He lifted the wire rims and studied the glasses. “I’ve heard of colored lenses, and I’ve known people who were spectacles, but I never considered. . .” He put them on his face and hooked the arms over his ears. They were larger than any spectacles she had ever seen, but the intention had been to block out as much light as possible, not allow him to read a book. “I can barely see anything in this room.”
“Would you like to try them outside?” she asked, now giddy with excitement. If Vincent could be out in the sun, his world would open up once again.
His grin matched hers and he strode to the door, threw it open and stepped into the portico. He stood there for a few moments, almost afraid to step out into the light. Tess came up from behind and clasped his hand in hers. He smiled down at her and together they took a step into the sunshine.
Vincent tilted his head one way and then the other. His smile grew larger and larger.
“You like them?” Tess asked.
He looked down at her. Instead of offering an answer, he pulled her against him and kissed her with a passion she had grown accustomed to.
Gasps interrupted them and Tess jerked back. Her face was on fire as she turned toward her students.
Vincent wouldn’t let her escape and snaked an arm around her waist to keep her anchored to his side. “I suppose now is as good as any time to tell you.”
Tess bit her lip and looked up at him.
“Your teacher, Miss Crawford, and I, plan to be wed this spring.”
Squeals and giggles accompanied the three girls as they rushed forward and pulled Tess from Vincent and took turns hugging her.
Tess glanced over their heads and rolled her eyes. Her short time of peaceful enjoyment had come to an end. Hopkins sauntered forward and held his hand out to Vincent. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Mrs. Wiggons soon appeared on the porch, followed by Natalie and Claudia. “What is the meaning of this?” Mrs. Wiggons demanded.
“Miss Crawford and Lord Atwood are to be wed in the spring,” Eliza cried.
The teachers grinned, but approached with more decorum than the students, and took turns hugging Tess.
“I told you, didn’t I?” Natalie held out her hand.
Claudia pursed her lips. “I don’t have my reticule with me now.”
Tess couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “You made a bet in regard to me and Lord Atwood?”
“Claudia thought it wouldn’t be until we moved, then Atwood would be lost without you. I knew it would be much sooner.”
Tess wanted to die of mortification. She glanced over at Vincent. He only laughed and shook his head.
“Do the spectacles work,” Tess asked after a moment.
Vincent nodded. “I need to watch the angle of the sun, but they seem to work.” He turned around and looked up. “I honestly never thought I would walk in the sun again.”
Tears stung Tess’ eyes. If she did nothing else with her life, at least she was able to give Vincent this.
“We have a large hat also,” Sophia announced and thrust the blackest, widest hat at him. “With the glass and the hat, you will never be stuck inside again.”
Vincent bowed to her. “Thank you, Lady Sophia. I could never imagine a more perfect gift.”
“Well, shall we make our way to the cliffs?” Hopkins called out and headed away from the house.
* * *
Vincent held back. He knew he walked slower than the rest, but he wasn’t as anxious to reach the cliffs. The sun warmed his body, despite the cool wind, and with the glasses and hat, he could stay in the sun for hours. He knew he grinned like an idiot but couldn’t remove it from his face if he had too. A few times he turned his head incorrectly and the sun was able to penetrate the side of the spectacles and hit his eyes. The pain was sharp, but he simply moved his head away. While they were not perfect for his problem, which he would never confess to Tess, they were exactly what he needed. Now he could truly face the world again.
And he had the perfect woman to stand by his side.
“We are here. Who goes first?” Sophia asked. She held back while Rosemary and Eliza peered over the edge.
“I will lead you down,” Wesley announced and walked further away before he took a step down. Tess gasped. If one did not know the path was there, one would think Wesley had stepped off of the edge. “I am not sure it is wise the girls venture any further.”
Vincent lifted an eyebrow and looked down at her. “If we don’t allow them to accompany us they will investigate on their own, which is far more dangerous.”
Tess worried her bottom lip but said nothing further.
“I think the girls should be separated by the adults in case there is a misstep.” Vincent addressed the only three students who were allowed on this adventure because they were the only ones who ever truly knew what was going on, even if they couldn’t distinguish between fact and fiction. “You will go slowly, stay close to the wall of the cliff. Watch every single step you take. I don’t know when this path was used last or how safe it is.” He glanced over at Wesley, how had returned to the top. “Wesley will go first because he knows the path as well as I. Once he has determined it is sound, only then will we proceed.”
They approached the path with slow, deliberate caution. Tess looked over the edge once, her face paled and she took a step away. Vincent wondered how afraid of heights Tess was because they had a very steep decent ahead of them.
He bent over and whispered in her ear. “Are you going to be alright? You can remain up here if it would be more comfortable for you.”
“While I would prefer to keep my feet far away from the cliff’s edge, I refused to appear the ninny in front of my students, nor leave them with one less adult to watch out for them.”
It was now time for Tess to begin her way down the path. Vincent gave her hand a squeeze before he relinquished it. She grabbed he skirts with the hand of her one good arm to keep from tripping and moved toward the beach below. Once she descended enough that the cliff wall was to her shoulder, she put one right hand against it. Vincent wasn’t sure if it was for balance or if she was hoping for a rock or sturdy root to hold onto in the event she slipped.
Tess was much slower in her descent than the others, but they waited patiently in the wet sand below. He would rather she proceed slowly with caution than to risk falling and injuring herself. After some time she reached the bottom and walked over to meet the rest of the group.
“Now where do we go?” Eliza asked with excitement.
Vincent pointed. “Right around the curve in the cliff.”
The girls didn’t wait for the others and took off toward the east, kicking up sand behind them as they ran. The adults followed at a more leisurely pace. Tess only appeared to be alarmed when the girls were out of sight. “They can’t get into any trouble on the other side, can they?”
“Not unless they decide to enter the cave without us.”
The adults shared an alarmed look and hastened their steps. Once they rounded the ben, the saw the three girls standing outside the opening to a cave.
“Is this it?” Rosemary called.
“Yes, it is.” Vincent walked forward and peered into the darkness. He wished he would have thought to bring a light, but knew further in there were some lanterns, if they still existed. “I will go first.” He moved deeper into to the cave and removed his glasses, putting them into his pocket. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, but soon he could make out the outlines of rocks and steps. Once they traveled far enough, they wouldn’t even have the outside sunlight shining into the cavern to help.
The students turned and looked at him. “You don’t want us to actually any further into there do you?” Eliza pointed into the pitch black cavern that loomed ahead. It was impossible to determine how deep the cave went.
“Isn’t that part of this adventure?” Vincent grinned. “If I were seeking a treasure, I wouldn’t let anything scare me away.”
He glanced up at Hopkins. “Ready?”
“I will follow behind,” Lord Hopkins called.
“And I will remain in the middle so that we don’t lose any of the ladies,” Wesley assured him.
Vincent looked back to make sure everyone was accounted for. Eliza and Rosemary clung to each other though their eyes were wide with excitement. Sophia had slipped back and grasped her father’s hand. Tess offered an encouraging smile and nodded for him to continue. With that, he began the assent into the damp gave. His feet soon left sand and met stone. The path continued up, curving away from the entrance and all light. Once he had ascended about twenty feet, he began to feel along the wall and was eventually rewarded when his hand hit the metal of an old lantern. Fishing into his greatcoat, he brought out the flint and lit the first one he found.
Light pierced the darkness and he looked around for the remaining lanterns. Three more hung further ahead and continued in that direction, lighting all three. Tess, Wesley and Lord Hopkins each took one of the lights.
Five feet further Vincent stopped when his foot hit a step. He had never gone this far into the cave before. As a child he always stopped at the lamps, too afraid of what he would find deeper in the abyss. Now he would find out.
The steps were steep and he continued to climb until they stopped abruptly at a door. Vincent fumbled around for a handle. When one was not located, he stepped back and moved his lantern to shine on the door. He gave the handle a good twist. It barely turned. He lowered the lamp to study it. Rust! Even if there was a key it probably wouldn’t turn the lock. He jiggled the handle a few more times. I felt loose. Perhaps it was still possible to get into the room.
He slammed his shoulder against the door, eliciting frightened shrieks from the girls. Two more blows and the seal broke. He stumbled into the room. His shoulder throbbed. It was the same one he blocked the tree branch to protect Tess less than a month ago. Vincent rolled his shoulders to ease the ache.
Lord Hopkins moved to the front of the line and followed Vincent into the room. The two men lifted their lanterns high and turned circles, taking in the old room of stone walls and a damp wood floor. Crates lined every wall, stacked onto each other. Most were open and lids lay to the side.
The girls filed into the room with Tess and Wesley close behind.
“This is surely the treasure,” Eliza exclaimed as the girls rushed forward to rifle through the crates. They went from one to the next, their enthusiasm diminishing with each failed search.
“They are all empty,” Eliza cried with disappointment as she joined Sophia and Rosemary in the center of the cavern.
“Did you really expect to find a treasure?” Tess asked.
“Yes. If there is a map there should be a treasure.”
Lord Hopkins turned once again and laughed. “I am not surprised. Whatever was here is gone. Our ancestors would not have left it behind. Maybe for a short time to avoid being caught, but certainly not forever.”
Vincent turned to look at him. “Exactly who were our ancestors?”
Lord Hopkins chuckled again. “Haven’t you heard the stories?”
Vincent shook his head. Maybe in his youth but he did not recall them now.
“Pirates, Smugglers and Spies.”
“Really?” The excitement in Eliza’s voice worried Atwood.
“They were a small group of young men, all within a day’s ride of here, and attended school together. All of the families had estates along the coast so they would spend time at each other’s estates when not in school. Eventually they found favor with the king and were sent to Continent and other places to spy. They soon learned that pirating and smuggling was more profitable and while going about the king’s business they lined their one pockets on the side,” Hopkins explained.
Tess turned and took in the room, sadness in her eyes. “So many people dead, for nothing.” She focused back on Vincent. “How did Percer even learn of the map?”
It was a day Vincent wished he could forget, or wished never happened. If that had been the case, nobody would have died needlessly. “Percer had come home from school to visit me. My father and uncle were joking about the map piece. I had always known about it, but not the origins. They believed an ancestor won it in a wager, but nobody was really sure.” He glanced around to find interested faces watching him. “They quit talking as soon as Percer and I entered the room, but we had both heard. When he questioned me later, I assured him it was nothing and just an old family oddity.”
“But he didn’t believe you,” Tess guessed.
“I thought he had until years later when his family cut him off. He asked me a few times about the map and if I had bothered trying to find if it led to a treasure. Soon he became obsessed with the idea. I thought it was only the idea of a treasure hunt and not the dangerous greed that accompanied the intent to find one until it was too late.”
Tess reached over and clasped her hand in his. “It is not your fault. You tried to discourage him.”
Vincent looked down at her. He knew what she was saying was true, but had he not dismissed Percer and his interest long ago things could be so much different now.
Eliza sighed and slumped her shoulders. “Not even one gold bullion,” she grumbled.
Vincent laughed. “Feel free to explore. You never know. Something may have been left behind.”
The girls grinned at each other and set off in different directions. “What of you, Tess? Don’t you wish to explore?”
A gleam came to her eyes. “Perhaps I will.” She joined the girls in looking through empty crates and moving casks aside. A moment later she gasped and reached down. Vincent walked over to where she stood to examine her find. In the center was an uncut emerald. Too large for a ring, but not a broach.
“See, there was treasure here at one time.”
Tess looked up at him, eyes wide with excitement. “What do we do with it?”
“Keep it, of course.” He laughed and put an arm around her shoulder. “It wouldn’t be possible to return it to the original owner, even if we knew who it was.”
The girls renewed the exploration with more diligence.
* * *
A fortune was not found, but Sophia wasn’t disappointed. It was a fun adventure, even though the circumstances leading up to it would probably haunt her for a very long time. And, she did find a pretty gold locked, which now hung around her neck. Best of all, her father had joined them in this search. Rarely was she able to spend time with just him, at least when they were with her family.
Rosemary slipped a slight gold chain around her wrist and stepped out into the sun. Sophia followed, her slippers sinking in to the sand.
Eliza stopped and Sophia almost ran into her. “Why did we stop?”
“Did you see that door on the other side?”
“Yes, I did.” Rosemary fairly bounced with excitement.
Eliza put her hand to her chin. “I am just wondering where it may lead.”
Sophia groaned. “I am sure no place good, now come on.”
“Girls?” Miss Crawford had turned around and looked at them.
Eliza grinned and walked toward their teacher. Sophia knew this was not the last she would see or hear of that door.
Fearing no obstacles to his transports,
he embraced with all the fervor of a deeply enamoured
and successful lover.
Wake Not the Dead
Johann Ludwig Tieck
Epilogue
Tess wandered through the grand ball room, her hand on Vincent’s arm. Music played from a small orchestra in the far corner. She and Vincent had broken from tradition and allowed the students to remain following the Wedding Breakfast. It seemed unfair of her to allow them to see her wed, but send them away after they had eaten.
Besides the students and teachers, most of the town was present. She could hear conversations being carried on in English and in German and smiled to herself. It was because of the German populat
ion the book had become infamous in their community and Tess doubted anyone else in England had read it. That same book had caused them to fear the man who was now her husband. But, that was a long time ago. Once Vincent returned to visiting town in the daylight hours, the townspeople feared him less and actually renewed their former acquaintances.
Vincent turned her and pulled her out onto the terrace. She looked up at him. A thrill ran down her spine. Once the guests left, they would be alone in this house for the very first time. With the exception of servants, of course. The school was complete and the students and teachers, when not preparing for the wedding, had moved their belongings to the new building. They would all sleep there tonight for the first time. All except Tess. She would be with her husband. Another thrill shot through her.
He put his hand on her cheek and brought his lips to hers. “You look beautiful,” he whispered when he pulled back.
“You should tell Wesley,” she smiled. “He designed the dress, chose the material and suggested how I should arrange my hair.”
“My love, if you wore sackcloth, you wouldn’t be any less gorgeous than you are at this minute.”
Tess sighed. He said the sweetest things to her. How could she not love him?
“Excuse me, Lord Atwood,” Wesley’s voice intruded on their privacy. “But the guests are beginning to leave.”
Vincent turned Tess toward the house so they could bid the crowd goodbye. The last to go were Natalie, Claudia, Sophia, Eliza and Rosemary.
“We need to hurry,” Eliza insisted from the door. “It is going to be dark soon.”
Everyone turned to look at her.
“Didn’t you hear?” Her eyes were wide with concern.
“Remember, we were not going to put stock into such rumors,” Sophia warned in a low voice.
“But what if they are true?” Rosemary whispered.
To Walk in the Sun (Wiggons' School for Elegant Young Ladies - Book 1) Page 28