by Lora Thomas
“But it’s Major Stevenson’s home,” Cameron reminded her.
“It’s my home as well,” Anna countered. “You will have only a few minutes. Be there by ten.”
Cameron looked down into Anna’s eyes. The color held him. There were dark blue and full of spirit. He wondered if they had the same appearance when passion consumed her body. He had such a great desire to pull her into his arms and kiss her.
“What about the servants?”
“I’ll have them clean the attic, run some errands. I will think of a reason for them to be out of the house or occupied elsewhere.”
Cameron glanced over his shoulder. Sarah and Gibson were at least fifty feet behind them. He pulled Anna behind the gardener’s shed.
“What are you doing?” Anna asked with urgency.
Cameron didn’t answer but allowed himself to give into his desire. He pulled Anna to him and kissed her.
Anna’s mind told her to push back, to run and flee, that someone could be watching. But another side of her said “who cares.” She melted into his arms and returned his kiss. She felt her pulse quicken at his intoxicating taste. His scent drifted to her and a strange sensation began building inside of her causing her to moan into his mouth.
Cameron pulled her tighter to him. He wanted her. Wanted her more than he had ever wanted another. His tongue traced her lips. She parted them and allowed him entrance into her mouth. The feel of her tongue on his caused him to grow hard.
“Mrs. Stevenson!” Gibson yelled, bring the couple out of the throes of passion.
Cameron abruptly let go of Anna and pulled her bonnet from her head, tossing it on the roof of the shed.
Anna’s hands instinctively went to her head. She watched with curiosity as he tossed her bonnet on the roof and then began jumping up and down.
“Over here, Mr. Gibson!” Cameron called, attempting to sound like his brother.
The tall thin guard raced around the shed. “What are you doing back here?” His voice was filled with suspicion.
“The wind caught hold of Mrs. Stevenson’s bonnet. It blew the lovely object on top of the shed. I simply cannot reach it.”
“The wind did not blow,” Gibson said with doubt as he looked at Anna.
“It did, Mr. Gibson,” Sarah replied. “Ye just didnae notice. Why it nearly raised mah skirt ower mah backside. I dae say, Mr. Gibson, yi’ll need tae be more mindful o’ the weather aroond ‘ere.”
“There was not any wind!” Mr. Gibson replied. “Mrs. Stevenson, were you and Mr. Christopher involved in an intim—”
His accusation of infidelity was cut off as Sarah grabbed him and pulled him to her, kissing him.
Anna and Cameron watched with mortification as Sarah kissed Gibson. The shock wore off and the corner of Cameron’s mouth twitched with humor as he wondered how she would explain this.
Sarah pulled back and breathlessly panted. “Sae sorry, Mr. Gibson. Ah just had the most uncontrollable desire tae kiss ye. Ah find myself notably attracted tae ye after oor chat.”
The young soldier had the decency to look ashamed as his face turned bright red. “I…I…we…that is—”
“It’s quite all right, Mr. Gibson,” Anna interrupted. “I will not inform my husband about your indiscretion on duty if you will not say a word about me being alone for a few minutes with Mr. Christopher while he was trying to retrieve my bonnet.”
“Your bonnet?” Gibson questioned, still dazed from the passionate kiss given to him by Sarah.
“Yes.”
Gibson blinked rapidly several times, still attempting to gain his composure. “Your bonnet?”
Anna inwardly smiled. She pointed to the roof of the shed. “Yes. My bonnet.”
Gibson looked at the building, still in a daze. “Yes. I shall retrieve it for you,” he whispered and staggered towards the shed.
Cameron stepped to Sarah. “What did you do to him?”
A smug expression crossed Sarah’s face. “Ye wanting me tae show ye, tae?”
Cameron held up his hand. “No. Please save that for Joseph.”
“Dae nae tell him aboot this incident.”
“You have my word.” Cameron couldn’t help but smirk at Sarah’s ingenuity in her method of distracting the guard.
Gibson returned then with the bonnet in hand. Anna took it from him and placed it upon her head.
“Thank you, Mr. Gibson. I believe we both have had an eventful morning. I think I shall go home for a nap.”
She turned from Cameron and Sarah and left with the still dazed Gibson on her heels. Cameron watched as Mrs. Stevenson and her guard departed. She was a remarkable woman. Now to find Joseph and inform him of the plan and watch as Sarah explained to him why she kissed a Brit.
Anna sat in the ivory chair and smiled sweetly at Mr. Walters as her stomach knotted. Why was he the one assigned to guard her today? She watched as he sipped his tea. Sip was not the term. He was just placing the cup to his mouth and allowing the liquid to wet his lips. She doubted he was even swallowing any of it. She fought the desire to tilt his head back and pour the whole blasted cup down his throat. After thirty minutes, he finally finished his cup.
She stood and walked over to the window. She knew Cameron and Joseph were hiding in the shrubbery by the door. She motioned with her hands to give her more time, hoping they could see her.
Mr. Walters shifted in his seat, rubbed his large nose and then sniffed. He readjusted again. He sat upright and then slouched. The lids of his eyes grew heavy and a starry eyed appearance came over him as he fought sleep.
“Is something amiss, Mr. Walters?” Anna asked with a pretense of concern.
He violently shook his head and snorted. “No.”
“Why don’t you sit on the sofa? Those chairs are terribly uncomfortable.”
Walters nodded his head in agreement and walked to the navy sofa—more like staggered. The drunkard who assisted Anna the other night walked with better balance. He sat down and covered his eyes with his hand. She gave a devious smile and walked to the piano. She began playing a soft, soothing tune. The melodious sound of the music put a trancelike state over Walters. Soon the piano notes were drowned out by his snores.
Anna removed her shoes, stood and tiptoed from the room. A grimace crossed her face at the noise of her rustling gown. Once in the hallway, she raced to the servant’s entrance. As she flung the door open, she nearly knocked Cameron over.
Her eyes grew wide. “Sorry,” she whispered.
“It’s about time. What took you so long?”
“That dunce sips tea like an old lady. I was about to pour it down his throat with a funnel.” Cameron gave her a skeptical glance at her rampage. “Don’t give me that look. Come on. We don’t have much time.”
Cameron and Joseph followed Anna into her husband’s study. As they entered, Cameron’s brows drew together with disgust. The room reeked of stale cheroots and cheap alcohol. The furnishings were dark and depressing. Even the flooring was in desperate need of repair.
Anna motioned for them to approach the desk. She pointed to a drawer on the bottom right. “They are in here.”
Cameron knelt down beside the drawer. “Keep watch, Joseph,” he said as he pulled a small flat pouch out of his breast pocket. Joseph walked to the window and peered out, watching for the major’s return. Anna walked to the doorway to do the same for the staff and her guards. Cameron went to work. He pulled out two flat tools and inserted them into the lock. A few seconds later, there was a soft click as the drawer opened.
Cameron pulled the maps out and motioned for Joseph to join him. The men studied the maps, memorizing every detail that they could. It appeared that the major was planning on attacking a colonial encampment ten miles north of their current location. Cameron was surprised that the major knew of this small outpost. It was well hidden. Only a select few were even privy to the camp’s location.
The camp was of vital importance. It held ammunition and artillery for the army. I
f the Redcoats found it, the Continental army would be devastated.
The sounds of hooves captured their attention. Joseph ran to the window.
“Stevenson’s back.”
Cameron shoved the maps back inside the drawer, attempting to arrange them as close as possible to their prior position. He quietly closed the drawer. The men followed Anna out of the study. She stopped short when voices were heard coming down the hallway. She looked at them horror-stricken.
“This way,” she whispered as she walked back the way they came.
“It’s a dead end,” Joseph said.
Anna stopped by the wall across the hall from the study. She pulled one of the sconces and the wall moved. “Come on,” she instructed as she stepped inside.
Cameron and Joseph quickly followed Anna. The passageway was black.
“Use the wall to guide you,” Anna instructed.
The trio made their way up the dark, stuffy passage. Suddenly a faint light could be seen along the floor. Anna placed her hand on the wall over the light.
“Where is it?” she spoke to herself. “Come on. Where are you? There you are,” she declared. A soft pop echoed throughout the passage, then suddenly light flooded over them. The secret walkway had taken them upstairs. They walked down the hallway and to a door. Before Anna’s hand touched the knob, it moved. She rapidly motioned for the men to follow her as she walked back down the hall and into a bedroom.
Cameron looked around the room and knew instantly this was her chambers. The room smelled of Anna—a refreshing scent of lilac and the outdoors. The room had a feminine feel to it. Multiple vials could be seen scattered across the mirrored dressing table. The bed was covered in a pale pink quilt with lacy pillows. There was an open wardrobe against the wall. He drew his brows together as voices traveled to them.
Anna knew what Cameron was thinking. She pointed to the chimney and walked to the metal door. Wiggling her finger, she motioned him to join her. Cameron approached with curiosity. When he realized what she was showing him, his surprise was evident.
“Is this how you find out your information?” Cameron asked.
“Yes. Albert’s study is just below.”
“I’ll be damned,” Joseph said as he approached to listen.
At that time, Stevenson angrily yelled, “Anna!”
“Oh, no!” she frantically whispered. “You’ve got to get out of here.”
Cameron walked over to the window and looked out.
“How’s it look?” Joseph asked.
“No good. Guards out back.”
Anna raced to her bed and lifted the bed skirt. “Quickly, get under here.”
“What?” Cameron asked in shock.
“Hide under here,” she said with desperation in her tone.
The fear she was experiencing enraged Cameron. He should not have placed her in this situation. But they needed the information she had offered.
“Come on,” Cameron whispered to Joseph. The men crawled under the large four-poster bed. It was a tight squeeze. Cameron and Joseph were cuddled up like two lovers under the bed. If this were under different circumstances, Cameron would have found this quite comical.
“Get your knee out of my arse, Cameron,” Joseph complained as he readjusted.
As Anna knelt down to readjust the bed skirt, she looked Cameron in the eyes. “No matter what happens, you must stay hidden.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You will. Whatever transpires in this room, you cannot come out.” Her despondent tone caused Cameron to nod his head.
Joseph looked at Cameron with a concerned expression. “Wonder what that was about?”
“I’m afraid we’re about to find out.”
“Anna!” Stevenson yelled again as he approached her door.
Anna jumped to her dressing table and pulled the pins from her hair. She grabbed her brush and began running it through her hair. “I’m in here, husband,” she called out.
Stevenson threw open the door with such force it bounced from the wall with a clamorous thump. The anger emanating from him caused Anna’s heart rate to increase exponentially. Never had she seen such fury in his eyes.
Before she could ask what was wrong, his backhand sent her tumbling to the floor. “You bitch!” She cried out as he pulled her upward by her hair. “Who did you let into my study?”
“I don’t know what—”
“Don’t lie to me! My desk drawer was unlocked. Now who has been here?”
Anna’s mouth opened and closed with fear as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Under the bed, Cameron closed his eyes and mental chastised himself for being so careless. Because of him, Anna was in danger. Cameron began to move but Joseph placed his hand on Cameron’s arm to keep his friend from jumping out to rescue Anna. Joseph shook his head and mouthed a “No.” If they were found, then Stevenson would kill them all.
“No one,” she said in a trembling voice. “Ask Mr. Walters.”
“I would, but that incompetent excuse for a soldier is asleep. Drugged it appears,” he said in a cold voice.
Anna had enough sense to her to allow her eyes to widen and then in a surprised voice asked, “Drugged? How?”
“You tell me, Wife.”
“I don’t know—”
Her explanation was interrupted as Albert struck her again. “Don’t lie to me!” He grabbed her by her upper arms and began shaking her violently. “Tell me who was here, damn it!”
“No one, I swear!” she replied as she looked directly into her husband’s eyes. Just as soon as she did, she realized the error of her actions. She felt the fierce blow of his fist to her cheek. She fell to the floor and tears began streaming down her cheeks.
She placed her hand to her stinging cheek. The taste of copper flooded her mouth as her lip bled. “I would never lie to you,” she whispered as her eyes diverted to the floor.
“So tell me who has been here,” he seethed.
“I don’t know. Mr. Walters dozed off. I came up here so he could rest. I haven’t seen anyone but you.”
Stevenson bent over and captured her chin between his fingers, squeezing so forcefully a pain-filled moan escaped her. “If I find out you are lying to me, I will make sure no one will ever want to look at your repulsive face ever again.”
“Please, Albert. The baby,” she reminded him.
He released her chin. “That is the only reason you have not witnessed my full wrath. The thought of bedding you again repulses me. So be mindful of your actions, Anna. Do not force me to discipline you so harshly that you would lose my child. I have no desire to lay with you again in order to conceive another.” Albert left, slamming the door in the process.
Anna lay on the floor staring blankly at the door. She didn’t move when she heard the sound of the men exiting their hiding spot under her bed. She just kept staring at the door as fear filled her to the point she thought she would die.
Cameron silently approached Anna. He crouched down in front of her and assisted her to a sitting position. Placing a finger under her chin, he tenderly turned her to face him. A rage like he had never experienced came over him as he gazed upon her battered face. Her lower lip was split and bleeding. Her right eye was beginning to bruise. A faint dark mark could be made out on her chin and her cheek had already turned a nasty shade of purple. Cameron tenderly stroked her cheek causing Anna to take a ragged breath.
“Is the courtyard clear?” she asked, her eyes never leaving the door.
“Yes,” Joseph responded.
“Climb out the window and go left. There is a rose trellis a few feet past the window. It is behind a hemlock tree, so no one should see you descend.”
“Anna,” Cameron softly whispered.
“Go.” She looked up into his eyes. He watched her silent tears slide down her cheeks as she spoke. “Take your information.” He opened his mouth to speak but was silenced as Anna placed her finger over his lips. “If I never see you again, please do not fe
el guilty. Remember I wanted to help you.”
Her meaning was not missed by Cameron. “Come with me.”
“I cannot. If I find out any more information, I will send an encrypted note to your brother’s store. Something that would not draw suspicion.” She licked her injured lip. “I will request your brother to purchase some red thread. When you receive the note, meet me at my home near Leland that evening.”
“Why not The Dragon’s Lair?” Joseph asked.
“My husband has spies everywhere. More and more are joining him daily. If he thinks I am seeing someone, I will have more guards to contend with. Traveling outside the city is my safest course.”
“It’s not safe to travel at night,” Cameron informed her.
“How will you get away?” Joseph asked.
“I don’t know. But I will think of something. Go now with the knowledge that I would rather risk my life being shot on a dark roadway than be beaten to death here.” As she stood, Cameron assisted her. “Go. I will be fine.”
Cameron reached out to touch her cheek again, but she jerked her head to the side and looked shamefully away.
“Come on, Cam, before we are spotted,” Joseph encouraged his friend.
Cameron nodded his head. He climbed out the window and rushed to the hemlock. The men climbed down the trellis with spider-like ease and quickly disappeared into the hedges. The information they had acquired needed to be relayed. But just as soon as it was, Cameron vowed to return for Anna. As the thought entered his mind, he was taken aback. He barely knew the woman, but yet he wanted to know more of her. Her bravery was unprecedented. But that was not what he found so appealing. He could see her intelligence shining through her blue eyes. He could sense her pain through her smile. She needed to be protected, and he wanted to protect her. He would find a way to help her escape her husband. He would kill the major. And in the end, she would be with him.
Chapter Twelve
Anna glanced out her bedroom window. She watched as lightning darted across the evening sky. She counted until she heard the rumble of thunder. It would still be awhile before the storm reached her location. Turning her eyes downward, she noticed the guards in the courtyard scurry into the barn. Cowards. A little thunder or distant lightning never hurt anyone. But their cowardice was her salvation. As the last guard entered the barn, she climbed out her window. Keeping her body low, she crawled to the dark-green hemlock tree and scampered down the trellis. Once on the ground she crept through the boxwood shrubs, knowing her dark cape would conceal her. She followed the shrub line until she was at the side of the home and then darted to the large holly tree. Once safely behind the sticky tree, she let out a relieved sigh. She was no longer in view of the house. She made her way to the side gate and out onto the street. Keeping herself to the shadows, she darted between the buildings though the dark alleyways. Once at the outskirts of town, she made her way to a small cottage.