by Claudy Conn
“Shhh …” she said as she stealthily tiptoed within, telling Caesar to be very quiet. He cocked his head at her and proceeded to take the lead, padding his way towards the main staircase.
She hurriedly threw on her nightclothes, folded her buckskins, and was making her way towards her room when a door opened off the corridor.
Thankfully, it was Elizabeth, in her nightdress, who scurried over and touched Jewelene’s hands. “Dearest—in your room … there … go …”
Jewelene immediately went inside her bedroom and turned to her cousin, her eyes wide with concern. “Lizzie … what is it?”
“I have been waiting for you to return—Mama … woke earlier and decided it was time, you and she had a talk. I … I knew you weren’t in your room … I know you went out, you see.”
“How did you know, Lizzie?”
“I notice things, and I was awake the other night. I couldn’t sleep, and when I heard footsteps out in the hall, I peeked and saw you going into your room. I didn’t think anything of it, but tonight … I heard you go out, but never mind that—I stopped her. I told her I had been with you, and you were very blue deviled and needed some time to yourself. I told her you were worried about finances and at your wits end. I told her to leave you be, and lecturing you about your behavior wasn’t the right thing at this time and reminded her we were guests in your home as you and Jimmy no longer needed guardianship. She didn’t like or agree with what I said, but she let it go. I thought you should know in case she mentions something tomorrow …”
Jewelene threw her arms around her. “Lizzie … you are the best of good friends. I shall tell you, I have done something awful … and if anyone were to discover what I did, I would be ruined. I shall never do it again, but, oh, Lizzie … thank you.”
Lizzie hugged her tightly. “Never mind … go on now and get some rest …”
“Do you want to know what I’ve done? You deserve that I confide in you …”
“Yes, I do, but not because of curiosity, Jewels … but because I want to stand your friend in case you need me—but not tonight. Get some rest.”
Jewels squeezed her hand and then watched her cousin leave before she sank onto her bed and sat there sighing heavily. “What a mess I have created, Caesar,” she told the interested Great Dane sorrowfully. “Jimmy came into the Silver Heart tonight … and Omsbury was there, and we don’t have the full amount to pay off the blasted note, but Ben says he will never allow me to return as Babette … and whatever are we to do?”
As an answer he got up from the Oriental rug, padded over, sat at Jewel’s feet, and put his head in her lap. She petted him and sighed again. “Indeed, we must hope that the Silver Heart makes enough of a killing to add to what I brought in at the faro table and that we may shove it up Omsbury’s nose … that is what we must hope for.”
Caesar jumped on the bed and made himself comfortable. She looked at him and smiled. “Indeed … we do need to get some sleep, for that is not my only problem. Caesar … I find my heart quite lost to a rogue …” She lay down still clothed in her robe and pulled the quilt all around herself, too tired to do more. Although she thought she would never sleep, she fell directly off and into a deep sleep.
Thirteen
SIR JAMES STOOD on the yawl and breathed the salty air of Portsmouth’s thriving and busy docks. Boats were everywhere, fishermen were going out, and some were coming in with their catch. He grinned, happy to be on an adventure. He and Jewels had problems, but soon that would be at an end, and he was determined to do his part to help his sister out of the mess they were in.
Jimmy looked at the young man standing next to him to see that Arthur also wore a good-natured grin. Their horses and portmanteaux already awaited them, so they had but to make their way past the crowd. However, this they did with less dignity than Jimmy had foreseen.
For some unexplained reason, Arthur began to spend more time casting his eyes about and behind than he did watching where he was going. Inevitably this resulted in a series of stumbles that nearly brought down both young men. Jimmy let out a shout of desperation and flung out his arms, catching the wooden railing with his left hand and his friend with his right, thus saving them both from a fall.
“Odds fish!” he exclaimed as he set himself to rights and stared down at his friend. “What in the name of all—what is wrong with you, Art? Been fidgeting over something ever since we docked!”
“Don’t know, Jimmy. Something isn’t right. I feel it …” Arthur said, frowning darkly and looking once again behind them.
“You feel it? What are you—a woman? You feel it, indeed!”
“I do but, I don’t know what it is … the hairs at the back of m’neck are all on end …”
“Clunch!” pronounced his best friend.
Arthur pulled a face at him but declined to argue the point further as they wielded a path through the crowd with their horses in tow.
“Here … let’s get mounted …” said Jimmy.
“Right then,” Arthur said, slipping his foot into the stirrup. At this moment, something seemed once again to make him turn his head around sharply. The movement caused his horse to whinny and fidget, and in such a crowd it caused something of a stir, which in turn made Jimmy’s horse prance about.
It was some moments before they had their horses collected under them, and Jimmy eyed Arthur irritably while he let loose a harangue on his friend’s lowered head. This continued as they tooled their horses through the maze of traffic down the main thoroughfare, with Jimmy interrupting himself only once to ask Arthur (who held the guide book) the right direction.
It was some moments later that they found themselves in a section of the city that was less trafficked and also less worthy of note.
Sir James looked over the decrepit buildings and eyed his friend with a sigh. “’Tis a sad day indeed, Art … that I, a Henshaw, should be forced to such a deed.”
“Aye, they … I am told, are not nice people, these tens-in-the-hundred.”
They had arrived at the correct address, and Jimmy drew on a long drag of air as he said, “Well, nothing for it—seems to be the only thing that will fit.”
“I’d rather be booked than have to sell my soul to a moneylender.” Arthur sighed. “You’ve got backbone, James Henshaw, that you have.”
Jimmy spotted a link boy and bade him watch their horses, putting a coin in the boy’s dirty small hand and winking at him amiably. “They’ll be another for you when we come back for them.” With that he turned and put a hand on his friend’s shoulder and commented, “You are a good friend to see me through this.”
“Wish I could do more, but the trustees hold m’purse strings …”
“Never mind, in we go.”
Arthur stopped him at the weathered door. “If your sister ever finds out … egad!”
“Well, we’ll just make certain she don’t get wind of it, that’s all.”
“But your father’s ring …”
“He would have wanted me to do this. Better his ring than let her sell m’mother’s emeralds.” Jimmy shook his head. “Besides, mayhap we’ll make enough from the breeding fee and I’ll be able to buy it back?” He opened the door and stepped inside with Arthur’s hand on his back, but even as Arthur he stepped inside he took one more look over his shoulder and noticed a man in a peaked cap across the street looking their way.
The man looked somehow familiar, but Jimmy pulled him inside and shut the door, and he didn’t get a good look.
*
Jewelene’s honey-colored tresses strayed all around her delicate shoulders, shoulders that shook with frustration and rage. He was gone!
She had dressed with unusual care, donning another one of her mother’s day gowns of soft blue cotton as she had none of her own fit to wear any longer. And what must he do? Without a word, without even a note, he had picked up and left, and no one knew where he had gone off to!
He had not even left much of a note for her aunt, saying only
that he would be gone for a while. No explanation, no by your leave …
Drat him—and why she should care was beyond comprehension. He was a libertine … making delicious love to her one moment and then flirting outrageously with Babette the next. She had never realized she was a jealous woman, but she discovered she was, and of all the absurd things, she was jealous now of herself.
How much more could she take? Well, she had told him he owed her nothing for their little tumble … yes, she had told him that, but her heart, oh, that heart had shouted his name. She had so wanted him to declare ‘feelings’ for her, because she knew that she would never love any other man. There was no one who compared to his devastatingly good looks—his shoulders, his smile, his touch, and oh, his voice.
And now—he was gone. She picked up her skirts as she started up the stairs but stopped when she heard her name called. She looked back over her shoulder to find Robby smiling sweetly and approaching her, his hand clasped behind his back.
She put on the best smile she could muster and said, “Yes, my lord …”
“Oh, I do wish you would not call me that—we should have it all straightened out in the next few days, see if we don’t.”
“Straightened out?” Jewels cocked a puzzled look his way. “Whatever can you mean?”
“Oh, yes, yes—Ryker will explain … very complicated. I would get it all muddled, and besides, he has to be here when he explains, you see … and oh, yes, that is it. He asked me to speak with you.”
She raised a brow. “Did he?”
“Yes, he said to tell you that you must not concern yourself—he will be back.” Robby smiled. “There … that’s it in a nutshell, for I can’t remember exactly what he said to tell you …” He leaned in a bit towards Jewels and confided quietly, “Was a bit in m’cups last night, you know.’
She smiled in spite of herself, for rather than alleviating her distress regarding Ryker’s sudden departure, his parting words served to incite her frazzled nerves into a temper.
“And why …” Jewels head was up high. “… should I be concerned about Ryker’s comings and goings?” She wanted to slap Ryker’s face for assuming she would be distressed at his departure. “Please do excuse me, my lord …” she said as nicely as she could and took the steps.
Robby watched her a moment and frowned before he said to her retreating back, “Precisely what I told him—why should Miss Henshaw be concerned … but he told me to …” He shook his head, as Jewelene was already at the top of the stairs and nearly out of sight. He shrugged his shoulders and strolled back into the breakfast room for another cup of coffee.
*
In the morning room, Ben Clay had managed finally to get Elizabeth alone since her mother was off visiting a neighbor.
Their heads were together as they conversed and laughed and conversed some more, and Elizabeth discovered the hope that Ben might feel as strongly about her as she did about him.
They heard Jewelene and Robby conversing at the head of the stairs, and then they heard Jewels as she scurried up the stairs to her bedroom, where she closed the door a bit harder than usual.
Elizabeth frowned. “Something has overset her … I should go and see what is wrong.”
“Yes, and I am due in Yarmouth. I should not have stayed with you so long … especially … alone.”
She smiled a soft smile at him. He was all things wonderful to her. He had a heart that was as big as he stood tall. She gave him her hand as she walked him to the front door, and he bent low over it, murmuring, “Elizabeth?”
And then their eyes met, and she thought she would faint from lack of oxygen.
“Until tomorrow, beloved …” he said on a husky note.
She watched him leave and held a hand to her heart. Beloved! It rang in her ears, it tingled her spirits, it breathed life into her being. Beloved! It was such an enormous word spoken by the man she adored. She turned and, with a sigh of utter joy, made her way to her cousin.
*
A knock sounded at Jewelene’s door. Although she was too blue-deviled to talk to anyone, when Elizabeth called her name, she sighed and replied, “Come in.”
Lizzie peeped around the door and then entered immediately, for she could see that her cousin had been crying. She went right to her, sat beside her on the bed, put a comforting arm around her, and waited for the floodgates to open—and they did.
All the while, Lizzie patted Jewels and comforted with unintelligible words, words that meant nothing more than ‘I am here’, and then she offered as Jewel’s sobs subsided, “Oh dearest, it will all work out in the end … life has a habit of turning one upside down, and then gravity rights us. You will see …”
“Gravity won’t help, Lizzie—he doesn’t love me!” wailed Jewels. “He doesn’t …”
Elizabeth blanched, because at that moment she could think of only one person Jewels was close enough to love romantically. “Ben?”
Jewels was distracted enough to stop crying. She sniffed and looked at Lizzie as though she had just grown another head. “Ben? Of course not … but that is another thing …”
“What is?” Lizzie was at sea.
“You and Ben, of course. We shall have to bring Aunt Dora about, but how is the question, when she so disapproves of his gaming house, and he must make a living after all …”
Lizzie blushed rosily and wondered how the subject had turned upon her own situation. “But … Ben and I … Ben …”
“Oh tush, Liz—did you think I would not know how you two feel about each other?” Jewels found her handkerchief and made a royal mess of it before balling it up, staring at her cousin, and put a wagging finger in her face. “One would have to be blind …” She sighed. “You two will do … it will be fine.” Jewels sniffed again.
“Then you are not in love with Ben? It is not Ben who has made you cry?” Elizabeth frowned as she racked her brain for an alternative.
Jewels looked at Elizabeth for a moment, eyes wide, and then released a hoot of laughter. “Me—in love with Ben? Why—Lizzie, Ben has been in my life for as long as I can remember and has been a big brother as though he had been born to the position. Silly goose …”
It dawned on Elizabeth then, and she silently chastised herself as she said softly, “Ah, of course, it is Ryker.” A small, sweet smile curved Elizabeth’s mouth. “What was I thinking? I should have immediately realized …”
Jewels sighed. “Yes, it is Ryker, and I have been a fool, for he is no more than … than a rogue and a libertine and—”
“Oh, I think you are wrong, so very wrong. He is the best of good gentlemen, and I don’t see him playing fast and loose with a woman, no, I don’t,” Elizabeth said gently.
“Don’t you?” Jewels sighed. “You don’t see it, but I know otherwise …”
“Well, I suppose you might think you know better, but I believe that sometimes when we are too close to a situation we often do not see at all.” She said with conviction while patting Jewel’s hand, “And it fits so I shall use the old cliché, you have missed the forest for the trees, my dear.”
“Well, as to that, I don’t know what that really means … never did, but this tree is a libertine.”
“Do you really think so, or is that what you fear?” Lizzie forced her cousin to look at her.
Jewels felt a moment’s confusion. Her heart told her there was more to this than met her usually discerning eye, but her mind demanded that she look at the cold, hard facts. She sighed heavily and said, “Never mind, angel mine—what I need is a little time to myself … go on, do. I shall be down in a few moments, as suddenly I am quite ravenous.”
“Good girl, that is what you need, a little food, for, Jewels, you are looking too thin …” Lizzie stood up. “Right then, I shall expect to see you shortly. Otherwise I am coming back to fetch you,” she warned.
Jewels smiled, gave her cousin’s hand a squeeze, and sighed sadly. Well, at least she would see Ben and dear Elizabeth happily engaged before l
ong …
*
“Well, you shouldn’t wear it! Makes you look a coxcomb.” Jimmy snorted out the words between a laugh and a shake of his head.
“No, it doesn’t, James—really, that is too bad of you,” Arthur answered in shocked terms. “’Tis the highest kick of fashion.”
“No, it isn’t—at least, not in that quantity and manner. I mean, just look at all that stuffing, Art …” Jimmy cast his eyes disparagingly over Arthur’s shoulders. “Ain’t seemly, ol’ friend—give you my word. Look at any man of Corinthian fashion, and you won’t see him using all that buckram and wadding!” He grinned. “Did you have a good look at Ryker? Did you see any padding at his shoulders? No, you did not!”
“Well, he has shoulders, after all,” Arthur answered, grumbling. “And ’tis easy for you, Jimmy. You ain’t condemned to round shoulders. I am. Don’t like the look of my shoulders stooping. Buckram and wadding fixes that right and tight!”
Jimmy shook his head, but something else had taken hold of his attention. They approached a milestone indicating that Trowbridge was some thirty miles, and he frowned. Something from his youth clicked, and he turned to frown at his friend. “Trowbridge? Odd that—are you sure we are heading in the right direction?”
“Of course … read the guide, didn’t I?”
“Hmm … here, give it over a moment,” Sir James said, reaching.
He scanned the guide map with his finger tracing a line before he released a disgusted exclamation. “Clunch … damn it to bloody hell! We are heading in the wrong direction!” He traced the map with his finger again and sighed. “We should have taken the last fork to Swindon. Fool … we need to get to Swindon, where they have a station set up to receive entrance fees.”
Arthur’s eyes opened wide, and he said in an abashed tone, “Yes … I remember now … Swindon.”
“Dolt, if ever there was such a Noddy … well, never mind then—we’ll backtrack.”
“Happen it is a good thing,” Arthur said thoughtfully.
Jimmy looked as though he were about to rip through him but settled for rapping his friend across his buckram and wadding. “A good thing?”