Color of Danger (Sullyard Sisters Book 3)

by Ruth J. Hartman

  “Of their hooves. Yes, of course. So…”

  “We walk, of course.”

  “It’s going to take a while to get there.”

  “Did you have other plans for this evening?”

  “You mean other than sleep?”

  He chuckled. This is going to be so much fun.

  By the moonlight, he could see that her face had lit up. Her eyes were wide and her mouth in a grin.

  She shivered.

  Walter put his hands on her shoulders, then tugged her pelisse tighter around her. “Better?”

  She gazed into his eyes, nearly paralyzing him where he stood. How could one woman be so beautiful? So enchanting. He shook his head. But at the same time vexing.

  She raised her eyebrows. “What?”

  He gave her a crooked smile. “Nothing. Ready to proceed?”

  “Yes.” Her voice sounded breathy, excited.

  “Then let’s be off.” He started out by taking her hand, decided he wanted to be closer to her and instead wrapped his arm about her shoulders, tucking her beneath his arm.

  She didn’t pull away but did give him a strange expression.

  Walter shrugged. “I didn’t want you to be cold.”

  With one eyebrow raised, she tilted her head. Trying to figure out his true motive? But she didn’t reply, only looked ahead and kept walking.

  An owl hooted from above them, then its dark shape swooped down right into their path. It didn’t touch them as it flew by, but Patience screeched, louder than the owl had, in fright.

  Walter stopped, turned toward her and wrapped her in an embrace. He pressed his face into her hair, inhaling a scent of lavender. I could stay here forever. Holding her. Loving her.

  She burrowed in further, nearly knocking both of them from their feet. He rubbed her back. “Frightened?”

  “Just a little.”

  He smiled, but didn’t laugh outright. No use stirring up her ire when they were getting along so well. “Are you ready to proceed, or shall we stand here for a while longer? Like maybe forever. Choice number two would suit me fine.”

  She pulled away and laughed. “You are such a rake.”

  He frowned, thinking he’d been doing so much better lately showing her his gentler side. “Patience, I’m really not—”

  “Not what?”

  “A rake.”

  “Oh, please.”

  “It’s true. Oh, I was a rake, before.”

  “Before what?”

  You. “Let’s just say I’ve mended my ways.”

  She tapped her boot on the hard ground. “I’ll have to see to believe.”

  “You’ll see. I promise.”

  She lowered her eyebrows and studied his face for several seconds. “I suppose time will tell.”

  They continued on their way, speaking little, just walking side by side, sometimes his arm around her, other times, holding hands.

  Leaves and small sticks crunched beneath their boots. Walter wasn’t sure how long they’d been gone but they were now fully into the woods they’d traveled through before. The moonlight waned as they passed beneath the trees. Scant light made it difficult to see.

  Patience stumbled. Walter caught her beneath her arms just before she would have met the cold, hard earth. He pulled her up against his chest. “Are you hurt?”

  She shook her head and huffed out a breath. “No, just… I think my boot got caught on a rock.”

  He pressed his hands against the sides of her face. “But you’re not injured?” He ran his gaze over every feature. Though he couldn’t see her well, it didn’t matter. He’d memorized every inch of her face. Could identify her by touch, if need be.

  And he wouldn’t mind that at all. He closed his eyes and rubbed his thumbs against her cheeks. Such soft skin.

  “Walter? Is something amiss?”

  With regret, he opened his eyes. “Not as long as you’re well.”

  “I’m fine. But I’m starting to have concerns about you.”

  “Are you?” Something in his heart warmed. She was concerned for his welfare.

  She giggled. “You’re acting a little… strange.”

  “Oh.” Feigning nonchalance, not wanting her to know exactly what he’d been thinking, he took a step back. “Just looking out for you is all. Imagine me having to explain to your sisters why you have a broken bone or two, when you were supposed to be asleep in your bed at home.”

  “Hmm. I do see your point.” She peered over her shoulder. “Since no one was injured, should we keep going?”

  “Yes. Let’s.”

  They soon came to the edge of the woods. The Wycliff estate stood majestically a few hundred yards away. When they left the woods, moonlight once again lit their path.

  Wordlessly, they crept through the grounds, past the main house and around back. Patience peered up at the old building. “It’s larger than I thought it would be.”

  “Oh, I’d forgotten you hadn’t been back here with me.”

  She snorted. “One of us had to work.”

  “I guess that makes me a kept man?”

  She stopped short. “It does? But to be kept, wouldn’t a man and woman have to be, uh...”

  “Yes? What was that?” He tapped her chin, lightly.

  “Oh, you’re having sport with me again.”

  He laughed, though being a kept man by her wouldn’t upset him in the least. “You’ve found me out.”

  She tipped back her head, peering up at the house. “Which window was it? Where you saw the pigeon go.”

  He imitated her stance, squinting into the darkness. He hadn’t realized that back on this side of the tall house, they wouldn’t have benefit of much moonlight. “I can’t be sure.”

  She stared at him. “You dragged me all this way—”

  “There was no dragging.”

  “But—”

  “Listen, I’m sorry. I… I thought we’d be able to see it. With the moon. But…” He gestured toward the dark sky. “I—”

  “Oh, yes. I see what you mean.” She sighed.

  “I should have taken your advice. Brought along a lantern.”

  “I don’t suppose there’s any reason to stay, then. Since we don’t know which window it was?”

  “I guess not. I’m terribly sorry.”

  “I do believe you mean that.”

  “Of course I do. I’d not ask you to walk all this way if I’d known.”

  She placed her hand on his arm. “Don’t worry. It will all be fine.”

  He nodded, relieved she wasn’t upset with him.

  She held out her hand toward his. “Ready to walk back home?”

  He gratefully enfolded her hand in his. She might not be upset now, but after returning home and thinking about it, would she agree to come with him another night?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Patience clutched the lantern in her hand. She and Walter had agreed they needed it, now that they knew how dark it was on the side of the derelict house. She had to keep it hidden, however, until they were deep enough into the woods where no one would see it. She covered the light beneath the edge of her shawl, careful not to let the fabric come in contact with the hot surface of the light.

  With haste, they made their way once again out into the night, her hand ensconced tightly in his as they hurried to the edge of the woods. Their boots tapped out a steady beat, not making much as sound once they walked along the dirt path. When the moonlight became obstructed by the tall trees, Patience brought the lantern free of her shawl. The light cast eerie shadows along the tree trunks as she and Walter moved through at a fast pace.

  She glanced up at him. “With the lamp this time, do you think we’ll be able to clearly see the window?”

  He nodded. “I believe so, yes.”

  Nervousness spiked up her back, around to her middle, ending in her throat. “What if…”

  “What?”

  “Whoever has been sending these notes… What if he or she is… dangerous?”
/>
  “Dangerous?”

  She shrugged, causing the lantern, and along with the reflected shadows, to bounce.

  “So what if they are dangerous?”

  “I’d entered into this thinking of adventure. A mystery.”

  “And it will be.”

  “But, danger?” She stopped, yanking him back with their clutched hands.

  “Are you frightened?”

  She turned her head. “Maybe a little.”

  He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. “If there’s trouble. I’ll take care of you. Do you trust me?”

  She narrowed her eyes. Did she? At this point did she have a choice? Aside from turning around for home, probably not. And she didn’t want to go home. Not yet. Not until she and Walter discovered more about the mystery note-sender. She gave Walter a single nod of affirmation.

  Walter smiled and hugged her before letting her go.

  Funny, that. She’d been much more content in the circle of his embrace than not. They started walking side by side again. She gave him the briefest of glances. Perhaps if things did turn dangerous, that would be a good excuse for him to hold her again.

  They came to the end of the woods. Walter pointed to the lantern. “Better douse the light.”

  “Right.” She covered it with the edge of her shawl, hoping it wouldn’t get too hot and burn a hole in her dress. Or leg.

  They spoke little. She followed him past the falconry, barely giving notice to the sleepy birds on their perches. A quick look told her the pigeon wasn’t in his home. though. Would he be in the old house?

  She kept the lantern under cover, carefully stepping where Walter stepped, hoping to avoiding tripping or running into something. Like a big rock. Or a tree. Wouldn’t that be just lovely? She’d hit her head, get a concussion and he’d have to carry her all the way home. Or else, someone would hear the rumpus and come outside to see what had happened.

  They went past a long hedgerow, out into a clearing, and finally, reached the side of the house where they’d stood the evening prior. She was glad they’d brought the lantern. At least now they could see the house better and try to identify the correct window.

  But wouldn’t that also mean someone could see them?

  Walter held out his hand. “Give me the lamp, will you?”

  She handed it over, glad to be able to flex her cramped fingers. “Can you make out the right window? The one you saw before?” She squinted up at the side of the house as Walter raised the lantern above their heads.

  He narrowed his eyes. “There are five windows all there together on the top floor. I think it was the second from the left, but I wasn’t paying that close attention before. I’d been so excited to see the pigeon, I didn’t bother to take notice.”

  “Was there something different about that window? Maybe something to help identify it. A certain color curtain? A broken pane?”

  “Unfortunately, the only thing different about it was that it was open.” He angled the lantern so the light reflected from the window glass. “And just our luck, they’re all closed now.”

  “So what do we do?”

  “I guess… wait.”

  “For what?”

  He shrugged.

  That didn’t sound all that promising. How long would they wait? Would they know what they’d waited for when they saw it? What if nothing happened and—

  A combination of flap and flutter caused a flurry of noise right above them. She pressed close to Walter. “Do you think it’s Hervey?”

  “It could be.”

  “What now? Wait some more?” Her words had come out sounding petulant, which hadn’t been her intent. It would be nice, though, after walking all that way two nights in a row, to finally discover something to help solve the mystery.

  He didn’t answer, but nodded, then focused on the window again.

  They stood looking up for a while longer. Patience massaged the back of her cramped neck. “Maybe this was all a bad idea. Maybe—”

  With a loud squeak, the window opened. A hand, old and weathered from what Patience could tell, reached out. The pigeon hopped on the person’s wrist and disappeared before the window shut with an even louder squeal.

  Patience blew out a breath. “Well, I guess at least we know which window it was.”

  “And that there is someone in there.”

  “How do we find out if it’s the same pigeon that had the notes on its leg? Or if that person up there is the sender of the messages?”

  Walter checked up, then down, right and left. “There’s only one thing we can do.”

  “And that would be…”

  “Go into the house.” He grabbed her hand, pulling her along behind him.

  She dug her heels into the dirt. “Wait.”

  He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Why?”

  “What if… there could be… this might not…”

  He turned fully toward her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Do you really think I would have brought you all this way, twice, to let you be harmed in any way?”

  She studied his face, the serious set of his mouth, his steady wide-eyed gaze that didn’t blink but stayed right on her eyes.

  He meant what he’d said.

  She swallowed hard and forced a smile. “I trust you.”

  He lifted one side of his mouth in an adorable grin. “Excellent. Let’s go.”

  Walter led Patience around to the back door. It wasn’t locked. It opened with a pop, but wasn’t stuck. Had someone been regularly using this door?

  They stepped inside, Walter holding the lantern in front of them. Something crunched under Patience’s boot. Broken glass? She didn’t bother to check, instead making sure to keep up with Walter. There wasn’t any way she wished to be caught alone in the house without him.

  They passed by the kitchen and what looked to be servant’s quarters. Through another doorway, they found the dining room. A rickety table and three chairs, one broken, sat in the middle of the room. Another door took them to a short hallway. Then the stairs.

  After coming to the bottom of the steps, they stopped at the same moment as if they’d planned it. Patience groped in the near dark for Walter’s hand. He wrapped his fingers around hers, giving a reassuring squeeze.

  “Ready for our adventure?” he whispered.

  She wasn’t really, was having second thoughts. Would feel more secure at home in her bed. But when she glanced into Walter’s eyes, saw the sparkle, the mischief, the ready-for-fun expression, she relaxed. This is what she’d hoped for, wasn’t it? Time away from her sisters. An adventure. Perhaps, even a little danger?

  As long as she was with Walter, she was ready for anything. “Yes.”

  They took the wide staircase, side by side, their boots hitting the steps in a rhythm as concise as a dance. Nineteen steps later, they reached the top. Walter pressed his finger to his lips, indicating quiet would be necessary. She nodded, hoping their footsteps hadn’t been too loud to alert whoever was there to their presence.

  Walter pointed to the left and headed that way, next angling right down a long hallway. Patience clung to the back of his coat, not wanting him to get too far from her.

  When Walter slowed his steps and tiptoed, she did the same. Her stomach flipped in anticipation. Who was up here? Had they been the ones to send the notes?

  The floor creaked behind them. Patience jumped, causing Walter to stumble. She pressed closer to his back. “W-what was that?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe it’s the one we seek?”

  She tried to relax but her heart wasn’t cooperating, thudding and knocking against her ribs. They’d come all this way, twice, but until now she’d been more excited than anxious. What if whoever was here would harm them? Or worse?

  Scratching noises made her look down. She screamed as a tiny dark object scuttled across the top of her boot. “Walter—”

  He leaned down, watching the little interloper scurry down the hall. “Just
a mouse.”

  “Oh…”

  He turned and hugged her. “It won’t hurt you. Probably more scared than you are.”

  “Then it’s ready to die of fright, because I was nearly there myself.”

  He chuckled. “Let’s keep going, shall we?”

  No, let’s run away. “Yes.”

  With every step they took down the hall, Patience’s nerves stretched tighter, tauter, until she feared they’d snap.

  Walter gave her hand a squeeze. “Wait here.”

  “But—”

  “Just for a second. I heard something in that direction. I want to see what’s down this hall. If it’s a mouse or something more, you might not want to come face to face with it. I’ll be right back. I promise.”

  She let out a slow breath and nodded, watching the light from the lantern grow dimmer. Why couldn’t she have gone with him? Why had he left her? But the truth was, she really didn’t have a desire to see the mouse again. Or any other creature that might have taken up residence. No, probably safer right here.

  A sound— a moan?— came from behind, not close, but near enough that her mouth went completely dry. “W-Walter? Where are you?”

  Silence.

  What if he was hurt? Throwing aside her fear momentarily, Patience rushed blindly ahead, feeling the wall as she went. She clawed at nothing but air as the wall seemed to have ended. Was it another hallway? “Walter? Are you here?” Since he had the lantern, she could barely see anything. I can’t stay here. I don’t know where here is.

  Cautiously, hoping she didn’t run into anything, or anyone, Patience took a step to her left. Then another. Was he even down this direction? Had he—

  A yell tore from her throat as her feet crashed through the floor. Sharp edges of broken wood tugged at her skirt as she thrashed around, trying to grab something, anything, to aid her in climbing out.

  “Patience?” Loud thuds of footfalls came closer.

  “Walter, help me!”

  Sudden light from the lantern made her blink. Walter’s boots came into view. He set the lamp down close by and squatted next to her. “What happened?”

  She frowned. “I fell in a hole. Isn’t it obvious?” Her feet dangled below her, hitting nothing but cold air.