by Rebecca King
As soon as she considered that possibility she dismissed it. In all conscience she knew she could never do it. Not only would the house fall to wreck and ruin but, given the recent burglaries hitting large houses in London at present, she knew this one would be targeted sooner or later, especially if it was empty. She had to sell it on. Then she could put London behind her once and for all, and hopefully forget that the wretched place ever existed.
If only Connor could be forgotten that easily, she thought morosely.
She strongly suspected that for as long as she lived she would never forget Connor Humphries. He was a part of her life now because of Joseph. She couldn’t ignore it.
She was painfully aware when he quietly crossed the room and took a seat opposite. Although he didn’t speak, the silence spoke louder than words. She was even annoyed at him for being so, well, so darned, well, nice. Calm. Controlled. Arrogant, yes, but also commandingly stern in a way that left her feeling protected, cosseted even.
With no answers forthcoming, she turned her attention to her most pressing problem now. Like how to get him out of the house without poking him out of the door with the end of a broom.
CHAPTER SIX
If there was one thing Connor had learned during his time working for the War Office, it was when to allow silence to unfold. In people who usually had something to hide, it brought about discomfort they couldn’t ignore. Even the most hardened criminals buckled beneath a steady stare, and an expectant silence. It certainly worked on Tahlia.
When Connor watched her sigh, huff, shift in her seat, and gaze at various objects around the room, a smile began to curve his lips. While he managed to stop it forming into a full grin, he couldn’t prevent his eyes from crinkling at the corners when the realisation sank in that her unease; her restless disquiet, was because of him.
Well, good, he mused thoughtfully as he watched her shift in her seat once more before she gave up altogether and, tellingly, began to pace around the room. He watched the steady sway of her hips whenever her back was turned, and eventually had to cross his legs to hide the evidence of his desire for her.
“Tell me what has been going on here, Tahlia,” Connor demanded quietly, eager to get her to stop pacing before he did something rash like kiss her again.
“Nothing,” she snapped.
“Don’t tell me those were ordinary, run-of-the-mill muggings because I don’t believe you.” Connor sighed when she didn’t speak. “How long have you had your maid?”
Tahlia spun around and glared at him. “Don’t blame Cecily for anything. She had nothing to do with what happened today, I promise.”
Judging from the ebullience of her reply, Connor knew he would have to battle to get her to consider any such notion. However, until Cecily could provide proof of her whereabouts he wasn’t going to dismiss the maid as being merely lost at the time of the attacks.
“So, you went to the solicitors, were given this key, and then what?”
“I was told that I would know what to do with it when the time came.” She tried to keep her expression bland as she lied to him. She suspected that the details of what the key was to were contained in the letter Henry had left for her. She couldn’t tell Connor that. Unfortunately, Fate was working against her. Before she could lie to him that she had a headache and needed to retire for a while, she was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“I forgot, ma’am, here are your papers,” Cecily declared as she entered the room without prompting and hurried across the room with a package in hand.
“Thank you, Cecily. I will go over them later,” Tahlia replied smoothly. When she turned to Connor, she saw him eyeing the papers curiously and offered him a weak smile. “Well, I am sorry to have taken up so much of your day. Once again, thank you for your assistance this morning. I will bid you good day.”
She clutched the package tightly as she walked out of the room. This time, he took the hint and followed her to the front door. Once there, however, he proved not so easy to get rid of.
“Maybe the instructions are in those papers,” he suggested casually.
“Pardon?” She murmured, pretending she hadn’t got a clue what he was talking about. She failed miserably when her fingers tightened instinctively around the package as he stepped forward.
Connor’s eyes met hers. “I think you are in deeper than you realise, Tahlia,” he murmured gently. He held up his card and watched her study it carefully. “In case you need me.”
Tahlia closed her mouth with a snap. The affluent address that glared up at her in golden letters emphasised the fact that she did indeed know very little about him. But there it was, written in ink, the kind of address only wealthy gentlemen of aristocracy could afford.
She considered him warily. Guilt suddenly slammed into her with all the force of a landslide. It felt as though someone had suddenly ripped the blinkers of desire off and laid everything bare. She had to consider the terrible situation that now lay before her.
If Connor had money then he had connections. While the card didn’t say he was titled, he undoubtedly had a wealthy, well connected family around somewhere; a family who would want to see Joseph, Connor’s son.
Shying away from the prospect of losing her precious little boy, Tahlia turned her attention back to Connor. She didn’t feel so guilty for not telling him about Joseph now. Not when the prospect of losing her only family was so very real.
Besides, she reasoned silently. He had been the one to abandon her three years ago. It wasn’t like she had chosen not to tell him. He hadn’t stayed around long enough for it to be possible to inform him of her condition when she had found out.
If anyone should feel bad what happened between them should be him.
“Thank you, but I am sure I will be fine,” she murmured.
Before he could snoop into her private affairs any further, she yanked the door open to let him out.
At that moment, chaos ensued.
“Get down!” Connor shouted.
Tahlia’s breath left her in a whoosh as she was swung off her feet and slammed onto the hard floor.
A loud bang echoed around the hallway, and was swiftly followed by several smaller pops. Wood exploded all around them and showered them both in splinters. The loud squeal of horses outside was accompanied by a dull thud, but Tahlia couldn’t see what was happening.
Connor didn’t wait to see who there, or what was going on. Rolling Tahlia away from the door, he pinned her protectively beneath him. Reaching around behind him, he caught the edge of the now badly damaged door and swung it shut. But not before he took a good look at the carriage standing beside the kerb. He suspected it was the same one used to try to snatch Tahlia earlier, but didn’t get a good enough look at the coachman to be sure.
“Are you alright?” Connor demanded as soon as the door was closed.
At that moment, Oscar came running out of the kitchens with Cecily on his heels.
“What the devil’s going on?” He demanded.
“Look out of the front windows, but stay out of sight. See if you can get a look at who is driving the black carriage outside. Get me their features; hair colour, that kind of thing. Hurry man,” Connor ordered.
Once Oscar had disappeared, Connor turned back to Tahlia.
“Did anything hit you? Tahlia? Talk to me?” He demanded hoarsely. He didn’t like how still and silent she was but at least she was blinking at him.
Tahlia stared up at him in a daze. Her ears rang from the deafening noise and she couldn’t stop trembling for the fear that coursed through her veins. It made focusing on his words so much more difficult when mired in a thick haze of panic.
When she didn’t answer him he began to pat her arms and shoulders, checking for any wounds.
Oscar appeared in the doorway and shook his head. “Nothing. It’s too murky out there to see anything. Do you want me to fetch the magistrate?”
Connor pursed his lips. “No. They will be long gone by the time the magi
strate gets here. Are you alright, Tahlia?”
“I think so,” she whispered tremulously, then burst into tears.
Great huge gulping sobs wracked her. It became impossible to see beyond the fear, worry, and confusion that enfolded her world in threatening arms.
“What’s going on?” she demanded of nobody in particular. “Who are they, Connor? What do they want with me?”
Rather than answer, Connor gathered her into his arms. Lifting her high, he nodded to Oscar who opened the study door.
“Get her some brandy, would you?” he asked as he passed the butler.
He settled onto the chaise before the fire and rested her on his lap with such precise care that it made her cry even more. Nobody had ever treated her thus, and it didn’t help her find the strength to stop crying.
“Someone tried to shoot us,” she whispered, horrified at just how close she had come to dying.
“They did,” Connor confirmed.
While Oscar closed the shutters and lit the candles, Connor began to rock her gently while she wept into his shoulder.
“They won’t get to you. I can promise you that, Tahlia. They won’t get to you.”
“Who do you suppose it is?” Oscar murmured with a frown as he slid two goblets of brandy onto the table beside them.
“Has anything like this happened before?” Connor asked.
He heaved a mental sigh of relief when Oscar immediately shook his head. At least there wasn’t some unhappy lover out for revenge for being shunned.
“Go and lock the house up. Close all the shutters to the windows of the rooms not in use. Make sure that the doors are bolted. Until I can get to the bottom of this, nobody leaves this house without an armed guard.” He turned a hard glare on Cecily. “Bring me the package of papers you brought in here earlier, would you?”
He felt Tahlia jerk in his arms. “I need to find out what that key is for. Mugging someone to get a key is one thing. Killing them takes this mystery to an entirely different level. I need to send for my colleagues.”
“Colleagues?” She asked.
Sniffling miserably, Tahlia accepted the handkerchief off Cecily and dabbed at her eyes.
Connor sighed. “I work for a branch of the War Office. I have colleagues there who will be able to help us.”
“Mugged?” Oscar growled with a scowl.
Connor briefly explained what had happened to Tahlia while Cecily was wandering the streets. When he had finished he levelled a glare on the shocked maid.
“You have no idea just how dangerous London’s streets can be in such conditions. Don’t wander off again.”
Duly chastised, Cecily nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“War Office?” Tahlia interrupted, but Connor was already focused on the papers Cecily was handing him.
Connor ignored the warning voice telling him that he was prying into her life too much and unfolded the rolls of parchment. Given he was there when someone had shot at the house, this was now a Star Elite investigation. Because he had been in the doorway instead of Tahlia, he had to consider that someone had tried to take a pot-shot at him rather than her. It didn’t bother him at all. He had been the target of many a deranged killer through his work. It was just how close Tahlia had been to death that shook him. It was enough to make him tighten his arms and place random kisses along her brow.
Tahlia leaned back and looked up at him when she became aware of what he was doing.
“I am sorry, I think I got your shirt wet,” she whispered.
Connor smiled. “I will dry out,” he replied tenderly.
Awkward at behaving so intimately with him, especially in front of Oscar and Cecily, Tahlia slid off his lap.
Connor didn’t allow her to move too far away. When she tried to put some more distance between them, he merely placed a hand on her waist and slid her across the seat until their thighs touched. Once she was settled against him, Connor turned his attention to the parchment.
“Thank you,” he said as he took it off her.
Unfolding the numerous sheets, Connor dropped everything onto the table and pressed one of the brandies into Tahlia’s shaking fingers. He took a fortifying sip of his own before he studied the first sheet of parchment. To his surprise, Oscar took a seat in one of the chairs beside the hearth, and Cecily took the other. It was an unusual move for a butler and a maid, but one that everyone seemed to accept as being perfectly normal.
Connor’s brows lifted and he glanced at Tahlia, but she was completely unconcerned by their behaviour. He realised then that this was no ordinary mistress and servant arrangement; Oscar and Cecily were more friends than servants. Still, it wasn’t for Connor to judge so he kept his thoughts to himself. If Tahlia was alright with this kind of arrangement then so was he.
“This is addressed for you,” he murmured as he handed Tahlia a folded piece of parchment that had been sealed and marked clearly with her name.
To his consternation, the other papers in the pile related to the transfer of the property ownership into Tahlia’s name. There was nothing unusual about them in any way; certainly nothing to warrant murder.
“There is nothing here,” he muttered for the benefit of everyone in the room watching him.
“I told you,” Tahlia whispered. She glanced down at the note in her lap, and felt her trepidation grow. Without creating a spectacle there was nothing she could do right now. She had to read it. With a sigh, she broke the seal and read aloud.
Dear Tahlia,
Thank you for collecting this letter, and the key, from Mr Kibble. In front of the fireplace in the library is a rug. Beneath it is a hidden compartment beneath the floor which contains a safe. The stones in the red pouch are for you and Joseph. The other items in the safe are important, and I have left further instruction inside.
Yours,
Henry
Relieved and confused in equal measure, Tahlia read the note again.
“Well, this gets more curious by the minute,” Oscar murmured.
“Were you aware of this secret compartment?” Tahlia asked the butler with a frown.
“No.” Oscar shook his head.
“Do you think it exists?” Cecily whispered.
“I don’t see why Uncle Henry would lie about such a thing,” Tahlia replied as she went to fetch the key. “Let’s go and see, shall we?”
She didn’t need to look behind her to know that everyone followed her into the library. Once there, Connor rolled up the rug in front of the fireplace, and removed the loosened floorboards.
“Well, I never,” Oscar murmured when a shiny safe was revealed to their shocked gazes.
Tahlia placed the key in the lock of the safe and stood back while Connor opened the door.
“I wonder why he felt the need for all of this secrecy,” Oscar muttered. “I mean, I worked in this house for five years and had no idea about any of this.”
“I had no idea either,” Tahlia sighed. “And he was my uncle.”
She dropped to her knees beside Connor, and searched the items Connor placed beside the hole in the floor.
Connor knew she was telling him the truth, and was greatly relieved that she finally trusted him enough to be honest.
Later, when he had the time to reflect, he would consider that this was the first time he had ever worked on an investigation with a woman. It was an entirely different experience to working with his colleagues, not least because the woman in question was so darned attractive. However, he didn’t regret it. In fact, he rather revelled in the new and quite engaging experience.
“It’s empty,” Connor informed her minutes later.
They all studied the items piled on the floor. Tahlia picked up the red pouch and opened it.
“Oh my word,” she gasped when she poured several large, highly polished, and very expensive jewels into the palm of her hand. “What on earth?”
She held her palm out. Connor picked a gem up and studied it in the firelight.
“Is it real?�
� Tahlia whispered.
Connor nodded grimly.
“Good Lord,” she whispered. Her eyes widened as she studied the myriad colours that sparkled in her hand. “How much is here?”
“I don’t know but this says it all, doesn’t it?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, unable to focus on anything but the beauty in her hand.
“These are the reason for your muggings this morning. I don’t know if they thought you had these on you, or the key that would get you into a safe hidden somewhere in this house. Either way, these are worth mugging someone for.” He turned to Oscar. “Has the house been broken into while it was empty?”
“I don’t think so,” Oscar replied. “I certainly haven’t seen anything untoward.”
“Me neither,” Cecily added.
Connor nodded but knew he needed to go and take a look at the windows and doors outside just to make sure.
“Who wants these, Connor?” Tahlia whispered. “How did they know they are here?”
Connor shook his head. He was in a quandary now as to whether he should tell her or not. If he told her he knew she would worry about being burgled. If he left her unaware of the dangers she faced she might take foolish risks with her safety – like go out on her own again.
Tahlia studied the rubies, emeralds, diamonds, topaz, and sapphires; they were all there in abundance. Their brilliant colours reflected gaily off the candlelight and positively sparkled with energy. It was a shame to have to return them to the pouch, but she must because there was the rest of the pile to search through. She realised then that Connor hadn’t answered her question.