A Traitorous Heart

by Tammy Jo Burns

  “We need to do it as quickly as possible. There is always a chance someone has traced her to this location. It is important that she is not in danger.”

  “And how safe is she going to be with you?”

  “Can I count on you to come back this evening around ten and help me move her?” he asked ignoring the question.

  “Of course. Do I need to bring a conveyance?”

  “No. I will call for a hackney. It might not be the most pleasant of rides but I would so hate for her to desecrate the ducal carriage,” he finished with a sweeping bow.

  “Oh, hell,” Gabe muttered as he stomped out slammed the door behind him. All the while, a grin hovered on Derek’s face.

  Chapter 7

  Derek spent the afternoon attending to personal matters. He sent word that the country estate needed to be aired and readied for occupation within the week. That would allow time for Tessa’s shoulder to heal and that lump on her head to go down. He also visited his solicitor, which had been an interesting meeting. The solicitor did not know the protocol on making arrangements for a wife no one knew existed. And to complicate matters, no on could know about her yet. The solicitor talked a reluctant Derek into waiting until the situation became less volatile before making any decisions in regards to beneficiaries being set forth and funds being established.

  Having ridden over to the safe house with Gabe, he found himself without transportation and ended up hailing a hackney cab. He left the solicitor’s and the carriage rounded the corner bringing a familiar dress shop into view. He remembered Tessa’s filthy and bloodstained pile of clothes. He knocked on the roof to signal the driver to stop. Derek alighted from inside and instructed the driver to wait.

  Inside the dress shop a woman with brassy red hair and lips to match greeted him. “Welcome, my lord. How may I assist you?” she asked bowing into a curtsy.

  “Good afternoon, Mrs. Brown. I have something of a situation.”

  “Please have a seat and tell me.”

  “I need to purchase a few dresses,” he said collapsing onto the nearest chair.

  “My lord, you know I am not that kind of establishment.”

  “Yes, Mrs. Brown, which is exactly the reason I chose you to outfit my sister. By the way, you did a beautiful job.”

  “Thank you, my lord,” she dropped into another quick curtsy.

  “I cannot currently tell you my relation to this woman, just please know that it is very much legitimate. She is in desperate need of a few dresses, just the basics really. Of course she will need the essentials as well, including nightwear. When she feels more the thing, we will make an appointment for the rest of the wardrobe.”

  “I see,” she said, her eyes mercurial, but in the end, money put food on the table, not morals. “Do you have her measurements?”

  “No. She is a few inches taller than my sister. She is also not quite as thin as Mikala is, more womanly in her curves, but not on the plump side.”

  “I will do what I can my lord. Should I bring the clothing to your residence?”

  “Please. If you can bring a couple of items over tomorrow or the next day, I would see you were properly rewarded. And could the rest of the small ensemble be delivered within four, five days at the most? My household will be leaving for the country at the end of the week.”

  “I will do my best, my lord.” Derek left a generous deposit for the woman, knowing her husband had perished with Admiral Nelson leaving her to raise two small children. Kala’s wardrobe proved her skill and he tried to take business her way as much as possible. She amassed quite a following thanks to Kala’s wardrobe and Drucilla’s patronage as well. The accolades his sister bestowed upon her to anyone who would listen did not hurt the situation either.

  He spent the rest of the day avoiding his house. He made a show at his club, reading the latest news and listening to the latest gossip. The men present spoke of the war, mistresses, and who would go up against Gentleman Jackson and how well they would fare. Derek quickly grew restless, but refused to show signs of boredom. Finally, when he felt he had put in enough of an appearance, he left and headed back to the safe house by rented hack. He paid the driver well to wait instead of having to call and wait for another coach.

  Derek let himself in the back way to be met by one of the guards. “Thank the heavens you’re back, my lord. The lady upstairs has been having quite a fit. Keeps asking for a man, she does.”

  “Has she called him by name?” He asked, fully aware she could be asking for her father, the mystery man or himself.

  “No, my lord. Just keeps asking, ‘Where is he?’ She hasn’t calmed down enough for us to find out more than that.”

  “Thank you. I will go right up and see if I can calm her down.” This is the moment he had been dreading. Had her memory returned and she now remembered someone from her not so distant past? Derek nodded at the guards and made his way into the room. “Tessa, is there anything I can do for you?” he asked warily.

  “Oh, thank heavens you’re here,” she sighed in relief.

  “Pardon me?”

  “I know it’s silly, I mean I don’t even know you, but I felt uneasy. I mean I don’t know that I can even trust you, but what does it matter when I am criminal?”

  “What are you talking about?” Derek asked trying to keep up with the thread of conversation.

  “I haven’t seen anyone but guards since you were last here. How long has it been?”

  “A night and a day.”

  “Truly? It feels like forever. But I guess when you don’t know what is going to happen to you it can feel that way. Where is the wolf?”

  “The wolf?”

  “The other man that came with you.”

  “That would be Gabriel. Why do you call him the wolf?” he asked, amused.

  “Gabriel,” she rolled the name around as if trying it on for size. “Like an avenging angel. It suits him. It is a dark name, like him. His eyes are cold and calculating as if they are always hunting. And sometimes when he looks at me it is as if he would rather tear out my throat and move on than have to deal with me any longer.” Derek straightened a bit at her description. “Oh, I really shouldn’t have said all that. What’s your name?”

  “Derek.”

  “Derek. A nice firm name, kind. Not dark or fearful. Oh well. I am not sure if it is relief that someone is back that I am at least familiar with or the dose of laudanum I took that is making me babble. Perhaps both. If I keep rambling, then I don’t have to think, and if I don’t think, I don’t become angry that I can’t remember anything.” She took a deep breath to replenish the one she just spoke on. Derek watched her, trying to match the woman before him with the woman of his memory. He had never seen her like this in the months that he knew her. She had always been collected and calm, quiet and reserved. Derek heard a door open and close below followed by the sound of voices.

  “Tessa, I think Gabe is here, but you really probably shouldn’t call him that right now. Address him by Your Grace and everything will go much smoother.”

  “If you say so,” she shrugged while tugging the meager blankets closer to her.

  “I do.”

  Gabe entered the room moments later. “Hello, Your Grace,” Tessa greeted him meekly.

  Surprise etched across his face as he responded in kind. “Are we ready to make the move, Derek? I have already sent my conveyance to your townhouse to meet me.”

  “I believe so. The hired hack is waiting.”

  “Yes, I saw it.”

  “Tessa, wrap the quilt securely around you. His Grace is going to carry you downstairs for me. My leg has barely supported me at its best lately, and I would hate to drop you and cause more damage.” He helped Tessa to a sitting position then wrapped her up in the blankets, all except her good right arm.

  “Stop a moment, my head is spinning.” She took a few deep breaths. Once her equilibrium came back he helped her stand. Again they had to pause for her to collect herself.

&nb
sp; Derek watched jealously as Gabe swung her up in his arms, wishing it were him carrying her and holding her close.

  “Put your arm around my neck.” Tessa followed the command and the trio headed out of the room. “Once we have left, see that everything is shut down and locked up tight, then report to your posts.”

  “Yes, Your Grace,” the lead guard answered and began giving instructions. Another followed the trio out of the house and helped them into the hack. Derek gave the driver directions and they rolled into the night. Tessa sat next to Derek, wedged between him and the wall of the carriage with his arm around her to stabilize her.

  The walk to the hack had been bad enough with the wolf rushing and being rougher than he should. The driver seemed to hit every pothole and took every turn possible. A horrible smell hung heavily inside the coach making her stomach churn sickeningly and then dizziness ensued. The trio passed the half-way mark to their destination when her hand flew up to her mouth and her eyes squeezed shut. Breathe, breathe, breathe, she repeated silently to herself.

  One of the men knocked on the roof of the hack and issued sharp orders. Before Tessa knew what happened, the hack pulled over and the door flew open. Hands maneuvered her so that she knelt out the door just in time for the horrible retching to begin. She felt certain her stomach would turn itself inside out before she finished, and tears streamed down her face. Her stomach cramped, her head ached, and she felt exhausted.

  “You’re going to be fine,” Derek whispered in her ear as he helped her sit next to him once again. The door closed and they moved on. She soon felt a fine, linen handkerchief wipe away the sweat that had collected on her face and then at her mouth. She should have been embarrassed, but found herself too tired and hurt to care. Later, she promised herself, she would be embarrassed later.

  Due to the hour, their journey took much longer than necessary. Being that the Little Season would begin in just a few days, the streets were packed with people returning to Town from their summer rustications. What should have been a twenty-minute ride took closer to an hour. When they pulled into the mews, he roused Tessa, thankful she had fallen asleep for the rest of the journey.

  He helped her into Gabe’s arms and took care of paying the hack before letting them in through the servant’s entrance. Gabe moved quickly up the stairs and placed her in the room Ramsey guided him to when Derek finally joined them. He met Gabe in the hall pushing aside his jealousy.

  “Thank you for your help. I wouldn’t have asked if I did not feel it important.”

  “I know, I just pray to God you are right about her.”

  “I am. I have to be,” he whispered fervently to his friend’s departing back.

  “They are upstairs, Pest” his friend’s deep voice carried up to him.

  “Oh good,” he heard his sister reply and then her racing footsteps on the stairs. “Where is she?” she asked Derek in the hallway.

  “The countess’s chamber. You would think you didn’t already have one sister the way you’re acting.”

  “Oh Derek, you know how Elizabeth is, always so prim and proper. She reprimanded me for following you and Gabe. You and Gabe were loads more fun to tag along after, and extremely patient with someone six years your junior.” She reached the room and walked over to the bed to take a peek at her sister-in-law. “Oh, Derek, she’s positively green.”

  “I am afraid we moved her too soon after her head injury. She fell ill on the way here. She’s been asleep for almost an hour. I am sure Gabe is on his way home to burn his clothes and take a nice, hot bath.”

  “Did she?”

  “No.”

  “Pity. Would have served him right. You need to change as well,” she said getting a sniff of the air. “Have Ramsey tell one of the maids that we need a hipbath up here in the countess’s chamber. She’s not well enough to bathe, but we can clean her up and make her comfortable. I will have Sarah bring one of my warm nightgowns for her.”

  “Thank you Kala. You know you truly are the best sister.”

  “Of course I am, who else would let you send them flying from the tallest tree?”

  He chuckled as he left the room thinking of their childhood angst. He gave Ramsey Kala’s orders and then ordered a bath for himself. Watkins awaited him in his room. He remained uncomfortable allowing someone to help him dress and undress, but today, exhaustion simply made him too tired to care.

  Chapter 8

  “Tessa,” she heard a feminine voice calling her name and a hand shaking her hurt shoulder.

  “Oh,” Tessa moaned, unable to hold back the sound.

  “Sshh, you’re all right.”

  “My shoulder.”

  “Oh,” the young woman quickly retracted her hand. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “Where are the men?”

  “Are you talking about Derek?”

  “Yes, and the wolf.”

  “The wolf?”

  “Yes, the other man that’s with him. I can’t remember his name.”

  “Gabe?”

  “Yes, that’s him.”

  “Oh this is just too good. Tessa, I’m Derek’s sister Mikala, but call me Kala, everyone does. I’m going to help you get cleaned up and into a fresh gown. Why call Gabe a wolf?”

  “He always looks at me like a wolf that has cornered his prey.”

  “An apt description,” she said before being interrupted by a footman carrying in the requested hipbath, followed by another with two buckets of water. A maid entered soon after the men had left carrying a fine, flannel nightgown. “Sarah, please shut the door. I am going to need your assistance.”

  “Yes, miss.”

  The women started on Tessa, undressing her then sponging her body clean. The women leaned her forward so they could reach her back when Kala gasped at what she saw.

  “What is it?” Tessa asked.

  “Nothing,” Kala shrugged nonchalantly. “I thought I saw a mouse, but the shadows were playing tricks with my eyes.”

  “Oh,” Tessa replied and leaned forward.

  Sarah’s startled eyes met Kala’s, but Kala motioned her to silence. On Tessa’s back were fine brownish pink lines. Kala had been around horses enough to know the mark of a whip. The marks would never completely fade.

  She wondered if Derek knew. If not, he would be very angry when he found out. Better he hear the revelation from her than find out on his own. The women struggled getting her in the nightgown without jarring her hurt shoulder. Once they had her dressed they assisted her in other personal matters and then eased her back into bed.

  “There’s not much to be done for your hair until your head heals.”

  “My lady, I will go down and get bandages. I noticed fresh blood on the one she is wearing. I will also make a salve for the cut and some liniment for her shoulder if that is all right.”

  “That is an excellent idea Sarah. You are such a help.” Sarah grinned shyly as she left the room. “I am new to being in charge of servants and am certain I do not treat them as sternly as I should.” Kala giggled as if divulging a deep, dark secret.

  Tessa grinned at her, liking the chatterbox immensely. She admired Kala’s petite, waif-like creature, whereas she herself tended to be much sturdier. She came to Derek’s chin, where Kala would be lucky if she reached his shoulder. Kala had a willowy build to her that Tessa envied and she pulled her sable hair back from her temples, but let it fell in long, loose waves down her back to her waist. Her eyes were hazel and Tessa wondered if they changed color with her moods.

  “Tessa, this is going to hurt, even if we go slow,” Kala warned as Sarah walked in with an armful of supplies.

  “Get it over with,” Tessa gritted her teeth and her right hand fisted in preparation of the pain. The women worked quickly and were as gentle as possible. Once they finished, they made her eat some toast that Cook had sent up and drink a cup of laudanum-laced tea. She kept drifting off after the laudanum had a chance to work, but would jerk awake and look ar
ound the room in fright.

  “You’re going to be fine,” Kala soothed. “Rest, I am going to stay the night with you. If you need anything, just call out. I will be right over there on the settee. All right?”

  “You’re nice,” Tessa slurred softly, the laudanum pulling her fully into sleep. Kala patted her hand and walked over to the settee and lay down.

  * * *

  Derek prepared for his own bath and his mind wandered over the events of the last few days. His wife lay next door, a prisoner until the truth came out.

  Deep down he knew Tessa’s innocence would be proven. Then people would also know of her bravery, toughness and tender heart, and how he found her to be practically perfect. She never raised her voice, and had often been the voice of reason, quickly taking control of a situation. How could one woman be so many things? Even possibly a traitor, he found the thought sneaking into his reminiscing.

  Watkins finished tugging off his last boot when Derek kindly, but politely dismissed him for the evening. He walked over, stripped off the rest of his clothes and lowered himself into the hot water. He reclined back and stretched out as much as possible so that his leg could soak. The heat helped ease the ache tremendously as did the oil Cook insisted he add in. The woman knew her healing medicines.

  Derek had forgotten to lock the connecting door and it opened while he lay soaking in the hot water. “I warn you, I am in the bath,” he called out.

  “I will stay over here, but I need to speak with you,” Kala said softly.

  “Kala, what are you doing? This is highly improper.”

  “I know, but I need to speak with you.”

  “How is she?” he asked his sister who hovered in the darkest corner of the room.

  “Sleeping. How much do you know about your wife?”

  “Not you too? Does nobody trust my judgment? Hell, even I am beginning to think myself crazy.”

  “No, nothing like that,” Kala started impatiently. “I think she is a sweet girl and will be a wonderful wife to you. I know that isn’t saying much since she can’t remember her name and keeps calling Gabe ‘the wolf’.”