From Moonlight to Mayhem (Swords, Secrets, and Scandals Book 1)

by Jess Schira

  He looked over his shoulder at Saika. “Is there anyone capable of repairing the door and securing the shop?”

  “A blacksmith lives two doors down. He’ll be busy, but his youngest boy, Robbie Brogan, will be home. He’s an excellent carpenter and will be happy to make the repairs.”

  “Stay here. I’ll return in a minute.”

  Saika shook her wrists, the movement causing the heavy chain links to rattle. “And where would I be going, trussed up like this?”

  Sebastian’s blue eyes met her brown ones and narrowed with irritation, but he failed to think of a suitable response.

  The home two doors past the Donavon’s was small and tidy. A young girl with bright blonde braids and somber eyes opened the door in response to his knock. When he explained how he wished to speak to Robbie, she yelled the man’s name, the force of her voice rocked Sebastian back a step. He never imagined such a little girl could possess such a big voice.

  “Sir. May I help you with something?”

  Sebastian eyed Robbie. Nothing about the man’s appearance fit Sebastian’s expectations of what a blacksmith’s son should look like. Not only was he several years older than anticipated, but his words, though a bit slow in cadence were those of a well-educated man and he had the grooming, soft hands and quiet body language of a gentleman.

  “Are you the man Miss Saika Donavon refers to as Robbie?”

  “I am.”

  “The door to the Donovan establishment is broken and Miss Donavon informed me you have the skills needed to handle temporary repairs.”

  Robbie’s brow furrowed with concern. “Has anyone been hurt?”

  “No. But the house will be empty for some time. It won’t take long before someone notices and robs the place.”

  Robbie looked back over his shoulder. “It will take me a few minutes to get ready. My mother wanted me to help her with a project in the kitchen and then I need to gather my tools. If things go how I expect them to, I should be able to start working on the Donavon door in about a quarter hour. Is that acceptable?”

  “That will be fine.”

  The men shook hands and Sebastian returned to the Donavon house.

  Just before Sebastian picked his way through the remains of the destroyed door a flash of movement caught his eye. A quick glance into the ground level shop confirmed Saika sat behind the long counter where he’d left her. He narrowed his eyes, silently warning her to stay put a bit longer before he pivoted and moved with a long, loping stride to a small, filthy child who huddled near a door step.

  He crouched and wrapped his fingers around the child’s wrist, startling them. He applied a slight pressure to the child’s thin shoulders, ignoring the grime that transferred from their clothing to his skin and turned the youngster to face him. The child’s lips trembled and they stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.

  Sebastian’s expression grew grim line as he examined the child. Soot and dirt caked the child, making it impossible to determine whether they were a boy or girl. They looked like every other climbing child in London.

  Sebastian’s lip curled back in a sneer and he swallowed a curse. He gave the youngster’s wrist a gentle tug, urging them towards the Donavon house. It took a moment, before he regained control of his expression and smoothed it into a patient mask.

  He gently tugged at the child’s wrist. “Come with me.”

  The child’s eyes grew even wider and they threw their entire body backwards in an attempt to free themselves.

  “No, Mister!” Terror elevated their voice to an ear-splitting shriek. “I can’t.”

  Sebastian tightened his grip and tugged a bit harder.

  “You can and you will.” He used the same firm tone he used when addressing willful servants. “I won’t hurt you.”

  Wild eyed, the child looked up and down the street. Sebastian guessed they were looking for the chimneysweep they worked for.

  “Me master.” Their voice shook.

  “What about your master?” Sebastian gentled his voice and held on tight. If he loosened his grip, even for just a second the child would break free and most likely disappear into the shadows.

  Tears ran down the child’s cheeks, smearing the soot but not washing it away. “‘E told me to stay here and wait for ‘im. ‘E said to stay right here. ‘E’ll be real mad if I don’t obey. ‘E’ll beat me and ‘e won’t feed me.”

  Sebastian’s stomach rolled. He didn’t doubt the validity of the child’s claim. Most chimneysweeps had very little use for the children they sent scrambling up the narrow chimneys past how much money the child helped them earn.

  “Come with me. I’ll make sure you get something to eat.”

  “I’m not allowed to eat. Not nothin’. Not ‘til I’ve finished working for the day, an’ only than if I’ve done a good job and not complained.”

  A muscle in Sebastian’s jaw jumped. He closed his eyes and gathered his patience. “Come along,” he said in his most cajoling voice, “Please. I’ll make sure your master doesn’t find out. I’ll tell him I wanted you to look at my chimney. He can hardly get upset if he thinks you’ve found him another customer, now can he?”

  Sebastian didn’t wait for the child to answer. He angled his body in the direction of the Donavon house and started to walk, all the while making sure he continued to hold the child’s wrist though the fight seemed to have gone out of them and they now followed close at his heels. Past experience had taught him the child would bolt if given the opportunity.

  Sebastian ignored Saika’s wide-eyed gaze as he urged the child past the broken door. A dense mushroom cloud of black soot rose from the child’s clothing as he lifted them up and placed them on the wide countertop. He ignored the rattle of metal against metal warned of Saika’s approach. Sebastian kept his attention focused on the child.

  “What are you doing? Do you know this child?” The Irish in her voice seemed more pronounced than it had last night.

  Sebastian ignored her.

  “They’re a climbing child.”

  “How ever did you guess such a thing?” Each word dripped sarcasm.

  “Why did you bring them here? Do you mean to have our chimney cleaned? Perhaps to apologize for ruining my father’s door.” The sarcasm in Saika’s tone matched Sebastian’s. A woman had never spoken to him in such a manner before since he himself had been a child. He didn’t know how he felt about it.

  “This child needs something to eat.”

  “There is a loaf of bread in the kitchen. I would get it but …” Saika lifted her wrist as far as the chain attached to the metal belt allowed and pointed in the direction of the kitchen.

  Sebastian bit the inside of his cheek and suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. “Very well. I’ll fetch it. And perhaps some marmalade as well.” The sound of the sweet treat caused the child’s eyes to brighten a bit. “You stay here. Do not let them run away. If they do, we’ll never find them again.”

  Saika shook her wrists. “Oh, and how do you propose I stop them? You’ve robbed me of my ability to run.”

  Sebastian’s mouth flattened. One wave of irritation after another rolled through him. “If they move, call out.”

  He pushed past her and went into the kitchen where he found the items he needed to feed the child.

  Ten minutes later the child had devoured three thick slices of bread covered with a thick layer of marmalade.

  Heavy boots clumped against the ground foreshadowing the appearance of Robbie, who stepped through the doorway and into the jewelry shop. His eyes widened as he took in the thick belt around Saika’s waist and the manacles around her wrists and ankles, but he didn’t say a word. He placed the box he carried on the floor and rummaged around in it for the tools he needed to repair the door.

  Sebastian fetched a small pail of water and placed it on the counter beside the child. He dipped a corner of a rag into the cool water and used it to wipe marmalade from the corner of the youngster’s mouth. They scrunched up their face an
d tried to squirm away from him.

  Sebastian dug deep for patience and reminded himself it was most likely the first time the child’s face had ever been washed.

  Saika stood close to his elbow and watched.

  “What’s your name?” Sebastian spoke softly, keeping his voice friendly. Frightening the child wouldn’t help him learn more about their situation.

  “Jennet.”

  “That’s a pretty name.” Sebastian remoistened the rag and scrubbed at another section of her face, revealing an oozing sore on one cheek. His stomach clenched.

  He’d seen such wounds before. Most climbing children had them, the result of scrapping against the sides of the chimneys they were forced to climb day in and day out. Most of the sweeps who worked with the children, never bothered to clean the wounds which often turned into cancerous lesions.

  If he lived to be a hundred and one years old, Sebastian would never understand how anyone could be so monstrous they’d take a girl who didn’t look like she’d passed her forth birthday yet, and send her up a chimney over and over again, a task she’d be forced to do until she finally grew too large to fit through the space. And then what would become of her. Had Sebastian not spotted her, when the sweep was no longer able to use her, she would have been turned out onto the streets where she would be forced to find some way to take care of herself. The life of the average climbing child seldom had a happy ending.

  He couldn’t do anything to stop the way children were used and abused by London’s chimney sweeps, but he could do something to make this little girl’s future brighter than it had been just a few short minutes ago.

  Sebastian glanced at Ronnie who was doing his level best to not look in Saika’s direction. There was something about the man Sebastian found impressive. Ronnie had a stoicism and reliability that reminded Sebastian of his best friend, Oliver.

  He wondered what Ronnie’s story was. He might be the son of a blacksmith, but nothing about him indicated he had any intention of following in his father’s footsteps. If he passed Ronnie on the street, the man’s manners and style would have made him assume the man was a gentleman who either taught school children or ran a successful business, similar to Sebastian’s youngest brother, Simon.

  At some point, Ronnie had been the victim of an accident. Though he didn’t carry a cane, he did drag his left leg when he walked and both hands were badly scarred. Additional scars ran from beneath the collar of his shirt and up the length of his neck.

  Still, the man’s eyes shined brightly and there always seemed to be a smile hovering on the corners of his mouth so Sebastian had to assume that despite whatever physical trauma had caused the horrible scarring, the man’s attitude towards life remained bright.

  Sebastian found himself envious of the man’s optimistic approach towards life. He wondered what it would be like to be cheerful all the time and to constantly see the best in people.

  Ronnie felt Sebastian’s stare and lifted his head to face him. He quirked his brow. “Sir?”

  “Mister Brogan, how long will it take to complete your repairs?”

  Ronnie glanced towards the door and shrugged his wide shoulders. “Not long.”

  “Would it be possible for you to run an errand for me after you’ve completed the door?”

  Ronnie’s gaze shifted to Saika. His mouth, which always seemed about to curl into a smile, flattened. “It depends on just what type of errand what you would like me to do.”

  “I have a friend who will be able to provide Jennet with a safe place to stay, but I can’t take the girl there. My friend told me of her intentions to leave for her country estate today. I suspect she won’t be ready to leave until mid-day. I haven’t the time to take Jennet to her myself. If it’s would not inconvenience you, I would appreciate it if you could take Jennet there in my stead. I can write a quick note for you to take with you, explaining the situation, and also arrange for a carriage.”

  Robbie glanced first at Jennet and then at Saika. Sebastian could all but see the man’s mind working. After a moment the blacksmith’s son turned his attention back to Sebastian. “For the sake of the girl, I’ll do as you ask. Don’t worry about the carriage. My father does some horse training and has a young team he’s been training, but he’s been busy. He’ll be grateful if I take them out for some exercise.

  A few minutes later, Ronnie completed work on the door. He tested the latch before he shrugged into his heavy coat and lifted his tool box. He turned to the small child who still sat on the countertop. “Miss Jennet.”

  The girl looked up from the half eaten piece of bread she held.

  Ronnie smiled at her. “How about you come across the street and meet me mum? She’ll give you a nice cuppa tea while I prepare the horses, and then we’ll go on a nice little adventure. Do you find the plan agreeable?”

  Jennet didn’t answer. Sebastian suspected she’d learned to maintain her silence when around adults. With a little luck, Sarah and the children she kept taking in would be good for the little girl.

  Sebastian waited until Robbie and Jennet left the building before he faced Saika. He gestured at the door. “Now I suppose it’s time you and I start the next leg of the little adventure you led me on last night. The difference is that this time, I’m the one in charge.”

  From Moonlight to Mayhem

  Chapter Four

  I should hate him.

  The thought chased around Saika’s mind as Sebastian’s fingers gripped her waist just about the heavy metal belt he’d ordered her locked into. He grunted and lifted her up and into the waiting carriage. Once inside, she sat on one the seats and slid across it to sit on the far side of the coach. Sebastian climbed in and settled on the bench seat across from her.

  Saika refused to meet his eyes. She stared at the curtain covering the window and gave free rein to her thoughts.

  It was bad enough that he put me into a compromising position last night. Now he has broken into my house and trussed me up like a lamb being led to slaughter. Then, he invited dear, sweet Robbie over to view my humiliation. Sebastian Harper is a pompous, malodorous, weasel of a man. I have every single right to hate him from the very bottom of my soul. So why don’t I?

  Her experience with hate was limited. Even as a child, she’d been even tempered. One the few occasions she had gotten angry she found the amount of energy needed to sustain the emotion failed to justify the end results so she focused on other things that generated better results. Things had changed over. Since her first encounter with the man who had told her what she had to do in order to save the lives of her family, she’d learned what hate felt like, and whatever she felt towards Sebastian right now, she knew hate wasn’t quite the right word.

  As much as she wanted to think otherwise, she couldn’t blame Sebastian for her current situation. Since the moment he question her presence at the Yule Ball, she had handled everything badly. She should have come up with a better excuse for being there. She should have found a better hiding place. She should not have given him her real name.

  Most of all, she should not have succumbed to the desire to kiss him.

  Saika studied Sebastian out of the corner of her eye.

  Who was he?

  Saika pondered the question as the driver clucked to the horses and the carriage rolled away from her home.

  It was obvious he had some connection to the King or Queen allowed him to roam Queen’s Lodge. He was too self-assured to be a servant and nor did he strike Saika as a blue blood. She knew he was clever and had solid instincts which made it possible for him to be one step ahead of her at all times, good traits in a warrior but Saika didn’t get the impression he was much of a fighter.

  She had considered him cold, a man who didn’t experience the same depths of passion the Irish side of her family reached on a regular basis, but when she watched him speak to the young climbing child, Saika had been struck by two things.

  The first surprising thing she’d learned was that buried somewhe
re deep beneath the cool, calculating exterior he presented to the world, there was a warm man who not only noticed a small, scared child, but also had the patience to convince them to overcome their fear and desperation and take faith in his ability to offer them a reprieve from the harsh life they had always known.

  The second thing point that struck her was how he was. From the moment he had first approached her, she found him handsome, but watching him with the child caused something inside Saika to shift and expand into a warm, tentative sensation she’d never experienced. Whatever it was, it made her want to learn more about Sebastian.

  Saika turned her attention back to the curtain and gave herself a swift, mental kick.

  How doltish she’d become.

  Her entire life, she had rolled her eyes at the silly girls who seemed to never have anything better to do than dream of romance and babies and who made calf eyes at every young man who happened to smile at them. Saika never wanted to be like them, yet here she was, day dreaming about the man sitting across from her.

  It was ridiculous.

  It didn’t matter how handsome or kind Sebastian was, there was little point in dreaming about the possibility of the spark they ignited last night growing into a love match. A future wasn’t something Saika had, not anymore.

  Any chance of her life having a happy ending ended when a tall, thin man with emotionless brown eyes strolled into the house she shared with her family.

  Thinking differently was an exercise in foolishness.

  Instead of dreaming about what might have been she needed to concentrate on the here and now.

  She kept the thought close to the front of her mind and relaxed against the seat and let her body sway with the movement of the carriage.

  The curtains covering the carriage’s windows didn’t quite meet and through the slender gap, Saika saw London’s familiar landmarks. The butcher shop where her mother purchased meat, the ramshackle shed where Tom Hardy and she shared a sweet kiss when they were both fourteen, the tiny house were the Widow Dobbs who backed tiny cakes lived. Since moving to London, she had learned to take these things for granted, now she felt as if she was seeing them for the very first time.