She followed the path as Mosley suggested, and indeed, at the end of the path stood Stephen, peering out over the endless fields beyond the gardens.
Constance paused, admiring the way the sun highlighted his dark hair. He wore his customary black breeches and matching shirt, and her heart soared as it always did in his presence.
“Your feet have become like the wind,” he said without turning her way. “Making no noise. A far cry from when we first met.”
Constance smiled as she joined him. “It is because of your teaching,” she replied. “I’m glad I have met your approval.”
Though the man smiled, worry settled around his eyes, and Constance wished she could help him in some way.
“You are a different woman than you were months ago,” he said. “One who is now more confident in her decisions. Do you see this?”
Constance laughed. “I do. And you are a man who is more humble than the man I met that day in the forest.”
He chuckled but it did not last long.
“What is bothering you?” she asked.
“You also speak bluntly, now,” he said. “Another new trait, though I believe Sally had more to do with that than I.”
“It is true. The woman has a heart of pure beauty but a tongue that can cause any man to fall.”
Stephen sighed. “She is a wonderful woman, and now that she is here with you and Louisa, I think she will be very happy.”
With a nod, Constance replied, “I agree. But what of you? Are you happy?” She struggled to control her pounding heart as she gazed up at him.
“I suppose I am,” he said with a shrug to his shoulders. “I will be much happier once this blasted party is past. I look out there, past the fields and into the forest and wish to return.”
Constance’s jaw dropped. “You will leave after the party?” she asked. “Will you not remain here longer?” She had known he would return, but she never expected he would return so soon.
“The comforts of this house are well and good, but my place is in the woods. That is where I am meant to be just as you are meant to be here. However, soon your sisters will find gentlemen and fulfill the wishes of you and your mother…perhaps you will also find a gentleman worthy of you…”
Constance narrowed her eyes at the man. “Find a gentleman?” she said. How dare he make such statements! “What do you mean?”
He grabbed her arms and stared down at her. “I cannot deny my feelings for you, but I live a life not suited for a lady such as yourself.”
Constance pulled away from him. “How dare you say such a thing! We share something beautiful. If you wish to return to the woods, it does not change how we feel for one another.” Her eyes misted. It was time to tell him what she felt for him. “I love you.”
He placed a hand on the side of her face and brushed away a tear with his thumb. “It’s because of that feeling that I cannot give you my heart.”
Constance shook her head as worry overtook her. Would she lose him? In desperation, she raised herself onto her toes, placed a hand on the back of his head, and pulled him toward her. She knew the kiss was nothing a lady would ever consider with a gentleman, but that flame burned within her, and she needed to quench it. When his hand circled her waist, the flame only grew stronger.
“Constance,” he whispered, his breathing short.
“Do not fight it!” she demanded as she kissed him again, her passion building to a point of boiling as he returned the kiss with an equal eagerness.
However, as if splashed with a bucket of cold water, Stephen pulled away from her, shaking his head. “We cannot do this. It is unfair to you.”
“Unfair to me?” she asked incredulously. “What is unfair is that we deny our feelings, that we withhold them from one another. That is what is unfair.”
Stephen rubbed his forehead. “You have seen how dangerous it can be out there.” He motioned toward where the forest lay far away. “Every day you will fret over whether I will return or not. I would fret over the danger in which I put myself and the heartache it will cause you. In fact, these concerns would cause me to fail in my duty to help others and eventually destroy you.”
The wind blew around them, and Constance searched his eyes. Though he did not speak the words, she could see the love radiating from within. He was holding back, that much was clear, and though he believed he did so out of concern for her, she knew the truth.
“My heart, like yours, cannot be constrained by distance,” she replied softly. “However, you lie not only to me but yourself, as well. You say you are worried for me? Well, I say your worry is more for yourself.”
“That is not true!”
She placed a hand on his arm. “You spoke of your pain with what happened between you and Alice all those years ago, but your worries stem from more than that, as well.”
He shook his head, his jaw clenched tight.
“Yes,” she said with soft command. “You would die helping others, of this I have no doubt, but is sparing my apprehension over your wellbeing worth closing your heart off to me?”
“You do not understand,” he said, his voice chastising. “It’s simple. I cannot allow the chance for you to be hurt. I will not allow that to happen.”
“You are brave and full of wit,” Constance snapped back. “But you deny the fact that you are scared for yourself. It is why you have allowed no one into your life. But I’m telling you that you know what we have, and though you say you do not want to hurt me, if you deny our love, you will do just that.” She threaded her arm in his and placed her head on his shoulder. “Do not push me away.”
He stood stoic and silent beside her, facing the open field. For a while he said nothing, and then he said, “Dinner will be ready soon. You should go and join your sisters.”
Constance nodded and wiped away a tear. Though she did not want to admit defeat, she knew there would be no more reasoning with this man. “No matter how many people you save,” she said, “or if you find the man who took your mother’s life, you will still not be happy. It’s strange to know that the greatest deed the Man in Black could ever do still eludes him.”
“And what would that be?”
“Forgiving yourself.”
With that, Constance turned and walked away, her heart broken as she made her way back to the house. She had many hopes in life, most for her sisters. She had seen they found a home where they could live as ladies but also be loved, had seen them happy despite the troubles they had been forced to endure.
Yet, it was the love Constance had for Stephen that would not come true, and she had to come to terms with that or live a life unfulfilled. And that, she could not do.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The hard and merciless man had traveled far and wide, and much to his frustration, he could not locate the three sisters he had been hired to find. Hawk’s instincts led him to believe they had not gone to London as they had told the friend of Lord Fletcher. In fact, he was sure of it. Yet, where had they gone? That he did not know, not yet, not exactly.
Raising his mug, Hawk took a long drink and looked at his surroundings. The public house, located in the large village of Bottly, was as dark and brooding as the men who sat staring into their ale or trading insults with their mates. Most were of the working class and a few he suspected made their money in not so traditional ways.
He had not entered The Fox’s Den expecting to find the sisters, but the place sat beside a well-used road and catered to the type of people willing to exchange information for coin. The chances of him learning something of use was better here than making random inquiries and well worth the cost.
Whether what he learned was good information remained to be seen, but when those who had what he needed saw how easily he opened his purse, eventually they would come to him. He had done the same in other pubs and inns, sending word with servants and thieves alike with promise of reward. From what little information he had gathered thus far, he believed the sisters to be either in this
village or in a neighboring one, but not any further outside of it.
The fact was, Hawk never failed in finding his prey and they would not be his first. It did not matter how long it took; he would find them.
Hawk signed to the barkeep, who rushed over with another mug of ale. The man had a nervous smile, which Hawk did not find odd. Most men who encountered him had the same reaction. Hawk was taller than most by half and the fact many cowered in his presence served him well in his line of work.
“I hear you’re looking for three sisters,” a voice said from behind Hawk.
Hawk cursed himself inwardly for allowing the owner of that voice to get close without him knowing, and he turned in a lazy manner to find a man with blond hair and wrinkled clothes that told of many nights sleeping rough.
“And who might you be?” Hawk asked as if what the man had to say was not all that important.
“Walter. I was told you were looking for the Shepherd sisters.”
Hawk took a drink of his ale before responding. “Maybe. Do you know where they are?”
“Perhaps I do,” Walter replied as he eyed the mug of ale in Hawk’s hand. “I was told there’s a reward.”
The barkeep placed two more mugs on the bar and hurried away. Hawk signaled to one, and Walter grinned. Hawk scowled as the man gulped down the ale like a man just out of the desert.
“There’s a reward,” Hawk said, “but I don’t waste my time with a teller of tales.” He looked the man up and down. “Nah, I’ve seen your type. I pay you and then you disappear. You’re wasting my time already.
“I’m not. Their names are Constance, Mary, and Emma.” He said the last name with a bit of anger. “They came to us three months ago. Ladies of the ton, no less, and I know where they’re at right now.”
“‘Came to us’? What do you mean?”
“There’s a camp for runaways or people in need of help,” the man explained. “I was a part of the group, but they didn’t trust me.” He finished off his drink, and Hawk nodded to the bartender to bring another. “For months I did as they asked, but they didn’t show me a bit of appreciation.”
“And who’s their leader?”
“The Man in Black,” Walter said with a snort. “His name is Stephen.”
Hawk set his mug on the bar. He had heard tales of the Man in Black but had cast them aside for foolish tales. What man would show such heroic bravery by saving the lives of those in distress? Yet, here stood a man who says he was a part of it. Maybe there was more to this tale than he first thought.
“You’ve met this Man in Black?”
“Of course. It’s he who leads and trains us all, even the women.” He shook his head at this as if it was mad. “It was apparent he grew fond of the oldest, Constance.”
“I don’t care for his feelings,” Hawk said harshly. “What kind of man is he?”
“I’ll not lie, he’s formidable with both blade and fist. He walks as if he were a ghost and is smarter than any man. I may not like him, but I do respect him.”
Hawk studied the man. So, the Man in Black was not a myth? Now, this was interesting information. A smile crossed his lips as he imagined meeting the fabled man and then crushing him with his bare hands.
“You say they are at this camp?” Hawk asked, giving away no indication of his thoughts. He had learned long ago that men who were afraid gave little information, or any reliable information.
“No, I learned they left. I overheard the sisters speaking of it one night and they left the following morning.”
Hawk leaned against the bar. “This does not tell me where they have gone.”
Walter laughed. “I followed them. Stephen always complained I had no ability in tracking, but not even he detected me.”
Hawk hated men who bragged. “And where was that? Tell me and I shall pay you once I find them.”
“Not so fast,” Walter said, raising a hand. “If I tell you, how do I know you’ll give me my reward?”
This time Hawk laughed. “You speak boldly for a man of little size,” he said, standing to glare down at the man. Some men Hawk disliked, this man made his skin crawl and he could not say why.
Walter swallowed visibly. “I don’t want the monetary reward,” he said, which surprised Hawk. This he had not expected. “In fact, I only want one thing.”
“And what’s that?”
“Emma,” Walter whispered. “The youngest sister. We grew close before they took her away from me. I’ll tell you everything, I’ll even lead you there. In fact, I can help you get them, for they trust me. All I ask is to allow me to take Emma with me.”
Hawk could not help but grin. “Where will you take her?”
“That’s my concern,” the man replied. “So, do we have a deal?”
The value of returning the girl was far greater than Hawk was willing to give up.
He raised his glass. “Let’s drink to our newfound friendship,” he said with a grin. He would dispose of the man later, but for now, Hawk needed him. “Now, tell me everything you know.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The week flew by, and much to her heartache, few opportunities arose that allowed Constance to speak to Stephen. The man was still angry with her, and she regretted her words to him that day in the garden. There was little she could do about it now, for the party would begin soon, and she had much to do before then. Perhaps she would be able to speak to him before he left the following day.
She snorted. What could she possibly tell the man she had not already told him? She had admitted her love for him, so why could he not do the same? Yet, Stephen had made it clear he would not open his heart to her, and that alone caused her great sadness. To know Stephen would be gone and that she would not see him for months only compounded matters.
Her eyes fell on her sisters, who wore matching blue gowns with silver embroidery on the hem and bodice, warmness replaced her distress. Sally had insisted on helping all of them dress, and with their new gowns and perfectly styled hair, they had never looked so beautiful.
“Now, remember,” Constance said as she gave each woman a hug, “some of the men, and even several of the women, will not act respectfully. Keep your wits about you, and if either of you feels you do not have an answer to a question or you feel uncomfortable, simply excuse yourself. This will be a very different party from those we attended while in Lankster Manor, so anything could happen.”
Both of the young women nodded. For the last two days, Louisa had instructed them on how to engage others in conversation as though this was a normal party. The caveat was that men had loose tongues and it was Emma and Mary who would listen to every detail. It was not expected a man would divulge their dastardly deeds to them but rather that the sisters might overhear while the men whispered amongst themselves.
“We will be fine,” Mary insisted with a click of her tongue. “If anything should alarm us, we will go straight to you or Louisa.”
Constance let out a deep breath. “Good. I think we are ready.”
Louisa came through the door in an elegant green gown with gold lace at the bodice and sleeves. An emerald pendant lay in the hollow of her breasts above the plunging neckline. “Are you ladies fine?” she asked.
“Yes, I was just reminding them of their duty tonight.”
Louisa laughed. “They will do well. It is I who must keep myself from pulling out my knife while men gaze at me with drunken eyes.”
Constance nodded. It was clear that Louisa’s beauty was the groups’ greatest asset. She would hint at unscrupulous deals, which in turn men with breath heavy with brandy attempted to match or outdo with their own tales. As the marchioness played her part, Robert and Sally, both playing the part of servants, would listen in on conversations to glean any information worthy of their interest. Apparently, this method had done them well in the past.
They left the room and went down the stairs, and Constance paused, her breath catching in her throat. At the bottom of the stairs stood Stephen dre
ssed in a black coat and tan breaches, looking every bit the earl he was. With his wavy hair neatly combed, she had never seen him so handsome. It took her a moment to regain her composure, but when she did, she followed the others down the stairs and toward the ballroom.
“Your suit,” Constance whispered as she walked beside Stephen, “I did not know you owned one. You should wear it more often.”
He flashed her a quick glare and glanced down. “I do find it uncomfortable,” he said. Then he gave her an appraising look. “I must admit I have never seen a woman as beautiful as you in your gown.”
Constance felt the heat rise in her cheeks.
His eyes glinted. “I have no doubt every eye shall be on you tonight.”
“Louisa will be the only one who will receive the attention,” Constance replied. She stopped and turned to him. “Stephen, about last week. I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “Do not apologize.” He looked as if he wanted to tell her more, but he sighed and said, “Come. We must go over a few things before the guests begin to arrive.”
“Allow me to say one thing, please,” she begged. “Tomorrow, before you leave, I wish to speak to you, and I will not accept no for an answer.” She said the last with a stern voice and an equally firm nod.
Stephen looked at her with amusement. “I see arguing will do me no good, so I will honor your wishes. However, let us concentrate on the night ahead of us for now.”
“I agree,” Constance replied.
They arrived at the ballroom where her sisters, Louisa, Robert, Luke, Sally, Charles, and a few others had gathered in a circle.
“Tonight, our goal is to gather information, a feat that we have done well in the past. Constance and her sisters will be presented as dear family friends of mine and my late husband’s. Remember, listen closely, but do not reveal yourselves. You’ve been instructed on the best methods for questioning, so be sure to use what you know. Emma and Mary, if you become worried…”
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