by Lynn Collum
Through the crackling flames he heard a muffled cry.
He moved so close to the flames he was forced to lift his arm for protection from the searing heat. “JACINDA, WHERE ARE YOU?”
The faint echoed up the passageway, “I’m down here, Captain! Help!”
His first instinct was to hurl himself down the flaming stairway to reach her. But foolish bravery would do neither of them any good. Logic told him there had to be another way inside. Drew ran to the back of the building where he found a stairway to the roof. He climbed the stairs two at a time until he reached the top. He slid back the bolt, nearly ripping the heavy trapdoor from it hinge when he threw it open. Smoke and heat boiled out, forcing him back. He couldn’t see anything. “JACINDA, UP HERE.”
Fearful that she had fallen unconscious in the thick smoke, Drew tied his handkerchief over his nose and mouth, then hoisted himself onto the trapdoor ledge. He dropped his legs over the edge, preparing to jump into the dense smoke. But before he could enter, Jacinda’s head appeared out of the billowing cloud. Despite having her face covered with layers of her silk skirt, she was coughing and struggling to breathe.
He lifted her out and joined her on the stairs, pulling her up into his arms. Tugging the kerchief from his face he asked, “Are you unharmed?”
She nodded, unable to say a word due to her coughing. He swept up into his arms and carried her down the narrow stairs to the ground. Behind him there was a sudden shift as the lower door frame collapsed and a shower of sparks swirled into the sky. Worried that the entire building would soon fall, he moved to the edge of the trees but stayed within the clearing. At a safe distance, he put her on her feet, but kept her in his arm as he used the kerchief to wipe the tears and soot from her face. After a moment, he kissed her forehead. “My dear Jacinda, I thought I had lost you before I got the chance to tell you that I love you.”
Jacinda’s eyes widened despite tears that streamed down her cheeks. She was still too choked up from the smoke to speak, but her face softened. She took his hands in hers and laid her cheek upon them to convey the message she was unable to speak at the moment. His grip tightened and he turned her hands over to kiss them. She winced and he saw the blistered skin on the back of one.
“You’re hurt.”
She managed to choke out in a raspy voice, “Only ... only a little. ’Tis nothing when I think what might have happened if not for you.” She reached up and touched his cheek. He smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. As much as he wanted to kiss her breathless, now wasn’t the time. The roof of the icehouse burst into flames. “How did this happen?”
Before she could say a word, the sound of running footsteps echoed in the woods. Weems, along with several footmen, grooms, and gardeners appeared on the path carrying water buckets and shovels. The steward shouted orders and the men fanned out and began to fight the fire. Seeing the pair in the firelight, Weems came to where the captain and Jacinda stood.
“We heard your cries, sir, are you both unharmed?”
The captain nodded, unable to draw his gaze from the all-consuming fire. “You cannot save the place, just keep the fire from spreading into the woods.” He looked at Jacinda, who appeared pale in the flickering firelight. “I’m taking my wife to the manor. I’m certain you can handle this without us, Weems.”
“Very good, sir.” Weems hurried back to lend a hand.
Drew led Jacinda back through the woods. The brightly lit manor seemed to beckon them from the darkness. Occasionally he dropped a kiss atop her hair to reassure himself that she was truly safe in his arms. At the garden gate, they could see members of the household standing on the terrace dressed for supper, staring at the glow from the woods.
Cousin Millie hurried down the steps to meet them. When she saw Jacinda, the lady cried, “What happened, child?”
Drew didn’t release his hold on his love. He kept moving in the direction of the drawing room door, for he sensed her strength was almost spent. “Jacinda was trapped in the icehouse after someone set it afire.”
There was a collective gasp from those on the terrace. Drew scanned the waiting group. Thomas Wilkins stood with a glass of sherry beside a frowning Matthew Blanchett. Prudence and Giles lingered at the edge of the light that spilled from the drawing room, their moods somber. Everyone moved aside as Drew led Jacinda into the room. He insisted she sit down upon a chaise until they heard her story. He’d barely gotten her settled when Prudence handed him a glass of claret for Jacinda.
“We must get the child to her room,” Millie declared, horrified at the soot-blackened gown and traces of grime on Jacinda’s face.
Drew gave Jacinda a searching look. The color seemed to be returning to her cheeks as she sipped at the drink. They needed to know what had happened. “Can you stay a few minutes, my dear? Long enough to tell us how the fire started?”
Jacinda nodded. She finished the claret before she told her story. “I went to the icehouse to get ice chips for Ben’s ankle. Oh, dear, how is he?”
Cousin Millie shook her head. “He has a few scrapes and bruises. He’ll have a limp for a few days and will have the headache but it’s nothing to worry about, child.”
Uncle Matthew sat down in the chair opposite, never taking his gaze from his niece’s face. “You went to the icehouse, and then?”
Jacinda’s cheeks flamed pink and she developed a sudden interest in the burned spot on her hand. “I was getting ice when I heard a crash and discovered that ... that Aunt Devere had thrown a bale of straw into the stairway then tossed a lantern atop it.” She looked up at Drew and seemed to gain strength. At last she said the difficult words. “She tried to kill me.”
Giles stepped forward. “That a bloody lie! My mother would never do such a thing!”
“Stubble it, boy.” Matthew put out a hand to hold the young man back, frowning at him. “We must hear everything.”
Giles pressed his lips closed but continued to glower at Jacinda. Prudence put a calming hand on her brother’s arm ... or perhaps it was to show a united front to those in the room. Her motivation was unclear to Drew.
The solicitor removed his spectacles and began to clean them with his kerchief. “Are you sure it was your aunt?”
Jacinda nodded. “She spoke to me. She said, ‘It all should have belonged to Prudence’.”
“Oh, dear God.” Horror etched Matthew Blanchett’s face. His gaze moved to lock on Prudence Tyne.
The young widow’s face flushed red. “I—I don’t understand. Why would my mother think that Uncle Jacob’s fortune should be mine?”
Mr. Blanchett slumped back in his chair. It was as if he were seeing her for the first time. He shook his head as if disappointed that his worst fears had been realized. “I always suspected, but never asked him or your mother.”
Prudence’s face grew pale and her hand trembled as she clutched at her brother. “Suspected what, sir?”
“That you were my brother’s natural daughter.”
She shook her head and began to back away from them. “It cannot be true. Mama would never have betrayed Papa in such a way. Never!”
Matthew rubbed a hand over his tired eyes, then stared at her with pity etched on his face. “When my brother was in negotiations with the viscount to wed Jacinda’s mother, he met Iris Devere. She was young and beautiful, with a husband more interested in gaming than in his young wife and child. You cannot deny that your father rarely spent time at home. No doubt Iris was flattered by my brother’s attentions. I warned him he was playing with fire, but when it came to women my brother had a weakness, like some men have for spirits or gaming. He just couldn’t resist a beautiful woman and your mother was quite a beauty in her day.”
Silence filled the room for a moment. For Jacinda it was a startling revelation. She loved her father, but she’d scarcely known his true self. Seeing the look on Prudence’s face, Jacinda rose and went to take her newly discovered half-sister in her arms. But the widow stepped back, fending her off. “No
, I—I must find my mother. I must ask her.” She dashed from the room, then her slippered footsteps could be heard tapping on the stairs. Giles glared angrily around the room, then went after her ... or, more likely, to his room to sulk.
Jacinda returned to Drew, who slid his arm round her shoulders. He whispered into her ear. “Don’t be hurt, she is a bit shattered by the news. I’m certain she will come around.”
Jacinda questioned Millie whether she’d ever had any inkling of Prudence’s paternity.
The older woman flushed. “Well, I did notice that Mrs. Devere acted very ungrateful to your father for the home he provided her and the children. But I suppose by the time they came to Chettwood she was well over her infatuation. They say that love and hate are opposite sides of the same coin, not that I know—”
Running footsteps echoed in the great hall. Within a minute, a breathless Giles appeared in the doorway. “Mama is not in her room.”
The image of her aunt’s angry countenance flashed in Jacinda’s mind. “I could scarcely see Aunt Devere through the flames but it appeared as if she ran deeper into the forest and not toward the manor. She must still be out there.”
Mr. Wilkins, who’d moved to stand by the drinks table, gazed out into the darkness. “We must find her, for it is likely to storm before dawn. I, for one, would like to hear what she has to say about her actions tonight and about your father’s death.” He turned to Jacinda, a rueful expression on his face. “My dear, I must ask your forgiveness.”
“Why, sir?”
“I’ve had it wrong all these years. It wasn’t about the inheritance. She killed him out of revenge and hate.”
Jacinda’s face reflected her shock. “My aunt hired those men who accosted us.”
The solicitor’s look challenged Giles to deny the charge he was about to make. “Can there be any doubt she hired those men to kill Mr. Blanchett? I’m hoping if we handle her properly, she’ll confess it all.”
Matthew Blanchett rose and moved to the terrace doorway. “We must organize a search party for your mother, Mr. Devere. Summon any servants not fighting the fire. ”
With one last angry glance at the others, Giles departed for the kitchens. Mr. Blanchett arched a questioning brow at the solicitor, who reluctantly put down his glass and joined the gentleman at the door. “Captain, if you would put my niece in the hands of her maid, we could use your help.” The gentlemen disappeared out the door, pulling up their collars as the misting rain began.
Reluctant to leave, Drew pulled Jacinda into his arms. “It’s over, my love. You’re safe at last. You can finally get on with your life.” Mutual adoration reflected in their eyes.
She blushed and stammered, “I-I cannot thank you enough for all your help.”
His grin widened as he kissed her lips. “I can think of a way.”
Wonder and hope filled her face. “Whatever can I do?”
“You can marry me, my dearest love.”
Jacinda’s heart soared. He wanted to marry her out of love, not duty. No matter how dreadful the night had been, she couldn’t contain her joy.
A gasp sounded behind them. They’d been so taken with one another they’d forgotten they were not alone. “Do you mean to tell me that you aren’t truly married?” Cousin Millie marched up beside them a martial light in her eyes.
Jacinda grinned sheepishly at her cousin. “It was a ruse. Mr. Wilkins and the captain thought a husband would—”
Cousin Millie raised her hands to her cheeks in dismay. “You have been in adjoining rooms for weeks now, do you not understand what that means? You are ruined, Jacinda.” The lady paced back and forth. “I have failed your mother—”
“Miss Markham!” Drew put out a hand to halt her progress on one of her pacing passes. “If you will so kindly calm down, I was in the process of asking your niece to make it official. I love her to distraction and so I told her earlier.”
The lady glared at him, then at Jacinda, who had eyes only for the captain. “That still doesn’t keep everyone in the neighborhood from knowing that you two have been ... well, living scandalously. After all, Captain, your reputation in Somerset is such as to make people—”
Jacinda slipped an arm round Millie’s shoulders. “If you won’t tell anyone, we won’t. After this unfortunate business with Aunt Devere is straightened out, the captain and I”—she gazed at him with such passion it was all the gentleman could do not to take her in his arms right there in front of Millie—“will make it legal.”
“A Special License is what is needed.” Millie’s chin settled into a stubborn jut.
The captain nodded. “Then a Special License it shall be. I shall leave as soon as possible and we will marry immediately on my return, if you, dear Cousin Millie, will discreetly acquire the services of a vicar.”
The spinster’s eyes brightened. “Leave everything to me.”
Drew smiled at Jacinda, and nothing seemed to matter but the feel of his hand in hers. After a moment of silence, Cousin Millie looked from one face to the other then harrumphed. “You”—she took Jacinda’s arm—“need a bath and treatment for that nasty burn. And you, sir”—she gestured for the captain to head for the door—“need to go help with the search and not stand in here mooning over my dear cousin.”
Drew reached out and captured Jacinda’s chin before Miss Markham was able to pull her away. He gave her a kiss that held a promise of more to come. “I shall see you later, my dear Jack.”
Jacinda watched him step into the darkness while Millie chattered about having the parlor maids clean the tiny chapel for the wedding at Chettwood. It had never been used since the Blanchett family had come to the estate, but it would be perfect. The woman insisted it wouldn’t do wed in Westbury and have all the neighbors learn about the faux marriage. Jacinda scarcely heard one word in three.
Near ten o’clock that evening, one of the grooms found the missing Mrs. Devere huddled in the carriage house out of the rain. The lady proved to be completely incoherent, babbling nonsense. By the time they got her to the manor, she’d fallen into stony silence, her expression vacant, and she didn’t respond to anything or anyone, not even to Prudence, who begged her to speak. The doctor who’d been summoned had remained after treating both Ben and Jacinda’s injuries. On seeing the blank-faced stare of the lady, he immediately ordered her to be taken to her room. Some twenty minutes later, he joined those waiting in the drawing room, leaving her in the care of a maid and her daughter.
Jacinda had bathed and was dressed in a simple pink gown, her hand neatly bandaged. Seated beside Drew, they rose when the doctor entered the room. “How is my aunt, sir?”
“Her condition is not good.” He frowned, then sat his medical bag down to take the cup of tea Stritch offered him.
Mr. Blanchett, seated near the fireplace, shoved his own teacup away on the nearby table. “When can we speak with her? She has much to explain about her actions, albeit we’ve figured most of it out.”
The doctor took a sip of tea, then said, “I don’t think you will be able to question her.”
“What do you mean, Doctor?” Drew asked. Like all the others, he wanted Mrs. Devere to confirm her involvement in Jacinda’s father’s death.
The physician stared into his tea cup a moment. “I fear the lady has gone quite mad. When she does speak, its only to rant incoherently and pull out her hair, then she falls silent again and doesn’t respond to anything. It is very sad.”
“Mad?” Mr. Wilkins seemed perplexed for a moment, putting aside the sandwich he had been enjoying, having missed his supper because of the search. “Do you mean she will have to be sent to an asylum?”
Dr. Fleetwood nodded. “It is the safest thing to do.”
Jacinda’s heart plummeted. While she agreed with Drew that her aunt had arranged her father’s murder, she would have liked to have heard the truth from the lady. “Doctor, would it not be possible to keep her here at Chettwood, where she would be more comfortable?”
He set down his cup and took her hand. “My dear, the lady has shown a tendency to violence. You might still be in danger from her. From what I’ve observed, this type of madness sometimes leaves them with brief moments of seeming coherency ... which makes them a danger to themselves and others. ’Tis my belief that it’s better for the family if such members are put in a safer place, one equipped to deal with people so afflicted.”
Drew slid an arm round Jacinda’s waist. “Then Mrs. Devere must go somewhere else. I won’t have you in danger. Doctor have you some place in mind?”
Jacinda started to protest when Doctor Fleetwood interrupted. “It’s for the best, my dear. There’s a physician down in Brighton who runs a very good asylum. He has done very good work helping the afflicted live close to normal lives. And very often when removed from the things that torture them the most, they improve.”
Jacinda’s distress was written on her face. At last she seemed to come to a decision. “If Prudence agrees, then so shall I.”
Giles Devere, who’d been sitting sullenly in the corner, asked, “And what is to happen to Prudence and me? We cannot stay here after what Mama has done.” More likely he couldn’t stay because he owed money to most of the local gentlemen, but no one pointed that out.
Jacinda was perplexed as to how to handle things. She knew that Prudence would prefer to live near her mother, while Giles would live wherever someone provided him a home. But how could she afford it, now that the foundry had burned? “Mr. Wilkins, have I the money to provide my cousins with a house near Brighton?”
The old gentleman cleared his throat. “Don’t fret child. I shall make arrangements for the Deveres to live near their mother.”
The doctor nodded. “You must keep the lady here for several days until I can write to Dr. Camden and make certain he can take her.” He took his bag off the table, but, instead of going to the door, he turned back to Jacinda. “It would be best to keep the lady’s door locked. She might have a tendency to wander during her animated moments, especially at night when she is alone.” With that advice, he wished them good day and departed.