"Did you see that?" she murmured to Noah.
"I see a couple who look more like they're entering a business partnership than a happily-ever-after. And I'd bet my next royalty check that girl does not know what he's been up to."
"I agree with you about it being a business arrangement, but I was talking about the way he looked at his mother when his attention should have been on his fiancée. I'll bet your next royalty check he told Mama and she convinced him to go through with things as planned."
Noah grimaced. "You mean this party or the wedding?"
"Does it matter? At least one other person now knows there's somewhere else he'd rather be."
Speeches were given in between meal courses and French champagne flowed freely the whole time. Dessert and coffee were being served before anyone at their table attempted to engage them in conversation. A plump, white-haired man on the opposite side had to repeat Noah's name twice before he could be heard.
"I heard we had a famous author at our table," he said loudly enough to get everyone else to stop their conversations. "I've been thinking of doing a little writing myself now that I've retired. Got any suggestions?"
Maggie turned her to Noah and gave him an encouraging smile.
"Write what you know," Noah replied. "And if you don't know anything about what you want to write, research it. That's what I'm doing now. I'm working on a murder mystery with some high-society people and politicians. I thought this party would be the perfect place to pick up some gossip. Got any for me?"
Everyone laughed then one woman ventured a tidbit. "Well, I heard the Gavistons aren't as high society as they want everyone to believe."
"I heard their money came from blockade-running in the Civil War," her husband added.
"I heard they sold secrets to the Germans during the big one." This from the man on Maggie's other side.
"Close, but no cigar," said the aspiring writer firmly. "I know for a fact that the old man is related to the boss of one of Chicago's well-known Italian families. Vincent Gaviston isn't his birth name. I also know he's made his current fortune running hooch across the Canadian border. We're probably drinking some of it tonight. He likes coming down here because he and the wife get to pretend they're aristocracy and everyone here pretends they believe them."
"Now that's the truth," the man beside Maggie interjected. "And a matchup like this could give the family an inside man where they make the laws... if you know what I mean."
From the looks passed around the table, everyone knew what he meant and decided it was time to change the subject.
The band started playing and put an end to any further group conversation, gossipy or otherwise.
Maggie watched Mrs. Hampshire give her son a silent reminder to take his fiancée out onto the floor for the first dance. As he rose he touched his mother's arm. They were definitely close but did his loyalty go so far as to walk away from the woman he loved and their baby? The parents followed the engaged couple onto the dance floor then most of the guests rose and made their way to the outer edges.
"Shouldn't we join them?" Maggie asked Noah.
"Naw. As soon as the guests crowd onto the floor, the parents will probably come back. And they're the ones we need to keep an eye on now. If they think no one is watching, they might take their masks off for a moment. Just pretend we're wrapped up in a private conversation of our own."
As he predicted, the four parents soon made their way back to the head table, though the Hampshires made several stops along the way to exchange comments with possible supporters. Maggie leaned closer to Noah and let her peripheral vision take care of spying. It didn't take long to see something of interest.
Mr. Gaviston was very annoyed about something. Mrs. Gaviston seemed to be reminding him to behave like a gentleman. When the Hampshires drew close, however, the older man shot the politician a distinct warning and the politician nodded. Then there was a very quick exchange between Mr. and Mrs. Hampshire as they took their seats. The only difference was their words took place behind frozen smiles.
"If I'm not mistaken," Maggie said close to Noah's ear, "the only one who doesn't know about Broderick's wanting to defect is the bride-to-be."
"This would actually make an interesting murder mystery plot," Noah replied as he brushed an imaginary crumb off her shoulder. "Which would you make the killer?"
She gave his chest a poke. "This isn't fiction. A real girl and her baby are going to die if we don't figure out how to stop it. And I have a terrible feeling that it's going to happen tonight."
He sobered immediately. "But Broderick was walking her to the barracks. Unless..."
She waited several seconds before poking him again. "Unless, what?"
"Unless he changed his mind and told her to wait for him on the beach. Or maybe she came back after he left her, just to see what the important thing was he said he had to do before they could be together."
Maggie gave that a doubtful look. "Or... one of them followed Broderick and saw where Moira lives and they're planning to kill her there and take her body to the beach to make it look like a suicidal drowning."
Noah nodded slowly. "You could have something there. I remember the medical report mentioning the throat bruising but not whether there was water in her lungs, or which side of the island she was found on. They wouldn't have bothered to do an autopsy. You know, you've got a damn good imagination."
"I read a lot of imaginative books," she answered with a smirk.
"Only one problem with that scenario. Moira wouldn't be the only one there. If there was a struggle in or around the barracks, wouldn't there have been a witness?"
Maggie frowned. "Maybe any witnesses were threatened... or paid off." Noah nodded in agreement. "So, what now?"
He shrugged. "Guess we just keep watching and hope to catch a break. But as long as we're stuck here..." Noah stood and held out his hand. "How about a dance? I think they're playing our song."
Chapter 23
Love's glow brightened with hope. They are getting very close.
Karma ignored her and directed his thoughts to Time and Justice. Status?
They have forty-eight hours, replied Time.
Justice reported next. A new trap has been set for the fox. Because we had to use him in connection with the time line rewind, he took advantage of an opening to escape again. This time he left the island as we had feared he might. However, he will not be able to resist observing how the humans cope with such a hotbed of lies and deception. And the moment he steps back onto the island the magnetic field will be activated. He will be back in his cage very soon.
Love could only hope the fox was not captured before he had a chance to do one last favor for her. With only two days left, his assistance could be the defining factor in whether Maggie and Noah got to experience eternal happiness or suffer the everlasting heartache Lilli and Connor knew.
Chapter 24
The party remained in full swing until well after midnight when the hosts and honored guests said good night. Those who were not ready for bed were invited to go to the Amethyst Cave. Although the hotel's speakeasy was supposed to be secret, no one needed to ask what it was or where the Cave was hidden.
It was easy enough to follow the two families to the lobby and watch the three Gavistons head to their rooms upstairs. It took a while longer for Mr. Hampshire to do a bit more back-patting and hand-pumping before he, Mrs. Hampshire and Broderick headed home together.
"I feel like we missed something," Noah said. "We've been alert all evening and although we came up with a lot of guesses, I didn't expect it to end like this."
"I felt so sure tonight was the night. Maybe my intuition isn't as good as you think."
"Maybe this was the night when someone decided to take action. About the only thing we can do is follow Moira around again tomorrow. Based on what Reynard said, we do still have one more day."
Neither of them liked that plan but with no other ideas they headed out the rear door of
the lobby. As soon as they were outside Noah pulled Maggie into an embrace and pressed his lips to hers. "It feels like years since I got to do that."
Maggie smiled. "You really are quite the romantic." She drew his head down for another kiss. "Even though we didn't solve anything tonight, I had a very enjoyable evening. There were whole minutes at a time when I felt like I was on a date rather than a mission."
He chuckled and kissed her nose. "I promise to take you on lots of real dates when we get back."
She gazed up into his eyes and saw the promise of a future filled with love and laughter. "I'd like that," she whispered and gave him a deeper, sexier kiss. Within seconds she felt his body changing against hers and there was no question of what her body wanted from him. "Take me home, Mr. Nash."
"With pleasure, Mrs. Nash."
They had reached the first of the bungalows when a four-legged creature tore across the boardwalk in front of them.
Noah froze. "What the hell was that?"
"A cat?"
"Too big. But it didn't look like a dog either." Before he could make another guess, the animal raced back over the walkway toward the ocean, whirled around, leapt over the walkway in front of them again and dodged between the last two bungalows.
Maggie stared into the darkness without feeling brave enough to keep walking until two golden eyes flashed at her from the corner of one of the buildings. "It's the fox! From my dream. We have to follow it." She grabbed Noah's hand and pulled him as fast as she could in her heels. When they reached the spot where she had seen the eyes, she stopped until she could see the animal in the moonlight. It was quite a ways ahead but had paused again for them to catch up.
Maggie took one look at the sand between them and the fox and got rid of her shoes. But she and Noah had only gone a few steps when she suddenly felt a wave of electrical energy. It was accompanied by a loud yelp from the fox and he vanished in a crackle of light. She and Noah glanced at each other but said nothing as they found themselves next to the area that later became the golf cart parking lot. At this time it was used to stable the horses and park the carriages.
Maggie opened her mouth to say something but Noah clapped his hand over it and pulled her down to the ground. He pointed at a moving figure ahead of them. There was just enough moonlight for her to recognize Amelia Gaviston's gown and see her heading straight toward the tall hedge of foliage. Ruffling branches along one section, she seemed to be looking for something and a few seconds later she disappeared into a thick bush.
Maggie turned to Noah and arched one eyebrow. He nodded to let her know he was as surprised as she was.
"I'm guessing that's the passage to the workers' barracks," Noah whispered.
"Shouldn't we follow her?"
"In a sec. I want to make sure she doesn't come right back out and run into us."
"What do you think she's doing?" Maggie asked, still keeping her voice quiet.
"She could be sneaking off to meet a working-class lover of her own but odds are we were wrong about her not knowing about Broderick's change of heart. She just might be a better actress than the rest of them. Maybe she even knows about Moira and is taking matters into her own hands. C'mon," he said, abruptly pulling her to her feet.
Behind the bush where Amelia had vanished, they discovered a fair-sized passage that led to a well-worn path in the sand. From there it looked like they were walking into a maze of tall hedges. Apparently the Davenport's were very serious about keeping this part of the island obscured from the guests' view. Fortunately, Amelia's direction was revealed by the one set of heeled shoe impressions.
Several hundred feet along, they caught sight of Amelia, struggling along in her inappropriate footwear. She didn't seem concerned about the possibility of someone following her but Noah and Maggie stayed to the path's edges just in case she should turn around.
The hedge maze ended and the path widened a few steps later. On each side were two long, one-story, flat-roofed, wooden buildings. Signs designated that the left was for "Men" and the right was for "Women". There were doorways and window openings but no doors, glass or screens.
Keeping an eye on Amelia from the corner of the first men's building, Maggie could see forty or fifty narrow cots inside. A trunk and a metal pot sat at the foot of each. Half the cots were occupied by snoring men. The horse's stables had smelled better... and appeared to be in much better condition.
Amelia entered the first women's barracks, came out a minute later and marched into the second one. When she didn't reappear quickly, Noah and Maggie crept closer to that building. As they neared a window, they heard a woman's hushed voice.
"Wake up, Moira. But be very quiet. We don't want to wake the others. You need to come with me. Quickly now. Broderick is waiting. No, no. There's no time to dress. He has clothes for you. Pretty, pretty clothes for his pretty Irish lass."
Maggie looked to Noah for guidance and he signaled that they should wait, watch and listen before making their presence known. So when Amelia led Moira out of the barracks and back through the maze, they followed, but not too closely.
"We can't be sure what she's up to," Noah whispered. "But I doubt she's taking Moira to meet Broderick. What's your intuition say?"
"I agree but I feel like we have to wait for her to show her intention before we intervene."
They continued to follow at a distance until Amelia and Moira passed the stables and continued along the carriage path all the way to the dock. Because they couldn't stay hidden and get closer, they couldn't hear the beginning of the conversation. But it looked like Moira was asking where Broderick was.
Abruptly, Amelia slapped Moira's face and rage had her raising her voice.
"You stupid little Irish whore! Of course he's not here. He will never be meeting you here or anywhere else. I saw you together, your hands all over him until he couldn't think straight. Do you really think he believes that bastard inside of you is his? He told me he's just one of many men who crawled between your fat thighs."
Moira tried to leave but Amelia grabbed her arm and held tight. Maggie wanted to rush to Moira's rescue but Noah held her back. Not yet, he mouthed.
"You're probably too empty-headed to realize he was lying to you, just to get what he needed after you seduced him," Amelia continued.
"No," Moira refuted. "He would not lie ta me."
"Oh? Did he tell you we were engaged to be married? That we had the big announcement party at the Davenport this evening?"
"He... he said he had ta take care of something and tomorrow—"
Amelia shook Moira. "You silly, silly girl. Tomorrow morning Broderick and his parents are leaving for Chicago. To meet my family's friends at our second engagement party. I don't know what he said to you to keep you from making a scene, but he told me you'd make a good kitchen maid and said we should move you to Chicago with us tomorrow. That must have been what he meant about taking care of something. But I can assure you I will never have one of his sluts living under our roof no matter how good a maid she is."
"No. No!" Moira futilely strained to get away. "Yer wrong. Rick loves me."
Amelia straightened her spine and lifted her chin. "Perhaps he does. Men are fools when they're being diddled by a girl with experience and my dear fiancé is a bigger fool than most. He's also completely dominated by his mother who has millions of reasons to force him into going through with our betrothal. So regardless of who Rick loves, Broderick will be marrying me. So you may as well start forgetting about him right now."
"Twill be a might hard ta forget about him when I be carryin' his son." She proudly smoothed the loose nightgown over her swollen belly. A bit too proudly.
Amelia let out a growl and tackled Moira to the sand. In a blink, her fingers wrapped around the girl's throat. "He's mine. Mine! Mine!" she screeched, slamming Moira's head against the ground with each word.
With lightning speed, Noah bolted out of hiding and across the beach. He yanked Amelia off Moira and easily tossed her s
everal feet away. As he prevented her from rising merely by looming over her, Maggie hurried to help Moira. The girl was gasping for air but seemed more shocked than anything else.
Amelia rose to her feet but kept some distance between her and Noah. "How dare you touch me? My father will hear about this. He's had men killed for less. Whoever you are, you will wish you were never born."
Noah looked down his nose at her. "I met your father this evening and I know how important it is for his family to keep up appearances here. I think he would be very interested in hearing about the trouble you were stirring up when he thought you were safely tucked in bed."
Amelia was spitting mad but no further threats came out of her mouth.
"Now get the hell away from here and never come near Moira again or, I assure you, I will make sure everyone knows what phonies your parents really are."
In her rush to escape Noah's wrath, Amelia tripped over her gown's hem then stumbled in the sand several times before actually getting away from the scene of her attempted crime.
"I do not understand," Moira said a bit hoarsely, glancing from Maggie to Noah and back to Maggie. "Mind ye, I am most grateful but what are ye doin' here at such an hour?"
Maggie gave Noah a look to let her explain. "Do you believe in angels?"
"Of course," she said and quickly made the sign of the cross.
"Well, an angel came and told me you were in trouble and where to find you. Are you sure you're okay now? You got knocked down pretty hard."
Moira smiled. "'tis a good thing I'm already so close ta the ground." She rubbed her bottom. "And there be plenty of paddin' too."
Maggie wasn't convinced. She looked at Noah. "I don't think she should stay alone tonight. Or go to work tomorrow either. She should rest with her feet up until we're sure the baby wasn't injured." And that no one else planned to do her harm, she added as though he could hear her thoughts. He nodded as though he had.
Some Time Away (Lovers in Time Series, Book 3): Time Travel Romance Page 22
