Felicia's Spirits

by Marie Higgins

  “I thank you for finding this information for us so quickly,” Sebastian said. “Both Lady Adler and I greatly appreciate your help.”

  “And thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will make this an important assignment. I assure you, I shall put every available man on the case.”

  “Thank you, Officer Rossi,” Felicia said.

  Sebastian walked the other man to the front door, but she had other things to worry about. Would Bash want to continue what they’d started before the officer had interrupted them? Although she wanted to be back in his arms, kissing him like she didn’t have a care in the world, the fact was, she couldn’t put her problems out of her mind. She must figure out a way to set Bash up and make him look like the thief. If Mortimer knew she was second guessing herself, he’d find someone else to do it. Or worse. Mortimer might take it out on Felicia’s mother.

  Bash strolled into the room, wearing a wide grin. She stood as he approached. He stopped in front of her and took her hands in his.

  “I feel much better about this, don’t you?” he asked.

  “As much as I want to feel relieved, I don’t dare. Not yet. Not until my mother is back.”

  He gently caressed her fingers. “Soon, my love. Very soon.”

  Her heart skipped, even though she wished it hadn’t. He used that form of endearment a few times now. Was he truly in love with her? She prayed he wasn’t, because then she’d hurt him much more than she had before when she betrayed his trust.

  “Felicia, I’m sorry we were interrupted earlier, but do you think—”

  “Bash,” she quickly said before he could finish his question, “I just remembered I have a dinner party this evening that I need to get ready for.”

  “Are you allowed to bring a guest?” He arched an eyebrow.

  “No. I’ve already told them I was coming alone.”

  He frowned. “This is most unfortunate.”

  “I know, Bash, and I’m sorry. I would much rather be with you, but I must keep up appearances.”

  “You are quite right.” He smiled. “You need to go tonight.” He paused as his gaze narrowed on her. “Tell me, are the people hosting the party wealthy?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you think they have been robbed?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Find a way to ask them about it. If they haven’t been robbed, then perhaps we could have some police officers on watch.”

  Hope bounced in her chest. “Yes. That’s a splendid idea.”

  He lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed the back of each hand. “Although I will miss you greatly, I’ll leave so that you can rest up for your party tonight.”

  “Yes, I definitely need some rest.” She paused, not knowing how to ask the next question, but she knew she must. “If by chance I discover something tonight, where are you staying so I can come talk to you?”

  “I’m staying at that cozy inn just down the hillside. It’s quite a lavish place for this town, but you can’t miss it.”

  She nodded. “I know exactly which one you’re referring to. If I overhear something tonight, I shall come straightway and tell you.”

  His expression changed as desire coated his gaze. “Or, if you would just like to be in my arms all night, I wouldn’t turn you away.”

  The suggestion was tempting, but... no. She couldn’t do that to him, knowing that he’d hate her eventually. “I shall think long and hard about it, I assure you.”

  “That’s all I ask.”

  FELICIA HAD DONE THIS before. Too many times to count. And yet, knowing that she needed to sneak into the hosts’ bedchamber and steal a few pieces of jewelry, her stomach knotted painfully and the little food she’d consumed during their dinner would soon come up, she just knew it. She’d already excused herself to visit the chamber pot room, which helped her see where the main bedchamber was located.

  She fidgeted in her seat while the guests chatted. She smiled so much her face hurt, but she couldn’t let them think she was secretly calculating a way to climb through the window once she left the party... Or perhaps she could visit the chamber pot again but this time turn in a different direction and enter the bedchamber. It would only take a few minutes to find the jewelry, stuff the items in her wrist purse, and she’d be done.

  In her former life as Mortimer’s agent, she had accomplished this task so effortlessly; nobody had even realized she’d sneaked out of the room. Mortimer had praised her several times for being so proficient. But back in those days, she hadn’t done it to set someone up for a crime they didn’t commit, and she also didn’t break a man’s heart, either. Breaking Bash’s heart would certainly tear hers apart, which was why she hesitated to leave the room again.

  If only there was another way...

  But there wasn’t. This must be done – and quickly before she lost her courage.

  Before Felicia could say anything, the hostess instructed her guests that they would move into another room and commence with the next activity for the evening – card-playing. Perfect timing!

  As the group shuffled out of the dining room, Felicia slowed her steps until everyone was ahead of her. She quickly slipped away from the others and treaded on light feet as she went up the back stairs.

  The closer she crept toward Countess Romano’s room, the harder Felicia’s heart slammed against her chest. Her palms moistened, and even her legs trembled slightly. This was exactly how she’d acted the first time she’d done something like this. She couldn’t feel this way. She was an expert, not a novice!

  Within minutes, she was inside the room with the door closed. This should be the time to breathe easier, except for she didn’t have time to think of anything else but taking the jewelry and leaving as fast as she could. The longer she stayed inside, the more danger she was in.

  Countess Romano’s jewelry box sat on her vanity table. Felicia reached her hand toward the box.

  “This is highly unacceptable!”

  Felicia released a panicked squeak and jumped. Her grandmother stood near the bed, folding her arms across her bosom as she aimed a scrutinized glare at Felicia.

  “Oh, good heavens, Grandmother. Do you really need to sneak up on me and scare me all the time?”

  “I’m here to talk you out of this nonsense.”

  “Why? You never did it before when I was working for Mortimer. I would think that should have been the time to warn me of danger like you always do.”

  “When you were an agent, you were making a living for yourself. However, this is very different. You are stealing with an unscrupulous plan in mind.”

  Felicia scowled and turned away from her grandmother. She opened the jewelry box. There didn’t seem to be many necklaces, which surprised her, but she grabbed the ones she could, not caring what kind of jewels they had on them. “I don’t have a choice. This is the only way to keep my mother safe.”

  Her grandmother shook her head, making the tall white wig on her head wobble slightly.

  “Where is the self-assured woman that I know? The Felicia I know would not have allowed Mortimer to win.”

  Tears stung Felicia’s eyes as she stuffed the items in her wrist purse. “Not now, Grandmother.” She headed back toward the door, but hesitated before opening it. “If you have any brilliant ideas of how I can get out of this, now would be the time to tell me.”

  Silence surrounded her, and she peeked toward the bed. Her grandmother was gone. Frustration filled her and she hurried out of the room.

  It didn’t take long before she was back downstairs and in the chamber pot room. She lifted up her gown and tied the wrist purse around her waist, hiding it from view. A lump of humiliation grew in her throat, and she felt like the lowest creature to walk the earth. Her grandmother had been correct to ask what had happened to Felicia. This was something she would never do. However, she’d never had her mother kidnapped and threatened, either.

  When she left the room, her heart hung so low that she
wondered if it dragged behind her. With each step toward the party, her mind scrambled to find a way out. She’d have to feign sickness; that was the only way. And yet, if she left the party before the others, she would be the first person they’d suspect when they realized they were robbed. She’d better stay and play cards, just to make it look like she wasn’t the thief.

  When she entered the room, the guests were still standing and chatting with each other. Apparently, one of the tables wobbled and two servants were adjusting the leg. Felicia blended well with one of the groups. The older women gossiped about mundane things, but Felicia tried to act as though she was appalled by the information – just as the other women acted.

  Ten minutes passed, and finally the table was fixed. The countess instructed everyone to take their seats. The chatter still continued to fill the room as everyone sat at one of the tables. Then suddenly, a hush fell over the crowd as all eyes turned toward the door. Standing in the doorway was Officer Rossi, and right behind him was Sebastian.

  She froze in fear, and yet tried to make herself appear as if she wasn’t guilty. She doubted it was working.

  Countess Romano rushed to the officer and they exchanged a few words. The countess gasped. Her hand flew to her throat and her eyes widened.

  “I have been robbed?” she hissed in the Italian language.

  Inwardly, Felicia groaned. So soon? How could they have known already? Had she been spotted by a servant?

  Felicia’s hands shook, so she folded them in her lap. Dizziness assaulted her, and she thought she’d pass out. But she couldn’t. Taking in deep, cleansing breaths, she tried to stay focused on what was going on.

  As the officer and Countess Romano talked in low voices, Sebastian’s gaze roamed the room until he found Felicia. She couldn’t read his expression, only because her heartbeat practically shook through her body, making her unable to think straight. What was he doing here? What would he think when Officer Rossi arrested her for the theft? For certain, Bash would re-think his decision about accusing her of being the topaz diamond thief.

  Her gut twisted, and once again, the small amount of food she’d consumed earlier, threatened to come up. She continued to breathe slower as she fought to keep alert, and to force the food to stay down.

  The countess dabbed a handkerchief to the corner of her wet eyes as she stepped away, motioning her hand for the men to enter the game room. Officer Rossi led the way and two other officers followed, while Sebastian waited by the door.

  The officers came toward her. A painful throb beat in her skull. Her head would explode at any moment, she just knew it. Her ragged breaths made her dizzier. What would be her excuse? She couldn’t possibly tell them that she had taken the countess’ jewels to try and plant them on Sebastian so that he would be framed for the robberies. Her arrest would ruin her name forever.

  And yet, that seemed to be her punishment. She would die in her own shame.

  FOURTEEN

  The police officers strode closer. Determination was written on their fierce expressions. Felicia’s whole life passed before her, and she wasn’t happy with what she saw. Working for Mortimer had literally turned her into a crook. She deserved to be arrested and thrown in jail. Of course, because this was a different country and she really didn’t belong here, they might just hang her without a trial.

  She moved her attention to Sebastian who stood by the door. He gave her a curious stare as worried lines marred his forehead. He was one who could read people well, and she suspected he was surprised to discover what she’d done.

  As the officers were nearly upon Felicia, she noticed that Officer Rossi wasn’t looking directly at her anymore. Instead, his gaze pierced someone behind her. Seconds later, the men stormed past Felicia and stopped at the nearby table. In their Italian language, they instructed Mrs. Mancini that she was under arrest for the theft of Countess Romano’s jewels.

  Gasps exploded through the room – Felicia’s was probably the loudest. Why were they blaming Mrs. Mancini? Felicia was the one who’d taken the jewels. Part of her wanted to stand and confess that she was the true thief, but fear had frozen her limbs and her mouth.

  Mrs. Mancini was around Felicia’s age. All she’d heard about the other woman was that Mrs. Mancini was new to Capri. The woman stood on trembling legs. Her eyes filled with tears, and she kept repeating, I didn’t do it.

  Felicia realized the woman’s Italian accent was very weak. There was no way Mrs. Mancini had lived her life in Italy. In fact, Felicia would bet the woman was from England. Her hair appeared to be colored black, just the way Mortimer had forced Felicia to color her hair while she was under his employ. By chance, was this woman one of his agents, too?

  As the officers pulled Mrs. Mancini out of the room, Felicia heard Officer Rossi tell the woman that they’d caught her driver and he confessed to everything.

  “No, please,” the woman pleaded to Officer Rossi. “He will kill me.”

  Felicia’s throat tightened, and her heart sank. The woman was speaking of Mortimer. The tone of the woman’s tearful voice and the panicked expression on her face told Felicia exactly what she wanted to know. The few times Felicia had failed an assignment, she’d thought Mortimer would kill her.

  She narrowed her gaze on Sebastian who’d moved aside as the police escorted Mrs. Mancini out of the room. How did Bash know the place would be robbed tonight?

  Countess Romano cleared her throat loudly, which quieted the hum of whispers being passed through the room. All eyes turned toward their host who wrung her hands against her middle. Her eyes were still wet with tears.

  “Please forgive me,” she said in the Italian language, “but in light of what has happened just now, I fear I’ll need to end the party. Thank you all for attending.” The countess turned and hurried out of the room.

  Felicia’s limbs still shook as she left her table and walked toward the main corridor to retrieve her cloak. Her hand rested on her belly, over the wrist purse she’d tied to her middle. What was she going to do with these jewels now? She couldn’t very well plant them in Sebastian’s room at the inn – not now after the true thief was found. And yet, she couldn’t return them to the countess’ bedchambers, either.

  She flung the cloak over her shoulders as she walked outside toward her carriage. Her mind spun with the events that had happened tonight, and yet, nothing made much sense. She felt as though she stepped on air instead of the ground, even when she climbed into her carriage and sat on the seat. She stared at the door as her driver closed it.

  “I’m glad she ended the party quickly.”

  Felicia jumped nearly out of her skin and she swung around and looked at Sebastian who sat on the other side of the carriage. Too many things had happened tonight to disturb her heartbeat, and she was surprised she hadn’t keeled over and died already.

  “Bash,” she gasped as her hand flew to her throat. “Why do you insist on startling me in such a way?”

  “Forgive me, my love.” He took her cold, shaky hand in his. “I didn’t mean... I thought you’d seen me when you climbed inside.”

  The vehicle bounced as the driver took her home. “No, I didn’t, but then I wasn’t looking for you, either. I’ve been thinking nonstop about what happened tonight.”

  “Yes, it was quite an eventful evening.”

  “How did you know the countess would be robbed tonight?”

  “A hunch, my dear. I’ve learned to follow my feelings, and I’m glad this one paid off.”

  “It was quite remarkable, I must say.” She nodded. “I was just as surprised as the rest of the guests.”

  “I think she’s one of Mortimer’s agents. She lost her Italian accent before we even had her out of the house.”

  Felicia nodded. “I wondered about that.” She sighed. “Poor girl. It brought back horrid memories. There were many times when I wondered if someone would catch me, and I also worried that Mortimer would kill me if I’d failed.”

  Moving to sit next to
Felicia, Sebastian cupped her face as his expression changed to one of concern. “So, you do think Mortimer is capable of killing someone?”

  “I do now. I hadn’t thought that before, but now... Yes, I think he’s capable of doing that, even to one of his former agents.”

  “Then I think, my love, that I’ll have to keep a closer eye on you.”

  Panic filled her once again. She couldn’t let him. How could she set him up if he was always watching her?

  “For now, I want to concentrate on my mother. I think she is the one who is in danger, not I.”

  His hands moved from her face and rested on her shoulders. Gently, he pulled her against him.

  “You are going to deny me from playing your hero?”

  Her heart twisted. Why did he say something like that? “Bash, it’s not that, but—”

  He lowered his head and his lips brushed her cheek. “Felicia, I don’t want us to be apart. Not now. Not when Mortimer is out there and is capable of murder.”

  His hot breath blowing on her neck caused her to shiver, but warmth spread through her, and she leaned against him. She couldn’t resist his charm any longer.

  His arms wrapped around her as he pulled them back against the seat more comfortably. His lips trailed down her throat, leaving soft kisses in its path. On impulse, she tilted her head back, giving him better access.

  All thoughts of deceiving him disappeared from her mind and were replaced with memories of their passionate moments together. He’d always had a way to make her swoon, and she enjoyed it thoroughly. His tender kisses sent sensual chills all over her body. She clutched his waist-coat, keeping him up against her.

  “Oh, Bash,” she sighed headily. “Why can’t we be like this all the time? Why does life have to get in the way?”

  His body shook with silent chuckles and he lifted his head. She opened her eyes and met his smoldering gaze, and his knee-buckling grin.

  “That has been a dream of mine since meeting you.” He stroked his fingers along her cheek. “But under the circumstances, we should find your mother first. We should also capture Mortimer and get him out of the way before we can be together like this.”