Felicia's Spirits

by Marie Higgins

  Sebastian wanted to tear his gaze away from the stunning woman, but he couldn’t – not when several emotions played on her face. Dare he believe she was remorseful? Of course not. As he’d just admitted, she’d been an amazing actress. And yet, he detected tears in her eyes. Unfortunately, she blinked quickly, and so what he thought he’d seen was gone.

  “As much as I’d love nothing more than to talk about old times,” she said in a tight voice, “as you saw through the dining room window, I do have guests. I need to return to the game room where we are playing cards.”

  Confusion filled him once more. He left the window and moved in front of her. Up this close, recollections of when he thought he was falling in love resurfaced, but he quickly ushered out the betraying memories. “You saw me through the window? When?” But as soon as he said it, his mind replayed the moment when she had reached in front of her and moved the silver serving bowl. Silently he berated himself. Of course! She had seen his reflection through the silver. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

  Gradually, her smile returned, as did the sparkle in her eyes. “I see from the look on your face that I don’t have to answer that, do I?”

  “No,” he grumbled.

  “Splendid. Now I hope you will excuse me—”

  “Wait.” He grabbed her arm. Warmth spread through him, starting from where he touched her skin, heading for his heart. Quickly, he dropped his hand. He couldn’t... wouldn’t allow that feeling to return. “Why did you have your servant bring me in here?”

  “I had a feeling you were the one spying on me.”

  “Why?” He arched an eyebrow.

  “I’d heard that you were in Capri, but I didn’t want to believe it.”

  Who could have possibly told her that? He’d have to find the person quickly and put a stop to their blathering. “Well, believe it.”

  “Now that you know who I am, I shall let you leave.”

  Shaking his head, he chuckled. “What if I want to stay? After all, I still need to find the evidence to arrest you.”

  “I fear, Mr. Harrington, you won’t find it tonight. I need to entertain my guests, which means I won’t have time for you.” She crossed her arms over her bosom. “Now, shall I have Alberto show you out or will you be able to retrace your footsteps all the way out of the house and off my property by yourself?”

  Although he didn’t want to grin, he couldn’t help it. “I can find my way.”

  “Splendid. Then I bid you farewell, and I wish you a good evening.”

  As he watched her leave the room, his gaze slid down her backside. He’d always enjoyed watching her walk. The sway of her hips and the bounce in her step had always brought a smile to his face. Except, he wouldn’t show that expression this time.

  Now that she was gone, temptation swept over him. He should sneak through some of the rooms – more as morbid curiosity than anything. If she had hidden the stolen jewels in this house, she wouldn’t have left Sebastian alone. She trusted him just as much as he trusted her... which was very little. Unless, she left him here as means of proving to him that she wasn’t the thief. He had to remember, she was a clever woman.

  He moved toward the door, but just before reaching it, Alberto, peeked inside. Sebastian grumbled softly. It looked as though she hadn’t left him alone after all. Her ever-present guard-dog was on watch tonight.

  “Señor, do you wish me to show you out?” Alberto asked.

  “No, but I thank you for asking. I know my way.”

  Sebastian placed the hat on his head as he retraced his footsteps, just as Felicia had asked. Strange to think that she was back in his life, again. But the odd thing about all of this was... he wasn’t as angry as he figured he’d be. In fact, he looked forward to the challenge of proving to her what a great detective he was.

  TWO

  Felicia stared at herself in the vanity mirror the next morning. Lightly, she tapped her fingers over the dark circles under her eyes and groaned. How was she going to get rid of these? Italy didn’t have enough facial powder for her to hide the fact that she’d received absolutely no sleep last night. On the few occasions she had closed her eyes, Sebastian’s handsome face had filled her head. She couldn’t possibly have those images floating in her mind.

  Unwanted memories returned, breaking her heart that much more. Four years ago, she’d made the biggest mistake in her career. She shouldn’t have fallen in love with a suspect no matter how handsome and charming he was.

  During that time, she had worked for Leonard Mortimer, who was in business – covertly – for the Prime Minister. They were in need of female secret agents because there were so many people trying to ruin the Prince Regent. Felicia’s mother, Irene Templeton, had been one, and Felicia had followed in the same footsteps as her mother. Her mother had been one of the best, and because Felicia had learned from her mother, she considered herself a talented spy.

  Unfortunately, Felicia had picked the wrong time – and the wrong place – to retire.

  She’d made a lot of money in her line of business and now she wanted to sit back and enjoy life. That was one of the main reasons she’d married Lord Edwin Adler, a man who was twice her age. Fortunately, love was not in their arrangement. Because she was older than most unmarried women, and because of what she’d been doing for several years, no other man would have her.

  At least Edwin had been a kind husband. He’d provided well for her, having a townhouse in London, an estate in North Devonshire, and another in Capri, Italy. Felicia liked the estate in Italy because her mother lived close by.

  Edwin had told her several times how he liked to show her off to his friends and associates. She had been satisfied with being his much younger wife, but the older man’s heart failed him not long after they had repeated their vows and returned from their honeymoon in Italy.

  Now that she knew Sebastian Harrington was in town, she didn’t want to be here. She didn’t want to have another chance meeting that would only bring up old feelings and make her say things that had no business leaving her thoughts. He’d accused her of lying to him, but the stubborn man wouldn’t admit that he had lied to her.

  There was another reason she didn’t want Bash around. She learned the last time they were together that her visitors made an appearance on several occasions during the time she’d spent with Bash. When she was a young girl, her visitors came often, and then they seemed to come back in full force after she’d become a spy for Mr. Mortimer. It seemed, her visitors, only came around when she was in some kind of danger. Would they think she was in danger now that Bash was back in her life?

  Shaking off the memories, she frowned. Sadly enough, Bash now thought her to be a thief. What would that insane man concoct in his thick skull next? She honestly, didn’t want to find out. Her heart couldn’t take anymore.

  Grudgingly, she dressed and finished her toilette. Today she wore a burgundy day dress with an overlay of pink and white flowers. Around her neck, she tied a matching choker. As always, she curled her hair in loose ringlets.

  She had errands to run, and now that she was disheartened, she figured she’d pay her mother a visit. Hopefully, her parent could lift her spirits because Felicia definitely couldn’t get through this alone.

  What bothered her most about seeing Sebastian again was that he acted as if he loathed her very presence. She rolled her eyes. He was just like all men she knew; never taking the blame for anything.

  After she’d eaten a breakfast of biscuit and eggs, she snatched her bonnet and wrap before hurrying downstairs and out the door. It didn’t take the groomsman long, and he had the phaeton ready. She climbed in and took hold of the reins. She guided the horses out of the estate gates and onto the road.

  If not for the slight pounding in her head from last night’s events, she would have enjoyed today’s lovely weather. Not a cloud in the sky, and no hint of a breeze. The sun shone brightly, and she was sure she wouldn’t need to wear her shawl for very long.

  A move
ment from the corner of her eye grabbed her attention. In a split second, a man jumped out of a tree and onto her vehicle, causing it to sway. Screaming, she clutched the seat to keep from falling. A pair of large hands grabbed her arms and held her in place. Once her head cleared of the shock of what had just happened, she recognized the man sitting next to her.

  “Sebastian!” She yanked herself out of his hold and slapped his chest. “What in the blazes do you think you’re doing?”

  He shrugged, displaying his familiar, self-assured grin as he shifted himself on the seat. “Is it not obvious? I’m going for a ride with you.” He glanced toward the road. “Where are we going this fine morning?”

  “We are not going anywhere, because you’ll be leaving now.” She pulled the reins, bringing the horses to a halt.

  “No, my dear Felicia. I’ve decided to tag along with you today. It would be much easier to spy on you that way, don’t you agree?”

  Just the idea of him being with her the whole day, had her heartbeat skipping with anticipation. Quickly, she doused her silly thoughts. “Actually, no Bash. I want you out. Now.”

  He leaned back in the seat and folded his arms behind his neck. She’d forgotten how handsome he was, and this morning, he looked incredible in his long gray coat and matching trousers, black vest and thick cravat over a pristine white shirt. Even his black boots looked freshly polished.

  “Sorry my dear Felicia, but since I’ll be following you, I think traveling together will accomplish more for us than traveling separately. Besides,” he took a peek at her, “we have a lot of catching up to do.”

  Irritation ran rapidly through her and she gripped the reins harder. “I fear the only catching up you’re going to do is when I push you out of the phaeton and you’ll have to figure out a way to catch up to me.”

  His eyebrows lifted. “So you have accepted the fact that I’ll be following you?”

  She clamped her mouth closed. If not, she would start screaming at him. No other man made her switch from one emotion to the next so effortlessly. Four years ago there had been times she’d be in his arms in a passionate embrace, only to want to tear his head off mere minutes later.

  “Bash, I’m going to visit my mother, and I don’t want you there.”

  “Your mother is in Italy, too? How convenient.” He sat up straight. “I’ve never met her.”

  “Exactly, and I would rather you not.”

  “I have an excellent idea.” His amber eyes sparkled as his voice lifted with excitement. “Why don’t I ride with you until you are almost there, and at that time, I shall leave.”

  She narrowed her gaze on him, not sure if he was lying. “Will you assure me that you won’t break that promise?”

  “I swear to it.” He motioned toward the reins. “Would you like me to guide the horses?”

  Part of her wanted him to take control over the reins, but then she remembered that if he did, she would have nothing better to do than stare at him. She definitely didn’t want to do that.

  “No, I’m fine.” She shifted in her seat before urging the horses into a trot again. He could talk all he wanted, but she was going to keep her attention on the road.

  An awkward silence hung in the air the first few minutes of the ride. She preferred arguing with him rather than the nerve-wracking silence hovering between them. Should she start the conversation? There were so many unanswered questions that needed to be resolved, but she didn’t dare say anything. She wanted the past to stay buried, only because then she could entomb her feelings along with it.

  “Something has been on my mind since seeing you last night,” Sebastian said.

  She struggled to keep her gaze forward instead of looking his way. “It has? What could that possibly be?”

  “When I met you in Devonshire, your hair was brown. But now it’s much blonder. If you’re not trying to hide, why then are you hiding your true hair color?”

  His question hit her funny, and she blasted out a laugh before she could stop it. “Indeed? That is the question you have had on your mind since last night?”

  “Well, that was one of many.”

  “Oh, Bash.” She laughed harder. “For a man who boasts on solving mysteries better than anyone, I’m shocked you don’t already know the answer.”

  Even though she’d vowed not to look at him during the drive, she couldn’t help but watch his face now. His cocky expression quickly disappeared. Spots of red highlighted his cheeks, proving his embarrassment. And then mere seconds later, his whole face flamed as he glared at her. His nostrils flared as his lips tightened. Once again, she wanted to laugh, but this time she didn’t. She enjoyed catching him off guard.

  “You wish me to guess this little mystery on my own? Fine.” He folded his arms and narrowed his gaze on her. “You colored your hair because you are still in hiding. But let me go one step further in my assumption. You wear lovely, expensive gowns and jewelry, not because your deceased husband was rich, but because you want society to think you are some untouched woman who fits easily with the other ladies of quality. The more I realize you are trying to hide, the more I’m convinced you are the thief I’m searching for, because once again, you are fooling people into believing what you want them to think.”

  She couldn’t look at him anymore. He had it all wrong, but telling Sebastian he didn’t know what he was talking about was like trying to convince a dog he was a rat. And in this case, Harrington indeed was both – a dog and a rat!

  “Let me clear up one thing,” she snapped. “The hair you see now is my true hair color. In Devonshire, I had colored it brown.”

  “That makes sense, but all it proves is that you are still trying to hide.”

  “Oh, you think you have me all figured out, don’t you?” She continued to concentrate on the road and driving.

  “No, I don’t think, my dear Felicia. I know. You forget, I know you well.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t believe you know me at all, Harrington. You never have.”

  He leaned closer to her, close enough that his warm breath caressed her ear. His masculine scent of pine teased her senses. She shivered, but she tried not to let him see the effect his nearness had on her.

  “And whose fault is that? You’ve never allowed me to get to know the real Felicia.”

  She hated when he was right, but she wouldn’t admit that to him. “Just as you’ve never let me get to know the true Sebastian Harrington.”

  Perhaps she shouldn’t have said that, especially because it made her voice tight with emotion. Back in Devonshire, she had wanted to know him. She wanted to give her heart to the man she’d hoped he would be, instead of the man he turned out to be.

  “I don’t know what you mean, my dear.” He sat back in the seat and widened his arms. “This is me. I’m the same person you met four years ago.”

  She threw him a glare. “Now who is lying?”

  He chuckled. His face relaxed as his gaze slowly moved over her. She recalled loving it when he practically devoured her with his eyes. And just as before, giddiness bounced in her chest. Quickly, she deflated the feeling. She wouldn’t allow that emotion to come over her again.

  “That, Harrington, is the true question. Which one of us is lying?” She returned her focus to the road once more.

  Silence stretched between them again, and this time she could actually feel him looking over her. Her skin tingled with awareness, making her breathing increase. She couldn’t continue with this. He needed to leave. She wanted to visit her mother without him. Even though he’d confessed his activities for the day, she needed to lose him. She’d done it before, and she’d do it again.

  “Felicia, my dear, I have one more question for now.”

  For now? If she had her way, it would be his last question for her. “And what is that?”

  “Did you love him?”

  Her mind tripped, and she hitched a surprised breath. She turned her attention on Sebastian, only to see that he had leaned close t
o her again. His masculine scent enveloped her, stronger this time, and more intoxicating than before. Memories of yesteryear tried to break through, and just as before, she pushed them aside.

  “Did I love whom?”

  “Lord Adler.”

  Gone was his teasing smile. Tenderness coated his expressive amber eyes. This was another look of his that she didn’t like, only because it made her want to tell him everything. Of course, she definitely wouldn’t do that.

  “What a strange question, Harrington. He was my husband.”

  “Exactly, so I’d think you would be able to answer the question without taking a moment to ponder in your mind first.”

  She pulled her gaze away from him and back to the road. It was really none of his business if she’d loved Edwin or not. She recognized the part of town nearing her mother’s residence. She sighed. “Oh, look. This is where you get off.” She tossed Sebastian a grin. “You did promise to leave when I was almost at my mother’s house, correct?”

  He smirked and drew back into the seat. “Indeed, I did say that.”

  She pulled the phaeton to the side of the rode and stopped the horses. “Then I bid you a good day, Harrington. Try not to jump into any more vehicles. I can assure you that most people won’t be as kind as I have been.”

  He stared at her for a few seconds before chuckling. “I shall catch up with you later, my dear.” He turned and hopped out of the vehicle.

  Relief swept over her, even though he watched her with a wide grin as he placed his hat on his head. What was he up to now? And knowing Sebastian, he was definitely up to something.

  She clicked her tongue against her teeth, urging the horses back onto the road. Confusion filled her head, making it throb. What was she going to do about that man? She couldn’t have him back in her life. Although she’d missed him terribly after they had parted ways in Devonshire, separation had been the best thing for both of them. She couldn’t love a man she couldn’t trust.

  Felicia coaxed the horses faster just in case Sebastian was following her on foot. When she reached the edge of town, she pushed the animals even faster. The more she thought about Harrington, the more her throat constricted with emotion. When she had stood in front of the minister, ready to exchange vows with Edwin, her heart had twisted in pain. She’d longed for Sebastian to be standing beside her instead of a man twice her age. Had she loved Edwin? No. In part because her foolish heart wouldn’t release Sebastian.