by Laura Hogg
Relief took her sister's hand and squeezed. She chuckled.
"I cannot take myself too seriously, in every regard, Honora. I might burst!"
"I see your point. You have a temper, sister.” She took a seat on the bed gazing at Leafy. “You are a driven woman, Leafy.
"I love what I do.” Admiration shone in her sister's green eyes. She studied her, appreciating Honora's golden hair, pulled up and back and curled.
"I do hold in high regard knowing your secret and keeping it, Leafy. If people only knew that you are the one who goes about the evening helping others, they should be quite surprised. However, they should never suspect someone of your standing to do this. Ever."
"Or someone so proud to be a Moore! My pastime is vastly amusing.” Leafy lifted her chin with satisfaction.
Honora stood and picked up the gazette that was resting on a little, tasteful table. She plopped down again and scanned the paper.
"Here's a note on our family, Leafy, another large acquisition."
Relief smiled.
"Oh, look here.” She pointed while scanning the words on the paper.
"What is it, Honora?"
"A mention of how a boy saved yet another would-be victim on the streets last month. The Town wonders who their secret hero is, Leafy! The people of the streets only produce the first name ‘Raphael'.” She chuckled.
"Shh! Sister, you must swear to keep your silence upon the matter.” She put her finger affectionately over her sister's lips then pulled it away.
Honora looked at her, and a slight frown marred her features. “No husband would ever allow you to go about town saving the day, disguised as a boy!"
"I shall never have a husband except by my own terms,” she said and took a seat next to her sister.
"I suppose not. Men are that way—always wanting to control females.” Honora tapped her forearm, pondering things.
Relief sighed.
"I lay the odds that more than one man will try to push you into marriage."
"Honora, will I ever find the man I could bend to my will, one that will allow me to continue my activities? Do you know any?"
Honora offered a sweet smile and shook her head.
"If only, Honora. As long as I can fight and ride a horse, I intend on having my little street adventures helping out poor souls, because I'm capable and because it allows me release."
Honora paused then blurted out. “Fall into the Viscount's arms."
"What?” she said shocked, her brows rose up, and her hands came to her hips. “No, Honora!” She stood up and dropped her arms.
"You said that he's very handsome."
"Yes. Good Lord, I cannot relieve my mind of his sarcastic smile! Blast him! His presence unnerved me more than his appearance. Do you understand? There is a bit of the hidden hero in him. I can picture him by my side, saving people in the night, but it's only a fantasy. He's a pampered lord. He would never in reality..."
"I think I understand, Leafy."
My heart sped up when I held his hand in mine, when I shook his hand. His touch sent quivers throughout my body, Relief thought. “Honora I don't know."
"Try him. Perhaps you can draw him out.” She grinned in a devilish way.
Leafy paced a step then halted her movement to regard her sister in earnestness. “I do not want to be used. I want to be loved, and loved by a man who would not suppress me, if one exists. I may never find him, and it brings me much grief. Perhaps I endeavor at impossibilities."
"Do you believe Lord Cheltham has hidden motives?"
She fisted her hands. “His coach looked in need of repair, and it is publicly known that our family has millions."
"I see."
"And he can go to all his women. He will not have me, not as long as he is concerned about gaining the attention of so many women.” Her lips turned downward in her disappointment.
If only he longed for just me and didn't care about all those women, Relief's thoughts continued.
"You seem adamant about that.” Honora poured herself a glass of water from a pitcher that was resting on the side table. She gestured with the glass. Leafy shook her head, declining the water as her heart sunk over the handsome Viscount she wouldn't have.
"Yes."
"What a shame, Leafy.” She stood up, put the glass down, and touched her sister's arm.
Leafy gave her a weak smile. “You will have to dress me as the little street urchin quickly after the performance tomorrow. I promised to discuss the possibility of meeting Miss Moore with the Viscount."
"Oh?” Honora raised her brow.
"Yes."
"I believe you agreed to see him again because you have a degree of affection for him, Leafy."
"Honora?"
"Yes?"
She was vexed, trembling, and changed the direction of their conversation. “Something strange happened."
"What is it?” Honora asked.
"I saw him again.” Her voice came out unsteady.
"To whom do you refer?"
Relief touched her chin with her fingertips. Honora gazed at her with great curiosity.
"I refer to the man who follows me from city to city. I saw him after the last opera performance I attended. I thought he had given up on me."
Honora touched her arm. “I wish he would. I know you can fight, Leafy, but still it causes me concern.” She twitched her lips and picked up a silver brush running her fingers softly over the bristles.
"Why?” She turned and looked into Honora's face.
"Oh, Leafy, I never told you about the note."
"What note?"
"He approached me earlier today while you were out.” She touched Leafy's shoulder.
"What? He did not hurt you, did he?” She narrowed her eyes, and her chest moved faster with her increased breathing.
"No, he just gave me the note.” Honora's lower lip quivered.
"What did it say?” The question came out with tremulous tones.
"I don't want it to interfere with your peace.” She looked down.
"What did it say, Honora? I can best protect myself if I know.” Relief lowered her head to try to meet her sister's gaze.
Honora touched Leafy's hair and began combing it out gently. She used long, soft strokes as she ran the brush through her sister's soft brunette hair.
"Leafy, it was a death threat."
Relief inhaled sharply.
"When our family arrives, Honora, could I expect that you won't tell Father about my evil pursuer? He will only become concerned, and I may lose any independence he has granted me thus far."
"He knows that you have fighting skills, but he would be angry if he knew you gave a holiday to the protector that our brother hired. Daniel would be most displeased if he knew what you had done.” Honora set down the hairbrush.
"There's old Mrs. Miller."
"Leafy, she is asleep in the guestroom most of the time. She is, after all, only for the sake of appearances and is old enough to remember when America answered to a king!” she said chuckling.
"You know how to make me laugh.” Leafy joined her sister in laughter, but only outwardly. The tightness of fear in her heart remained, and she suspected that Honora suffered it as well. She listened to her sister ramble about nonsense, and she suspected that Honora was trying to avoid the subject of that horrible man.
"Our parents were kind to bring Mrs. Miller into our household after her husband died."
Leafy produced a small smile and scanned the ceiling in her frustration. “I didn't need any hired man, though. Father and our brothers believe that because I am a woman, I cannot protect myself. I survived the incident. I will survive any future one too!” She seethed with resentment.
Honora shook her head and smiled. “Father is not usually wrong, but he is in this case. Your secret is safe with me, Leafy. Isn't that hired man still in London?"
"Yes, why? I am not going to have him back until our brother returns because a man in a hooded cloak appears
in the oddest places, looking at me."
Honora stepped closer to her. “That man is terrifying, Leafy. He can practically fly. Remember the story about how he hid on a ceiling for an hour? His prey only had to look up to see him. It might have saved the life of the poor man he killed.” She shuddered.
Both girls quickly looked up and around the room. Then Honora gathered Leafy's hair into three sections with fast and nervous movements, so she could braid it. Leafy reached up and touched her hand affectionately.
"I'm glad you can fight,” Honora stated.
"So am I."
"Father can't know that you protect yourself well."
"Yes, you are right."
"Your harasser was in Paris when we were there on tour with Daniel and Mrs. Miller."
"And Vienna, and Berlin, and..."
"Eventually you will have to face him."
Relief grew stone cold.
Three
"He has not attacked. I assume he is trying to frighten me, to intimidate me.” Relief sighed and dropped her hands into her lap.
"Why make that assumption?” Honora asked, braiding her sister's hair in front of the mirror in her bedroom.
Relief flinched when Honora pulled tight, straining her neck.
"Sorry, Leafy. Your hair is thick, so I must draw it in to gather it all."
Relief smiled and offered a slight inclination of her head in acknowledgement that she accepted her apology. Honora rubbed her hands over the top of Leafy's head to smooth out her hair. She brought forth the stray strand that would partially conceal her sister's exposed eye. “There."
Leafy sensed her still playing with loose wisps from the back of her head.
"Honora, I was hoping he would forget his business with me because I am a woman."
"You have been foolish. He said it was only a matter of time. He killed your teacher, and now he wants to finish his job."
"Why? Why won't he leave me be? Is it so important that he can't just forget it?"
"You humiliated him in Asia, and you know it. There, finished."
Honora dropped her hands, touched Leafy's braid then placed her hands on her shoulders in comfort.
The elder sister closed her eyes and pressed her hands to the tabletop in front of her. When her stomach churned with anxiety, she tried her best to hide her grave concern from her innocent sister because Honora frightened easily. She filled her lungs with a deep breath and glanced into the mirror with falsely confident eyes then stood up and crossed the large room. Honora followed her. Leafy poured a glass of water from a pitcher on the table by her bed and gulped one swallow of the refreshing liquid. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, set her drink down, and gazed at Honora a long moment.
"Honora, I have to be able to protect myself. A husband cannot always be by my side, and I couldn't tolerate a constant guard. I enjoy my privacy but don't experience much of it as a member of our family. She paced across the room.
Her hands lifted to emphasize her words. “What am I to do, Honora? No husband would ever allow me to protect myself. I couldn't go into the city's streets in the middle of the night to practice my self-protection skills. It's fun strolling around without the restrictions of my gowns. Imagine tapping a giant bully on the shoulder.” Her feet froze, and her face turned to the side with an unsightly grin. “He turns around with an ugly sneer on his face after bloodying the nose of some poor little orphan lad, no one to look out for him.” Her upper body twisted as she threw an uppercut punch. “The bully turns and bam! I punch him right in the chin, and he crashes into the dirt with dust flying everywhere.” She jumped from foot to foot, excited. “A crowd gathers and cheers. I take a bow.” Her hands came up in a wide arc, and a bright smile enhanced her face as she leaned forward in a bow.
"Thank you, thank you, friends!” She chuckled and stood up, crossing her arms across her chest, quite satisfied with herself.
Honora smiled. “That gratifies your great sense of pride, I'm sure, Leafy.” She sat on the large, soft, pink bed. Leafy sat down next to her, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. Honora placed an arm around her shoulders, and Leafy rested against her younger sister. “It does, and at the same time, I do helpful things for other people. I'm a good fighter, Honora, and I intend to stay that way. Relying on someone else would be dangerous."
"It's ironic. A husband would protect you and insist that you stop going out at night. I can see him locking you away in your bedchambers to confine you after he discovered your boy's clothes. You would bang on the door until your hands throbbed, red and swollen."
Relief's shoulders fell. “Is there a man that wouldn't do that to me? I would very much like to meet him. Father has me in London. It seems he has hope for me, so he has allowed us to set up house here. I have turned away too many of New York's finest bachelors."
"Never give up hope, Leafy. Maybe we should stop assuming the worst and trust that you will find the man of whom you dream. Maybe here he will walk into your life."
"And fight by my side,” Leafy muttered with a twinge of sadness but grasped for the chance of it.
* * * *
Outside the theater, Leafy stood still as her sister brushed off the shoulders of her tattered boy's coat. “You appear most boyish, if I may say so,” Honora stated. “Just don't smile unless you remember to do it with sarcasm! Your smile is your best feature and easy for someone to recall!"
"Thank you, Honora. This costume allows me freedom that would otherwise be denied me,” she said, using her brilliant smile on her. She knew it was effective.
Honora nodded in approval.
They turned and saw the Viscount pacing in front of the theater in his fancy opera clothes. He wore a close-fitting black evening coat with a velvet collar and black satin knee breeches. A diamond sparkled from within the folds of his pristine white cravat.
Leafy huffed. “Damn him.” Her stomach tightened with desire as she watched him take long strides, squeezing his hands together in happy anticipation.
"What is it, Leafy?"
"Men are supposed to want me, not the other way around.” She pouted, reaching for her sister's arm.
Honora's eyes grew bigger, and she grinned.
"The coxcomb fellow seems to congratulate himself on his own impressive nature. And let me assure you, it is quite impressive. He exudes confidence and seems to be well aware that he has an effect on women. He's quite handsome, Leafy, well-built, blond like a—"
"Viking?"
"Yes.” Honora's lips parted, and she blushed.
"If he discovered my activities Honora...” Relief held her nervous stomach.
"He's magnificent.” Honora touched her cheek and sighed.
Annoyed, Leafy frowned behind her boyish makeup. “Honora, he's conceited.” She played with the loose strand of hair meant to partially cover her one exposed eye.
"He appears to be unsettled now, see?” Honora pointed over. “His lordship's step has become uneven. See him wringing his hands like a nervous boy in his short coat?"
"I haven't noticed."
"He grows nervous awaiting you. Go, Leafy, talk to him, and try not to look directly at him.” Honora pushed her sister forward. Relief stumbled.
Honora grinned. “Also, he will want to know all about you, I mean, Miss Moore. Ask him to pay for the information. It will fit his expectations, I imagine."
Relief took in a deep breath and made her way towards him, walking like a man with big steps. Lord Cheltham looked over and his features lit up with pleasure, causing her to hesitate, disarming her. She blinked and took in a deep breath. Admiration made her skin tingle, and her heart rest light in her chest.
"Good evening, Mr. Taylor.” His husky, pleasant voice sent shivers of joy across her heart.
She nodded and chewed on her lower lip, then mentally slapped her wrist for letting that feminine action slip. His hair appeared to be soft, and she wanted to find out for herself if it were true. In her mind, she reached and placed her fi
ngertips upon his head and sighed in delight. Her chest tightened with uncertainty. She might never grow weary of this man with his easy nature.
"Did you speak with her?” The Viscount asked anxiously.
"To whom do you refer?” Leafy turned her head so that her covered eye faced him.
"The lovely Miss Moore.” Lord Cheltham stepped closer and leaned forward, attempting to have a better look at her face in the shadows. “You have been out helping people during the opera. It appears you had a tumble or two.” He shook his head. “Your face is smudged again. I wonder what you look like with a clean face,” he teased.
Leafy stepped back. “It has been a busy night, but I saw Miss Moore a moment ago."
"Did you mention me?” He heaved a sigh.
"No.” Relief turned and watched as a laughing couple alighted their carriage several yards in front of them. She crooked her head back to stare at the man who intrigued her, a half grin pulling at his lips.
"Oh well, Mr. Taylor, I suppose that's better than saying I'm a rake. That might turn her away from her future suitor. She would not be impressed by my er ... record with ladies.” His gaze fell to his polished shoes then returned to meet hers.
Her pulse began to beat unsteadily. Such a handsome gentleman he is.
"Still, she would like me. She is a woman.” He stared at her with eyes glittering in stark male pride.
Smoldering desire dropped off as if she were on a cliff, pushed by the arms of an assuming man, and she scoffed. “My lord, give up such an impossible flight of fancy. Leafy would like to be the admired one in a relationship."
Crickets chirped. She tried to read his eyes but couldn't.
His hushed voice spilled past earnest lips. “I will not give up. I will win her over, I assure you."
She shivered by the intensity of his sincerity but brushed it off. “You lie to yourself. Miss Moore is not to be easily had whether you have handsome looks and a title or not. She has turned away other worthy men."
His lips turned up in such a confident way that Leafy knew her own pride was rivaled. “Perhaps, but did these men have both looks and a title?"
Relief clenched her jaw, and she huffed. Damn, damn, damn. He was as vain as she was, and he had reason to be.