by Linda Daly
“Ah yes, dear innocent Miranda. Who just happened to faint when Tad approached—if that was real, that is—or perhaps another elaborate scheme to prevent other’s from seeing the hate she feels from a man who has been trying to win her heart.”
“Hate? That’s preposterous! Why for weeks we’ve seen her and Tad cozy up to one another, stealing glances at each other …”
Shaking her head, enjoying rattling James, watching him struggling to throw her off the scent, she interrupted him and said, “Oh I know when a woman hates a man alright James. She looked at Tad, much as I do when I look at you. She loathes him. Moreover, Alfred’s feeble attempt of coving up her so-called illness, is nothing more than an elaborate hoax. What puzzles me though, is why does dear, sweet Miranda, need a few days locked up on the third floor? What is she hiding?”
Seeing the stunned look on his face, she began to walk past him, snidely saying, “Never mind, I’ll ask Vivian.”
Grasping her arm, James said, “What do you want, Lavinia?”
Inhaling deeply, yanking free of his grasp, then raising her eyebrow, she glared at him. “Want? In exchange for my silence, or in general, James?”
“Both!” He snapped, his voice traveling over the hushed surroundings of the garden.
Enjoying turning the tides back on him, Lavinia smiled victoriously. “Oh, James darling, do keep your voice down. You wouldn’t want the Robbins’ to think you’ve lost your senses, now would you? Even though Rupert detests me, he would be forced to rescue his sister-in-law if for nothing more than good form.”
A disgusted grin crossed James’ lips, and he bowed to her. “Bravo!” He snarled while sarcastically applauding her. “You managed to win a minor battle, my dear. However, not the war! So, name your price. That is what you want, isn’t it Lavinia? Money? The question is how much?”
“James, you have no idea what I want and what I intend to have. However, in exchange for my silence, a nice tidy sum of let’s say … tenthousands pounds, placed in a private account will do nicely for the time being.”
“Ten thousand pounds …” he said, shaking his head. “You are mad!” “That’s my price. Either you pay it, or I shall not only speak to Vivian, but I’ll be forced to go to Benjamin and tell him how you’ve been secretly lusting over that tart wife of his. And then all your scheming, having Benjamin off in Washington while you and that alley cat grew closer, was for not. Which by the way was my idea as I recall, so that in itself is money due me, don’t you agree, James darling?” Pausing for the effect, enjoying watching James’ face redden she added in a low purr, “Wouldn’t that be such a shame, if all your manipulating and scheming, worming your way into that little tart’s heart was foiled?”
“Fine, Lavinia. I’ll pay your price. Not for the reasons you think, but rather in payment for what you’ve taught me.”
“And just what would that be, James?” She spouted indignantly. “No matter how elegant the attire a woman wears or how beautiful she is, a whore is still a whore. And you my dear, are nothing but a high priced whore! Willing to sell your soul if the price is right.”
Outraged by such a comment, she immediately retaliated by striking him across the face. Seeing him lunge at her as if he were going to strike her, Lavinia quickly stepped back and saw in the corner of her eye Rupert standing off the path, clearly within hearing distance. Taking full advantage of such a perfect opportunity, she cried out, “Go ahead James hit me. It can’t be any worse than you threatening to have me put away in an insane asylum, after I caught you lusting over Felicity. Are you that jealous over Benjamin that you have to seduce his new wife too, as you did me? Well I won’t stand for it, I tell you. If you force me too, I’ll go to Rupert and Annabelle and tell them everything.”
“Go right ahead, you whore! Sell your soul to them too. However, if you think that spineless traitor will believe a word you have to say, after the disgrace you and that drunken father of yours brought down on the good name of Bailey-Smythe, you’re crazier than I thought. Rupert Robbins would rather see you rot in hell than listen to a word you have to say. Need I remind you of the cool reception you got at the dock?” Satisfied that James had said enough to warrant Rupert’s sympathy she leaned forward. Lowering her voice, certain that only James could hear her, she said, “That comment of yours will now cost you twenty-thousand pounds, darling. I’ll expect it transferred first thing in the morning.”
Stepping out from behind James, Lavinia looked surprised as she hailed Rupert. “Why Rupert, for goodness sakes! Whatever are you doing out here?”
“Oh I needed a little fresh air. It’s rather close indoors.”
Sympathetically, Lavinia said while making her way to Rupert’s side, “It took me quite sometime to get used to the difference in climates.”
“Right. Judging by the color of your cheeks, perhaps not fully though?” Rupert said calmly, while leaning closer to her, to assure he was not overheard. “Are you alright, Lavinia?”
“Please don’t make this any more unpleasant then it already is by pitying me. If there is one thing I’ve learned from being banished to the colonies for my past foolishness is that I can adapt well to even the most adverse situations.”
Then dramatically Lavinia turned her attention back at her husband, and called to him, “Coming, James?”
Unable to hide his shock in seeing Rupert, and realizing that Lavinia had probably known he was near and had goaded him into saying more than he ever intended Rupert to hear, he waved her off. “No, I think I’ll enjoy the breeze, for a while. Rupert ol’ man why not join me?” he asked cordially.
Hesitating before responding, to glance at Lavinia and seeing her nod, Rupert whispered to her, “We must talk.”
Smiling up at him, and detecting the concerned look in his eyes, Lavinia knew she had been successful in gaining his allegiance. If not for her sake, Lavinia knew that Rupert would do anything for the cousin of his that he loved so much.
“Yes. More than you know. Perhaps tomorrow when James is away?”
Nodding, he headed toward James while Lavinia turned and motioned to her husband and stretched out her hands, exhibiting all ten fingers. Closing them tightly, she raised them again, signifying twenty. Knowing he understood what she meant, Lavinia turned smiling, victoriously thinking, Now for Vivian …
As Lavinia glided toward her next victim, upstairs on the upper-level of the Honeycutt’s mansion, Gilbert leaned by the side of the bed holding his wife’s hand, having been visibly shaken by seeing Montgomery carry her into their temporary shelter.
“Are you certain ya don’t require a doctor, Mandy?”
Smiling reassuringly at him, conscious that Felicity was still close by, Miranda softly whispered, “Positive. All I need is a little rest and I’ll be fit as a fiddle in no time at all.”
Hearing her comment, Felicity approached the bed. “You gave us all quite a scare, Miranda.”
“I don’t know what came over me. One minute I was speaking with Alfred and the next the room was spinning around me …”
Nodding, Felicity smiled at her and said sympathetically, “It’s understandable, especially with all that is on your mind. Try to get some rest and I’ll check on you before I leave.”
“Thank you,” Miranda said, smiling at her friend.
Turning to leave, Felicity paused hearing Gilbert call to her. “Mrs. Myles, please wait.” Reaching her side, he whispered, “I’m grateful for yer help. Are you sure she’s goin’ to be alright?”
Touched by his concern, Felicity patted Gilbert on the shoulder. “All she needs is to be here, with you. And please, call me Felicity. We’re practically family, now that you’re my dear friend’s husband.”
Nodding, he watched as Felicity closed the door behind her. Rubbing his hands through his hair and shaking his head in disbelief, he returned to Miranda’s side and lovingly looked down at her. “Should I get ya something?” he asked timidly. “Some water … or …”
“Darling, pl
ease.” Miranda chuckled raising her hand for him to join her. “I’m fine, really.”
A smirk crossed his lips and he raised his eyebrow while gingerly leaning next to her. “Now I know yer sick. Ya called me darlin’, rather than a pig-headed fool.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Miranda pulled him closer to her and cooed, “If you can call me your Mandy, surely I can use a term of endearment for my wonderful husband.” The word husband still sounding so new to her that she smiled again. “That is if you approve?”
“It’s perfect. Just as ya are, lying there in yer pretty, little frock. Is it new?”
Glancing down at her gown, she smiled. “This isn’t a frock silly. It’s a dressing gown …” Anticipating an adverse reaction from him, recalling how he had reacted discovering Tad had seen her in such a gown, she hastily added. “A new dressing gown that I purchased just for you.”
Glancing at her in her lacy garment with admiring eyes, Gilbert huskily said, “As lovely as ya look in it Mandy, perhaps, we should take it off to save it for later.”
“Later? But why? I thought you would like it …” Then seeing the look in his eyes, she stopped questioning his comment and smiled knowingly back at him. “Hmm, yes, I see what you mean” she whispered seductively raising herself from her pillow to draw him closer, eagerly parting her lips as their mouths hungrily sought each other.
Pulling slightly away from her, he growled, “There’ll be none of that ya little temptress! Or yer won’t be gettin’ none of that rest Felicity said ya needed.”
Shaking her head, she said, “Felicity said no such thing. What she said was, all I need was to be with you.” Gliding a lace strap off her shoulder, Miranda smiled seductively up at him. “And she was right.” Removing her other strap and allowing the dressing gown to slip down around her waist, she looked up at him wantonly. “Darling, would you deny your wife what she wants, only hours after promising before God never to do such a thing?”
Shamelessly Miranda reached for Gilbert’s trousers, and with shaking fingers, she began to unfasten each button, aware of his enlarged manhood protruding from beneath the wool material of his pants. Needing no further coaxing, Gilbert hastily finished undressing as Miranda removed her gown. Smiling at her while gliding the length of his naked body next to her creamy white skin, he held her tightly to him and kissed her forehead.
“Mandy, let’s just lay still, holding one another for a while. Me heart is still pounding, seeing ya bein’ carried in here like that. What happened?”
Nodding, Miranda snuggled closer to him, enjoying his nearness as his hands gently began caressing her skin. Slowly she began to explain how she had reacted upon seeing Tad approach her after telling Alfred how much she loathed him.
“Ya really told him that?” he whispered lovingly.
Detecting no anger in his voice, Miranda felt relieved to be able to discuss Tad with him without risking an outburst of jealousy. “I did. Several times in fact, as I recall. It was so hard for me to watch my father and friends interchange with one another and not share with them my greatest joy. Then after Alfred had explained what he had planned for us, I must have been overcome with emotion. Joy, sorrow, hatred all at once, and it made me dizzy I suppose. Thinking back at the last thing, I remember … Maybe seeing Tad and fearing he would try to steal this happiness from me too, I became overwrought. The next thing I knew, you were calling my name and realizing I was safe, here with you, I wasn’t frightened any more,” she whispered.
Wrapping his arms tighter around his wife, Gilbert huskily whispered, “Oh Mandy, I love ya.”
Miranda nestled close to him with tears in her eyes, hearing the depth of his love.
Saying not a word, the two of them blocked out the rest of the world and clung to one another, allowing themselves to bathe in the splendor of their love.
~ Eighteen ~
Calm Before the Storm
August 1865 As Felicity stood listening pensively to James going over the last details to free Gilbert, she felt no joy or relief that the elaborate cover-up that had involved so many was nearly over. It made little difference to her now, that if it had not been for her and Miranda, an innocent man would have probably died at the hands of those who had actually framed him for murder. Or, that those of power and wealth risked public ridicule and possibly jail time themselves if discovered they had been harboring a fugitive.
What concerned Felicity now was that after tonight, it was quite possible a friend she had grown to love like a sister might be the next victim in a series of good intentions gone bad.
In her heart, Felicity knew that what she and Miranda had begun that fateful afternoon months earlier, protecting Gilbert from his hunters, was the right thing to do. Yet now, knowing all that had transpired from that one act of kindness, Felicity couldn’t help but wonder if given the chance to do it again—knowing the end result—would she still be willing to help. And that’s what troubled Felicity the most.
From the moment she woke that morning, a sense of doom plagued her. Flashes of the fire that had taken her parent’s life while aiding runaway slaves had flashed before her eyes. The image of her beloved Aunt Gwen on her deathbed haunted her. Felicity knew her aunt’s life had been shortened by traveling to America so that she and Benjamin would be brought together. And as grateful as she was to her aunt for making such a sacrifice, even now several years later, Felicity felt guilty.
All three of her loved ones had risked their own lives to help others and what Felicity feared most, Was history repeating itself again? Could it be possible that she was destined to lose yet another loved one out of her need to help others?
Unable to bear another hardship, and fearful she was the cause for the loss of their lives, she asked James timidly, “Surely, there must be someone else that could be used as a ruse for Miranda? Someone far more experienced or shrewder in such matters than I am. Not that I am backing out mind you, because I’m not. It’s just I can’t help but wonder if there might be a simpler way to free Gilbert.”
Seeing the look of disappointment in James eyes, she hastily added. “It just seems to me, simplicity would be wiser with so much at stake. Mind you, I’m hardly in a position to know such matters, but why is it necessary for Miranda’s excuse to leave the party be my sole responsibility? What if I’m not convincing enough? You, yourself know that Elise already suspects Miranda is hiding something and has been badgering me for answers ever since she returned.”
Sensing her tension and realizing Felicity was on the verge of hysteria, James interrupted her. “What better excuse for Miranda to be excused from this social event than for her to escort you home and tend to you? Just as you have been presumably been caring for her these past few weeks. Trust me, it is the most natural thing in the world for her to help you. Especially, since Benjamin will need to stay behind to represent family unity. Otherwise, if Benjamin left to escort you home, chances are Rupert, being as devoted to you as he is, might feel the need to leave as well. Which hardly seems appropriate, since this little function is partially in his honor.”
“Precisely my point. Rupert is my cousin. A very important part of my life and I would no sooner disappoint him or dear Annabelle at such an important occasion.”
Interrupting her once more, he said calmly, “Of course you wouldn’t, unless you were truly ill. Don’t you see Felicity, no one would fault you in leaving early or be suspicious either. Even if Tad, Elise and Lavinia, for that matter, have suspected something peculiar in Miranda’s need for seclusion these past few weeks, you becoming mysteriously ill too, should ease even the most cynical mind. You really need to trust both Alfred and me on this. It really is the most logical and safest way.”
Need to trust … James words haunted Felicity. For an instant she heard her father’s voice saying those exact words to her mother who had been apprehensive in harboring runners in the abandoned barn on their property. Even his wealth or influential position in the community hadn’t protected t
hem from being killed. Again, she relived in her mind the sights and sounds of that afternoon as she watched her parents murdered at the hands of their longtime trusted friends. She began to shake. If only you knew … Nothing is ever fail-proof. Good decent people can still be killed.
Hearing Benjamin’s familiar cough from the next room, and realizing he needed silence if he were to complete his resignation to hand it to the bishop this evening, Felicity stepped closer to James. Pushing her tormenting memories from her mind, she whispered, “I do trust you and Alfred, James. Honestly, I do … I’m just being a ninny, I suppose.”
Taking a deep breath to help settle her nerves, she continued. “Forgive me for being so contrary. The plan is well thought out. Perfect in fact. You and Alfred truly have thought of everything. By the time anyone even suspects that Miranda is missing, she and her beloved Gilbert will be miles away from here. Far from the clutches of Tad and his fiendish friend, I know that … It’s just I feel so strange—foreboding almost about tonight.”
“Nonsense! What possibly could go wrong? I think what you are feeling is premature anxiety at the thought of never seeing a dear friend again. Besides, Benjamin has agreed as well.”
“I know, he told me earlier this made perfect sense.” Seeing the concerned look on James’ face, Felicity tried to smile as reassuringly as she possibly could. “It’s funny you should say that, because Benjamin said nearly the same thing to me just this very morning. As a matter of fact, he’s suggested that perhaps before the weather turned too bad for traveling, we might make a trip to San Francisco to see Miranda and Gilbert.”
“Really? Why I would have thought by now, good old Rupert and Annabelle would have convinced you both that England was where you two should be and go back with them on their return passage.”
Shocked by his astuteness, Felicity blushed and wondered, How could he possibly know that Benjamin and I are intending to return to England with them?
To mask her apprehension, she asked softly, “Return passage, you say? Why I hadn’t heard that Annabelle and Rupert had already planned a date.”
