Color suffused Gabe’s face. “Now see here...”
“You know, I would have loved to have seen your face when you found out her connection to Derek.”
“Quite comical,” a voice rasped from the doorway.
“I imagine so. Are you feeling better?”
“Alive.”
“Come and sit. You know, Mother will be so disappointed in your behavior.”
“Well, then it is quite a good thing that she is safely ensconced at Elizabeth’s, and you are not telling her, is it not?”
“Hmmph,” Kala flounced to the door only to be brought up short by a loud ruckus in the hall.
“Let me go,” a child yelled. Kala opened the door to see an urchin covered in grime attempting to fight his way out of the stable master’s firm grip.
“What’s going on?” she asked firmly.
“Found this one hiding in the loft in the stable.”
Gabe nudged Derek and he took a closer look at the child. The boy who had taken care of their horses outside of the pub last night stood before them.
“Bring him in here and wait in the hall. Kala please shut the door.” She did, deciding to wait and see what transpired. “Lucas isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir,” the boy replied, his eyes lighting on the plate of scones and other treats. His stomach growled loudly.
“Are you hungry, Lucas?” The boy nodded in response. “Kala, please fix him a plate and some tea.” Soon Lucas munched on scones with cream and drank sweetened, milky tea. “Now, why were you hiding in my stables?” The boy answered, but he could not be understood with his mouth full of food. “Swallow first, then answer.”
“Me da’ works the docks. Ma’s dead. I ‘ate the sea. Makes me sick, but I love ‘orses. You ‘ave the finest ‘orse I ever saw.”
“Ah,” Derek nodded in understanding. “So you want to learn to work with horses?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And what about your father?”
“’E don’t care. I gave ‘im the blunt you two gents gave me and ‘e told me good riddance to bad rubbish.”
Kala’s mouth dropped open at this. How could a parent be so uncaring about his own child? Derek and Gabe were equally appalled, but did a much better job of hiding it.
“Well, Lucas, here is what I can offer you. You can be my tiger and work your way up to working in the stable. When you are not going around town with me, you can help in the stable, but you have to do what the men tell you. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” the boy mumbled, eyes bright, and his mouth once again full of food.
“You will also take a bath and be fitted for a uniform and clothes to work in the stable. You cannot wear your uniform in the stable. Is all of this understood?”
Lucas looked at Derek, not quite sure about these new stipulations. He thought about the docks, and then the fine horses that were in the stable. “Anything is better than the docks, sir, even a bath.”
The adults in the room laughed at this statement. Derek nodded at Kala who rose and let in the stable master and also called for Ramsey. He gave instructions to both concerning Lucas’ arrangements.
“Lucas, you must take your bath first and we will get you a set of clothes to wear for today. Ramsey, see that he gets a good meal and show him to his room upstairs in the servant’s quarters.” Derek watched Lucas’ eyes light with joy, and he felt a little tug inside himself. The two servants left the room with the boy between them.
Kala walked over and grabbed Derek around the neck, giving him a fierce hug.
“What was that for, Pest?”
“For what you did for that boy. I will see that the lock works on the door between yours and the countess’s bedchambers. You will be bringing your wife home where she belongs.”
“I can’t let you take her in. Why she could be a...” Gabe cut himself off abruptly.
“A what?”
“Nothing,” he bit off.
“Kala, he’s right. She should stay at the safe house.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. This is your wife we’re talking about. A woman you have not seen for months. A woman you thought dead. Do you really want to be separated from her any longer? I have some ideas about what she could be, but I’m not convinced. If you chose her for a wife, she must have some redeeming qualities. The locks on the door are for our protection as well as hers, but I doubt we will have need of them. Now, drink some more coffee and get yourself presentable. You have a wife to fetch home.”
“Derek, I must step in and point out some things everyone seems to have forgotten.”
“His wife should be among family especially with no memory of her life. She must be frightened. We must help her remember who she is.”
“Derek, with what little we know so far, you cannot expect her to live here with you and your sister. Think of the danger,” he whispered as an afterthought; however, it did not bypass Kala’s keen sense of hearing. She sat straighter, but thought better of saying anything.
“Besides, you said you were returning to the country,” Gabe pointedly told Kala.
“I agree with Mikala. I also think perhaps we should leave for the country in about a week. That will give me a chance to tie up some loose ends and have Blackburn Hall prepared for our arrival. It will also give her a chance to heal before we attempt to move her.”
“There, both of my wishes are coming true, Your Grace. Perhaps mother could meet us there?”
“I would really rather the family not be involved yet. I hate having you involved, but it cannot be helped.” Silence prevailed for a few minutes before Derek continued, “It is settled then. Kala, I will return later this evening. I have some things to see too.”
“The room will be ready.”
“Gabe, shall we go?” Gabe nodded sharply and left the room without even acknowledging Mikala. “I will see you in a bit, Pest,” Derek leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“I will have supper kept warm.” Derek nodded and followed Gabe out the door.
“What is going on between you two?” Derek asked once the carriage had started. “We were all friends at one time.”
“Nothing. Why does your sister not want to finish the season?”
“I have no idea.” Silence fell between them.
“This is not the wisest decision you have ever made. Think of the danger your household will be in.”
“She is my wife and should be with me. I can handle it.”
Chapter 6
The men rode in silence to the safe house lost in their own thoughts. Upon arrival, a guard opened the carriage door for the two to disembark. The carriage quickly drove off and would return later so as not to draw unwanted attention. Although most that lived and worked in this area kept to themselves, the less notice they drew to themselves the better.
A second guard let them into the house before quickly shutting and locking the door on the men. They made their way up to Tessa’s bedchamber where they met up with yet another guard. In this dangerous time, erring on the side of caution tended to be preferable which meant extra security.
“How is the prisoner?” Gabe questioned, ignoring the cutting look Derek sent him.
“Not a peep, Your Grace.”
“Good.” He moved to open the door.
“I want to go in alone,” Derek said putting a hand on Gabe’s shoulder, halting his movement. Gabe scowled but moved aside.
“You have five minutes,” he informed him while holding up his hand to display the number five so there would be no mistaking the time limit.
Derek took a deep breath, opened the door, and crossed the threshold. The lock sounded extraordinarily loud in the silent room. All the windows had been boarded up years earlier so as to not allow anyone to escape, and now the only light came from the fireplace. The fire hissed and crackled, adding to the sinister feeling of the room.
Tessa lay curled in a ball, bandages around her head and her shoulder. She looked familiar and innocent. He
walked to the side of the bed and lowered himself onto the chair. He studied her intently, and found himself fascinated by the way her eyes moved behind her closed eyelids. Derek could not keep from reaching out and running the back of his finger down her smooth cheek. Her eyes blinked open at his touch, but this time she did not appear frightened, just startled by his presence.
“I dreamed about you. Who are you?”
“It is not important right now. How are you feeling?”
“Awful,” Tessa bluntly replied. “My shoulder aches as if it someone ripped it from my body and tried to put it back on, and my head feels as if a team of horses trampled it. Other than that, I feel wonderful,” she finished, one side of her lips edging up slightly.
“We could give you some laudanum, but until we know more about your head injury I would rather wait.”
She began to nod her head in agreement, but winced at the movement. She stuck out her pink little tongue to moisten her dry lips. “I understand. Could I have some water? I’m so thirsty.”
Derek went to the washstand and poured some fresh water into the bowl from the pitcher. Afraid of how the water would affect her empty stomach, he moistened a cloth and squeezed out most of the water. He carried the cloth to the bed and used a corner to moisten Tessa’s lips.
“Ah,” she sighed blissfully. Her tongue quickly darted out to catch an errant drop trying to escape her luscious lips. Derek swallowed hard and attempted to gather his lust back under control.
“Suck on this cloth,” he directed her and guided her movements. “Not too much, you don’t want to get sick again. Now,” he whispered softly, “do you know how you came to be here?”
“No.”
“Do you remember anything at all?”
“I’m not sure,” she began to look like a frightened animal.
“Shhh, it’s all right,” he stroked her hair softly.
“No, no it isn’t. I can’t tell you how old I am, or my favorite childhood toy. I’m not even completely certain my name is Tessa, it just seems familiar. I’m not sure why I’m locked in this room, but I must have done something terrible. Did I?”
“I’m not sure.” God this is awful, he thought and hated himself for having to do it to her.
“But you do know me.”
“Yes.”
“Who am I?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why?”
“The doctor insisted that you must let everything come back in due time on your own.”
“Am I staying here?”
“No.”
“I’m going to jail aren’t I? What have I done?” She brought a shaking hand up to cover her face, her breathing becoming erratic.
“Calm down,” Derek ordered. “You’re not going to jail.” She looked up warily at him then at her pitiful surroundings. No light from the outside shown in. Which would be worse? “You are coming to my house. My younger sister will act as a chaperone, so to speak. My staff is extremely efficient and they will watch over you as well. There is a possibility you could be in danger or that someone is looking for you.”
“But there is also the possibility that I could be guilty of whatever it is you and that other man believe I have done.”
“Let’s not discuss that now.”
“Is this normal?”
“What?”
“Taking prisoners to your home? That’s what I am, no matter what pretty words you put around it. An average citizen is not sealed off in a room with guards. I know I’m right on that account,” she pushed when he failed to answer.
“Yes, you are right,” the other man, the one who had reminded her last night of a lone wolf, said as he entered the room, “and I am certainly glad someone here realizes it.”
“Hawkescliffe,” Derek warned.
The other man forged on completely ignoring Derek.
“Tessa, it is highly unusual that a prisoner is taken to a private residence, but considering the circumstances I am relenting this time.”
“What circumstances?”
“Why, the fact that you are a woman,” he lied easily. “It would be highly improper for you to be in a prison when we do not have proof of any wrongdoing. Nor is it proper for a lone woman to be watched over daily by single men.” He watched the woman eye him suspiciously. “However, I do need to ask you some questions.”
Tessa watched the wolf warily, preparing herself for his attack. She nodded her permission even though it had not been a question.
“Good.” He spread some papers on the cover of the bed. “Do these look familiar to you?”
She picked up a letter and began reading it. It made no sense to her at all. “No, sir.”
“Do you remember anything that happened to you before you awoke here yesterday?”
She searched her memory for anything. Even a scrap of a thought would help, but she came up empty. It felt as if a child had erased his slate leaving it blank, ready for new material but no trace of the old. “No, sir,” she replied softly, looking him directly in his hunter-like eyes.
“Have you ever been out of Scotland or England?”
“No, sir, not that I remember.”
“What is today?”
“Well, if I’ve only slept on and off for a day and a night, I would say Friday.”
“Do you know the day or month?”
“No sir, they have run together for me the last little bit.”
“Why is that?”
“I don’t know, the thought just slipped out,” she answered becoming frustrated as she tried to dig deeper in her empty memory.
“That’s enough for now,” Derek stopped the questioning. “Tessa, try to get some rest. You will be moved tonight.” She nodded, attempting to disappear in the mattress and tugging on the meager blankets with her one hand. Derek gathered his cloak that he had dropped over the chair the previous night and draped it over his wife’s shivering body. Tessa attempted a feeble smile even as her eyes drifted shut. Gabe gathered up the papers from the bed and strode out of the room and down the stairs. Derek followed him and closed the study door.
“Are those the papers that were found with her?”
“Yes.”
Derek looked at them. There were maps pinpointing locations of British troop movement as well as a listing of weapons with ports and times. There were also several letters that accompanied the maps that to the unsuspecting eye appeared to be letters to family.
“Have they decoded the letters yet?”
“No.”
“Damn. These documents point to major treason. Who could be responsible?” Gabe remained silent, but quirked an eyebrow at Derek. “Upon our friendship, I swear to you she knows nothing.”
“And you know this how? You have not seen her in months and if you are honest with yourself, how well did you truly know her before that? You have mourned her longer than you knew her.” When Derek did not immediately answer, Gabe continued his argument. “Listen, I know you had feelings for her at one time, but you still work for the government, man,” he exclaimed. “You must put your feelings aside. This would not be the first time a wife has betrayed a husband, nor, sad to say, will it be the last. You thought her dead for Christ’s sake. Who is to say she thought you dead as well? You must look at this as the government agent that you are. Set aside your feelings and use your brain.”
“Are you finished?” Derek asked, deadly calm.
“Depends on if you are willing to see reason or not.”
“I will not become a cold, unfeeling bastard like you. You have changed and not for the good since you have come into your title and responsibilities.”
“I see,” he responded calmly, his features revealing none of his thoughts.
“Do you? That woman in there is not, nor has she ever been a traitor to this country,” Derek enforced, pointing in the general direction of her room. “Her father gave his life serving his country. He earned respect because of his success and his position,” Derek held up his hand to sto
p Gabe from breaking in. “I have thought this over, and I will not be swayed.”
“What, between your bouts of drinking and sobering up?” Gabe questioned sarcastically.
“And just how would you react if someone you cared about returned from the dead?” Derek questioned, his voice sounded like steel and his eyes matched.
Gabe looked him over carefully, his mind drifting to a certain young woman. He took a deep breath and let out a slow sigh, “Please accept my apology.” Derek nodded his acceptance cautiously. “So what have you been giving a lot of thought too?”
“The key is the man that got away.”
“I could not agree with you more, but how do you suppose we go about finding him?”
“I suppose you questioned the arresting officers?”
“Of course. Neither got a decent look at him.”
“Did either one go after him?”
“Yes, but he slipped away.”
“Did he slip away or use the brothel as a disguise?”
“He could have, but we had men stationed there all evening and following the men as they left. We have a list of residences they went to and are in the process of determining who they are.”
“Did any go to suspicious dwellings?”
“No. I do have an idea if you would like to hear it.”
“From your tone, I have a feeling I am going to hate it,” Derek said coldly.
“Probably. I would like to take the prisoner, sorry, Tessa, back to the scene of the arrest,” he held up his hand to keep Derek from interrupting him. “Now hear me out. I do not want to attempt anything until she is healed, that would just be cruel. Hopefully, by the time she has recuperated, her memory will be fully restored and the visit will be unnecessary.”
“Fine. I am moving her tonight.”
“Are you certain that is wise? I am not talking about moving her. I have come to realize you are hell-bent to see it done. Should you wait a day or two? Let her head become a little more stable?”
A Traitorous Heart Page 5