“Yes, before I came here. Though it is hard to tell what damage the tempest caused and what destruction the workers are responsible for.”
“I don’t understand,” Miss Morris interjected.
“Well, the south side of the house is completely gone,” Fairview noted and looked to Atwood for guidance.
“The house had been shaken from its foundation. Though repairs could have been made, the man in charge feared it would not be stable,” Atwood explained.
“You need to rebuild the entire school?” Miss Crawford asked, her eyes wide with concern.
Vincent wouldn’t have thought the idea of being in his house longer than a few weeks would be disconcerting to her. The rebuilding gave her ample time to explore and search. Unless, she hoped to be able to leave her position as soon as the piece of the map was found to rejoin her lover.
“Unfortunately, yes,” he answered and hoped the smile on his face was one of sympathy instead of contempt.
“I am truly sorry, Lord Atwood,” Mrs. Wiggons offered. “I know you probably wished we would be gone in short order but it appears we could be here for months.”
“Months?” Miss Crawford squeaked out.
Vincent turned to look at her and smiled warmly. “Why yes. Are there concerns you have not mentioned, Miss Crawford?”
She sat her teacup on the table and folded her hands. A small worry line appeared between her eyes and she bit the corner of her bottom lip. He waited for her to explain. What lie would she tell him now?
“It is just the girls. They are not all comfortable being here.” Her eyes shot to Sir Fairview, as if she wished to convey some type of message.
“So I gathered from my daughter,” Fairview laughed.
“They are still getting settled in. We should not worry,” Mrs. Wiggons insisted.
“It is not so much the household.” Fairview grinned at Vincent. “What they fear is what lives in this household.”
“Oh, dear.” Miss Crawford straightened her spine and a lovely, light shade of rose colored her cheeks. “You should not listen to the rumors. I will talk to the girls again.”
Fairview chuckled. “I am sure you have assured them enough and anyone without an active imagination would be comforted. Unfortunately, for my daughter and her friends, it is a more difficult task.”
Miss Crawford glanced at Vincent for but a moment, but her cheeks darkened further, and she focused back on Fairview. “Sir, perhaps we can discuss this in private and determine a way to convince your daughter that all will be well.”
Vincent couldn’t believe it. Miss Crawford was trying to keep him from the rumors or perhaps she thought he would be disturbed that the discussion she carried on with Fairview involved him.
“No need to hide from the truth, Miss Crawford.” Vincent crossed his legs and took a sip of tea. “We all know the girls fear I am a vampire and are scared of what will become of them living in this house.”
“Yes, my daughter told me everything. I do believe she about had an apoplexy when I informed her that it was I who retrieved you from the dead.”
Miss Crawford choked on her tea; the others looked at him with stunned silence and Vincent roared back with laughter.
He turned toward the ladies. “I am sure you have heard the rumors that I was left among the dead on the battlefield and lay there for two days. My commanding officer,” he gestured to Fairview, “is the one who discovered I was still part of this world and carried me back to the surgeon.”
Their faces held a combination of intrigue, horror and disgust.
It was not well-done of him to mention the ugliness of battle in front of such delicate creatures. Though, he doubted Miss Crawford was included in the group. She was betrothed to Percer after all. If the engagement were normal, she would be in London, planning her wedding. Not teaching at a girls’ school and snooping around his house.
* * *
Tess marched down the hall and banged on the door to the bedroom of Miss Weston, Lady Trent and Miss Fairview. She’d had enough of their silliness. Their concerns must cease and desist, now. Thank goodness Lord Atwood saw the entire matter in good humor, but it was inconsiderate and insensitive for the girls to carry on so when he had given them a place to stay.
There was no sound from within and she banged a bit harder.
Still nothing. She turned the handle on the door, stepped into the room and jerked at the brightness. Goodness, even she was pained from coming in here. The girls’ room was situated at the southern end of the house. All three windows were open, the drapes pulled back to allow the fullest amount of sun into the room. No vampire in his or her right mind would attempt to enter this room.
She left and slammed the door behind her.
Tess found the three of them sitting in a gazebo by the lake. A book on Ireland was open on Eliza’s lap and the other two read over her shoulder. What they could find so interesting she had no idea. Besides, right now it didn’t matter.
“We need to have a word, girls.” She used the tone most likely to illicit a prompt, respectful response.
All three sets of eyes snapped up. They scrambled to their feet and faced her. Eliza closed and placed the book on the chair behind her.
“I have had about all I can take of your fears and superstitions.”
“But, Miss Crawford --” Sophia began.
Tess focused on her. “You will remain silent. You will listen to what I say.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sophia dropped her chin, her lips formed a pout.
“Lord Atwood is not a vampire. His wife is not alive.”
“We saw her,” Eliza interrupted.
“What exactly did you see?” Tess demanded.
“He was carrying a woman down the hall.”
“Did you see her face, hair, clothing?”
“Well, ah, no,” Eliza admitted.
Tess could not tell the girls it was she Atwood carried. That would invite an entirely new set of problems. Whether it be her fall from morality or mortality. Either way, they would invent a story that would see her ruined.
“What time was it when you saw him carrying this…person?”
The girls shared a look. Rosemary answered, “Around two in the morning.”
“What were you girls even doing awake at that time?”
“We, um, couldn’t sleep,” Sophia answered in a weak voice.
Tess marched down the line and looked each of them over. She knew this was intimidating for she had used it on them before. Something had to be done. “Perhaps I should separate the three of you.”
“No,” their voices cried in unison.
“What else am I to do? You have the rest of the girls too frightened to sleep. They wake the other teachers at all hours of the night because they heard something or saw something.”
“Perhaps they did.” Eliza’s chin jutted out.
This child had always been the most stubborn and difficult one. Tess walked over and stared down her nose at the girl. “You are the instigator in all of this. If you do not stop, now, you will be moved to the top floor, with the younger girls.”
Her eyes grew wide. “No, Miss Crawford, please.”
“Then I suggest you get a hold of your tongue, and imagination, because if you do not stop encouraging these other two with your outrageous ideas, that is exactly where you will find yourself. And, if that doesn’t work, you will be sent home.”
Tess knew if she stayed and listened to any argument she would end up yelling at the girls and possibly make threats she could not follow through on. So, to end the discussion, she turned on her heel and marched out of the gazebo. Once she was far enough away, she stopped. She was much too agitated to return to the house or try and concentrate on the lessons for tomorrow. Perhaps if she slept at night it would be easier, and maybe she wouldn’t be so exhausted.
She took in her surroundings. Perhaps a stroll would calm her enough to enjoy conversation with the other teachers in the household.
* * *
Sophia and Rosemary focused on Eliza and waited for her reaction. The girl sighed and settled into a wicker chair. “Poor, Miss Crawford. Do you think it is possible he has already begun to mesmerize her?”
Rosemary settled down beside her on the floor. “My father also said it is nonsense.”
“All adults think it is nonsense,” Eliza she scoffed.
“Yes, but still. . .” Sophia began.
Eliza focused on her. “We know what we saw. Even if Miss Crawford and the others are blind to the truth, we must protect them.”
“But how?” Sophia cried and sank to the floor beside Rosemary.
Eliza picked up her book on Ireland. “I know exactly how.”
* * *
Tess took deep breaths and tried to calm her anger. She shouldn’t have been so hard on the girls but they were being ridiculous. She was certain neither she, Claudia nor Natalie had ever behaved in such a manner.
Well, there was the time Claudia insisted the fishermen were smugglers. She could not imagine why anyone would be out in boats before the sun rose if not for illegal purposes. For a week they rose at three in the morning to spy on the men, to see what they were really about. Every morning, just before the sun rose, they rowed their boats out to the sea and cast out their nets. Not one bottle of brandy or bolt of lace was ever retrieved. All the girls managed to do was catch a cold that kept all three of them in bed for days.
Still, they were much more mature than those three girls. None of them would have ever imagined such an outrageous scenario as vampires.
She chuckled at the memories as she turned into the gardens. The sight before her brought her up short. Natalie’s classes had done wonders. Before, weeds chocked out the plants and flowers. That had all been cleared away and the last of the summer flowers bloomed, offering an array of color that would soon die with the first frost and later be covered in snow.
Tess settled onto a bench and willed all tension from her body. At least Atwood was handling the girl’s beliefs with good humor. She wasn’t so sure she would have been as kind had people talked about her in the same manner.
Atwood. He was a very strange man. One moment he was barking and ordering people about. The next, he laughed. She could not come to grips with his ever-changing moods. What had last night been about? Why had he gotten so physically close to her? She could still smell his scent.
No, she must forget his scent, his sculpted chest, his chiseled face and most importantly, his penetrating eyes. Her body warmed at the remembrance of his face, close to hers, and the urge to place her lips on his.
Tess abruptly stood and began to pace among the mums. How could she be attracted to such a contrary man? Of course he was handsome, but she had met other handsome men in her life and memories of their lips, faces and chests did not keep her awake at night. Or at least not their lips and faces. Atwood’s was the only chest she had ever seen.
Her face heated at the memory. What would it be like to touch it? Would the strength be similar to a statue? Would his hair be soft?
Stop it. Atwood may be handsome, and at times, nice, but there was no future. Goodness, the man’s best friend was Percer. That alone should tell her something about his character. Anyone who considered Percer a man worthy of respect was not someone she cared to know. So, Atwood could be the most attractive, intriguing, if not almost perfect man alive, but his choice of companions left a lot to be desired and the strongest reason why she should keep her distance.
There was only one problem, how was she to combat her attraction when she was now forced to spend the evening hours with him acting as his secretary. She could only pray he stayed on his own side of the desk.
With determination, Tess started back to the house. She was resolved and she would stay strong. No matter how much he tempted her, she would not succumb to his charms. With her mind made up, Tess set off on the short path that cut through the woods to the main lawn.
“Ah, Theresa Ford-Creigh. How long has it been? Two years?”
Tess stopped. A chill went up her spine. The hairs stood up on the back of her neck. She knew that voice and had prayed never to hear it again.
revelling in bliss, thou beholdest not the abyss that yawns beneath thy feet,
intoxicated with the luscious perfume of the flower thou hast plucked,
thou little deemest how deadly is the venom with which it is fraught,
although, for a short season, its potent fragrance
bestows new energy on all thy feelings.
Wake Not the Dead
Johann Ludwig Tieck
Chapter 14
Out of the woods stepped Lord Walter Percer. Where had he come from and how did he find me?
Tess took a step back. Her eyes darted from one end of the short path to another. She wasn’t sure if she hoped for rescue or not. Why was he here?
“Ah, Theresa, you have grown prettier over time.” Percer’s hand came up to caress her cheek.
Tess jerked away.
“Had I known, I may have actually gone through with my ruse to marry you.”
Tess moved back from him, off the path.
“Come now, don’t be afraid.” His voice was silken, seductive. The same voice she had fallen for so many years ago.
“What do you want?” She edged to the side, back onto the path, yet kept her distance from him.
“Do you know how long it took me to find you?” He advanced on her. His steps slow and menacing.
Tess shook her head and continued to look for an avenue of escape. She considered screaming, but what if Percer turned her in?
“Personally, I would have been more creative if I had to change my name. Ford-Creigh to Crawford. Any idiot could have figured it out.”
“I took you a long time.” Her brow arched and Tess wondered where she got the inner strength to insult him. Was she a fool?
He laughed. “Touché, my dear.” He stopped before her. “I honestly thought you had left the country. I never dreamed you would be foolish enough to return to your former school.”
“How did you find me?” Tess needed to know where she had gone wrong. That way, when she disappeared again she would not make the same mistake.
“I was visiting a friend when a teacher and a few of the students spent the night. When the teacher, Tess Crawford, was mentioned I could not help but be intrigued.”
It was stupid to come back here and she’d originally only intended to stay a short time before she moved on. But, when no one came after her, Mrs. Wiggons assured her she would be safe. Well, she had been for over a year.
“After a few further questions, I knew it had to be you. What were the chances of someone, with a similar name, matching your exact description, teaching at a school you had attended?”
Tess took a step back. She would run if she had to, even without her belongings. This was a day she had prepared for. “Why haven’t you turned me in?”
He grinned and advanced. With each step, she took one backwards. “I want something.”
She stopped. “What?”
He arched a brow. “You know exactly what I am looking for.”
“I don’t have it.”
He reached out, grabbed her hair and jerked her to him. “Don’t lie to me.”
Tess bit back a scream. The girls were not that far away and she did not want them to come investigate.
“You will bring me your father’s piece of the map.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I will contact the magistrate and you will hang.”
Tess fought the dizziness and blackness that engulfed her. It was what she had always feared. Oh, why hadn’t she moved to the continent or America? “How do I know you will not turn me in once you have the paper?”
“You don’t.” He grinned before he brought his face down and kissed her.
Tess twisted her head away. Hair ripped from the base of her skull.
“Don’t fight me. I control everything.”
> Tears sprung to her eyes. What was she to do?
“Bring me the paper and I won’t turn you in.”
“What assurance do I have?”
“My word.” His smile grew wider. “Besides, there is more I need from you and a hangman’s noose would be a bit inconvenient at this moment.” His eyes raked over her body and lingered for a moment on her breasts.
She feared what else he would demand. Would the payment be worth survival? Further, she could not trust him. She would never be that foolish again.
“Miss Crawford,” Eliza called from the far end of the path. “I have a question. Are you still here?”
Percer turned to look in the direction of the voice, as did Tess. She could not see her and hoped Percer could not either, or that Eliza could see him.
“Tonight, at midnight, here. Bring me the paper.” He faded into the woods and she heard his feet run through the brush.
Tess collapsed against a tree. She could not find her breath and her heart beat so fiercely it was a wonder it couldn’t be seen. What would have happened if Eliza had not called out? What if Eliza had come across them? So many questions and no answers. Percer was dangerous and he had found her. She had to protect the girls no matter what. She knew, in her heart, that she would deliver the paper to him tonight. What happened afterwards, she did not know.
She could hear the girls approach and saw them a moment later.
“Miss Crawford, is something wrong?” Sophia asked.
Tess straightened. It would do no good to have them wondering. Who knew what kind of scenario the girls would invent, though it would never be close to the horrible truth. “Nothing. Did you need me?”
Thankfully they didn’t question her further. “Do you know anything about the Druids?” Eliza asked.
Laughter bubbled up at the absurdity of the question. It reminded her how simple these girls’ lives were when hers was held in the balance over a simple slip of paper.
To Walk in the Sun (Wiggons' School for Elegant Young Ladies - Book 1) Page 12
