“It’s just Sam.”
Lilah ran to the door to let Sam and the others with him know she and Lucy were all right. The men started a line from the water pump, filling a bucket up and passing it down until they had the cross doused. They had the smoldering timbers pulled down in record time. But Lucy knew the image would always be seared into her mind.
Once Sam and his friends had cleaned up the sacrilegious mess as best they could, and made sure that Lucy was okay, they returned to their homes. Lilah saw Lucy to her little cottage. Lucy stood on the threshold, looking around at the home that only a few hours before had felt like such a refuge, and realized that despite her anger and her bravado, she didn’t want to be alone there.
“Lilah,” she said quietly.
“I was wonderin’ if you’d mind if I stayed with you tonight,” Lilah said. Lucy looked at her and Lilah smiled. “What just happened is enough to shake anyone, I reckon. I think we’ll both sleep a might better if we weren’t alone.”
“I’d be very grateful, Lilah. Thank you.”
“My pleasure, Miz Lucy.”
Lilah started a small fire in the hearth while Lucy found a few quilts and made up a bed for her friend on the sofa.
“I think Philip was there,” she said, finally voicing the thought that wouldn’t leave her mind.
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Lilah answered.
Lucy frowned. “Really?” She thought for a moment. “I suppose it doesn’t surprise me that he’d want to be part of something like that. But it does surprise me that he’d follow through on it. For a man who needs to keep a large majority of his affairs private, it seems like an unnecessary risk to be involved with such a group.”
Lilah shrugged. “Seems to me like he’s just the sort of man who’d fit right in with them.”
Lucy thought for a moment longer. “No matter what the sentiments of those down here, being involved in such activities wouldn’t be the best for Philip politically if they were known. He’s certainly committed crimes while he thought he was hiding in his bedsheets. Maybe if we could find proof that he was part of this tonight, or that he was part of similar incidents, it would be enough to bring him down. Maybe even get him arrested. And once one crime is known, others are sure to be exposed.”
“The only place to find proof would be at his home. He won’t keep anythin’ that will tie him to the Klan where just anyone can find it.”
“Well then, we’ll just have to search his house.” Lucy smiled at the horrified look on Lilah’s face.
“Why do you want to jump right into the lion’s den?”
“It’s the best place to look. The sooner we get him exposed for the evil, corrupt coward that he is, the better for our students and our school…and Finn.”
Lilah chewed that over for a minute and finally nodded. “So, how do we get into his house?”
“That won’t be a problem. I’ve already been invited to his annual Fall Social at the end of the week. The trouble will be bringing you with me.”
“Oh, that’s no trouble. I take it you’ve never heard of the Halford’s Fall Socials.”
Lucy shook her head.
“It’s an all-day affair. Guests will begin arrivin’ soon after breakfast. There will be croquet on the lawn and some other games and after lunch, the ladies will retire to rest for the afternoon so they can be fresh for the ball that evening. All the ladies will be bringing their maids to help them dress for the evenin’.”
“Excellent. Well then, I suppose we have nothing to do now but wait.”
Chapter Twelve
Well, Lucy would give one thing to Philip. The man knew how to throw a party. Groups of gaily dressed people milled around the lawn of Philip’s estate, chatting, munching on delicious hors d’oeuvres, and generally having a wonderful time. A few months ago, Lucy would have been included. Now, aside from a few polite nods in her direction and one or two brave souls who’d deigned to speak to her, most people steered clear. Everyone had heard what had happened at her school, and those who had once been content to look the other way had, for the most part, decided they were safer avoiding her company. No one wanted to risk being drawn into her fight. She could understand that, but she condemned it all the same.
Finn stepped out of the house and on to the veranda, his gaze scanning the crowd on the lawn beneath him. All thoughts of her nighttime visitors disappeared as she stared up at him. Her breath caught in her throat and her stomach did a little flip. It didn’t matter how much time she spent in his company, seeing him again, even after such a short time, always made her feel like a twitterpated schoolgirl.
Lucy knew the moment Finn caught site of her. His bland, polite expression changed to one of surprise and then irritation. He accepted a drink from a passing servant and casually made his way across the lawn to her side. He stood facing away from her but so close their shoulders touched. He didn’t look at her, his gaze continuously scanning the yard, but his words were said so only she could hear them.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was invited.”
Finn shot her an exasperated look and she buried her grin in her punch cup. Her smile faded as she glanced around, took in the groups of her acquaintances that were, for the most part, studiously avoiding her company. She sighed and leaned closer to Finn, letting the full length of her shoulder and arm press against him.
“How long have you been back?”
“I’ve only just returned.”
Lucy nodded. That would explain why he hadn’t mentioned her little incident. Well…he’d hear about it sooner than later so he might as well hear it from her.
“I had a little visit from a group of sheeted-up men. They burned a cross in my yard, threatened me and Lilah.”
Finn stiffened and looked at her with an intensity that made her take a step back.
“Are you all right?”
A lump rose in Lucy’s throat and she dropped her gaze. She’d been able to hold it together all this time, but a simple question from him and she was ready to fall into his arms blubbering. It was beyond maddening. She cleared her throat. “I’m fine. I shot a few warning shots at them and they scattered like the cowards they are.”
Finn snorted and shook his head. “You never cease to surprise me, Lucy.”
Lucy cocked an eyebrow. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not.” She gave him a small smile. “In any case, to answer your earlier question, I’m fairly sure that Philip was one of my masked intruders that night.”
Finn turned his gaze back to the room, but she could see his jaw clenching. “What makes you think that?”
“I know his voice.”
Finn was silent for a moment. “Well. If he is involved in any nocturnal activities, it’s not something he’s ever shared with me. Though I wouldn’t be surprised. But that makes your presence here even less advisable, so I’ll repeat, what are you doing here?”
Lucy glared at him. “I’m going to find some proof that Philip is the lying, conniving, bedsheet-wearing snake that I know him to be and expose him once and for all. I’m going to find something, anything, that will provide the evidence that will free us both from him.” She looked back at the crowd. “And I can’t very well do that from home now, can I?”
“Don’t do this, Lucy. Go home. We can discuss this later. I will help you if I can. But for now, go home, lay low. If the Klan has already paid you a visit, it is only going to get worse. I know you love your school, but…”
“Don’t say it, Finn. I’m not going to let a bunch of cowards, who won’t even show their faces, run me out of town.”
Before Finn could speak again, Lucy caught sight of Lilah toward the veranda of the house. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
“Lucy…”
But Lucy ignored him. It warmed her heart that he was concerned, but she wasn’t going to let him dissuade her from her course of action. Philip had terrorized those she cared about for far too long. She would do everything she
could to bring him down.
Lucy’s impatience grew with each girlish twitter from the other women in the room. The single women had been given a suite of rooms in which to refresh themselves before the ball that evening and there were ladies in various states of dishevelment all over the place. Several were napping on the large bed and chaise lounges that were spread through the rooms. Others were excitedly exclaiming over each other’s ball gowns, while their maids scurried to and fro trying to keep their mistresses’ belongings in order.
Finally, Lilah stuck her head in and nodded. Lucy followed her out, calling over her shoulder that she was going out for some air when a few of the ladies questioned where she was headed.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Lucy took a deep breath. Her nerves were a jumble of chaos, and the incessant chatter had driven her to the brink of madness.
She followed Lilah down the long hallway toward the back stairs. “Mr. Halford has organized a ride for his male guests. We should have plenty of time to search his office before they return.”
Lilah led her down the stairs, through the bustling kitchen, and out into the main floor of the house. Lilah didn’t slow down but marched purposefully toward a closed door. Lucy followed behind, acting for all the world as if she’d just been summoned and had every right to be heading toward Mr. Halford’s private office.
When they reached the door, Lilah glanced quickly around and then pulled a key out of her bodice. Lucy’s eyebrows raised, but she said nothing until they were safely inside the office.
“Do I want to know how you got the key?” Lucy asked.
Lilah smirked. “I still have friends here. It was easy enough to take if off the housekeeper while her attention was on the fine bottle of brandy I brung her. And no, you don’t want to know where I got that.”
Lucy smiled and shook her head, then got to work exploring the room while Lilah kept a lookout at the door. The office was filled with wall-to-wall bookcases that were stacked with books and small knickknacks. She did a quick perusal of the shelves on her way to the enormous desk set between two floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end of the room. She doubted Philip would leave anything incriminating out in the open where anyone could see.
She tried the drawers on the desks but they were all locked. No matter. She’d come prepared for that. Lucy had yet to come across a lock she couldn’t pick, much to her sisters’ envy. She knelt on the floor, her skirts billowing around her, and yanked two pins from her hair. She quickly bent them to the shape she needed to help hold the lock’s internal pins out of the way and got to work.
The lock to the largest drawer clicked and Lucy triumphantly pulled it out. Inside were rows of files. She glanced through each one, but none seemed to be out of the ordinary. Household inventories, campaign documents, travel records. Nothing of any importance. Nothing that shouted I’m a corrupt criminal, come lock me up.
Lilah squeaked and closed the door, locking it, seconds before Philip’s voice boomed through the entryway beyond the door.
“He’s back!” Lilah ran toward a bookcase near the door, shoving on a section of it to reveal a small, hidden closet and beckoned to Lucy to follow her.
Lucy slammed the drawer shut and ran for the closet. She made it inside just as the door to the office opened and Philip entered.
“I thought you said he was gone,” hissed Lucy.
“I thought he was. The rest of the gentlemen left. He should have gone with them.”
“Shh.” Lucy put her finger to her lips and strained to hear through the door.
He was speaking to someone, though it took Lucy a moment to realize who it was.
Finn.
Lucy pressed her ear to the thin wood wall, struggling to hear what they were saying. Their voices were muffled, but she could make out most of what they were saying.
…
Finn glanced around Philip’s office, certain he’d heard something as they were entering. Everything looked in order but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He half expected to see Lucy’s skirts sticking out from beneath the desk. He wouldn’t put it past her to break into Philip’s office. But Philip took a seat at his desk without incident, so for now, it seemed, Lucy must be minding her manners.
However, Finn was in no way fooled that her restraint would last. He could almost see the fury bubbling under her surface whenever he looked at her. And to be honest, he couldn’t blame her. Halford was threatening her school and those Lucy held dear. She wouldn’t let it continue for much longer. One of these days, something she couldn’t ignore would happen and she’d retaliate.
Knowing Lucy and her penchant for playing the martyred hero, he feared he knew exactly what that might be. Instead of heeding his warning about Halford and leaving town, she’d probably taken it upon herself to try and free Finn from Halford’s grasp. The thought made Finn’s blood boil with anger and fear…and a healthy dose of pride, if he were honest.
He couldn’t help admiring her spunk and was touched that she’d risk so much on his behalf. But the tender feelings ended there. The blasted woman was going to get them both killed: her because Halford would never let her get away with whatever she was planning, and him because he’d die before he let Halford harm one beautiful inch of her.
Halford unlocked his top desk drawer and handed Finn a sheaf of papers. “I need you to go to the docks tonight. I have some cargo coming in and you must supervise the unloading.”
“Is it something one of the other men can handle?”
“Under normal circumstances, possibly. But tonight’s shipment contains a few special items that won’t be listed on the inventory sheet. I need you to oversee it personally.”
Finn hesitated and Halford cocked an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”
“No. Of course not.”
“I know you’ve just returned, but it’s only one more night. I need my best man on this one.”
“Of course.” Finn forced a smile, though his gut was churning. He hadn’t seen Lucy in far too long and the need to assure himself of her well-being was becoming overwhelming.
“Did you have other plans?” Halford’s voice was cold. Finn wasn’t doing as good of a job hiding his emotions as he used to.
“Not really, no. I’d thought to perhaps stop in and make sure Lucy was settling in to her new home. I don’t want to shirk my familial duties.”
Halford turned away, hiding his expression, and Finn’s suspicions were immediately raised.
“Don’t worry about your cousin. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of.”
Finn’s blood ran cold.
“Oh come now. Surely you trust me with her.”
“Trust you with a beautiful woman?” Finn said, trying to inject as much good-natured male humor into his voice as he could. It was difficult when all he wanted to do was wrap his hands around Philip’s throat.
Philip let out a hearty laugh. “Don’t worry, Taggart. I’ll treat her with the same care and consideration as you will show the special cargo you’ll be handling. That way we can both be assured that our respective treasures are safe. It would be tragic if either of them were to fall into the wrong hands.”
Finn didn’t miss the warning in Halford’s voice. The man was too shrewd. If Finn had had any thought of double-crossing him, letting his cargo fall into the hands of the authorities, it was gone now. And the thought had crossed his mind a time or two. If Philip were to be arrested, his whole corrupt empire would disintegrate and Finn would be free. Philip didn’t trust anyone enough to share his power. Finn was the closest thing he had to a right-hand man. The rest of Philip’s network was flunkies and thugs that Philip hired while he kept tight hold of the reins.
But with Halford essentially holding Lucy hostage, Finn’s continued loyalty was assured. Which was the exact situation Finn had been trying to avoid when he’d attempted to make Lucy leave. Stubborn woman.
“Will we have any problems tonight?” Philip asked.
&n
bsp; Finn met his gaze and did his best to keep his fury contained. He knew his face was devoid of expression. He’d had years to practice keeping his emotions hidden. But he didn’t think Philip was fooled.
“No. No problems.”
“Good. Then I’ll expect you back with the special shipment by early morning. The rest of the cargo you can send on to the warehouses.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go entertain my guests.”
Finn inclined his head and watched Philip leave the room. He needed to find Lucy. He’d get her on the next train to Boston if he had to hog-tie her and shove her in a gunnysack to do it. Finn stormed out of the office. The time for cajoling and threatening was over.
Chapter Thirteen
The gentle breeze through the trees would have been peaceful under normal circumstances. But at the moment, the mist that seemed to hang over everything, mixed with the pungent scent of horse and unwashed male, only served to intensify the churning of Lucy’s belly. She and Lilah watched Finn from the shadows of a building amid a row of warehouses, Lilah hunkering further into her cloak as a cold breeze blew through the alleyways.
It was a dark night. The men were scarcely visible, though every now and then Lucy caught sight of Finn’s face in the light of the lanterns. Lucy slid down and leaned against the wall of the building, trying to make herself comfortable while they waited for something to happen. Lilah followed suit but had a much harder time of it as she tried to tuck her skirts about her legs.
That was one of the many reasons that Lucy, much to Lilah’s horror, had raided the laundry at Philip’s house and was wearing one of his suits along with a coat she’d found hanging in a spare closet. If it was one thing Lucy had learned from her bandit days, it was to dress appropriately for every situation. A spying expedition to the warehouse district in the middle of the night, along with wherever Finn would be moving the cargo, called for attire that would allow her to move uninhibited.
So far, nothing too exciting had happened. Finn stood near the wagons with a checklist, checking each box that was unloaded. Lucy hadn’t seen any cargo that looked in any way suspicious and other than the men that were unloading the crates, Finn hadn’t spoken to anyone else. Whatever this special shipment of Philip’s was, it either hadn’t been unloaded yet or was secreted within the regular cargo.
Blood Blade Sisters Series (Entangled Scandalous) Page 52
