Laurie Brown

by Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake

  “Then comes time for the trance.” She placed her hands on the table and mimicked Madame’s moaning and groaning routine, except this time she substituted the wooden hands for her own.

  She fell forward facedown on the table with a loud thunk.

  “Ouch. I suppose that takes a bit of practice.”

  Almost immediately she slid her butt forward on the chair, snaked out of the cage, and went to her knees under the table. She crawled around the legs of the chair, not an easy feat in a long dress, but she finally managed by hiking her skirt above her knees.

  “Josie!” Mrs. Binns exclaimed.

  “Remember, it’s dark and no one can see me.”

  She again unlatched the secret panel and stood on the door. Spreading her arms, she looked over her shoulder and said,“Voila.The specter appears.”

  “Amazing,” Honoria said. She shook her head, deep in thought, the logical part of her brain visibly at odds with her need to believe.

  “The so-called spirit guide uses knowledge gained by ordinary methods to convince everyone of the authenticity of the connection to the spirit world. Often the attendees themselves will reveal the necessary information during pre-séance conversations. Did Madame ever ask who you wanted to contact and why?”

  “I don’t remember,” Honoria said, but she ducked her head and would not look Josie in the eye.

  “If providing false comfort were the only aim, exposure would seem unnecessary and even cruel.

  However, once the ruse is accepted as real, the spirit can subtly and cryptically guide any believers to the behavior desired, usually involving parting with large sums of money or jewels.”

  Honoria’s sudden upward glance told Josie all she needed to know.

  “Amanu’s disappearance,” Josie concluded, stepping down and closing the panel in the back of the chair,“was simply a reverse process.A bit more physically demanding and tricky to do without moving the headpiece, but possible with a bit of practice.”

  Xavier applauded.When all eyes turned to him, he said,“Bravo, mademoiselle.You are quite astute.”

  He bowed and motioned in her direction.

  When everyone’s attention turned back to Josie, Xavier bolted for the window.

  But Dev had been waiting for just such a move.

  He hadn’t realized how eagerly he’d waited until he tackled the villain and pulled him to his feet.

  Dev’s fist connected to the other man’s jaw with a satisfying sound and spurt of blood.

  Honoria and Mrs. Binns screamed.

  “Fight back, you son of a bitch,” Dev muttered.

  “Or do you only hit women half your size?”

  Josie grabbed a nearby statuette and stepped toward the fighters.

  “Stop it this instant,” Estelle yelled. “Or I’ll shoot her.”

  Twenty

  DEV PAUSED WITH HIS FIST IN MIDAIR AND glanced back. On the other side of the library, Estelle held a pistol aimed at his mother. He could kick himself for not thinking of the possibility.Along with the passageways, she had always been fascinated with firearms and insisted on learning to shoot.

  “If anyone screams or calls for help, I’ll shoot her.”

  Honoria whimpered and hid her face in her friend’s ample shoulder.

  Mrs. Binns tried to comfort her.“She would not really shoot you, my dear.”

  With a sly smile, Estelle moved her arm and pointed the tip of the muzzle at Josie.

  “Let him go,” Estelle directed Dev.

  He hesitated, quickly judging the distance, calculating whether he could grab the weapon or knock it from her hand before she could fire. He dared not look at Josie, for the terror in her eyes would unnerve him.

  “Don’t try it,” Estelle said, reading his eye movements as if she easily read his thoughts.“I can hardly miss at this distance.”

  Dev released his hold on Xavier.

  “Tie them up,” Estelle directed her partner.

  Xavier scooped up one of Madame’s discarded scarves and dabbed at his bloody mouth. “The blighter loosened a tooth. My lip is cut. My...”

  “Don’t be such a coward.We haven’t got all day.

  Him first,” Estelle said, indicating Dev with her chin.

  Xavier gathered the rest of the scarves.

  “Sit over there,” Estelle said to Dev.

  He bypassed the heavy chair she indicated, choosing instead a contemporary chair his mother had recently purchased against his advice. While Xavier tied his arms and legs to the chair, Dev tensed his muscles so the bonds would loosen on relaxation.Any little bit might help.

  “Now the old busy-body,” Estelle said.

  Mrs. Binns sucked in her breath, but she sat in the chair as she was told.

  “I have no more scarves,” Xavier complained.“I told you we should have gone back to the room to change...”

  “Rip up the gypsy dress.You won’t be needing it again.”

  Xavier mumbled his gratitude for small favors as he tore several long strips off the skirt.

  Dev could not resist a quick glance at Josie. She stood with her arms at her side. Rather than appearing terrified, she seemed quite calm. Her unexpected demeanor confused him. Then she caught his eye and he realized she was alert,waiting for a chance. He began flexing and twisting his arms every second when no one else was watching. She saw the movement and gave a slight nod.

  Xavier went to one knee in front of Mrs. Binns.

  When he reached for her ankle, she kicked out and caught him in the chest, knocking him over. She stood. He scrambled to his feet and slapped her so hard that she fell back into the chair, cracking her head and knocking herself out.

  “Don’t move,” Estelle said to Josie, who had taken a step forward.

  “Was that really necessary?” Josie asked.

  “Bitch hurt me,” Xavier said, rubbing his chest.

  He spit on Mrs. Binns. She did not stir.

  “Enough of this,” Estelle said. She backed to the fireplace and with her free hand fumbled blindly until she found the latch that opened the panel leading to the secret passageway.

  Honoria gasped and sat on the sofa.

  “Do you have your knife?” Estelle asked Xavier.

  He slapped his boot.“Ma petite dent is ready and hungry for blood.”

  “Good. Get the equipment,” Estelle said to Xavier.

  “We don’t need...”

  “We’ll take it with us.” Estelle laughed at some wicked thought, which she declined to share with her partner.

  Xavier shrugged and packed Madame’s equipment into the large wooden box. He pulled the leather straps over his shoulder, positioning the heavy box like a backpack, thus leaving his hands free.

  “What about her?” Xavier asked, jerking his head toward Honoria.

  “We’ll take her with us as a hostage.” She turned to Dev.“If anyone follows us,we’ll hear and kill her.”

  “Follow you where?” Honoria asked.

  “Into the dungeon,” Estelle said with a grin.

  “Oh, dear.” Honoria raised a limp hand to her forehead.

  “Come on. Let’s go.”

  “I don’t think I can stand, much less...”

  “Get her on her feet,” Estelle directed Xavier.

  With a frustrated sigh, he clomped over, offered his hand, and pulled her to her feet.

  “I feel faint,” Honoria whispered.

  Raised as a gentleman, Xavier automatically stepped in front of her and held out his hands, ready to catch her no matter which way she fell.

  She put her hands on his shoulders to steady herself and tried to knee him in the groin.

  Honoria jumped back with her hands over her mouth.

  “Ha!” Xavier gloated as he bent forward and moved out of the way of her knee.

  The door slammed open as if propelled by some mysterious force, the signal for chaos to enter, followed by two bewildered footmen.

  Thanking the ghost for the distraction, Josie underhand
ed the figurine in her hand toward Estelle’s nose and then executed a tuck-and-roll forward to help Honoria.

  Dev roared to a standing position, the slender arms and legs of the chair splintering under the pressure of his adrenaline-fed strength. He lunged for the pistol in Estelle’s hand.

  Estelle had ducked and the figurine had shattered against the fireplace. She followed Josie’s unorthodox movements with the point of her pistol and fired.

  Honoria fainted, quite elegantly, all things considered.

  Estelle was knocked to the floor by the weight of Dev’s body. He yanked the weapon from her hand.

  Xavier, in his dance to escape Honoria’s knee, had forgotten the heavy box on his back.When he bent forward, gravity caused the case to slide up his spine and smack him on the back of the head. He fell facedown on the floor.

  Dev jumped to his feet.

  Estelle cowered against the arm of the sofa.

  “Forgive me. Forgive me,” she sobbed.

  “Watch her,” he directed the footmen. With Estelle no longer armed, Dev turned his attention to the other villain.

  Mrs. Binns, who had only pretended to be unconscious, jumped up and sat on top of the large box that was strapped to Xavier’s back, pinning him to the floor. She placed her foot on his head, displaying the very ankle he’d grabbed earlier.“Never touch a woman without her permission.”

  Only when he was assured both had been subdued did Dev allow himself to seek out Josie. She was seated on the sofa next to his mother, trying to rouse the older woman.

  “You’re hurt,” Dev said to Josie, the blood on her head causing his stomach to clench.

  Josie touched her hand to her head.“I must have reopened that cut when I smacked my head on the chair leg. Not as much room in here as I thought.

  Your mother...”

  “You’re not shot?”

  She shook her head.

  Relief flooded him as myriad horrible possibilities drained from his imagination. Estelle must have been rattled, because she was usually a better shot.

  Thank God it was over. He sank to the sofa.

  “Here are my smelling salts,” Mrs. Binns called.

  She tossed the vial to Dev.“Pardon my not getting up to help,” she added in a tone that was more cheerful than apologetic.

  Honoria roused but she was still a bit dazed.“Oh no. My poor new chair,” she cried upon noticing the splintered remains.

  Dev laughed, half in relief, half in amusement.

  “I told you it wasn’t well made and wasn’t worth the cost.”

  “But it was so pretty.”

  Suddenly Josie shot off the sofa.

  She’d noticed Estelle crawling for the open secret panel. Once in the passages, she would get away. She might have made it, too. If she hadn’t been wearing a long dress to slow her down. If she’d used both hands to move rather than using one to hold the case of emeralds to her breast.And if Josie hadn’t seen her.

  Josie knocked her to the floor, but Estelle didn’t give up easily.They struggled. Josie got in a few satisfying blows, payback for the trip to the dungeon.

  Estelle swung the case at Josie’s head but missed when Josie ducked. The corner of the case hit the floor, the latch popped open, and the pieces scattered.

  “Nooooo.” Estelle stopped fighting to gather up the emerald jewelry.

  The other woman’s greed made it easier for Josie to plant a knee in her opponent’s back. She twisted Estelle’s arm up and behind her back and forced the other woman to stand.

  Dev stood nearby.

  “You could have given me a hand,” Josie said, a bit breathless.

  “And spoil your fun? Do you realize you were smiling? Most unladylike. Most improper.”

  “Tell her to let me go, Dev,” Estelle wheedled.

  “For the sake of our childhood friendship. For the sake of our feelings for each other. I know you’ve always loved me.”

  Josie raised an eyebrow. She resisted the urge to yank upward on her hold to inflict pain.

  “Only in your imagination,” Dev said to Estelle.

  “I barely tolerated you, then and now, and only because Mother seemed to enjoy your presence.”

  He signaled to the footmen.

  The contrite servants scurried over and stood at attention.“Yes, milord.”

  “Take Countess LaFoyn to the meat cooler, lock her in, and guard the door until the constable arrives. If she gets away from you...” He paused as a subtle reminder that they had been easily distracted from their duty earlier. “If she gets away, every servant in this house will be dismissed.” He said the last word loud enough for the crowd of curious servants gathered at the door to hear.The sound of the gunshot had apparently brought the entire household staff.

  “Yes, milord.”

  As the footmen escorted her out, one holding each arm,the other servants parted like the Red Sea.

  “Help me,” Estelle pleaded to one after another.

  “Help me. I have money. Lots of money. Help me.”

  Each servant, from butler to bootboy, from housekeeper to scullery maid, looked away. She had made no friends with her incessant unreasonable demands and imperious attitude.

  “Yoo-hoo,” Mrs. Binns called. “Don’t forget about me.”

  Xavier fought to raise himself and buck off the hefty chaperone. She held on to the straps and maintained her seat like any experienced horsewoman would. He plopped back flat on the floor.

  “I can’t breathe,” Xavier complained. “Get that cow off my back.”

  Mrs. Binns tapped him on the back of the head with the toe of her substantial lace-up boot.“Mind your manners.”

  Dev folded his arms and cocked his head.“May I be of some assistance, Mrs. Binns?”

  “And spoil her fun?” Josie asked.

  Mrs. Binns swung her legs to the side and slid off her erstwhile mount. “I believe I could use a glass of something bracing.”

  Dev signaled to several footmen. Two he directed to lock Xavier in the root cellar. The third he requested to fetch a glass of sherry for Mrs. Binns.

  “Claret,” she corrected.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Before the footmen led Xavier away, he made a disgusted noise and shucked off the large box that had led to his capture. The crate hit the floor corner first and the bottom of the case cracked open, spilling out packets of cash, rolled-up canvases, and several jewel cases.

  No one seemed more surprised than Xavier.“A false bottom? I can’t believe my very own wife held out on me.That bitch. I’ll kill her.”

  “Apparently she wanted more than just the emeralds.”

  “That cache represents more than a year’s worth of work.”

  “I shall endeavor to return the items to their rightful owners.” Dev jerked his head and the footmen led Xavier away.

  Josie touched Dev’s arm. She nodded toward his mother. Honoria still sat on the sofa, still appeared dazed.

  “Go on,” Josie said. “I’m fine.”

  “I’ll take Mother up to her rooms.Wait for me here,” he said to Josie, taking her hand in his.“We need to talk about something important.” His wonderful gray eyes darkened and promised so much more.

  She glanced at the clock. Five thirty.“I should...”

  “I will only be a few minutes,” he added.

  “Please.”

  “I’ll be here,” Josie promised, her throat tight.

  But maybe it would be better if he didn’t hurry back. If he took her in his arms, she would find leaving all the more difficult.

  Dev turned away, responsibility warring with a gut feeling that he shouldn’t leave Josie.

  “I’ll take you up to your rooms,” he said to his mother in a gentle tone.

  Honoria looked up at him as if startled. “I do not need to be treated like an invalid. I was only...”

  She glanced around the room.“Perhaps I could use a bit of a lie-down for my nerves.”

  He helped her to her feet
and offered his arm.

  As they exited the room, the crowd of servants had varying expressions—pride, amusement, but mostly concern.

  “May I be of service?” Mrs. Osman asked. She had her medical case under her arm as if she’d expected to treat a gunshot wound.

  Honoria paused. “Thank you, no. I presume duties elsewhere are not being neglected.” She did not raise her voice, and her tone was pleasant and conversational.Yet she cleared the entrance hall in a matter of moments. Everyone scurried back to work except the housekeeper and the butler, who curtseyed and bowed, and Dora, who was finally able to push her way into the library.

  “Well done,”Dev said as they mounted the stairs at a regal pace.

  “Did you expect a little excitement to rob me of my wits?”

  Dev had to smile at her description of the previous events, and in relief she had apparently recovered.“You did seem a bit dazed.”

  “I was only deep in thought. I have a few questions and would rather speak to you in private.”

  When they entered her sitting room, the maid had tea set out and waited with a bland expression as if she had not been in the avid crowd of gawking onlookers outside the library just minutes earlier.

  “Thank you,” Honoria said to the maid and dismissed her. “Please have a seat,” she said to Dev, indicating the chair next to her.

  “Perhaps later. If you are settled, I should...”

  “I know you are anxious to return downstairs.”

  “The constable should be arriving momentarily.

  I sent a note some time ago.”

  “He will wait. I cannot put my mind at ease until a few questions are answered. Please sit down, dear, and I will be as brief as possible.”

  Barely able to contain his impatience, Dev sat and accepted a cup of tea.

  “The reason I was confused earlier, dazed as you called it, is because the facts do not add up.”

  “The séance...”

  “Not about that. Josie explained everything quite well, and quite to my chagrin. I had been taken in by that...that...”

  “You wanted to believe.”

  “Yes, well, that is a different issue we can discuss at a later time. How did you find the emeralds?

  Estelle had obviously been searching unbeknownst to us.Yet you produce the prize out of thin air.You have not studied the journals since you were a child. You do not like the passageways. For that matter, you never even believed the legend was true. Add to that the fact that you have never been interested in the séances, and yet you suddenly want to attend and then are party to the exposure of Madame X.These facts do not make sense.And why is Josie bruised and bandaged?”