To Walk in the Sun (Wiggons' School for Elegant Young Ladies - Book 1)

by Charles, Jane

  * * *

  Rosemary clutched the parchment in her hands. The paper shook. She glanced from Tess to Atwood then back to Tess. “I chose Italy,” she began.

  When she said nothing further, Tess prompted. “What did you learn about Italy that makes the people unique?”

  “They, um . . .” Her eyes strayed to Lord Atwood again. Her face went deathly pale.

  This was impossible. Tess stood. Rosemary was the fourth student who attempted to present her paper, but they were all too intimidated with Atwood sitting behind his desk, watching and listening. Not that she could blame them. He could be very unnerving at times. Half of them probably still believed he was a vampire. Right now she wasn’t sure Rosemary could tell her where Italy was on a map, and she was her best geography student. “That is enough for today girls. You are free until your afternoon lessons.”

  “Might we go outside, Miss Crawford?” Eliza asked.

  Tess glanced in Vincent’s direction. He simply shrugged his shoulders.

  The air would do them good. “Stay by the house. Do not wander to the gardens, woods, lake or gazebo. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes, Miss Crawford,” they answered in unison before they were out the door.

  Tess sank into a chair in front of Vincent’s desk. “I don’t know why you can’t be somewhere else. This class time was useless with you present.”

  He grinned unabashedly.

  His reaction only inflamed her. “I take my position as a teacher very seriously. We accomplished nothing today, which will put me further behind. You cannot continue to be a constant presence, not if I am going to teach the girls anything.”

  “Until Percer is caught, you don’t have a choice.”

  * * *

  “Are you sure no one saw us come out here?” Eliza asked.

  Both Sophia and Rosemary looked around and behind them. “No,” Rosemary answered and took a seat next to Eliza.

  Sophia paused in the doorway and looked around once more, concentrated on the woods behind the gazebo.

  “Would you come along, you ninny,” Eliza admonished.

  Sophia sighed and entered the gazebo, settling into a chair beside the chaise the other two girls sat on.

  “When I couldn’t sleep last night, I decided to keep watch,” Eliza announced.

  “Did you see Lady Atwood?” Rosemary asked with excitement.

  “No,” she answered in all seriousness. “But, I did overhear a conversation between Mrs. Wiggons and Wesley.”

  This caught Sophia’s attention and she pulled her eyes from the surrounding woods and focused on Eliza.

  “Apparently Miss Crawford gave Lord Percer the piece of the map last night.”

  Sophia gasped.

  “Which one?” Rosemary prompted. “The real one or the fake one?”

  Sophia clutched her skirts. They played a dangerous game and she feared for Miss Crawford’s life, her father’s, and Lord Atwood’s as well as her own.

  “The fake one, of course. Miss Crawford is much too intelligent to give up the real one. Percer probably won’t even realize it is a fake,” she laughed.

  Sophia wasn’t so confident and feared he already knew he had been duped. They needed to get back to the house right now. She should have never allowed them to come out here, where nobody could see them. No wonder Miss Crawford was insistent they remain close. At the time Sophia assumed Percer had not returned and believed that as long as he was waiting for the piece of the map they would remain safe.

  “We need to go back.” She stood and straightened her skirts.

  “Sit down,” Eliza insisted. “We still need to plan for tonight.”

  Sophia couldn’t sit. Those two would not leave until the evening was set. She paced and listened, and ready to run at a moment’s notice.

  “At midnight, we will all dress as spirits,” Eliza began.

  “How will we accomplish that?” Rosemary asked.

  Sophia didn’t pay attention to the explanation. She knew they would not be leaving the house tonight. She would say nothing now, but if, when the time came, she could not convince Eliza to remain inside, she would alert Lord Atwood and Miss Crawford. Right now, Eliza would just dismiss her fear and she had more urgent concerns on her mind, like how close was Percer right now?

  “Once we have led her away from the grounds and town, we will run back here,” Eliza concluded.

  “Won’t that leave her out there preying on other innocent victims? Wouldn’t it be better if she remained here, where Atwood could control her thirst?”

  For once, a reasonable question from Rosemary, Sophia thought to herself. “I agree,” Sophia offered. Perhaps this folly could end now if she and Rosemary convinced Eliza it was more dangerous to allow Lady Atwood to run wild.

  “That won’t happen. Once she is away from her home and once it is the midnight hour and the veil between the living and the dead thins, she will return to the spirit world and no longer bother anyone.”

  Sophia sighed. Eliza was determined to do this and she did not have the energy to argue at the moment. “Fine. Now that it is decided, we need to return. We promised Miss Crawford we would remain close.”

  Eliza rolled her eyes and stood. “Very well, we will go back.”

  It took all that she possessed not to run all the way back to the house, but she did not want to have to explain her agitation to her friends. They would think her silly anyway, or worse, plan how to get rid of Percer.

  Relief poured through her when they came into view of the house.

  “I am not ready to go back in yet,” Rosemary whined.

  “Then we shall walk the grounds.” Eliza looked pointedly at Sophia, as if irritated with her. “Where everyone and anyone can keep an eye on us.”

  The three girls rounded the manor and came to a stop at the front. A large traveling carriage was parked in the drive. Curious, they approached to see who the visitor was. Recognition began to dawn and Sophia hastened forward. The crest on the door confirmed her suspicions and she ran toward the house.

  Eliza and Rosemary took off after her and followed her into the foyer where they were brought up short by the sight of Lord Atwood, Miss Crawford and a man standing in the middle of the room.

  Say is they spirit so heavy, or they love so weak,

  or thy faith so hollow, that the hope

  of being mine for ever is unable to touch the?

  Wake Not the Dead

  Johann Ludwig Tieck

  Chapter 24

  “Papa,” Sophia cried and rushed past Atwood. “You are alive.”

  The man chuckled and grabbed Sophia to him.

  “Of course he is alive,” Eliza snorted. “Sometimes you are so dramatic, Sophia.”

  Vincent shared Sophia’s relief. After learning what had happened to Lord Parham, he had feared a similar fate had befallen Leonard Trent, known to society as Lord Hopkins.

  “I am very much alive and well, Sophia, but I am glad for your concern.” He kissed the top of his daughter’s head.

  Sophia pulled away and grinned up at her father.

  “Shall we adjourn to the parlor for tea and refreshments?” Tess offered.

  Vincent stood back and motioned in the direction of the room. Tess went first. Lord Hopkins followed, though he leaned heavily on a cane.

  “What happened, papa?”

  “Nothing to concern yourself with, Sophia.”

  Eliza and Rosemary followed the group and Tess turned to look at them. “I am sure there are other matters that require your attendance, girls.”

  The two held back and watched the door close.

  “Do you think he will take her away, when he learns what Atwood is?” Rosemary worried.

  “Even if we told him, and offered proof, he would not believe us. Your father didn’t,” Eliza scoffed. “It is better if we say nothing and just handle the problem on our own.”

  * * *

  Sophia remained glued to her father’s side and sat next to h
im on the settee. “What happened? How were you injured?”

  She would not let the matter drop, and Tess could not blame her. “Do you take anything in your tea, Lord Hopkins?”

  “No, thank you.” He reached forward and took the cup, then focused back on his daughter. “You know how I like to prattle around in the barn,” he began and took a sip of the tea.

  Prattle seemed like a word an elderly person would use and Lord Hopkins was anything but an old man. He appeared strong and virile for a man of approximately forty or forty-five years, by her estimation.

  “Yes.” Sophia hung on his every word.

  “I was climbing the ladder to the loft and the rungs broke under my weight.”

  Sophia took a quick intake of breath. Vincent raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

  “No, it was not an accident. Someone had sawed through the ones at the top. I held on, but did sprain my ankle.”

  Sophia hugged her father and tears glistened in her eyes. “Oh, papa, I don’t know what I would have done had anything happened to you.”

  “I am fine.” He patted her shoulder. “When I received Atwood’s message I knew my suspicions were confirmed and decided to come here to see what we could do about Percer, as well as protect my daughter, instead of staying home and waiting for him to make another attempt on my life.”

  “Where is mama and everyone else?”

  “I’ve sent them to visit your aunt and uncle. There is no place safer than the ducal estate of Crestview and your brother is safe at Oxford.” He smiled indulgently at his daughter before he focused on the adults. “Have you learned anything further?”

  “Miss Crawford delivered a false piece of the map to Percer last night,” Vincent explained.

  “That was very dangerous, Miss Crawford,” Lord Hopkins admonished.

  “I agree,” Vincent added. “I have already told her as much. Especially, since he is still a danger to her with or without her piece of the map.”

  Tess shot him a warning glare. The less people who knew of her past and the fact she shot her uncle the better. How could she trust Lord Hopkins, or Sophia for that matter, to remain quiet when this was done? Wouldn’t they feel it their duty to report her to the authorities. At the very least, she would lose her position at the school. Lord Hopkins certainly wouldn’t want his daughter taught by a murderess.

  Lord Hopkins sat forward. “I don’t understand. If he has her piece, why is Miss Crawford still in danger?”

  Vincent opened his mouth to answer but Tess cleared her throat. “Would you like to try the lemon cakes? They are delicious.” She picked up a plate and held it out to Sophia.

  “Thank you.” Sophia picked up one of the delicacies but her eyes remained on Tess, curious for more information.

  “I suspect that as soon as Percer realizes he has been given false information he will try and return for the original piece of the map,” Vincent offered.

  “I agree,” Hopkins said. “Another reason why I thought I should be here is he will not miss my carriage and it is better he remained focused in one area, where we can catch him, instead of going between our two estates in his quest for the remaining pieces.”

  “Does that not leave your own home vulnerable?” Tess asked. Percer could have left last night and traveled to Sophia’s home for the remaining parchment. Who knew what damage he would do at the estate, or to the servants in his search.

  “I’ve posted guards among my staff. If he attempts to break in, he will be caught and dealt with. In fact, I am hoping he has gone there so the students remain safe here.”

  “I doubt we would be so lucky,” Vincent grumbled.

  “Which is why we need to come up with another plan.” Hopkins’ ominous tone settled on the group with trepidation. He glanced down at his daughter, who still nibbled on her lemon cake, then addressed Atwood. “I stopped by Parham’s estate on my way to you.” His eyes bore into Vincent’s.

  “Yes, my servant has already reported back to me.”

  Tess hoped they would not discuss the death. Sophia looked at her father with expectation.

  “Good, then all is taken care of.” Hopkins smiled down at his daughter and did not elaborate.

  Inwardly Tess sighed. Sophia was already dealing with too much at her young age. She did not need to know another man had been murdered.

  * * *

  Sophia made her way back to her chamber with slow, deliberate steps. She knew Eliza and Rosemary waited for her and would pounce on her with dozens of questions once she entered the room. What could she tell them? She loathed lying, but what else was she to do? The hunt for Percer would be a game to them and they would never realize how dangerous it was until it was far too late. Not that a plan had been formed. None of the adults knew the best way to proceed and had decided to wait until he showed himself again.

  Maybe Percer had gone to her home. It would be safer for everyone if he had, not that she liked the idea of that horrible man being in her house. But better there than here, especially since her family was protected elsewhere.

  One question still plagued her. Why was Percer still a danger to Miss Crawford? Was it because he believed she was a murderess? Sophia couldn’t imagine Miss Crawford killing anyone, but that is the only thing she could think of. Did Atwood know? She wanted to ask and almost had, but Miss Crawford changed the subject and Atwood allowed her to do so. That must be it. But, who had Miss Crawford murdered and why? Oh, she hoped she was wrong because she didn’t think Mrs. Wiggons would allow a murderess to remain as a teacher.

  “Well, is he taking you home?” Eliza asked the moment she closed the door.

  “No, why would he?”

  “Then he doesn’t know?” Rosemary asked.

  “Know what?” What were they talking about?

  “That Atwood is a vampire,” Eliza informed her with irritation.

  Sophia sagged against the door and dropped her head to try and find some control. She wanted to laugh with relief but the two would find it odd. She had totally forgotten what they believed. But the ludicrous was much easier to deal with than the truth. She lifted her head and hoped she appeared serious, if not dire. “No, not yet, and we must keep it from him.”

  “Then why is he here?” Eliza flopped on the bed.

  “Yes, why?”

  “The same reason as your father, Rosemary. He was concerned with my well-being.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, but if they assumed it was because of the tempest, all the better for everyone.

  * * *

  Natalie stood in the center of her room, hands on her hips, and looked around. “I believe that is everything.”

  “I would have preferred to have Hopkins take a room at the other end of the hall, but didn’t know what excuse I could give for having to move three of our students into here,” Tess groaned.

  “I would have been more comfortable with Hopkins at that end since Atwood is at this one,” Mrs. Wiggons agreed and turned to Natalie. “Thank you for agreeing to move.”

  “It is no problem,” she smiled. “As long as Claudia does not snore, I am sure we will get along fine.”

  Claudia snorted. “I was thinking the same about you.” She grinned back.

  “I could have moved,” Tess insisted.

  Claudia laughed.

  Natalie smiled and shook her head.

  “Dear, you, above anyone else, need to be as close to Atwood as possible and the door connecting the two rooms gives me much comfort,” Mrs. Wiggons insisted. “Who knows when Percer will strike again.”

  “If only we knew,” Tess sighed.

  * * *

  “That was a lovely performance, ladies,” Hopkins applauded at the end of the impromptu musical recital by the students.

  Mrs. Wiggons smiled proudly. “It is getting late, girls.” She stood and clapped her hands. “It is time we retired for the night.”

  Tess glanced at the clock. It was ten already. How had it gotten to be so late?

  Mrs. Zobard entered the room,
followed by two other servants. All of them wheeled in carts loaded with cups, pots and cakes. “Since everyone is still up, I thought some chocolate would be a fitting end to the evening,” she announced.

  The girls looked expectantly at Mrs. Wiggons.

  She smiled indulgently at them. “Just one cup and one slice of cake, and then it is off to bed with all of you.”

  The girls rushed to the servants and waited patiently for their treat. Tess settled back into her chair by the fire. They were all so innocent. They had no idea the danger surrounding them. She remembered being that way, when she, Claudia and Natalie had attended the school. So young and with so many dreams. They were all going to marry tall, handsome men. They would have estates of their own, visit each other regularly and raise their children together. Of course, if they had daughters, which they were certain they would, the daughters would attend the same school as they, and become the best of friends.

  None of those dreams had come to fruition and each of the former students were forced, beyond circumstances out of their control, to return to the place they first met. While their dreams faded, their friendship had grown stronger and Tess could not be unhappy about that aspect of her life. Still, she hoped the young girls before her did attain their dreams.

  “Is something on your mind, Miss Crawford?”

  Atwood’s voice intruded on her thoughts and Tess turned to find Vincent studying her. “I was simply woolgathering, that is all.” She didn’t dare admit her true thoughts.

  “You seemed far away.” His voice was low so that no one else could hear him.