Felicia's Spirits

by Marie Higgins

  Keeping a smile on his face, his thoughts returned to the ball last night... and to their passionate kiss. After what had happened between them four years ago, he’d vowed never to let another woman wrench his heart as Felicia had done. And yet, he was willing to let her have his heart one more time. Passion between them had always been exciting. She was like a magnet, and he was the steel. But things were different between them now. They knew each other better. They also knew what the other was capable of doing.

  What had made her so vulnerable? Was it because she relied on him to help her find her mother? And yet, the reasons he had for seeking Felicia out had certainly changed now. He enjoyed working with her, and he cherished the times they were together. He loved making her laugh and he loved it when she made him laugh. Indeed, Felicia Adler was a woman he’d never be able to forget as long as he lived.

  He finally reached her home and knocked on the front door. Alberto came to the door. As always, the butler face was expressionless.

  “Good day,” Sebastian greeted. “I’ve come to see Lady Adler. Is she home?”

  “I am sorry, sir, but Lady Adler is not taking any visitors.”

  Sebastian chuckled lightly. “Yes, but she will see me.”

  Alberto shook his head. “No, señor. She instructed me that she would see no one.”

  The butler started to close the door, but Sebastian placed his foot between the door and the frame, stopping it from shutting. The servant shot Sebastian a glare.

  “Alberto, would you please inform Lady Adler that I am here. I know she’ll want to see me.”

  Sebastian had a glaring contest with the servant for several awkward moments. Finally, the butler nodded and opened the door, motioning with his hand for Sebastian to enter.

  “Then come into the sitting room and I shall ask her.”

  Sebastian nodded and complied with the servant. He didn’t need to be shown into the room, because he’d been there before. Thankfully, the servant didn’t follow him to make certain Sebastian reached his destination, but instead, walked up the grand staircase toward Lady Adler’s bedchambers.

  Sebastian passed by a small table that held missives and invitations for Lady Adler. He slowed his steps enough to scan each one of them. He picked up a few and ran his perfect memory gaze across the cards before heading into the sitting room. He wasn’t surprised to see how many functions Felicia has been invited to. She had always been a sociable woman who brightened a room by just walking inside. She definitely knew how to brighten his day by just smiling at him and gazing on him with her adorable eyes.

  Instead of sitting on the tan and rose-colored sofa, he walked to the window and gazed outside. His mind replayed their kiss yesterday, and once again, the memory brought a smile to his face. The servant didn’t know what he was talking about. Felicia would want to see Sebastian. She was probably just as eager to see him as he was to see her.

  He pulled his attention back inside the room. She really did have lovely furniture, exquisite paintings on the wall, and costly knick-knacks on the shelves. Seeing these things, made him wonder why debt collectors were still accosting her. Then again, they probably wanted money and not the nice things Felicia has in her home.

  In the corridor outside the room, fast footsteps pounded on the floor. That definitely didn’t sound like Felicia’s dainty steps. Just then, Alberto entered. His expression was stern.

  “Lady Adler wants me to tell you she is severely under the weather and she will not be able to see you today. She sends her apologies and prays you will understand.”

  Worry seeped into Sebastian’s heart. Something wasn’t right. Either that or he just really wanted to see her today. “Tell Lady Adler I hope she feels better soon.”

  “Sì, I will.”

  Despondency swept over Sebastian as he left the house. What would he do with his time today? Seeing Lady Adler every day since he’d found her in Italy had been something he looked forward to.

  As he walked away from her estate, his mind spun with what he could do to pass his time today. Immediately, he recalled several invitations. Perhaps he’d visit one – or more – of these tonight. Although he hadn’t been invited, didn’t mean he couldn’t show up. There were many ways to get around propriety.

  DRESSED AS A BEGGAR-woman, Felicia sat on the ground, up against a rundown building. The ragged hooded cape around her, did very little to keep her warm, especially since the wind had picked up, bringing with it cooler temperatures. She had pulled the hood lower over her forehead, hoping that the shadows would block her face. She couldn’t allow anyone to notice her. Especially Mortimer.

  From time to time, she cried out in a broken voice of an old woman, hoping people would drop a coin or two in the rickety bucket beside her. So far, no one had offered her any money.

  It had been an extremely taxing morning, and her nerves had taken their toll. All she wanted to do was return home and slip between the blankets on her bed and sleep... and forget about what Mortimer wanted her to do.

  She’d cried for hours after she’d left the old church, but then her mind finally started working properly. Sulking about her fears was not the answer. Discovering where Mortimer was staying was the solution to her problems. Once she had this information, she’d turn it over to the police and let them watch him and his agents. Felicia was certain the police would find some incriminating evidence and have the man arrested. And, Felicia was certain that by finding Mortimer’s hideout, she’d also find her mother.

  “This is certainly most distressing.”

  Felicia snapped her attention to the woman sitting beside her on the ground. It was almost comical to see a Marie Antoinette lookalike amongst the lowly-dressed servants who frequented the marketplace. It was a good thing Felicia was the only one who could see her spirit friends. And thankfully, she was dressed as a beggar woman, because nobody would question an old woman talking to herself in the street.

  “What distresses you?” Felicia asked the spirit.

  “What you’re doing frightens me.” The woman placed a hand to her heavily powdered chest. “I fear my heart palpitations might cause me to swoon if I’m not careful.”

  Felicia chuckled. “Considering your heart has ceased to work many years ago, I find that statement rather humorous.”

  The older woman arched a white eyebrow. “You are most comical, especially in such a troubling situation.”

  Felicia frowned and nodded. “Indeed. If I can’t laugh at my own humor, I shall be the one who will go completely insane.”

  “And yet, here you are,” she swept her hand over Felicia’s disguise, “dressed in such a way that you’ll be spotted easily.”

  “Easily?” Felicia shook her head. “I beg to differ. I blend in with most everyone here.”

  “But I beg you, please take care. The closer you get to that man, the more danger you’ll be in.”

  Felicia narrowed her gaze on the woman with the powdered face and two-foot high white wig twisted on top of her head. “Honestly,” she lowered her voice, “I’m getting rather tired of the word games you and the other spirits play with me. Please tell me what is going on. Sometimes I think you’re trying to warn me away from Mortimer, and other times, it sounds as if my spirits want me to stay away from Sebastian. I cannot read your mind, and I’m exhausted by trying to do so every time you show up.”

  Marie Antoinette lookalike stared at Felicia for the longest time in silence. She moved her gaze around the marketplace, watching for anyone who might be staring at her in wonder. Thankfully, she couldn’t see anyone.

  “You have come from a family of strong-willed women.”

  Felicia switched her focus back to the other woman, but didn’t say anything. Perhaps this was a hint that this woman was her relation.

  “Being strong-willed is a dangerous thing sometimes. I was like that, and I only lived to the age of six and forty. My daughter, your mother, is the same way. She is the same age as I when I was shot and killed.”

/>   Felicia hitched a breath. “You’re my... grandmother?”

  The older woman smiled. “I have been watching over you since you were a young girl.”

  “I know.”

  “And my other daughter, Abigail, also wants to keep you safe.”

  Felicia blinked back tears. Her heart sang with gladness knowing these were her relatives. “Who is Louisa?”

  “Your mother’s friend who was as close as her own sister.”

  “And who is the man in the top hat and cane?”

  Her grandmother opened her mouth to speak, but then sighed and shook her head. “I’ll let him introduce himself.”

  Felicia glanced around her again. This time a few vendors were peering her way with smirks on their expressions. Once again, Felicia was thankful she was in disguise.

  She glanced toward her grandmother again, but she was gone. Peace spread through Felicia, knowing that her grandmother and aunt were her special angels.

  From across the street, appearing out of nowhere, the little girl Felicia had talked with the other day suddenly stood by one of the food vendor carts littered in the busy street. Flashbacks of when Felicia had been so sneaky several years ago, churned her stomach. She could slip by people without them noticing, and appearing and disappearing along a busy street had been child’s play for her. But instead of cherishing her skills, she cursed them – along with the man who’d taught her.

  Not often did Mortimer mingle with his agents while they were on assignment, however, the man had eyes everywhere. He always knew what his agents were doing. The last few years she’d worked with him, she’d wondered if he had hired agents just to spy on the first team of agents.

  “Ti prego, aiutami, ho fame,” Felicia called out for those people who only spoke Italian as she continued in her beggar-woman disguise.

  She moved her gaze slowly over everyone in the marketplace today. Most of these people looked familiar since she’d seen them here selling their wares ever since her late husband had moved them to Italy. But it was those she didn’t recognize whom she studied closer. The man who appeared to be in his mid-forties, sitting in the back of a wagon with a knife and block of wood in his hands, whittling, glanced up from his carving several times as if watching for someone to walk by. Another man – much younger in his early twenties – held himself up with crutches as his poorly bandaged leg lifted off the ground.

  She narrowed her gaze on him. If the man were truly injured, why would he stand for so long, not talking to anyone, or going anywhere? The man seemed satisfied to be rooted to the ground. He reminded Felicia of the beggar girl who seemed content just to lean against the wall of the shop and stare.

  Felicia moved her attention to the crowd at the marketplace that consisted of mostly women, but only about five men. One of the men captured her attention immediately, but she didn’t know why. As she studied him, she realized it was his small clothes that made her pause. The trousers were too short, ending above his ankles, and his long shirt sleeves ended way above his wrists. His waist-coat stretched across his pudgy middle. The man walked with a cane, but limped slightly on his left leg. He wasn’t near her, but where he stood, she could see his profile. When he talked to the woman at the vendor cart, his crooked teeth were quite noticeable, especially the upper chipped tooth...

  She sucked in a quick breath. Mortimer! What was he doing here?

  She dropped her gaze to her tattered-gloved hands as she pulled her hood over her head more. Her former employer had a keen memory – almost as good as Sebastian’s – and he would certainly notice her if he came close enough.

  Felicia trained her ears on his nasal voice. Once the man stopped talking, she could hear his boots slapping against the graveled ground as he came in her direction. She turned away from him and lifted her bucket that had a few coins from generous people. She held it tightly against her chest and rocked back and forth. Forcing a cough, she tried to make herself sound sick so that Mortimer wouldn’t want to come any closer.

  Her ruse worked, and the man walked right past her. She breathed easier, but she must keep alert now.

  After a few moments, she lifted her gaze in the direction he walked. He continued moving up the street. He didn’t give any indication that he recognized her. But she knew firsthand what a superb performer he was.

  Inwardly, she boiled with indignation. She wanted him stopped. Immediately! But before she could do that, she must find her mother.

  She rose off the ground and slowly followed at a distance. He stopped a few times to look around, but she kept moving, only slowing her steps. If she stopped when he stopped, he would become suspicious. He kept on his way and stopped again near the edge of town. Instead of continuing, she quickly entered the closest shop. The millinery was packed with women of all ages today. Felicia surmised they were having some kind of sale.

  She tried to squeeze her way between women as she made her way toward the window. Losing sight of Mortimer right now would not be wise.

  “Quick, put on this cloak and hat.”

  Felicia snapped her gaze to the woman beside her that only she could see. Miss Abigail’s worried expression startled Felicia, but she moved her attention to the garments her spirit had pointed toward.

  “He’s coming inside. You need to hide.”

  Felicia knew to trust her spirit friends, so without questioning, she grabbed the cloak that lay over the wooden chair and swung it around her shoulders. Thankfully, the garment was long enough to touch the floor. On the shelf nearest to her was a lovely pink hat. She snatched it and placed it on her head. She scooted closer to the crowd who all had their gazes toward the front of the shop as a woman spoke loudly in an Italian dialect.

  Fear shook inside of Felicia, but she kept her focus on the women clustered in front of her. The noise from inside the room kept her from listening for Mortimer’s footsteps. Suddenly, she heard the heavy steps coming her way. Prickles rose on the back of her neck and she said a silent prayer that Mortimer wouldn’t find her.

  TWELVE

  As the footsteps grew closer, Felicia held her breath until the man stood behind her. Her limbs quaked. She couldn’t have him discovering her disguise, especially if she needed to follow him to find out where he stayed in Capri.

  Suddenly, he reached across her and tapped the shoulder of a woman standing in front of Felicia. The crooked finger on his right hand let her know that this was indeed Mortimer. The older Italian woman turned slightly, her head swinging to see who was trying to get her attention. The well-to-do woman grimaced with distaste when he looked at Mortimer.

  “Oh, forgive me,” he said. “I thought you were someone else.”

  It was then when Felicia realized the woman wore the same colored cloak as Felicia’s disguise. Indeed, he was searching for her!

  The Italian woman shook her head and in her native language told him that she didn’t understand English.

  “I... I don’t speak Italian,” Mortimer replied.

  The woman rolled her eyes and turned away from him.

  Felicia’s heartbeat beat a shaky rhythm. She knew he was going to touch her first.

  “Pardon me,” he said, touching Felicia’s shoulder.

  Tears stung her eyes, but she dared not look at him. He would certainly recognize her.

  “You, Sir.”

  The high-pitched voice of the woman in front of the shop caused the room to grow silent. She marched toward Mortimer, scowling and pointing her finger toward him. Mortimer’s hand dropped from Felicia’s shoulder.

  “You need to leave, Sir.” The woman’s English was broken, but her fierce expression spoke her words just as well.

  “Pardon me?” he said to the woman. “I came in to find someone.”

  “No, no.” The shop owner pushed him with the palms of her hands. “You are not welcome here. Leave now.”

  The woman was able to push him out the door. Felicia sighed shakily with relief. She peered out of the nearby window. Anger coated Mortimer�
��s face as he stomped away from the shop. Felicia would bet that he had never been so poorly treated in his life.

  A grin tugged on the corners of Felicia’s mouth. The man deserved to be brought down a peg or two.

  Once the shop owner returned to the front, the chatter grew as if nothing had happened. Slowly, Felicia removed the cloak and placed it back on the chair, and then she did the same for the bonnet. She crept outside, hoping nobody would notice.

  Now that she’d seen what direction he’d gone, she would have to search that side of town, but not dressed as a beggar woman. She was running out of disguises that he didn’t know about.

  She headed in the opposite direction to return home. Her heart still ached with what Mortimer had wanted her to do with Sebastian. Although she’d told Mortimer she’d frame Bash for the robberies, that would be her last resort. Finding her mother came first... as long as she could trick Mortimer into thinking she had followed his command.

  Inwardly, she groaned. Oh, what a mess she’d made of her life already.

  Her mind swam in different directions with what she could do to appease Mortimer without making Sebastian distrust her. Again. But either her mind wasn’t working properly, or there was no way she could do both. No other man had made her feel as desirable and wanted as Sebastian, and yet, she’d lose him again. He’d never understand why she tried to frame him – twice now - and by the instructions from the same man. This would be the very thing that would make Sebastian hate her forever.

  With a saddened heart, she trudged toward home. Her gaze downcast, she didn’t look at anyone walking past. Her body felt as lifeless as her heart.