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

by Jess Schira

  He wished he had thought to learn about the man who had been speaking to Saika when Sebastian first approached her last night.

  He hoped taking the time to learn more about Saika Donavon allowed him to gain insight into what motivated her, and help him understand what she was up to.

  So far, he wasn’t doing well.

  Boxing Day made getting information about Saika and her family more difficult than if it was a normal day.

  Instead of being home or in their shops, the Donavon’s neighbors were taking part in the traditional events. The few people who were around had not provided much information, other than to say they seemed like a tidy, quiet family that worked hard.

  Sebastian refused to give up. When he’d been a boy, both his father and brother accused him of being hard headed and needlessly stubborn. Time had mellowed those traits, though he did admit to a tendency to become obsessed about certain things. Unraveling the mystery of Saika Donavon was his current obsession.

  One way or another, he would learn her secret.

  He just wished he there was a way to do so that didn’t involve speaking to people.

  His knuckles connected with the door in a firm knock. The sound of running footsteps was the immediate response. Sebastian arranged his features into what he hoped resembled a friendly smile.

  A small child pulled the door open and stuck her round, freckled face through the gap between the door and the frame. A wild tangle of bright orange corkscrew curls seemed to explode from her skull. She stared up at him with wide, dark eyes.

  “Momma!” The amount of noise a single small child was able to make was a constant source of amazement. “There’s someone at the door! I don’t know who his name!”

  “Colleen Candish! How many times have I told ye to stop opening the door e’er time someone knocks,” a disembodied voice scolded. “If I’ve told ye once, I’ve told ye a hundred times, if it’s important they’ll wait ‘til I can get to the door.”

  A woman with the same round face, even features, and dark eyes appeared behind the child. Most of her hair had been scraped into a knot at the nape of her neck, but a few strands stood out in familiar corkscrews around her face, though the color was more gray than red. She balanced another young child, one with wet eyes and tear swollen face on her ample hip, and the way her house dress stretched over her stomach indicated another child would soon be joining the family.

  Sebastian kept his smile plastered on his face and performed a low bow. His instincts told him this housewife would be flattered by the royal treatment. He was rewarded by a delighted giggle. “Sebastian Harper at your service.”

  “Good day, sir. I’m Mrs. Candish.” Some of the exhaustion fled the woman’s eyes and her mouth bowed into a pretty smile. She dropped into an awkward curtsey. The child in her arms giggled. “Why are you here?”

  “I hope it would be possible for you to answer a few questions regarding one Miss Saika Donavon.” Sebastian gave the older woman his most charming, dealing with the high court, smile. “If you have a few moments to spare, of course.”

  Mrs. Candish's offered him a shy smile that hinted at a flirtatious nature. “Would you like a cup of tea?”

  “That would be lovely. Thank you.”

  It only took a few minutes for Mrs. Candish to have him settled in her small, but homey kitchen. He breathed in the mouthwatering smell of baking bread while she bustled from one end of the kitchen to the next, gathering her tea things and clucking softly to herself.

  “You maintain a lovely home.” Sebastian spoke the truth. The quality of the home surprised him. Though more sparsely furnished than what he was accustomed to, the interior was in good repair and tidy. He was impressed with how well the Candish’s made use of the limited amount of space.

  Mrs. Candish blew a curl away from her eyes and paused her bustling. She glanced down at herself and then around the kitchen. Sebastian sensed her trying to see the room through is eyes. When she turned back to him, her’s sparkled with pride, and Sebastian realized he couldn’t have paid her a higher compliment. “It's not the most beautiful of places, I'll grant you that,” she said. “But it's mine and that's something. I've done what I can to keep it nice. I've done a right good job of it too, if I do say so.”

  “Quite right.” Sebastian watched her move to one side of the room and pour a bucket of water into the dented pot she kept near the fire. “I hope you would be kind and provide me with some information about the Donovan family.”

  “Have 'ye found them.”

  Her question startled him. “Found them?”

  “It has been days since I the last time I laid eyes on any member of that family. Mind you, I don't know them well, but they're a cheerful and active family, I’ve always liked ‘em. And he does make some lovely watches. Since they came to London, I saw them ‘bout every single day, than a few days ago, I didn’t see hide or ‘air of a single one. I didn’t think much of it, at least not at first, but after a few days passed, I started wondering if something ‘ad happened to ‘em. My ‘usband said the shop said the shop is locked up tight too. I can’t imagine what would have ‘appened to the family.” She fisted her hands on her hips and peered at Sebastian. “They’re Irish, so I suppose it’s possible someone got upset ‘bout ‘em being here and maybe drove ‘em out of town.”

  “Is that what you think happened?”

  Mrs. Candish shrugged and turned to check her water. “I suppose it’s possible, but that don’t make much sense to me. If someone resented an Irish family living ‘ere, it seems like they would have done something about it sooner. But I can’t imagine what else would ‘ave ‘appened to ‘em.”

  Sebastian couldn’t fault her logic. “Do you recall which day you noticed they were missing?’

  Mrs. Candish gnawed on her lip and considered the question. “I can't rightly say but if I had to guess, I'd say it was a little over a week ago. I remember watching the youngest one. She's a pretty little thing with black hair and big eyes. Looks sweet enough but she don't say much. She was playing with a little kitten in front of the shop. Looked pretty as a picture.” The woman tipped her head back and stared at the ceiling while thoughts rolled around her mind. “I suppose it must ‘ave been ‘bout eight days ago. The whole family was there one day, and the next, nothing. It was like they'd never existed.”

  “The entire family?”

  “No. The oldest girl, the thin one with dark eyes and hair, remained. I've noticed her a few times.”

  “Did you notice anything odd about her behavior?”

  Mrs. Candish tipped her head to one side. “Is there something in particular you would like to know?”

  “Has she behaved like something isn’t right?”

  “Well now, it would be hard to say, now wouldn't it? I've never seen anyone like that oldest girl. She's so quiet, so serene. Her face is always calm. I've never known anyone less likely to show emotion. Still she's a good girl, quick to offer assistance if needed, but there’s always been something about her. She reminds me of a wraith, lingering about and watching everything. Plus there’s the way she moves, so graceful. Sometimes I watch her and wonder if her feet touch the ground or not. I tell you, it’s not natural. And she’s so calm and composed, I don’t speak to her often because she makes me a bit nervous. So no, I can’t say that she was acting any differently than she normally does.”

  Sebastian stood and nodded at the older woman. “Thank you, Mrs. Candish You have been very useful.”

  Mrs. Candish followed him to the front door. Before he crossed the threshold she reached out as if to grab his elbow and halt him but let her hand fall to the side at the last moment. “Do you know what has become of the family?”

  Sebastian passed a few coins to her. He sensed she’d put them to good use. “I fear I don't know.” he murmured, “but one way or another, I intend to find out.”

  He walked along the road until he found his carriage and climbed inside. A moment later the rig was in motion. />
  As the carriage rattled its way down London’s dirty streets, leaving Cheapside behind and heading, once again, towards Newgate Prison, Sebastian thought about everything Mrs. Candish had told him. He couldn’t put his finger on how or why, but he sense a connection between the sudden disappearance of the Donovan family and Saika’s appearance in the King’s bedchamber.

  From Moonlight to Mayhem

  Chapter Six

  Saika decided the dust that coated every surface in the cell and thickened the air, making it hard to breathe, was inches of dust coating every single part of the cell was a blessing. It would play an important role in helping her escape Newgate.

  She scooped up multiple handfuls of dust and mixed it with a bit of water she found in a bucket that had been placed beside the bed until she had a thick paste which she smeared on her face, hands, and clothing until she bore a striking resemblance to her gray environment. It wasn’t a great disguise and she knew it wouldn’t hold up to intense scrutiny, but it should help create a brief moment of confusion, and that was all she needed.

  With the task complete, she was left with nothing to do. She wrapped her arms around her knees and waited.

  She hated to admit it, but a small part of her was grateful Sebastian had locked her away from the world. The small cell spared her from all the distractions she found in her home and provided her with her first real opportunity to gather her thoughts and consider her situation since her family had disappeared.

  The harder she searched for a solution to her problems, the more elusive the answer became. She couldn’t figure out a way to reconcile what she wanted to do with how she’d been taught to behave.

  Her grandfather told her stories about the code of the Samurai, how their first priority was serving their master and how nothing else, including family, should interfere with that code. Saika always thought she understood the concept, but if the events of the past week proved one thing, it was that the lines between love and duty weren’t as clear as she’d been led to believe. According to her grandfather’s story, serving and protecting the king should be her first priority, but she wasn’t a member of the military, she’d never sworn an oath, so could he truly be considered her master? Should preserving his life be more important to her than saving her family?

  It had been her confusion that caused her to hesitate last night when she had the opportunity to assassinate the king at the Yule Ball last night.

  Her grandfather often said how emotions were dangerous and she needed to learn to ignore them. Now, for the first time, she understood.

  If her grandfather was still alive so he’d advise her about what she should do in order to maintain her honor.

  Saika rested her head on the cold stone wall.

  One thing the past week had taught her was that the training she had received from her grandfather was the reason for her current predicament. Had she not been such a diligent student, had he not been a gifted teacher, the brown eyed man would have been forced to look for someone else to do his bidding and would have left the Donovan family alone.

  If there was a way to travel back in time, Saika would turn her back on her Japanese heritage and refuse her grandfather’s training, but since that wasn’t a viable option, she needed to use her training to get herself and her family out of this mess.

  Voices on the other side of the door drew her attention.

  Saika recognized Sebastian’s cultured tone and she guessed the second voice belonged to the man he’d ordered to guard her cell.

  In a single fluid motion, Saika rose and extinguished the lantern. The room wasn’t completely dark, sunlight continued to stream through the narrow slit of a window which pleased her, the light also created deep shadows which she intended to use to her advantage.

  She moved into disappeared into the middle of the deepest shadow near the cell door.

  The voices quieted and a key rattled in the lock.

  Saika’s heart beat a steady rhythm against her rib cage.

  She drew in one calm breath after another and positioned herself close the door. Anticipation zinged through her as she balanced her weight evenly on the balls of her feet.

  She was ready.

  The hinges squealed a high pitched protest as the heavy iron door was swung open into the cell, the edge nearly striking Saika’s shoulder. She pressed herself against wall and held her breath.

  Sebastian entered the room first. His stride faltered and he hesitated. Saika sensed him examining the small space.

  “Hobbes?” His voice echoed off the walls.

  “Sir?” Hobbes shuffled closer to the door.

  “I don't see the girl. Was she transferred to another cell?”

  “No sir. There was no cause to move her.”

  Sebastian took another step and cursed when his shin connected with the rickety chair which broke on impact. He bent and rubbed the new bruise. “Well than where is she?”

  Hobbes stepped into the cell. “She wasn’t moved and there’s no way she could escape so she must be in there. Perhaps-”

  Before he finished the thought Saika kicked out. The side of her foot connected with guard’s ankles and swept his feet out from under him. His upper body pitched forward, his chest slamming into Sebastian’s back and both men crashed to the floor with a dull thud and several heartfelt curses.

  The candle flew out of Sebastian’s hand and rolled across the floor before coming to a stop next to a wall.

  Saika didn’t waste any time.

  She leapt over the fallen men and bolted for the door. She grabbed the edge of the door and pulled it closed behind her. The keys jangled in the lock where the guard had left them.

  Saika let her instincts, honed from a lifetime of intense training, guide her. She twisted the key and sealed Sebastian and the guard into the room before she threw the key down the long, dark corridor. She heard it skid across the floor before it came to rest against the wall. It would be some time before anyone located it.

  She hurried in the opposite direction, retracing the route Sebastian had used when he escorted her to the cell. She clung to the shadows, the combination of darkness and the dust she smeared all over herself would made her all but invisible.

  It took Saika less time to break free of Newgate Prison than it had taken Sebastian to lock her into it.

  She reached the street and slowed her gait to the painful shuffle the street women used. She stared straight ahead of herself, resisting the urge to look over her shoulder and see if anyone was following her. Her best hope of evading capture was to act as if she belonged, to blend in with her surroundings.

  She was lucky. In this part of town there were so many poor and downtrodden people about, her grimy state didn’t draw a second glance.

  Saika’s feet carried her straight to Cheapside. Once she reached the familiar section of town she hesitated. She wanted to go home, wash her face, and come up with a plan but she didn’t dare. She didn’t know how much time would pass before someone discovered Sebastian. Once they did, she imagined this would be the first place he’d look for her.

  After a moment’s hesitation, Saika changed direction and made her way to the home of a laundress she was acquainted with. Once again, luck was on her side, and she found a simple blue dress that looked like it would fit as well as a cape that was heavy enough to ward off the winter chill.

  Donning her purloined items, she washed the grime from her skin before taking to the streets against, this time heading in the direction of the castle where she knew the King and Queen would be resting and recovering from the excitement of the Yule Ball.

  From Moonlight to Mayhem

  Chapter Seven

  Saika shifted on the hard bench and pulled the thin cloak she wore more snuggly about herself in an attempt to ward off the brisk winter breeze. She wished she’d been able to find a warmer cloak, the one she wore wasn’t thick enough to provide much protection against the whipping wind. When she first sat down, it seemed like she’d walked ha
lf way across London at a brisk pace and she’d been flushed with heat, but now that she’d been sitting here for a while and the sweat had dried so now she felt as if her bone marrow was frozen solid. She doubted she’d ever feel warm again.

  She supposed the sensible thing to do would be to get up and walk about for a bit, but the bench’s location provided her with an excellent view of the main entrance to the Queen’s Lodge, besides her feet ached, a headache throbbed behind her eyes, and during the she had been sitting here, a heavy fatigue settled over her. The last thing she wanted to do was get up and walk about.

  Saika had never been so miserable in her entire life.

  It took all her self-control to ignore the physical discomfort and remain focused on making a note of the guards who moved about the grounds as well as the various visitors who came and went. She would worry about getting warm again and take the time to sleep after her family was safely returned to their home.

  Before settling on the bench, Saika had circled the castle several times. She found several places where she could enter the building if need be, but the easiest method involved strolling through the main entrance. From what she could tell, as long as she looked like she had a reason to enter the palace, the guards wouldn’t bother to try to stop her, and even if they did, they were ill equipped to deal with an assassin of Saika’s caliber. For some reason, the thought saddened Saika. If there was even a fraction of truth in the stories her grandfather told, the English should consider themselves luck Japan never decided to invade.

  Her biggest challenge would be locating King George.

  Saika gnawed on her lower lip.

  She wanted to stand up and stroll into the Queen’s Lodge and complete her assignment while he slept, but she hesitated. On the surface, the plan seemed sensible which made her suspicious. It felt like she was failing to consider the situation from every angle and a single mistake meant the death of everyone she loved.