*
“I can tell you’ve got an idea lad,” MacDuff warned his master as he led him down a staircase to the servant’s level of the Manor. “But why are we dragging Jane into this?”
“Duffy we’re not dragging her into anything,” Pierce replied tersely. “Jane’s up to her eyeballs in this mess. And we need a fifth person for this hunt, more precisely a woman.”
“Why a woman?”
“Bufford’s going to a ball. You of all people should know that these events are for couples and a single eligible bachelor will stand out unnecessarily. Plus there are places at a ball that a woman can get into easier. We’re going to need her to make sure there are no gaps in our surveillance.”
“And that’s the only reason?” MacDuff asked casually.
“I don’t know what you’re alluding to.” MacDuff only flashed a knowing smile in response to Pierces’ denial.
Their boots rang out ominously in the nearly vacant hallways beneath the Manor. Those few servants still working quickly disappeared upon seeing the approaching huntsmen. Members of the Hunt rarely descended to the lower levels of the Manor and when they did it was never a good thing.
“No wonder I’ve never seen that many staff around the Manor,” Pierce noted, breaking the silence between them. They were walking down a long hallway that had multiple staircases leading upstairs.
“All of these staircases we’re passing lead up to rooms above; dining room, library, billiard room, salons, and most of the hallways.”
Pierce merely whistled in reply, acknowledging the architectural and design skill required to accomplish such a task. Past the hallway they turned into another that clearly led to the main servant’s quarters. Numerous doors flanked either side of the walls, all with numbers and personal effects hung upon them. It reminded Pierce of his brief stay in a crowded college dorm.
“It’s this one here my Lord,” MacDuff pointed out as they stopped in front of a door with a blank chalk board hung on it. “You’d better stand back a bit; we don’t want to give the poor girl a heart attack.”
Pierce was about to ask what he meant when he realized that it might be a little disconcerting to have the Lord of the Brown Pack banging on her door in the middle of the night. He was still getting used to the idea that he was now more than simple Patrick Pierce.
McDuff knocked gently on the door and was shocked slightly as it opened almost immediately despite the hour. He was even more shocked when it was opened by a beautiful auburn haired young woman.
“Hello,” she said as MacDuff took a step back to check the door number, thinking he had made a mistake. But he was relieved when he looked back down and Jane appeared behind the other woman.
“MacDuff what are you doing here?” she asked, ushering Kat back from the doorway. She then inhaled in surprise, seeing Pierce behind him. “Lord Pierce…”
“Sorry to interrupt, the late hour and all, but I need to speak to you,” Pierce offered with embarrassment upon seeing Jane blush slightly.
“Well I’ll leave you then,” Kat said seeing the blush as well, but realized the true nature of its appearance. She gave her friend a quick wink as she passed, “told you I was good.”
Jane gave her an annoyed glance as she left and then let the two men enter. They all stood awkwardly in the small room, Jane was thankful that she had not yet changed and glad that nothing embarrassing was out.
“Who was that?” MacDuff asked, trying to ease the tension. “I thought I knew everyone who worked at the Manor.”
“She doesn’t work here, she’s from Rivermead. It’s actually a bit of a long story.”
MacDuff nodded and motioned for Pierce to begin.
“We’re here because I… we need to your help. That is to say…”
“Yes, I’ll do it,” Jane quickly agreed, cutting Pierce off mid sentence. She immediately began blushing again when she realized he hadn’t finished. Any doubts she had about her feelings upon seeing Lord Pierce again were dashed. In fact she found him more appealing than she remembered. She wanted to kick herself for acting this ridiculous and quickly regained her composure. “What exactly do you need me to do?”
“We need you to travel through one of the portals with us,” Pierce replied plainly.
“Very funny,” she replied, laughing at the impossibility of the request. “What, pray tell, will we be doing there?”
“Hunting down Colonel Bufford.”
“This isn’t a joke, is it?” She finally uttered after finding her voice.
“I’m afraid it isn’t,” MacDuff answered gravely. “You can take back your offer if you want. This could get dangerous.”
“Why do you want me?”
“You’ve proven yourself to be very capable,” Pierce began uneasily. “You played Dr. Cleaver, helped Lord Lodge escape, and had me completely fooled.”
“You fooled?” Jane asked in confusion. “When, how?”
“That first day we met at the pub. I followed you up to your meeting with Cleaver and heard most of your conversation. I thought you were a pretty face employed by Cleaver to spy on me, or worse.”
Jane smiled at the backhanded compliment. She immediately felt like her old confident self and not some blushing schoolgirl. She had done all of those things and realized the opportunity before her. If she was successful her days working as a maid were behind her.
“I’ll do it,” she stated confidently. “When do we go?”
“That’s the spirit lass!” MacDuff exclaimed, slapping his hands in excitement and being rewarded with a beaming smile.
“We’ll head up to the Brown Packs room immediately,” Pierce informed her. “Don’t bother packing anything, I’ve sent Melrose to find some proper clothing for you, and Sean is gathering all the gear you might need.”
Jane merely nodded, trying to remain calm and professional despite the growing excitement within her. Only members of the Hunt and their packs were allowed into the North Tower and the portals within. She might be the first outsider to enter one of the portals only whispered about by members of the staff.
They left her room, waiting a moment as she wrote a note on the board on her door, stating her absence. They then took the nearest staircase upstairs, which opened up behind a menacing suit of armour. Within minutes they walked to the foyer outside the Brown Packs Lair.
“Coming?” MacDuff asked her kindly as both he and Pierce entered the large door.
“Yes, sorry,” Jane offered as she followed them in. She had never entered one of the Pack rooms before and was hesitant to cross that line despite her desire. With a determined step she followed them past the door and through the small anteroom beyond.
She was immediately struck by the duality of the main room when she entered it. The tall narrow windows, mounted weapons, and alter-like hearth lent a feeling of quiet reverence. But at the same time there was a warm lived-in quality to the space that was lacking in most of the rooms of the Manor. She realized that since she had never been in here, then it stood to reason that the Manor staff were similarly forbidden, leaving the cleaning to the packs themselves.
The next thing that struck Jane was the laughing from the two men by the table. She recognized them as the Brown Pack Hounds, but couldn’t remember their names. The pack members always strode around the Manor with humourless importance. But here were two of them almost giggling like children.
“If you can contain yourself for a second,” MacDuff growled at the pair, “we have a guest you need to meet.”
“Sean, Liam,” continued Pierce, trying to appear in charge in front of Jane. “This is Jane; she’ll be joining us on this hunt.”
They both smiled at the attractive addition to their troop who had placed herself against the wall on the other side of the large table that dominated the room.
“What’s so funny then?” MacDuff inquired as he went over to them.
“We just returned from the forger’s with the invitation we got from Cleaver’s vale
t.”
“Forger?” Pierce asked with piqued curiosity.
“There’s a couple on staff here in the Manor,” MacDuff explained picking up the invitation. “We use them to create all the required documentation we need for hunts; passports, licenses, identity cards, and such things. It makes the hunts a little more convenient.”
“Makes sense. So you got the forger to put my name on the invitation, what’s so funny about that?”
“They put your names on the invitation,” MacDuff answered after reading the invitation, a smile emerging from his dark beard.
“Our names?” Pierce asked, receiving the card from MacDuff and reading it for himself. “The Count and Countess of Monte Cristo, very funny. Whose bright idea is this?”
“I thought you enjoyed the works of Alexandre Dumas,” Liam replied with an innocent shrug.
“It’s not a terrible idea really,” offered Sean in defence. “Any guards are less likely to take notice of a minor noble. Plus a married one will not attract the unwanted attention of single women in search of a husband.”
“Those are both good points, but don’t you think someone will be suspicious of a literary character showing up at the ball?” Pierce asked in exasperation. “Why not just make up a name?”
“Because this is funnier,” Liam smiled in reply. “Plus The Count of Monte Cristo won’t be published for decades where we’re going.”
Pierce immediately felt stupid for forgetting about the differences in time. However he took some minor solace in the fact that time-travel was still new to him. He was further saved from ridicule when Jane appeared by his side, linking arms with him.
“Well my dear Count, I think this ball sounds like a wonderful time.”
Pierce looked down at her beaming face and immediately felt better. He felt better still seeing the slightly jealous looks of Sean and Liam. “The Countess is right, thank you gentlemen.”
“Good, you’re in character already,” muttered Liam sarcastically. “That won’t get annoying at all.”
“Apart from the invitation, what else have you prepared for the hunt,” MacDuff asked Sean looking at the table full of bags.
“A nice collection of period weapons,” Sean began, unrolling a heavy canvas bag. A number of rifles, pistols, daggers, and swords were secured in place by leather straps. “I’ve also packed the usual collection of documentation, coins, and tools.”
“Good work,” Pierce approved after looking over everything. “I suppose we’ll have to change out of our Highland gear for this journey. Everyone get changed and we’ll meet back here.”
All three men nodded and left through one of the side doors to their rooms, leaving Pierce and Jane alone as they waited for Melrose.
“Why are we searching for Colonel Bufford?” Jane asked, breaking the silence.
“Because he’s up to something dangerous and he’s abusing the power of this place,” Pierce began, explaining everything that had happened in Seville and then their return to the Manor. As he recounted the past days, Pierce was surprised at how much had happened in such a short time. It felt like he’d done more and seen more than he had in the last five years of his old life.
“Will they have these horseless wagons where we’re going?”
“Trucks. They’re called trucks,” Pierce corrected helpfully, remembering that Jane had never left the island. “No, the time period we’re going to will seem very similar to what you’re used to.”
“Thank goodness for that,” Jane sighed with relief, having felt anxious after hearing of the car chase though Seville.
“So what’s happened here on the island since I’ve been away?” Pierce asked her easily. “The last time I saw you, you were plotting my removal from the Manor.”
“Sorry about that, it wasn’t personal,” she replied casually, earning a smile in response. She then offered her own story; from the Crows Nest, through the valley, and their subsequent return to the Manor. She had to refrain from smiling when some of the events elicited wide eyed surprise from her audience.
“That’s incredible,” Pierce acknowledged in appreciation. “I don’t think you’ll have a problem fitting in with this crew. No wonder Lord Lodge trusts you so much.”
“He thinks the world of you as well,” Jane replied touching his hand briefly. “I’ve never seen him take such interest or place such responsibility in a new member.”
The sound of a throat being cleared behind them brought both to their feet instantly. They turned to see Melrose standing by the door with two bags in his arms.
“I hope I’m not intruding my Lord?”
“Not at all Melrose,” Pierce replied shortly. “What have you got there?”
“Clothes for you and the lady, sir,” the valet answered lifting the right and then the left bag in succession. “I took the liberty of obtaining some of Mme Laflamme’s clothes from her lady’s maid. You look to be about the same size my dear, so hopefully they fit.”
“Thank you so much,” Jane gushed as she approached, reaching for the bag. After admiring the stunning clothing of the French Lady of the Hunt, she was eager to see what she’d be wearing. “I’d better get changed then.”
“I also took one of her nicest gowns for the ball,” Melrose winked as he handed the bag over. “You’ll look stunning in it.”
Jane gave him a small kiss on the cheek and hurried to one of the spare rooms to change.
“Your bag sir,” Melrose said with a smile still lingering on his face as he handed Pierce the other bag.
“Don’t expect any kisses from me,” he grumped taking the bag, realizing he felt a twinge of jealousy towards his valet. But he shook the thought aside, telling himself there was no room for such thoughts with the task that lay before them. Returning from their mission to Marseille was by no means a certainty and he wouldn’t risk putting anyone in danger in order to get a kiss from a pretty woman.
Pierce took the same side door as the others, which led to a circular staircase leading up to the floor above. At the top he ran into the others as they left their rooms. They had all changed into period clothes; light or striped pants, high boots, white shirts, waistcoats, and various coloured cravats. However they all kept their brown leather hunt jackets on.
As he moved into one of the spare rooms and removed his own hunt jacket, he marvelled at the versatility of the garment. It really did offer an inconspicuous covering that could be used in any time. This thought then made him amazed that he was once again going to travel into the past. The idea if such an act still made him feel a strange mixture of anxiety and excitement.
The feeling increased as he removed his highland clothing and replaced it with the items from the bag. The boots, breeches, shirt and the remainder were similar to those his men were wearing, but of somewhat better quality. Well, I am a Count, he thought as he inspected himself in the mirror. He wasn’t sure if he had done the cravat correctly, but it was basically hidden as he donned his leather jacket.
He left his kilt and old clothing on the bed and picked up his bag with the remainder of his period clothes packed inside. He turned to leave the room and suddenly remembered the swordstick that MacDuff had given to him. He’d put it on the bed when he’d opened the bag.
“Don’t want to forget you,” he whispered, twirling it in his hand. “I think you might come in handy.”
Chapter 26
A Malevolent Manner (Patrick Pierce #1) Page 86