Nicholas and Guinevere saw me. I wanted to hope that they had not seen me give the glass to Levi, but something deep within told me that hope was futile.
Chapter 28
Jack
At ten in the morning, Bess and I were meeting with James Monroe in my library. Bess was explaining about the carriage at the seminary, the assassins that we had captured, and the drink that was meant for him. Turned out it was a sleeping draught and not poison, but that was not reassuring.
“What is your next course of action?” James demanded; his blue eyes the closest to shooting sparks as I had ever seen.
“We have guards in place to escort you from the city, sir, and they will stay with you until this threat is eliminated,” Bess assured him.
James sat in deep contemplation for many minutes, his chin resting on his hand. There were three creased lines on his forehead as he scowled at my rug. His face cleared, and a small smile tilted up the corners of his lips. “I do believe that I have a strategy that might work.”
James relayed his idea, and all Bess or I could do was gawk. It was outrageous enough to be both brilliant and simple to make work.
“One outburst, one step out of line, and not only will your names be known, but many people could lose their lives. You must proceed with caution,” James said to me, and then looked purposefully toward Bess. “I believe it is time to call upon the Washington Phantoms. You shall require much help in the coming task.”
“I agree,” Bess said, without looking at me.
A few minutes later, I escorted James to his carriage and said my farewells. He was leaving the city immediately. There were two burly men seated on the box as the carriage pulled away, and I knew James would be safe with them.
When I reentered the house, Bess was pulling on her gloves while Leo held her bonnet.
“I will be moving out to the country house tonight,” I assured Bess. Before James had arrived, she told me about Nicholas and Guinevere watching her from the window. I did not suspect that they would strike against Bess, but I wanted to be near her all the same.
Jericho came in to tell Bess her horse was at the door. Leo and I watched them ride away. Once they were out of sight, I informed Leo that I wanted him to accompany me as I had some purchases to make before leaving for the country house.
As we rode, my thoughts went to Guinevere, and thinking about her made me smile. One acquainted with my situation would think it would be Richard’s drinking his own potion that caused my smile, but it was not. Guinevere’s reaction when I gave her the ring, her worried brow as she watched me sip the champagne, and I will never forget her actions when Richard partook of the tampered glass. Pulling me away as she did, I saw a new side—a different side—a side that I could like very much. She was firm but with the right amount of sweetness.
No other woman of my acquaintance would ever consider taking a man, their intended or not, into a dimly lit hall and pressing him against the wall to kiss him nearly senseless. What a woman she was. There was still the question lurking in the back of my mind of why she did it. There was some ulterior motive behind her actions.
Leo and I were riding down Walnut when he said, “Is that not your lady?”
Startled, I looked down the street, and sure enough, there was Guinevere. She was walking alone and did not see us as she stepped up to Richard’s house and disappeared inside. With all possible haste, I needed to get in there. We rode past, to the end of the street where we stopped. After pulling my mask from my pocket, I gave the reins of my horse to Leo.
“See to my purchases for me. I will meet you at the house later.”
At the back of Richard’s house, I looked around the alley before stepping up to the only door. Few houses in this city had the luxury of not being built right against another house. Even ours, though large and elegant, had a house on either side. Richard’s had an empty lot with grass on one side and a house that was separated by a narrow passage on the other.
There were two windows raised high beyond the back door, and that was to be my way in. I could not go through the door, for one of the servants would surely see me.
Jumping up and reaching the ledge of the window, I pulled myself up enough to see into the room. It was the dining parlor. Good fortune was mine, for the door into the foyer was closed. I put one foot on the door knob of the back door but held most of my weight in my arms on the ledge.
Sending up a silent prayer, my fingers tried to open the window. It budged, so I opened it slowly and pushed my foot off the door knob, grabbing inside the window to pull myself up. My coat ripped in the shoulder, but I did not give it a second thought. Once in the room, I gently closed the window, paused to put on my mask, then eased open the door enough to see into the foyer. It was empty in all directions, so I stepped out. Thankfully, Richard had the floor covered with a rug, so my shoes made no sound.
Voices were coming from behind the closed parlor door. Looking around the wide foyer, I saw a key sticking from the lock to the servants’ hall. It would not do for someone to come into the foyer and see me, so I locked the door and pocketed the key. Turning, ready to listen at the parlor door, the stairs to my left creaked.
Darting behind the staircase, and leaning against the wall of the stairs, I looked around the corner. It was not a servant.
A man with a gun in hand was heading for the parlor, and by the way he was slinking, he was not there by invitation. I looked around quickly, but found nothing to use as a weapon other than my pocket pistol. Unfortunately, it would make too much commotion. I had a decision to make; I could charge him, and risk Richard coming into the foyer, or I could get him to follow me.
Stepping out from behind the stairs, I cleared my throat softly. The man jerked up from his crouched position, and I ran into the dining parlor. There was a sideboard with two silver candlesticks. I grabbed one and turned the heavy side up as I hid behind the door. He followed me in without check.
Fool. I attacked, hitting him on the back of the head with the candlestick. He tried to turn. I hit him again. He dropped his gun, but thanking the heavens it did not go off. He fell toward the end of the dining table, but I caught him around the waist before he could make any noise. I lowered him to the floor and watched for a sign of life. He was breathing, but his head was bleeding. I reached in my pocket, pulled out a black feather, tucked it into the front of the man’s stained shirt, picked up the man’s pistol, and went to the parlor door to listen at the keyhole.
“What were you thinking, putting a sleeping draught where poison should be?” Richard’s voice was terse.
“It was an honest mistake. I must have grabbed the wrong vial. But it no longer matters.” Guinevere sounded smug.
“Are you certain that John had nothing to do with this?”
“We have been through this. John had nothing to do with it. You should have been paying closer attention,” Guinevere snapped.
“Be careful in choosing your next words, my dear,” Richard warned; a clear threat in his dropped tone.
“Let us not argue about this any longer. Let us instead discuss what next to do.”
Yes, do discuss your next course of action.
“You need not worry about that. I have someone working on the coup de grâce.”
“Indeed?” Guinevere asked, and I could hear the curiosity in her voice.
“Yes, and I do believe it will be my crowning achievement. Something the Holy Order wants more than the artifacts.”
According to the letter from Pierre, the artifacts belonged to the Holy Order. It was only natural that they would want them returned, but Richard had other plans.
“You know what they want. You have been given your orders, though they will not be happy when they learn of this turn of events.”
“Do not threaten me! You are equally to blame. I have a mind to deliver you to the Holy Order and let them deal with you as you deserve,” Richard retorted loudly.
“I have done everything that you have de
manded of me, so if you do not mind, ring for the butler. I wish to leave.”
Richard laughed, and I felt something sinister creep up my neck. “Rather high, are we? I will have you know that we are alone in the house. I sent my servants off. I could not have them listening at the keyhole, now could I.”
Rat!
“I suggest that you stay where you are,” Guinevere said, calmly.
“Put that toy away. You will not harm me. We need each other.”
“No,” Guinevere retorted with a definite sneer, “the only thing I need is to rid the world of vermin such as you. I have known that since the moment I met you.” Her voice paused, and I waited for what I hoped was coming. “I will not do so today, however, but hear me well, Richard Hamilton, the day is coming when you will have no say whatsoever in my actions.”
There was a swish to her skirts, so I bolted away from the door and back into the dining parlor. I closed the door until there was only a crack, and I watched her leave the house. Closing the door the rest of the way, I set the servants’ door key on the table, and left through the same window that I had entered through.
On my walk home, I worked through what I had heard. Richard was after the artifacts for the Holy Order, Guinevere, it seemed, knew the Holy Order personally, Richard sent all of his servants away from his house, but a man with a gun was there. Was he after Richard or Guinevere? Knowing Richard, there could only be one answer, and that knowledge sealed my fate. I would extricate Guinevere from Richard and Levitas, and then I would have her tell me all about the Holy Order.
When I arrived home Leo, was busily packing my trunks.
“Richard Hamilton is the lowest form of vermin,” I said, using Guinevere’s apt word for him. “He had the audacity to try to murder his own ward.” Leo’s face drained of all color. Odd that, but I was too angry to dwell on it. “Did you get the parcel that I ordered?” Leo went out without a word. When he returned, he was holding a narrow box. “I must go to see Guinevere, and when I return, I have some letters to write, but then, we will set out.”
***
When Martha let me into Guinevere’s house, I heard voices coming from the parlor. A man’s laughter made my shoulders stiffen.
In all the times I had visited Guinevere, there had never been another man present. I did not like the idea of her entertaining gentlemen when she was betrothed to me. Not that I was jealous. Not at all.
After handing my hat and gloves to Martha, I walked to the parlor door. Guinevere and Edith were seated upon the sofa, and General Harvey sat across from them. Guinevere smiled when she saw me, but the smile did not reach her eyes as it usually did.
General Harvey turned to look at me, and waved vigorously for me to enter the room. “Ah, John, fancy meeting you here.” He gave me a sly wink. “Come bearing gifts I see.” He pointed a finger at the box I was holding under my arm.
“It is merely a trifle, sir.” I turned to greet Edith and Guinevere, but the latter I did without my usual flourish. As I sat in a chair by the general, Guinevere engaged Edith in conversation, but Edith appeared pale and unhappy.
The general leaned toward me speaking softly. “My girl there wanted to pay a call upon Miss Clark and begged me to escort her. Never like her to go out unattended, you understand.” He did not give me a moment to reply before he changed subjects. “I hear that Mr. Madison has left town for good; a sad affair indeed. So unfortunate for your dear sister, but, so I expected it. He was not the man for her. No, indeed.”
My fury roared to life. It was the general’s fault that Bess had been so unhappy, and I could not resist the opportunity to put the general in his place. “On the contrary, we expect his return within a week.” I leaned in my chair toward him. “If you will not spread it about, I can tell you that he has requested to pay his addresses to her.”
“Indeed,” replied the general in a hollow voice. He turned from me to look at the two ladies on the sofa. “Come, Edith. I believe it is time that we were leaving. We have trespassed too long upon Miss Clark’s valuable time.” Harvey rose, and Edith followed suit. She bid farewell to Guinevere and moved to my side as the general spoke to Guinevere.
“I do so miss your sister’s company and our rides together.” Edith looked close to tears, but I did not understand why.
“You should have Harvey drive you out to the house one day. Bess would love to see you. As it is, I am heading there myself today. Perhaps I shall see you within the next few days.”
Edith’s brown eyes were weary. “Perhaps. Good day, Mr. Martin.” She dipped a small curtsey and followed the general to the door.
I bid her farewell, and once the Harvey’s were gone, Guinevere reseated herself, sighing deeply. “I am glad they have departed. How tiresome his conversation is, and she, was there ever such a meek little mouse.”
Leaning back in my chair, I smiled. “I have heard it said that the meek shall inherit the earth. What say you to that?”
Guinevere gave her first real smile since I arrived, “Then I am a lost soul, for I would never be considered meek.”
She was the delight of my life.
Guinevere folded her hands in her lap. “What is this I hear of you removing to the country? Are you so averse to my company?”
“Perish the thought! My mother has need of me, and I have a desire to be with my sister for what time we have left together.”
She smiled knowingly. “Ah yes, Andrew Madison is to propose. I heard you telling the general. I am happy for her, but please do not propose a double wedding.” I cast her an innocent look, making her laugh. “I know that your poetical nature would find that romantic, but when I marry,” she sighed, “I want it to be a small affair, on a hillside somewhere.”
“I shall commit that to memory,” I promised.
After a moment, she asked, “Is that for me?”
I picked up the box and took it to her. “It is a trifle.”
Guinevere accepted the box casting me a curious look before lifting the lid. She stared down at the long dagger. The sheath was ivory with a sunset painted on it, and engraved within the gold handle was a heart with the initials J and G in the center. She slowly lifted her eyes to mine.
I grinned as I sat beside her and removed the dagger from the box. I ordered it the day after the picnic, before I ever proposed, before I knew that she was the white phantom and could protect herself. I held it gently in my hand.
“I know that it may appear an unsuitable gift to give a lady, but as there have been so many disappearances, and you insist upon going out unchaperoned,” I took her hand in mine when she started to speak, “it would do my mind good to know that you have some weapon with which to defend yourself. That is all.” I kissed the back of her hand. “Do you know how to use such a weapon?”
Guinevere leaned across the space between us and pressed her lips against mine. It was a fleeting, soft brush of the lips, but had the power to ignite a flame within me. I wanted to let that flame expand into a forest fire, but she broke away. It took all of my restraint not to pull her into my arms.
“Thank you, Jack. Have no fear about me, I shall do well.”
I cleared my throat, but it was my passion that I was trying to clear. “You relieve my mind. Now, my love, I must be going. There is much for me to do before I set out for the country.” And I must get out of here before my passion for you causes me to lose control. “I hope to return in a week, but should you have need of me at any time, do send word.”
She walked with me to the front door, but hesitated to open it. She turned to me and placed one hand against my cheek, staring intently into my eyes. Dangling from her wrist was the bracelet I had made for her when I proposed. My arm instinctively found its way around her waist like it had the previous night, and I drew her to me.
Our lips met softly, but holding her, safe, alive, knowing that she was a victim of Levitas, my feelings came to the fore. I placed a hand at the back of her neck, my fingers brushing the tendrils at her nape, an
d I was lost. My mouthed moved over hers with the urgency of a man who has been deprived of drink for too long. Hot, demanding need was increasing in me. I wanted her closer, every part of her against all of me. Her hands moved to my hair as she leaned closer. The room faded away, and all thoughts of Phantoms, plots, plans and warnings left my mind in that sweet moment. There was nothing but us, and I knew that I loved her with my whole being. I would do all within my power to keep her. She moaned softly against my mouth. I thought I would come out of my skin for all the desire filling me. I wanted her, craved her in every pore, every joint.
A voice cleared from behind us, forcing me to back to the room and reality. I pulled my head back but did not release her. I brushed my thumb across her lips as I stared into her eyes filled with love and longing.
Fiend seize her errant chaperone! I stepped away, turning to see Martha standing on the stairs with her hands akimbo on her plump hips.
“Young man, where I come from, when a man gives kisses like those, he had better be prepared to marry the girl.”
“Ma’am, I genuinely concur.” I bowed, placed my hat on my head and turned back to Guinevere. She held out her hand, and I kissed the back, then kissed the small heart on her bracelet. “I leave my heart here, with you.”
“Then return soon to reclaim it,” she whispered before stepping away from the door.
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