“Shame on you, Adeline Truscott!” she scolded herself. “How could you even think of leaving that poor child in her time of need? Worthless! That’s what you are, trying to save your own skin.”
Perhaps she might convince Miss Jewel to board the train with her, then they both would disappear and begin life fresh. If her mistress went home to live with her father, Dr. Wiltshire would find a way to drag her back. She was certain of that.
Dear Lord, certainly this responsibility is too much for one old woman to manage on her own. There must be someone else up to the task. But even as she questioned it, the obvious duty fell to her. Doubtless, there's not been a more reluctant instrument of God since Jonah’s commission to warn the Ninevites to repent.
No, she resolved, the Lord put her on this path, the only thing left to do was walk it!
With her fingernail, she scrubbed along the metal until the piece broke free. She finished up the dishes, arranged the kitchen, and headed to her room for the evening.
The mystery novel she’d saved up for still lay on the dresser. Who needed fiction? Her world had transformed into a real-life drama. Murder and mayhem abounded everywhere she looked. As if that wasn’t enough, the prospect of letters from the future appearing at random times had its own unsettling effect. Being a sensible woman, these past few months had flipped her tidy sphere upside-down.
With arthritic fingers, she fumbled behind her back for the strings of her apron, removed it, and started in on the buttons on her gown. They proved as equally daunting. At last, she slipped from her uniform into her robe. A deep weariness settled into her bones.
She eyed the pigeon hole shelving where she’d found earlier notes. Her cynical mind wanted to deny the existence of a man from the future, but still his messages came. Even more inexplicable, she answered them. She might skip the unnerving task tonight, but that was unthinkable. Too much at stake.
Removing the pins from her chignon, she let the white, coarse curls fall around her shoulders. Rupert always loved her hair. Thick and healthy, he’d relished brushing and braiding it for her at night. “Oh, Rupert, are you putting in a good word for me up there?” She never failed to experience a stab of guilt when she thought of him. Who was she to ask for favors?
It grieved her to admit she hadn’t treated him with the respect he’d deserved. He’d been the romantic one, the dreamer . . . she the pessimist to poke holes in his hopes. He’d have loved the idea of futuristic letters, and would have jumped at the chance to help the innocent, no matter the cost.
She pictured him laughing, from heaven. He’d gotten such a kick from her stubbornness. It wasn’t until after he’d passed that she’d realized how much she loved him. She’d give anything for one more day of his optimism, his encouragement to bolster her confidence. Yes, she knew what he’d say. “Chin up, old gal. The Lord never puts more on us than we can bear.” He’d loved her, despite her flaws. The idea of disappointing him was more than she could stomach.
She gave herself a pep talk, set the brush down, and walked over to the shelves. The appearance of those messages sent goose pimples dancing down her spine. She braced herself as she delved into each crevice. With the fear of someone sticking their hand into a hornet’s nest, she held her breath each time, relieved when her fingers met with air. When at last her shaking hand made contact with a sheet of something, she jerked it back. It took all her nerve to dig deeper and retrieve it.
At once, she realized it was from him. Her knees trembled as she removed the paper from the envelope and scanned the message. She stumbled backward, tripped, and landed on the bed. Numb, she read the words again:
Dear Addie,
It troubles me to write this, but I must warn you. I discovered something that has given me cause for alarm. While doing research, I found a newspaper clipping that indicates Jewel is missing. I’ve searched for articles that follow, and nowhere do I find evidence of an update to the case.
I am visiting a detective that I’m hoping will give me more insight. With this information, I urge you both to get out of the house as soon as you can. Perhaps history may be altered so that she does not go missing. When I have more facts, I’ll be in touch.
Jack.
Miss Jewel vanished—what did it mean? She flipped the sheet over, searched for a date, and found none. Wonderful. How were they to gauge how long they had?
She eyed the clock, noting the time. Too late to disturb the young woman tonight, she’d already retired for the evening. Tomorrow wouldn’t come soon enough. She had much to prepare, and in the words of Queen Esther, if she perished, she perished.
The following morning Addie slid a fluffy yellow omelet from the pan onto a plate and added bacon and sausage links. Her stomach rolled as the scent of eggs wafted upward. Her eyes were gritty, and her tongue tasted as if someone had pasted it to the roof of her mouth.
She turned to the spot where Culpeper regularly stood as he waited for her to dish up the food he was to serve. A lump formed in her throat. She’d miss their morning banter. A dear friend—gone. Had it been just a month ago that life held a semblance of normalcy? Fatigue made her unusually emotional. Chin up, ol' gal, she reminded herself. She must push through breakfast. Once Dr. Wiltshire left for the hospital, she would approach Miss Jewel and tell her everything. Together they would decide what was to be done. She’d already spent a restless night hashing out plans.
She entered the dining room. The doctor had his nose buried in the newspaper. Miss Jewel was nowhere to be seen. Without much in the way of pleasantries, she placed the dish on the table and turned to leave. Her sleep-deprived brain had one thought—return to the kitchen until it was safe to talk with the young miss.
“What’s your hurry, this morning?” The cheerful voice set her nerves on edge like fingernails on a chalkboard.
“Was there something else, you needed, sir?”
Blue eyes scanned her as he steepled his fingers. “No. Just . . . you seem distracted.”
“I’m fine. A restless night.”
“Sorry to hear that. Perhaps you should retire early this evening.”
With any luck, she and Miss Jewel would be far away by night’s end. “Yes, sir.” She gave a slight curtsy and scurried to the kitchen among her pots and pans, hoping to escape further contact with the man.
With nervous energy to spare, she set about the task of cleaning the kitchen. Due to her fastidious nature, it wasn’t much of a job. While she dried and put away dishes, she worried how she would approach the subject with Miss Jewel.
Her dilemma solved itself as she heard the soft tread of slippers behind her. She turned and bolstered a smile. “Are you ready for your breakfast, miss?”
The petite woman stood in her kitchen wringing a handkerchief. She appeared small and childlike. She shook her head.
“The doctor need something?”
Miss Jewel chewed her bottom lip. “He left for the hospital a few minutes ago.” Despite the admission, she cast a quick glance over her shoulder. “Addie, I . . . thought we might talk.” She ventured farther into the kitchen to the spot Culpeper occupied when he used to take his meals. The chair scraped across the tile floor as she slid it out. Her expression remained neutral. Only the constant twisting of her hands around the lace square hinted of anxiety.
“I was just about to have a cup of tea; shall I pour for two?” The young woman looked as if she could use something to anchor her while she spoke. Her mother used to say tea was like a hug for your insides. Miss Jewel appeared to be in need of both.
“Thank you. That would be lovely.” She attempted a smile, but it fell flat.
The housekeeper put on a kettle of water to boil and set two flower-trimmed cups and a plate of sticky buns on the table. “While we wait, why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind.”
The troubled young woman sitting across from her plucked one of the rolls from the platter and tore a piece off. Rather than eat it, she held it pinched between her fingers. “I’m le
aving, Addie.”
Not what she’d been expecting to hear. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t live here any longer. I—I have to consider the baby . . . and it isn’t safe.”
“I’m not sure I know what to say.” This had been the opening she’d been looking for, but no need to voice her thoughts now. “Please, continue.”
“Let me start by thanking you.”
“Me? I don’t understand . . .”
“I don’t remember much of the last few months. It feels . . . as if I’m coming out of a fog. I’m aware Hunsdon has been keeping me drugged. I’m not sure how you did it, but you’re the one to thank for helping me. It was you . . . right?”
Addie nodded a woodened acknowledgment. “Someone had to, child.”
Miss Jewel struggled to swallow tears, before continuing. “I’m not crazy. Hunsdon shouldn’t have kept me locked away. B-but I don’t blame you. It’s him. He’s crafty, cunning, and . . .”
“Miss, I know all that now. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for trusting in his lies. He’s deeply disturbed.”
“He tried to kill me . . . that day in the room. I didn’t make that up. I—”
“Yes, I know that too. I was a fool to believe otherwise.”
“He found . . . letters . . . he assumed . . . they . . . were—but they weren’t. Not what he suspected, anyway. They were from . . . a friend.”
“Your friend. The one from the future?”
Innocent brown eyes grew larger with surprise. “You . . . know!”
As they sat looking at each other in silence, the tea kettle began to sing. The older woman held up a finger, used the table for leverage, and pushed herself to a standing position. She took her time retrieving the boiling water, giving them both a few minutes to digest what the other had revealed.
With both cups filled, she returned to her seat. Although she wasn’t a touchy-feely person, the moment warranted a kind gesture. Her hand breached the distance. The young fingers felt fragile in her old, calloused ones, and slightly sticky from the bun.
“Miss Jewel, I have a hard time accepting things like futuristic men, but I’ve seen the letters for myself. I’ve . . . communicated with this man.”
“You—but how?”
Addie gave the tiny hand a gentle squeeze before retracting it and wrapping it around her cup. “Well, I’m not proud to admit it, but I did a little snooping. I found a set of keys that allowed me entrance to your old room. Dr. Wiltshire kept it under lock and key. Wouldn’t even allow me in to clean. After he started acting so suspicious, I decided to let myself in using a ring of keys I found. I discovered your correspondence and sent one of my own. You can imagine my surprise when I received a reply. Your Mr. Jack was desperate to find you when you went missing. He tried countless times to reach you. I told him you were a captive against your will.”
“That explains how the letter found me. It was so important in helping me know I wasn’t . . . insane after all.”
“Yes, ma’am, but you haven’t responded to him. He’s still quite concerned . . . as a matter of fact . . . he sent me another note, last evening. If you hadn’t sought me out this morning, I was coming to you. I’m not sure you’re aware what Dr. Wiltshire’s capable of doing.”
“Don’t I?” She tugged self-consciously at the short curl that just barely covered her cheek. “What must Jack think! I wanted to write to him, but Hunsdon had the room locked. I was too afraid of leaving it in the tower.”
“Miss, you have every right to be frightened. What happened to Culpeper . . . it wasn’t an accident. The doctor is a dangerous man.”
Addie watched the color drain from her mistress’s already strained face. “Not sweet Culpeper. Such a dear soul.” Her frail hands flew to her mouth. “All those months I kept silent . . . he threatened . . . I never wanted to involve you two. If I’d left sooner . . . stood up to him . . .”
That poor child. It was hard to remember she was only nineteen. The weight of the world rested on her small shoulders. Her heart ached. How to tell her that if she’d succeeded in standing up to him earlier, she might not be alive. Look what had happened the last time she’d confronted that monster. Here she sat questioning her bravery. Addie had never met a pluckier young woman. It put her own fears to shame.
“Miss Jewel, don’t fret. He is concerned, but I explained the situation. Goodness knows you haven’t been yourself. Who can fault you for being drugged and held against your will? On the contrary, you came through it. Now you’re standing up for yourself and your little one. I have a safe place for the letter. You friend is sure to find it.” She hedged. “There is another thing I need to tell you . . . it’s about his last note. It . . . was a warning. He advises that we leave the house as soon as possible. It seems . . .” How could she put this delicately? “It would appear that he has been trying to locate information about you. During his search, he stumbled across a newspaper clipping.”
Addie puffed out her cheeks blowing a calming stream of air, took a tentative sip of her tea, and tried again.
“You’re in danger, Miss. The article is about you. You’ve been reported missing.”
Miss Jewel’s reaction gave Addie a start when she laughed outright, and for a moment she was afraid, the dear girl had gone mad. But Miss Jewel laid a reassuring hand on her arm. “No, Addie, I’m not crazy . . . but don’t you see? If this report is true, then Hunsdon will think I’m missing too. I don’t want him looking for me. He won’t rest until he finds me. He must believe something happened to me. This article is proof we managed to escape. I hadn’t factored in taking you, but I won’t leave you. If he suspects you aided me in any way, he’ll kill you.”
“I’m quite aware of that. But if I may . . . I might have a solution.” Addie didn’t wait for a response but forged ahead. “I have a great niece that lives in Baltimore. She’s been urging me to come for a visit, but of course, I’m no spring chicken anymore. I didn’t relish the train ride. But given that, or remaining here . . .” She let her voice trail. “Perhaps you could go with me and stay until you got on your feet.”
The number eleven formed between the younger woman’s brows, as her frown deepened. “I don’t know . . . the thought of pulling someone else in on this. . . Why, I wasn’t aware you had family, and I’m positive Hunsdon isn’t either.” She ran her thumb along the handle of the cup, as indecision played across her pretty features. “Perhaps . . . we might travel as far as Maryland together . . .”
“Where else are you going to go, miss? You have no money and no means of transportation.”
“I have a little stored away. My marks in school were high, and I could find employment once I land—well, that and get my head clear . . . I’ll earn my own way.” She closed her eyes, breathing in before adding, “It would mean the world to me if I could write to Jack . . . just to share the details. I don’t want him to worry. He needs to know how much his friendship has meant to me.”
“Give the letter to me, and I’ll see that he gets it.” She added sugar and milk to her cup before speaking again. “Miss, have you considered going to the police . . . you know, before we leave?”
She shook her head and used her nail to chip off a hunk of dried frosting “We’d never convince them. Besides, Hunsdon has too many acquaintances there.”
“You really should eat that, miss.”
“Sorry . . . just haven’t gotten my appetite back yet.”
“It’s little wonder . . . with all you’ve been through. But do try.”
She ripped the piece into a smaller bite and tossed it into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Have you given any thought to how we’ll get to the station? Neither of us can drive.”
“There’s the trolley that comes by every twenty minutes. It will take us as far as downtown . . . and from there we will walk the rest of the way to catch the train.”
Miss Jewel cast a doubtful look over her teacup. “I’m not sure you’re able to make it that distance.”
>
Laughter burst from Addie’s otherwise grim mouth. “You’d be surprised at the things I can do when I have to, miss.” She pictured her awkward dash into the small armoire but decided to keep the knowledge to herself. “I’d hoped we might leave this afternoon, but looking at the schedule, there isn’t another train I’d feel comfortable taking until tomorrow. We’ll go after Dr. Wiltshire drives off to work.”
Still looking unconvinced, Miss Jewel added, “He’ll hire an investigator to track us. There’s so much to plan. We need . . . time.”
“I’m afraid that isn’t possible . . . but . . . maybe you’re right.” Addie studied the lovely woman sitting before her. Despite all the doctor had done, her unique beauty wasn’t something anyone was likely to forget. Unless . . .
“Addie . . . you’re smiling. What are you thinking?”
“You leave everything to me, miss. Write your letter, and pack a few things. Tomorrow we old biddies are going to fly the coop!”
Chapter 35
Addie mounted the staircase, ignoring the weakness in her legs. By the time she reached the landing where the steps veered to the left, she needed to pause. She bent, struggling to catch her breath. Often she’d joked the stairs would be the death of her, and she’d certainly done her share of climbing them today. She refused to allow her winded lungs the indulgence. Get moving!
With the bundle from her own closet tucked beneath her arm, she did her best to keep her skirts from twisting around her ankles as she made her ascent to Miss Jewel’s room. The bulky ensemble played an essential key to their escape. She’d have to hurry to make it before Dr. Wiltshire arrived home from the hospital. Already the blood-red fingers of the setting sun drew the curtains of daylight to a close. The glow cast an eerie light on the walls and turned the windows scarlet.
Her starched uniform rustled as she hurried. When she reached the entrance, she stopped. A trickle of sweat escaped her frilly white cap and ran down her temple. She stood poised to knock when the door flew open. “Goodness, Miss, you startled me.”
Timeless Moments Page 24
