayed added to their confusion. After a few more dances she pled tired feet as an excuse to retreat back to the sides of the room. The night drew to a close and she congratulated herself on successfully evading detection. While planning how she could torment Eloise for the rest of the year, she heard the musicians take up their instruments and start the strains of the final dance.
“May I have the last dance?” A familiar voice caused a chill to shoot down her spine.
She didn’t trust herself to respond without being sarcastic, so bit her tongue and simply placed her hand in Jared’s, in agreement. He seemed content to dance in silence. With his hand on her waist, he held her close and led her around the floor. His flecked fur wolf mask matched the pattern on his waistcoat. With his hair slicked back and the effect of the mask, his eyes peering out seemed even more pale and intense. He turned into the predatory animal, assessing Allie.
“You’re one of Madeline’s friends, aren’t you?” He broke the silence.
Inwardly Allie breathed a sigh of relief and couldn’t wait to tell Eloise she lost the bet.
“I’m planning a surprise for Madeline and I’d like to know what you think.” He waltzed her near the curtained alcove at the far end from the musicians. “I don’t want her to see us talking though, she gets terribly jealous.”
With her curiosity aroused, Allie allowed him to lead her behind the heavy red velvet curtain, into the private area, when he twirled and then pinned her back against the wall.
Not quite the surprise she expected.
With his arm up by her head and his other hand still on her waist, she couldn’t evade him and realised she had no hope of reaching her blade, even if she wanted to. The entire length of him pressed against her, despite the fullness of her skirts. She was trapped, but for once, had no intention of trying to escape. The scent of him filled her nostrils; clean, like fresh soap but with a musky undertone, making him smell warm and inviting.
God, he smells good.
He discarded his mask before he bent his head and his breath skimmed over the surface of her neck. The agony of the wait for his touch made her struggle to breathe. He nuzzled against her naked shoulder first and kissed his way up her neck, leaving a trail of fire on her skin. She closed her eyes. A soft sigh escaped from her throat in anticipation as his lips made their journey higher.
Her breath came in shallow gasps, trapped by the whale bones in her corset, armour that kept her heart from escaping the confines of her body but also stopped his hands from reaching her within. Allie’s fingers worked at the heavy embroidery on his waistcoat, desperate to touch him, but unable to find a way to his flesh beneath.
He kissed the base of her ear as he whispered, “I said you wouldn’t escape me a third time, Allie.” His lips moved down her neck and around her throat. “Tell me it burns within you too.”
The ember in her stomach ignited, heat rose up through her. “Yes,” she managed to sigh, as flames threatened to consume her. The press of his body became the only thing holding her upright against the wall, as her knees shook and threatened to crumble.
“Ask me to kiss you.” It was no requ
est.
Her brain rebelled at being issued with an order, but her body didn’t care and was willing to capitulate. It was a brief internal struggle.
“Kiss me,” she breathed. Triumph flared in his eyes, before he dipped his head. His lips grazed hers, the touch so brief she cried out in frustration. It wasn’t a kiss, but a mere shadow of a kiss. He had won, proven himself right and let her know it.
A rush of cold air replaced his warmth and he was gone. Hidden by the curtain Allie bit her lip, to stop herself from calling him back. She opened her eyes and banged her head against the wall.
“Damn him,” she whispered.
He played me, and Eloise said he was different.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she blinked to chase the moisture away.
Thursday, 22nd September.
llie spent two days lost in her own thoughts. She alternated between cursing Jared for his behaviour and then herself for letting him get close. Wherever she went, he watched her with his predatory gaze. He had found the weakness in her defences and smashed through her armour. Now she was the wounded gazelle, while he circled her, waiting for his moment to finish her off.
Today, the object of her rage occupied the other wingchair and breathed her air. His presence was a constant reminder of his body pressed against hers, his lips on her skin. Allie closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. She tried to conjure up Hakim’s face and to remember the touch of the young soldier, but his features always morphed into a mocking Scottish arrangement with pale eyes. She contemplated increasing her hidden arsenal of weapons, while working herself up to giving him a piece of her mind and eight inches of cold sharp obsidian to ram the point home.
She would show Jared she wasn’t a girl to be trifled with, by anyone.
Her grandfather broke her train of murderous thoughts when he rounded the corner and dropped a letter into her lap.
“Late mail,” he commented, before wandering to his desk and his own pile of letters and grams.