***
When Martha let me into Guinevere’s house, I heard voices coming from the parlor. A man’s laughter made my shoulders stiffen.
In all the times I had visited Guinevere, there had never been another man present. I did not like the idea of her entertaining gentlemen when she was betrothed to me. Not that I was jealous. Not at all.
After handing my hat and gloves to Martha, I walked to the parlor door. Guinevere and Edith were seated upon the sofa, and General Harvey sat across from them. Guinevere smiled when she saw me, but the smile did not reach her eyes as it usually did.
General Harvey turned to look at me, and waved vigorously for me to enter the room. “Ah, John, fancy meeting you here.” He gave me a sly wink. “Come bearing gifts I see.” He pointed a finger at the box I was holding under my arm.
“It is merely a trifle, sir.” I turned to greet Edith and Guinevere, but the latter I did without my usual flourish. As I sat in a chair by the general, Guinevere engaged Edith in conversation, but Edith appeared pale and unhappy.
The general leaned toward me speaking softly. “My girl there wanted to pay a call upon Miss Clark and begged me to escort her. Never like her to go out unattended, you understand.” He did not give me a moment to reply before he changed subjects. “I hear that Mr. Madison has left town for good; a sad affair indeed. So unfortunate for your dear sister, but, so I expected it. He was not the man for her. No, indeed.”
My fury roared to life. It was the general’s fault that Bess had been so unhappy, and I could not resist the opportunity to put the general in his place. “On the contrary, we expect his return within a week.” I leaned in my chair toward him. “If you will not spread it about, I can tell you that he has requested to pay his addresses to her.”
“Indeed,” replied the general in a hollow voice. He turned from me to look at the two ladies on the sofa. “Come, Edith. I believe it is time that we were leaving. We have trespassed too long upon Miss Clark’s valuable time.” Harvey rose, and Edith followed suit. She bid farewell to Guinevere and moved to my side as the general spoke to Guinevere.
“I do so miss your sister’s company and our rides together.” Edith looked close to tears, but I did not understand why.
“You should have Harvey drive you out to the house one day. Bess would love to see you. As it is, I am heading there myself today. Perhaps I shall see you within the next few days.”
Edith’s brown eyes were weary. “Perhaps. Good day, Mr. Martin.” She dipped a small curtsey and followed the general to the door.
I bid her farewell, and once the Harvey’s were gone, Guinevere reseated herself, sighing deeply. “I am glad they have departed. How tiresome his conversation is, and she, was there ever such a meek little mouse.”
Leaning back in my chair, I smiled. “I have heard it said that the meek shall inherit the earth. What say you to that?”
Guinevere gave her first real smile since I arrived, “Then I am a lost soul, for I would never be considered meek.”
She was the delight of my life.
Guinevere folded her hands in her lap. “What is this I hear of you removing to the country? Are you so averse to my company?”
“Perish the thought! My mother has need of me, and I have a desire to be with my sister for what time we have left together.”
She smiled knowingly. “Ah yes, Andrew Madison is to propose. I heard you telling the general. I am happy for her, but please do not propose a double wedding.” I cast her an innocent look, making her laugh. “I know that your poetical nature would find that romantic, but when I marry,” she sighed, “I want it to be a small affair, on a hillside somewhere.”
“I shall commit that to memory,” I promised.
After a moment, she asked, “Is that for me?”
I picked up the box and took it to her. “It is a trifle.”
Guinevere accepted the box casting me a curious look before lifting the lid. She stared down at the long dagger. The sheath was ivory with a sunset painted on it, and engraved within the gold handle was a heart with the initials J and G in the center. She slowly lifted her eyes to mine.
I grinned as I sat beside her and removed the dagger from the box. I ordered it the day after the picnic, before I ever proposed, before I knew that she was the white phantom and could protect herself. I held it gently in my hand.
“I know that it may appear an unsuitable gift to give a lady, but as there have been so many disappearances, and you insist upon going out unchaperoned,” I took her hand in mine when she started to speak, “it would do my mind good to know that you have some weapon with which to defend yourself. That is all.” I kissed the back of her hand. “Do you know how to use such a weapon?”
Guinevere leaned across the space between us and pressed her lips against mine. It was a fleeting, soft brush of the lips, but had the power to ignite a flame within me. I wanted to let that flame expand into a forest fire, but she broke away. It took all of my restraint not to pull her into my arms.
“Thank you, Jack. Have no fear about me, I shall do well.”
I cleared my throat, but it was my passion that I was trying to clear. “You relieve my mind. Now, my love, I must be going. There is much for me to do before I set out for the country.” And I must get out of here before my passion for you causes me to lose control. “I hope to return in a week, but should you have need of me at any time, do send word.”
She walked with me to the front door, but hesitated to open it. She turned to me and placed one hand against my cheek, staring intently into my eyes. Dangling from her wrist was the bracelet I had made for her when I proposed. My arm instinctively found its way around her waist like it had the previous night, and I drew her to me.
Our lips met softly, but holding her, safe, alive, knowing that she was a victim of Levitas, my feelings came to the fore. I placed a hand at the back of her neck, my fingers brushing the tendrils at her nape, and I was lost. My mouthed moved over hers with the urgency of a man who has been deprived of drink for too long. Hot, demanding need was increasing in me. I wanted her closer, every part of her against all of me. Her hands moved to my hair as she leaned closer. The room faded away, and all thoughts of Phantoms, plots, plans and warnings left my mind in that sweet moment. There was nothing but us, and I knew that I loved her with my whole being. I would do all within my power to keep her. She moaned softly against my mouth. I thought I would come out of my skin for all the desire filling me. I wanted her, craved her in every pore, every joint.
A voice cleared from behind us, forcing me to back to the room and reality. I pulled my head back but did not release her. I brushed my thumb across her lips as I stared into her eyes filled with love and longing.
Fiend seize her errant chaperone! I stepped away, turning to see Martha standing on the stairs with her hands akimbo on her plump hips.
“Young man, where I come from, when a man gives kisses like those, he had better be prepared to marry the girl.”
“Ma’am, I genuinely concur.” I bowed, placed my hat on my head and turned back to Guinevere. She held out her hand, and I kissed the back, then kissed the small heart on her bracelet. “I leave my heart here, with you.”
“Then return soon to reclaim it,” she whispered before stepping away from the door.
My ride home was spent in thought, about Guinevere and the adventures we could have after I removed her from Richard’s clutches. With my new fortune, we could go anywhere, do anything. She would never have to worry, would never be used for others gain. I would protect her; cherish her as she deserves.
When I arrived home, my mind was occupied with thoughts of Guinevere, and I did not notice Leo until after I had stripped off my gloves and laid them with my hat on the table. One look at his face and I was on my guard.
“What is amiss?”
“Here, John,” a man’s voice said from my library, and a cold feeling swept over me.
My hands balled into fists at my sides as I stomped into
my library. “Frederick.”
Frederick was lounging on the sofa with a cigar sticking out of his mouth and a book in his lap. He blew a cloud of smoke toward me. “A fine home you have, my friend. Fine indeed.”
Every ounce of me wanted to grab Frederick by his throat and escort him, none too kindly, from my house, but I resisted. “You do not know how relieved I am that you approve.” I cut the pleasantries. “What are you doing here?”
Frederick smirked at me. “Why, did you not know that your sister sent for me? Yes, indeed she did. Said she required my assistance in the capture of Levitas.” Frederick looked pleased over that.
No wonder Bess agreed to Monroe’s suggestion to send for Frederick. She had already done so. “What are you doing in my house?”
Frederick laughed and took another puff on his cigar. Leaning his head back, he blew a circle of smoke in front of him. “I understand that you have not yet located George.”
The smile that touched my lips was more a sneer. “But we have. We received word from one of our informant that he was found in New York. Safe and alive.”
Frederick stared at me, but there was no amusement left in his eyes. “Rowland?”
I nodded. Freddy sprang up suddenly from the sofa. “Jack, Rowland has been dead a year.”
No! That would mean...
“You have been duped, my friend. George is still a captive.”
Chapter 29
Phantoms In Philadelphia (Phantom Knights Book 1) Page 47