Beyond a Doubt

by Felicia Rogers

  Winifred’s eyes widened, her lips pursed. “Could this be true?”

  “Winifred, just look at them. They look like they’ve been sleeping in an alley. They need our help.”

  “Well, of course they do. Now, what do you need from us?” Winifred asked.

  Lucy grasped for the words while Bryce spoke on their behalf. “Aye, ye two are correct. Those men are indeed there for a vile purpose. And we do need your help.”

  “Just tell us what to do.”

  Lucy finally found her tongue and explained what they needed. Once finished, she began to wonder at her plan. The more she thought about it, the more she believed the two elderly women hardly seemed capable of the scheme.

  Once the plan was set in motion, Bryce and Lucy pressed against a window in the living area that faced the Lombard home. The lights in the Lombard home had already been doused. A thick mist hovered inches above the ground, creating an eerie sight. Wisps parted and wrapped around the legs of the elderly twins. They locked arms and giggled as they traversed their yard. Once in the middle of the area, they separated. Their arms disengaged, distended to their full length until nothing but their fingertips touched.

  As planned, Winifred approached the front door and Winnie the back. Each woman knocked in unison. Lucy’s chest ached as she held her breath.

  When no one answered, they turned the doorknobs. From her position, Lucy could see both twins laying their shoulders against the doors and shoving. They each went inside.

  Lucy tried not to worry about the state of the house. The building was only materials crafted together to make a home. Anything destroyed could be pieced back together with time.

  But the fear she felt for the twins caused her palms to sweat and her heart to race. She gnawed on her lip. If something happened to Winnie and Winifred, she would never forgive herself. Why had she ever thought this was a good plan?

  Several minutes passed. The rising sun reflected off the windows, making it impossible to see inside. Nervous with anticipation, Lucy ground her teeth. When she thought she would break from the tension, the twins emerged, their arms laden with items. Now it was time to get down to business.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Bryce was not cultured, or artsy, or pretty, and he felt out of place.

  However, right now he resembled an English king. The outfit he wore sported sleeves with layer after layer of material that made them so puffy, he would have to walk through a door sideways. And if his nose itched he couldn’t scratch it, because his hand couldn’t reach his face without seeming to cut his arm in two. The pointed shoes upon his feet were long and awkward, and jutted to a point at the toe. And tights? If a Cameron saw him, he would be removed from the clan without question.

  How was he to fit in with this crowd? It was like walking into a group of Pharisees, clean and fancy on the outside, but dark and rotten on the inside. The things they considered important and valuable meant nothing. Everything they had gathered in this life; their fancy wigs, clothing, and money, would rot and wither away upon their end. But here he sat, mingling with them.

  Lucy stood across the room in clothing much the same. The hips of her gown exceeded the width of every opening they came to. The stiff collar around her neck did nothing but restrict her movement.

  A large crowd gathered around her, asking questions in rapid-fire succession. They fluttered their hands, revealing expensive baubles and trinkets. Lucy answered every question placed to her. The woman, despite her appearance, could only be described as elegant and graceful.

  The mask she held in front of her face highlighted the color of her eyes, enhancing their slanted look. Her hair was piled high atop her head; a few tendrils escaped and framed her face.

  Bryce felt like a fish out of water. The men he stood with spoke of nothing except fine drink and art. If one mentioned politics or the monarchy, others shushed him and the subject quickly changed. No one wished to have the volatile Queen Mary against him for speaking his mind.

  Guards in uniforms stood around the room. Sometimes he forgot the men were indeed real. They stood like statues, and more than one had been bumped or run into. Bryce kept his distance, not wishing to draw any undue attention.

  A quick scan of the room revealed nothing unusual. The merriment of the evening and the boisterous crowd made it harder for Bryce and Lucy to locate someone to translate the message.

  Bryce didn’t know the first thing about finding a spy. In his mind, they would look like everyone else. To stand out would lead to exposure and death.

  Loud laughter rang out. Every head turned to locate the sudden sound. The host appeared. Arrayed in the finest velvet material and followed by three large shirtless men wielding huge plumed fans, he held his arms wide.

  “Welcome! I do so hope you are enjoying tonight’s ball. I myself am roasting like a pig on a spit.” His big beefy jaws split into a wide grin. “When I pass by with my entourage, I ask forgiveness now for my odor and for the wide berth I will surely require.”

  The room burst into laughter. The host lifted his hand to garner silence and resumed his speech. “As with all my celebrations, when the clock strikes midnight the masks will be removed and all secrets will be revealed. But until then, enjoy your anonymity and have a wonderful time.”

  The musicians in the room struck up a song, and an area on the floor was cleared for dancing. Lucy sauntered to his side. Sweat glistened upon her upper lip. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes twinkled.

  “Have you seen anything?” she asked, lifting the corner of her lips into an awkward smile.

  “Nay, have ye?” asked Bryce.

  Lucy squeezed his arm and tilted her head to gather his attention. But there was little need, for he saw what she saw at the same instant. Was it who he thought it was? Was it the young man and woman whose wagon had broken down in front of Lucy’s home?

  Where had they come from? Had they been in attendance this whole time?

  The possibility existed that the lighting, the costumes, and the masks had caused them to miss the couple. Or maybe these weren’t the people they thought them to be.

  “What do you think?” she asked.

  “It looks like them, but how can we be sure without exposing ourselves?”

  “We dance.”

  Lucy managed an anxious smile as she pulled Bryce to the dance floor. Left no choice but to move with her, he joined in. As he changed partners, he struggled with his awkward attire. Ladies grunted as he accidently bumped them and moved away as quickly as the dance allowed. Apologies rolled off his tongue but were ignored by those in his path. When his arms finally wrapped around Lucy he was relieved.

  Finding a comfortable position, they moved in unison across the floor. Their arms locked as their hearts intertwined. The dance called for a change in partners but the two of them ignored the call and continued their dance.

  The light shimmered off her brown hair. He wrapped one curl around his finger and brought it close. He closed his eyes and inhaled her fresh scent. The world around seemed to stop, leaving only the two of them.

  In the middle of the room, couples giggled and cavorted. And in the magic of that moment it felt as if they stopped moving. Bryce tilted her chin upward. She parted her lips and sighed. His reaction was immediate. His pulse quickened as his head dipped and their lips touched. The outfits they wore made deepening the kiss impossible, but Bryce did try. The ruffle around her neck bent; a piece of whalebone poked him. But he didn’t end the kiss, enjoying the soft feel of her lips. As he contemplated pulling away to catch his breath, she was whisked away from his grasp.

  In his arms rested a new body. The woman expertly guided him off the floor and into a hidden corner. Potted plants shielded them from prying eyes. Above his new partner’s head, he saw Lucy twirling in the opposite direction on the arms of a familiar man.

  “Look at me, please,” came a tiny female voice from far below.

  With great effort Bryce complied, ripping his gaze away from
someone he’d come to care for more than he should.

  “Mein Herr, you do the lady a great disservice. The attention drawn to your escapades defeats her mission.”

  He struggled to keep his naturally expressive face neutral.

  “I see you pretend to be unfazed by my comments. For you this is good. You are an unknown, but I fear not so for your lady love. Aye, do not look at me thus. It is evident to anyone who wishes to look. But this is not of my concern. You do remember me, don’t you?”

  “Aye. Ye are the lady from the carriage yesterday.”

  “Correct. And before you ask, I knew nothing of the plans for Fraulein Lombard’s home. The pursuit of her is for one reason. She attended the showing where Mr. Spalding died. I pray you did not give them another reason.”

  “What?”

  “Never mind. Although others have their doubts as to L.L.’s identity, I’m fairly certain I know the truth. That is why we are speaking now. Since I know L.L. would trust no one to deliver the message save herself, I will give you the clue you need to do just that.

  “You will find all the answers you seek in a place dear to your heart.”

  After the utterance of those cryptic words, the musicians started a new tune and the strange woman led him back to the floor. Half the night passed before he spoke with Lucy.

  Lack of privacy caused him to hold his speech about what he’d learned. They talked only of frivolous things. As the hour approached for the unveiling, Lucy feigned a headache. Bryce took the hint and ordered the hackney brought around. They returned to the Townsend home.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  “You did what!” yelled Max.

  “I—“

  “Olga, how could you! We don’t know if she is the one we seek. And even if she is L.L., how could you just give away the code like that? I can’t believe it.”

  Maximilian raved for over an hour, while Gustav remained eerily silent.

  Confidence in her decision wavered as Max’s voice increased. He stomped around the room, clenching and unclenching his fists, shaking them toward the ceiling. Olga hadn’t expected such anger.

  “Gustav, have you nothing to say? Olga has shared vital information and you sit there. I know she is your sister, but still you must say something.”

  Olga waited. Gustav was not one to mince words. She had gone over everyone’s heads by sharing the information with Bryce. Doing so could lead not only to her death, but many others as well. The burden of causing such a catastrophe rested heavily on her heart.

  “Max, I must say what Olga has done is a bit unusual.”

  Max guffawed.

  “But perhaps this is not entirely a bad thing.”

  Olga relaxed, breathing a little easier, but still Max grunted and fumed. Gustav raised his hand. “Let me finish. If Miss Lombard is not involved, she will think nothing of the words Olga uttered and go about her way. However, if she has ties to our movement, then perhaps she will discover the code and help us achieve our goals.”

  Olga noticed how Gustav failed to mention that L.L. could indeed be Lucille Lombard. Still, knowing he defended her filled her with hope.

  As the men talked over options and strategies, Olga walked along the hallway. In the nursery she found a seat and watched her sleeping children. Their chests rose and fell as they exhaled tiny puffs of air. Watching them reminded Olga of Lucille.

  Barely in her twenties, short and childlike, Lucille bore watching. No doubt men pursued the young lady on a regular basis. And what of the tall, broad-shouldered, plain man? The one who held kindness in his eyes and stayed by her side? Ignoring the two of them wouldn’t be possible.

  When she’d first separated the Scot from his lady, there had been no intention of telling him what she knew, which amounted to very little. But when he spoke and his Scottish accent flowed, Olga knew. Lucille Lombard was the one. No matter whether anyone believed her or not, she was the spy they sought.

  ****

  The Townsend twins were in bed by the time the rented carriage pulled up outside their door. Bryce had remained silent most of the night, which only caused Lucy’s fears to increase.

  Once inside the house Bryce stated, “I’m off to bed.”

  Confused, Lucy grabbed his arm, pulling him back to her. “I think not. I know something has happened. Now we are alone, I expect to hear it.”

  Bryce shrugged. The action infuriated her. In recent days the man had come out of his shell; reverting back to this action was unacceptable.

  “Bryce Cameron, I will not have it. Do you understand? No shrugging, no avoiding. Tell me what you learned this instant or I will... I will kiss it out of you.” As soon as the words left her lips, her face burned hot. A quick glance at Bryce revealed his upraised brow.

  “Maybe that is a good reason for me to remain silent?” he asked.

  The teasing at any other time would have been acceptable and even delightful, but not today. She removed her constricting collar and set it aside. Next she untied the framework under her dress and it fell to the floor. Lucy sat in the nearest chair.

  “Bryce, as much fun as I know it would be, I feel our time is limited. We really must discuss this matter. Won’t you tell me what you learned?”

  While Bryce had danced with the lady, Lucy had been whisked away by the man from outside her home, the one who had been driving the carriage with the bent wheel. She had no doubt that she’d been found out. It had been only a matter of time anyway.

  He had guided Lucy to a table to join other guests. Then, once seated, he had attempted to abscond with her pouch. The item had lain on the table within reach of her fingertips when his hand had closed around it. With a tug on the cord she had pulled it into her lap. The innocent smile pasted on his face hadn't fooled her one bit.

  After several more attempts, Lucy had stood to take her leave, but before she’d left, she had made sure to loudly tell the others about the man’s fascination for women’s personal items. The man had blinked, gathered his wits, and explained to the group that it was all a misunderstanding.

  She might have been more inclined to believe him had Bryce not been detained in a similar fashion by the couple’s female half.

  Now that they were back at the Townsends’ house, Lucy needed to know what the woman had told Bryce. She waited patiently but when he didn’t answer, she said, “Well?”

  Without preamble he said, “The lady said the answers we sought could be found in a place dear to your heart.”

  “What?”

  “That’s all she said.”

  “But what does it mean?”

  “She didn’t say.”

  “Did she know I’m –“

  “I don’t think so. I think she was just guessin’. In fact, she acted nervous, like she might be doin’ something wrong.”

  “So your opinion is she was trying to help the agent, hoping I was the one?”

  “Aye, that about sums it up.”

  If Bryce was correct, they finally had a lead. Now they needed to figure out what it meant.

  Lucy shared her ideas aloud. “Obviously they don’t know the true identity of the spy. And there is no other person ready to take Joshua's place. They are trying to find me as I am trying to find them.

  “Instead of asking for the message, they are giving me a way to decode it and deliver it myself.”

  With each spoken word, new matters came to light. The man and woman they had met worked together. Their earlier warning had been meant to protect her. At the ball the man had indeed sought the message within her pouch. The question remained, why did one seek to take the message while the other attempted to help her decode it on her own?

  She sucked her lower lip between her teeth as she paced. The heat from Bryce’s gaze was palpable. She turned to face him. “We must decode the meaning of what the woman told you.”

  “Aye.”

  She paced and mumbled the clue over and over. No one place readily came to mind. “Dear to her heart,” what did it mean
?

  “Maybe its yer house.” The spoken words startled her and she settled back into a chair.

  “Let’s hope not. There is no way the code could remain hidden after the house’s destruction.” The scene when they’d returned home from the park raced through her weary mind.

  “What about a place ye visited often as a child?”

  “That could be many places. The park, our country home, France, Father’s office…”

  As soon as the words left her mouth, she jumped to her feet. “That has to be it! Father’s office, of course. I spent almost as much time there as I did at home. No place could be dearer to my heart.”

  Sudden realization hit and she slapped the palm of her hand against her forehead. “I don’t have the key. And besides that, I’m sure the office has been emptied. His partner graciously allowed me to leave everything intact, but it has been so long anything could have happened by now.”

  “I guess we will have to go see.”

  “Let me grab my—“

  “Not now, tomorrow. Lass, ye need the rest or ye are goin’ to collapse.”

  “But—“

  “Nay. March up to the guest room, remove yer gown, and go to sleep.”

  “What if the office is searched before we get there? If we wait, it may be too late.”

  “And if we rush over there in the middle of the night, we might be discovered and unable to defend ourselves verbally or physically. Ye have to trust me. I have a feeling if it was that easy to find, then they wouldn’t still be lookin’ for it.”

  Weariness overtook her, and as much as she hated it, she had no choice but to agree. She stood to go to her room. Before she realized what she was doing, she bent over and kissed his brow.

  Lucy stood and walked backward out of the room. Bryce massaged the place where her lips had been, the corner of his lips twisted in a smile.

  She stopped at the door and studied him. She had asked him to stay and help, and he’d accepted the challenge. At least it seemed as if he had.