A Thin Line

by Tammy Jo Burns

  He quickly and efficiently removed the charred mask from her face. Mild burns and scrapes could be found on the lower portion of her face, her chin, and her neck. Part of her hair had white powder and bits of statuary in it. Kala’s eyelids were black from the gunpowder and looked raw in places. Her poor long, thick eyelashes were now sparse and short. Gabe let his fingers gently skim her features. He looked down and noticed that his hands shook and knew that a combination of fear and anger caused it. At that moment he vowed to kill the person responsible for harming Kala.

  He carefully opened her eyelids wanting to check her eyes while she remained unconscious. The dim light hampered him from being able to truly see anything. They did appear red and dilated, but other than that he just didn’t know. He would send for Dr. McGregor as soon as possible. If anyone knew what could be done an old army surgeon would.

  Gabe lifted his head as pounding footsteps came towards them. He quickly stood, placing himself between Kala and the intruder. Drawing his gun, he waited with baited breath. The fireworks abated allowing them to be slightly hidden by shadows. A man wearing a plain black mask appeared around the bend. He too had a drawn gun.

  “Step away from her, now,” the intruder demanded.

  “I don’t believe so.”

  “I do not wish to repeat myself,” the man practically growled.

  “Stop,” Kala weakly interrupted the two and placed a hand on her forehead.

  “Kala, are you all right?” The two men questioned simultaneously.

  “No, now please be quiet. I think my head is going to explode.”

  “Identify yourself,” Gabe demanded in a softer voice in deference to the victim.

  “Southerby, and you?”

  “Hawkescliffe. Shall we perform the unmasking now?” Both men made to holster their weapons before removing their masks.

  “Justin, I think I may need some assistance rejoining our party.”

  “Of course,” Gabe watched the other man carefully as he moved closer to Kala. Gabe refused to give up his position, forcing Southerby to go around to the other side of the bench.

  “What exactly were you doing running up the path?” Hawkescliffe demanded of the other man. Both he and Southerby each grabbed one of Kala’s arm. “Help her sit up very slowly. She fainted a moment ago.”

  “Fainted?” Gabe merely nodded and the two helped Kala into an upright position. She slowly turned and scooted down the bench so that she could use her arms to brace herself on either side.

  “What were you doing?”

  “Chasing someone.”

  “Sure you were,” Gabe sounded skeptical.

  “You can choose not to believe me.”

  “What were you doing here?” Kala asked weakly.

  “I saw you sneak off and I followed you.”

  “Did you watch me change my clothes?” She asked feeling disconcerted at the thought.

  “Not after I realized what you were doing. But then afterwards I followed you here. Kala you are playing with fire.”

  “I wanted to help,” she started to shake her head, but stopped as the pounding intensified. “Justin, there is something you should know.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The explosion blinded me.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Very. I couldn’t even see the rest of the fireworks.”

  “How many fingers am I holding up?” Justin questioned her.

  “I. Don’t. Know,” she enunciated every word very carefully. The last word she accompanied with a stomp of her sandaled foot. A sharp stone penetrated the sole of her shoe. “Ow,” she leaned over to grab her foot and instead had to hold her head steady as the pounding increased ten-fold.

  “What’s wrong?” Gabe asked.

  “Just being a hoyden. Nothing to concern yourself over,” she answered as she removed the stone.

  “This is ridiculous,” Southerby said as he swung her up in his arms. “You two can continue your sparring match later. I’m taking her home.”

  Gabe returned to the site of the explosion. Nothing remained to indicate who might be responsible. He still couldn’t grasp the fact that she had no sight. How could she have gotten herself involved in something like this? By being Kala, what other explanation could there be? She acted before thinking anything through most times. He felt somewhat guilty. She had been reporting about his actions and he could see where someone might see them as suspicious. However, she should have stayed out of it as everyone had told her to, he justified.

  He suddenly realized Kala and Justin were rather far up the path and hurried to catch up with them.

  “I will have Dr. McGregor come by to look at you.”

  “Don’t go to any unnecessary trouble.”

  Gabe counted to ten before responding. “It is no trouble. I will be by later. You have some questions to answer.” When the box where the other two couples sat came into sight, he told Southerby to take her on to the carriage. Gabe stalked over to the others.

  “You look as if a storm cloud is hovering over you. What has Kala done to make you so angry?” Dru asked on a sigh.

  “Kala has had a bit of an accident. I’m sending Dr. McGregor to your house. I will be there shortly. Don’t leave her alone with anyone, including Southerby. He is taking her to the carriage.”

  “What has happened to her?” Tessa asked concerned.

  “Perhaps we should find out for ourselves,” Dru interjected, as she and Tessa quickly left the box leaving Richard and Derek behind.

  Gabe quickly filled the men in on what had happened.

  “Damn, I knew she would get herself hurt or worse. Why couldn’t she have just gone home once the letter came?”

  “What letter?” Gabe queried.

  “I wrote Papa. Dru told me that Papa wrote a letter to Mikala informing her she needed to return home at once. I’m not quite sure how he worded it, but I am sure he forgot all about it ten minutes after he sent it off.”

  “I wrote him as well and knowing your father, he told her that when he should have come and retrieved her. Derek, I have great respect for your father, but he should have taken her in hand years ago.”

  “Now Mikala has dug in her heels even more, hating being told what to do by all of us. When are you two going to learn that it has to be her idea?” Richard challenged. “You two are as much to blame for what has befallen her as she is. Now, you are both welcome to my house as long as you can behave yourselves. I will not have my wife upset in her condition, do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir,” both men mumbled, sounding very much like scolded children.

  “Derek, may I tag along with you in your coach? It appears mine has already left with the women and Southerby.”

  “Of course.”

  “Gabe, I suggest you do as you said and find McGregor.”

  He nodded and the three men parted ways. Gabe quickly left the gardens. He found a young boy milling around outside the gardens admiring the horses and carriages. Gabe approached him as he reached out to stroke the nose of a black horse. He placed a firm hand on the boy’s shoulder.

  “I swear I didn’t touch him guv’nor,” the boy cried out.

  “Would you care to make a crown this evening?”

  “A crown? What’d’I ‘ave t’ do?” The boy asked suspiciously.

  Gabe quickly gave him the information about where to find the doctor. He had him repeat the directions and what he should tell the doctor word for word to him several times.

  “I’ll do ya’ a good job guv’nor.”

  “Come along with the doctor and I will see that you receive another crown.”

  “Yes, sir,” the boy took off running in the direction that would take him to the doctor’s house the fastest. Gabe turned back into the gardens and scanned the thinning mass for Clarissa and her family. After almost ten precious minutes of searching, he came across them as they were about to leave.

  “Almost given up on you Hawkescliffe,” Clarissa’s
father said a bit gruffly.

  “I apologize. The meeting I had took longer than I expected and now an emergency has come up,” he turned to Clarissa after he announced this to the small group. He noticed that her father scowled at him, but nothing could be done about it. Gabe turned to Clarissa and took her delicate, gloved hand in his, a hand the complete opposite of Kala. Had she even been wearing gloves this evening? Probably not. He mentally shook himself, bringing himself back to the present. “Lady Clarissa, would you please excuse me from escorting you home?”

  “Of course. Do be careful.”

  “Thank you for understanding. I will,” he ignored her father. “I will visit you in the next day or two.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  “My driver and carriage is at your disposal the rest of the evening,” he bowed deeply before turning and rushing off.

  Gabe hurried through the gates and first searched out his driver giving him instructions for the rest of the evening. He then hailed the first available hack to take him to Richard and Drucilla’s. He admired Clarissa’s understanding nature and the way she never questioned anything. If that had been Mikala, he would have been reliving the Spanish Inquisition. As the hack rattled over the cobblestones, he found himself wondering how we would have reacted if Clarissa had been the one hurt. Would he feel this fine tremor inside as he did now? Would he feel this same homicidal rage? He would be sorry, certainly, but he didn’t feel passionate about Clarissa, not like Ka… He cut the thought off before he could complete it.

  Gabe tried to turn his thoughts to a different vein. What if Kala never regained her sight? He should have protected her better. He should have taken her over his knee and spanked her soundly as soon as he realized she hid behind the mask. He had needed to see how much she knew, and in fact she knew another player had been involved. He rested his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands, a fine sheen of sweat covered his skin. His hands shook, and he felt as if he could not take in enough air.

  He made himself calm down by taking deep breaths. After several minutes he felt himself able to breathe easily once more. He scrubbed his face and then pushed his hair back off his face. Leaning back against the squabs not caring they were filthy, he replayed those last moments leading up to the explosion over until the hack stopped outside of the townhouse. He paid the driver who quickly disappeared in hopes of getting another fare this evening.

  He walked up to the door and pounded on it using the knocker. The butler opened the door and greeted him.

  “I’m here to see Miss Simmons.”

  “She is not back yet,” he replied, not hiding the fact that he felt she shouldn’t have visitors so late. In any other circumstances he would wholeheartedly agree.

  Richard and Drucilla’s carriage rolled up just then. Southerby stepped out looking around when Gabe strode up to them.

  “What took so long?”

  “We had to stop several times when Kala thought she would be sick,” Southerby replied. Gabe merely frowned at him. “And?”

  “Thank goodness she managed to curb the impulse.”

  He watched Kala step out the door and misjudge the distance of the first step. She fell towards the paving stones when he leaped over and swept her up in his arms.

  “It seems you are destined to carry me tonight, Justin.” Gabe’s frowning visage met the stricken look on Drucilla’s face as she stood to exit the carriage.

  “I’m not Southerby,” he bit out. The name of the other man left a bitter taste in his mouth.

  “Gabe, take her upstairs to her bedroom. Thompson will lead the way,” the butler nodded and began his ascent up the stairs. Gabe followed still carrying his burden. He felt her stiffen in his arms the moment she realized who held her.

  “Here you are, Your Grace.” Thompson quickly pulled down the coverlet so that Gabe could lay her on the bed. Drucilla and Tessa, shooed everyone out of the room, including the maid that had followed them.

  Drucilla and Tessa helped Kala undress and put on a nightgown. “Now, tell us just exactly what happened tonight before the doctor gets here.”

  Kala did so quickly, sparing no details. She told them about suspecting Gabe of sharing information with the enemy. Then she told them about the meeting and how everything seemed to go wrong at once.

  “I sent the note to Director McKenzie to set up the meeting. I told him to come himself or send his most trusted agent. I don’t understand why he sent Gabe.”

  “They never even thought to tell you, did they? Probably thought they were protecting you, and look where that has led.”

  “Tell me what?” She asked warily, not liking the sound of Dru’s voice.

  “Sweetheart, you must know that we are not supposed to know this. It just so happens that our husbands trust us explicitly.”

  “That’s right,” Tessa seconded. “What we are going to tell you must remain in this room.”

  “Fine, just tell me already,” Kala said impatiently.

  “Yes, Gabe works for the War Office,” Dru began, “but he does not just roam around the offices trying to feel useful. He has gone back into the field, so to speak.”

  “Into the field?”

  “Yes,” Tessa took over. “Much like my father and Derek. Gabe has become a spy. There is someone in the government sharing secrets with the enemy and Gabe is giving them false information in hopes of driving the true traitor into the light.”

  “So what you are telling me is that all I overheard between him and that harlot was an act on his part? He doesn’t just sit behind a desk signing off on things, he is a spy for lack of a better description.”

  “Yes,” Tessa said sorrowfully.

  “I can’t see, because when I voiced my concerns, no one, not even Director McKenzie thought to tell me the truth.”

  “They thought it for the best,” Tessa defended the men.

  “I am blind now because they thought it best!”

  “Mikala, that is enough. They could not tell you,” Dru admonished.

  “I wish them all a miserable journey to Hell,” Kala muttered bitterly as the door to her room opened and the doctor walked in.

  Chapter 10

  Gabe and Southerby stood at opposite corners of the study, shooting each other wary glances. Richard and Derek found the two men immensely entertaining and could not wait to see where the night would lead. Richard saw the mistrust in both men’s eyes, but guilt overwhelmed Gabe’s entire visage. He knew the man felt an unhealthy responsibility for Kala, regardless of what he said otherwise. They could all only hope that Dr. McGregor had positive news to share.

  “Thank you, sir. I will call for you if there is any change.” Drucilla entered the room after showing the portly man out.

  “Well?” Derek asked worriedly.

  “Give her a moment,” Richard interjected, shielding his wife from the concerned men who practically leapt at her like starving lions.

  “It’s all right, dear. The doctor thinks it is similar to what some soldiers experience when too near a cannon that is set off. If you stand too close it can blind you, just from the explosion of gunpowder. Sometimes it can be temporary,” she watched as the men held their breath, “other times it can be permanent. Only time will tell us which in Kala’s case.”

  “She could be blinded for life, and it would be my fault,” Gabe grumbled.

  “Not just you, Gabriel, but Derek also,” Drucilla said, not holding back to spare their feelings. “You both should have been honest with her from the beginning. You knew she had her suspicions. What harm would it have done to tell her the truth of the situation? You know she is stubborn and would not let it rest.”

  “My work is top secret,” Gabe said stubbornly, hating the feeling of being dressed down like a child in leading strings. “You should not even know about it,” Gabe glared at Richard who merely strolled to the sideboard and filled a glass with amber liquid.

  “Tessa only knows because she is my wife,” Derek attempted to just
ify keeping Mikala in the dark.

  “I never saw any reason to tell her that I have ties with the Foreign Office,” Southerby interjected, assuming Lady Thornbrook had been addressing him as well.

  “You what?” Gabe and Kala blurted out at the same time.

  The group swung around to see the young woman standing at the foot of the stairs, her hair streaming about her shoulders, and a harried maid standing next to her. Kala’s hands were wrapped in bandages.

  “Kala, what are you doing down here?” Drucilla demanded. Tessa rushed to Mikala’s side, wrapping an arm around her waist for support.

  “I thought to reassure everyone that I would be fine, but evidently it appears that I walked into a hornet’s nest instead. So which of you would finally like to explain what is going on?” She dismissed the maid with a wave of her hand. Tessa guided her into the room and shut the door so they could speak without being overheard by the staff. Kala stood her ground, waiting for answers, unaware of how uncomfortable her sightless stare made some of them feel.

  “Kala you needn’t concern yourself with what I do,” Gabe commanded austerely.

  “Nor I,” Justin seconded. Derek did not have a chance to chime in before Drucilla interceded.

  “Good grief, we’re surrounded by little boys playing spy games.”

  “Drucilla, I resent that.”

  “I don’t care at the moment what you resent, Derek. And you get to tell my brother what happened. And you,” Dru swung her glare towards Gabe, “get to tell him your part in the affair. He may seem like a mild-mannered school master on most occasions, but when it comes to one of his children being injured, believe me you will both wish you had been more honest with her. I do not pity either one of you.”

  “Papa should have come to retrieve her when I sent the letter.”

  “And if you were so worried, you should have taken her kicking and screaming, instead of writing the letter and hoping Michael would take care of the situation for you.”

  Kala interrupted the accusations, “Justin, we have ascertained that you work for the Foreign Office. Gabe, would you care to qualify my suspicions that you offer your services to the War Office in a much deeper capacity than you would have had me originally believe?” When silence ensued, she posed a question to her brother, “And brother dear, I believe you do much more than offering your expertise in codes. Correct?” More silence. “Nice that you are all men enough to admit it.”