Angelina's Secret

by Diane Merill Wigginton

  I smiled up at him as he dried my tears. “I think I could use some fresh air this morning.”

  “Maybe we should wait until the sun is actually up, darling.” Jude gestured toward the darkened window, causing everyone in the room to chuckle.

  “Sarah and I will join you both, if you don’t mind,” Jonathan added. “We could make a day of it.”

  “That would be delightful,” I replied.

  Maggie brought me a robe and Anna brought in the tray of tea and toast. “Don’t forget your final gown fitting is today at eleven,” Anna reminded.

  “Just have her drop it off. If there is a problem with the fit, you or Maggie can alter it. Besides nobody needs to see my wounds and spread any more lovely gossip about my kidnapping than necessary,” I replied.

  “I understand,” Anna answered.

  Maggie had been taken in as a member of the family. Father had offered her money for helping me to escape, but Maggie insisted that she just wanted a job that she could be proud of. Father gave her a job with very generous pay.

  Maggie and Anna roomed together and the two of them became inseparable in no time, filling a spot in the other’s life that had been missing for years. Anna took it on herself to properly train Maggie in the ways of a lady’s handmaiden with the understanding that when I got married they would both accompany me to France.

  Maggie was excited to leave the streets of London and bad memories of the last few years behind her. Anna, who had been orphaned when she was a toddler, relished the idea of an adventure in a foreign land.

  Packing for the journey to France had begun, so I made myself as scarce as possible. Arrangements were being made for my horse, Dante’s transport, and Jude had made me promise not to ride “the Beast” as he had affectionately nicknamed him until after the baby was born. But that did not prevent me from visiting Dante each day to brush his beautiful coat and bring him treats. I talked one of the brave stable hands into taking him out for exercise every day or he would have truly turned into a beast.

  Jude and I were in the stables caring for Dante when Jonathan returned with the carriage and Sarah for our outing. I had not been out and about in public since my kidnapping and was delighted with the idea of a turn around the park in the warm sunlight. Afterward, we planned to stop in at the Gray Dove for tea and crumpets.

  “Come along, most lovely sister, your carriage awaits,” Jonathan said in a show of flourish, bowing to me as if I were the queen of England.

  “And what is this, dear brother, gallantry?” I teased.

  “I am simply grateful that I still have a sister to take on carriage rides through the park,” he said, becoming serious as he helped me into the carriage.

  I kissed his cheek as I climbed in. “Sarah, you simply look radiant in that gown,” I said, sitting directly across from her.

  Sarah wore a simple, pale blue, satin gown with a pearl necklace and matching earrings. “Thank you, Angie. Your dress is beautiful as well. Is it new?” Sarah inquired.

  “Yes. I had it made a few weeks ago as part of my new wardrobe for the trip to France but decided that life is too short. Why not enjoy it now?” I answered, making room for Jude to sit next to me.

  Jonathan signaled the driver as soon as he was seated, and we were on our way. The conversation was lively and light as we talked and laughed the day away.

  “The two of you have been spending a lot of time together lately,” I casually started out. “So spill it, Jonathan. You have been antsy the entire ride, and I have been your sister far too long not to notice when something is up,” I said, staring at them both, just waiting for one of them to break.

  Jonathan began to stammer and looked at Sarah who sat in her seat smiling at me.

  “Well, which one of you is going to tell me?” I pressured while looking between the two of them.

  “Give what up, darling?” Jude asked. I could see that he was completely baffled and confused by the entire conversation.

  “Jonathan has been acting overly flamboyant and Sarah has been acting very coy. So I know by deductive reasoning that mischief is afoot,” I finished my statement, then waited. “Well?”

  “Jonathan, you have to tell her,” Sarah said, looking into Jonathan’s eyes.

  “I don’t know that this is the proper time. Besides, I haven’t even told my parents yet,” he replied, looking lovingly into Sarah’s eyes.

  “Ah ha! There is something going on here! I knew it!” I said, turning to Jude as if the evidence was obviously right there before his eyes.

  “Be patient, darling, they will tell us in their own good time,” Jude said, trying to keep me calm.

  “You have caught us. I could never keep anything from your keen eyes, little sister.” Jonathan turned to me while holding Sarah’s hand possessively. “I have asked Sarah to marry me and she has agreed.”

  “That is marvelous news. Congratulations to you both,” Jude said, holding out his hand to Jonathan.

  Jonathan looked at me, sitting there in my seat stunned. “Well, Angelina, what do you have to say? I can see your mind turning. Just spit it out.”

  “Of course, I am happy for the two of you. This is marvelous news. But when are you planning to get married?” I asked, afraid that I would not be involved because of my own pending motherhood and trip to France.

  “There is so much to be done,” Sarah rushed on excitedly. “I need a dress made, and of course we have to secure the church and the reception will be at my parent’s home, —”

  “What my bride-to-be is trying to say is, we haven’t picked a date yet, but we are both very excited.” Jonathan said, placing a hand on Sarah’s flustered cheek, ceasing her rambling.

  “I am so happy you found each other. I always thought the two of you would be a perfect match. I just have to wonder why it took you so long to figure it out,” I said, reaching for a handkerchief as my eyes welled up with tears. “Driver, I think that we are ready to eat.” I sniffed, taking the handkerchief Jude pulled from his pocket. “I, for one, have worked up an appetite.”

  “Very good, madam, I will have you there in just a few minutes,” the driver answered as he slowed down and made a right turn at the next block.

  “Your wedding is going to be a perfect day, whichever day you two decide on.” I couldn’t help my exuberant joy. “So, is the ring under the glove?” I prodded.

  “I thought I would burst if we had to keep it from you one more minute,” Sarah gushed as she pulled her glove off to reveal her delicate hand with an exquisite, square-cut emerald set in a silver band. So plain and elegant on her little fingers. It was perfection.

  “Sarah, that has to be one of the most beautiful engagement rings ever. Jonathan, you picked the most perfect ring,” I declared.

  “Thank you, Angelina, that is high praise coming from you.” Jonathan’s chest puffed up with pride.

  “We have arrived,” Jude announced, not waiting for the driver to disembark. Stepping down from the carriage, he held out his hand, helping me down the step and Jonathan in turn did the same for Sarah.

  Stepping into the Gray Dove, we were immediately shown to a table next to the window. Some would say we had the best seats in the house. Not only could we watch the goings-on in the establishment but we could enjoy the display of people outside as well. The streets of London were never boring.

  Street vendors sold their wares as wealthy and poor alike meandered along the avenue at this time of day. If you kept a sharp eye out, one could even witness the occasional unsuspecting victim having their pockets picked.

  Our order was placed, and we were enjoying a lively retelling of Jonathan’s encounter with Lord Burgess when he asked his permission to wed his daughter. I laughed so hard that tears rolled down my face.

  “How ever did you get the words out, Jonathan?” I asked.

  “I squared my shoulders and poked myself in the leg with a pin I had in my trouser pocket to stop the bloody thing from shaking. I was afraid I would fall down in
front of Lord Burgess and humiliate myself,” he said, making a face that had us all laughing again.

  “You truly are a funny boob sometimes, Jonathan.” The sobering thought of being far away from the two of them brought me up short. “I am truly going to miss this.”

  “Miss what, Angie?” Sarah questioned.

  “This,” I said, gesturing my hands to them. “All of us together laughing and sharing everything about our lives together.” Jude took a hold of my hand to lend comfort.

  “Do not be sad, ma Ange,” he said with his thick accent.

  “Angie, we will come to see you, I promise, and you can always come home when you get homesick,” Sarah said, trying to be encouraging, which only made me sadder.

  “But it will never be the same. We will both get busy with our lives and children, and before you know it, years will pass without seeing one another,” I said as my fatalistic outcome brought the fun party to a resounding halt.

  “What are you talking about, little sister? You already have us all getting older and with children. Get a hold of yourself,” Jonathan plainly said in a matter-of-fact tone while lifting his eyebrows at me, which elicited a smile and brought me back to reality.

  “I can always count on you to bring me around,” I said, dramatically gesturing to both Jonathan and Sarah.

  Our server returned with a tray of tea, finger sandwiches, and pastries. He set about placing cups, saucers, and plates held the tray of dishes in his right hand placing the dishes before us with his left hand. As he did so, I caught a glimpse of a circular pattern on his inner wrist. I could feel myself go pale as the air was sucked from my lungs. When he reached me, I tried not to stare, but I couldn’t help myself.

  “Darling, are you feeling all right? You look very pale,” Jude asked, taking hold of my hand.

  “Yes, I am just fine. I must be hungrier than I thought,” I absently answered while my eyes never left our server’s face.

  “Excuse me, but I didn’t catch your name. Are you new here?” I said to the server, as suspicion began prickling up the back of my neck.

  “Yes, madam. I started two weeks ago. I do apologize to you. I thought I had introduced myself earlier. My name is John, John Lynch, madam. Would you like me to pour the tea?” he asked.

  “Yes, please. Would you be so kind?” I sweetly replied, anxious to get another look at the markings on his wrist.

  Jude gave my hand a squeeze, but my eyes never lifted from John Lynch or his left wrist as he proceeded to pour the tea. When John came around to me, his wrist was directly in front of my face.

  Now I could see the markings clearly and my breath caught in my throat and my hand started to shake. I squeezed Jude’s fingers so tightly I thought I might break them.

  I could tell he was about to ask me a question until I gave him a look.

  “Would you be a dear and pass me that lovely plate of sandwiches, darling,” I sweetly asked, praying my voice wouldn’t shake as well and give me away.

  “Thank you, John, for your excellent service, that will be all for now,” Jonathan informed him as he gave me a curious look. If nothing else, my brother had always been perceptive.

  “Of course, sir, as you wish.” And with that John Lynch, our very attentive server, left to attend to another table.

  “What was that all about, Angelina?” Jude asked as soon as John was out of earshot. “You nearly broke my fingers.”

  “The markings on his left wrist, did you see them?” I asked, looking around the table at each one of them.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you are talking about,” Sarah said, completely puzzled by my question.

  “I don’t understand the question either, Angelina. What markings are you talking about?” Jonathan asked, baffled by my reaction to our waiter.

  “You have to admit that it is a strange question, darling,” Jude added, turning around to check where John Lynch was. “I can only assume that you are talking about our server.”

  “Well, of course, I am speaking of our server. He has the same makings on his left wrist as Darcy Montgomery that identifies him as a member of the very same secret society,” I said in a loud whisper, attempting to keep my hysteria at bay.

  “What makes you so certain, Angie?” Sarah whispered back.

  “I got a good look at it when he was serving us. There are certain things that will be forever burned into my brain and that marking is one of them.”

  “And you are positive that you’re not just being paranoid?” Jonathan asked, bringing the cup of tea to his mouth.

  “Stop!” I grabbed his arm before he got the cup to his mouth. “What if he poisoned the tea?”

  “Oh, now I know you are being paranoid,” Jonathan scolded, wiping the spilled tea with his napkin as he wore a sour look on his face.

  “Am I? He started two weeks ago. He belongs to the same secret society as Montgomery who swore I would rue the day. What if he is orchestrating his revenge from his jail cell?” I said suspiciously as I looked at each one of them and spoke in a hushed tone. “Why don’t you taste the tea and eat the sandwiches, and I for one will wait? Maybe you die on the spot or maybe it takes a while, but if you die, I will say I told you so as you draw your last breath.”

  “I have lost my appetite,” Sarah announced while putting her napkin over her plate.

  “Better safe than sorry,” Jude added, placing his napkin over his plate as well.

  “I think you are all being ridiculous.” Jonathan tried to sound convincing, but even he seemed unsure of the situation as he followed suit, placing his napkin on his plate.

  “Oh great, what else can go wrong?” Jude said as he watched Juliette Walters maneuver between the tables, making her way directly toward ours.

  “What a lovely surprise running into you,” Juliette purred as she looked directly at Jude and no one else.

  “Juliette, you have a remarkable gift for making London seem so small.” Jude’s words were spoken offhanded as he snubbed Juliette by refusing to look directly at her or her companion Lord Alexander Grayson of parliament’s House of Lords.

  “Mr. Grayson, a pleasure to meet you, and if you both will forgive us, we were just about to leave,” Jonathan informed the intruders.

  “But it looks as if your food was just delivered,” Juliette protested again looking at Jude.

  “It was, but we have had a change of heart and have decided to eat someplace else. Now if you would be so kind as to excuse us?” Jude stood up, turning his back to them both.

  “Of course, we are sorry to have bothered you,” Lord Grayson graciously answered for the two of them as he led Juliette away, still shocked at Jude’s rudeness.

  “I’m sorry I ruined lunch for everyone,” I said as soon as the couple was out of earshot, feeling badly and somewhat unsure now as I second guessed myself. “Do you think I am being paranoid, Jude?” I turned to him for reassurance.

  “After what you have been through, it is better to travel the cautious path than the foolish one,” Jude said, smiling down at me as he brought my hand gently to his lips. “I bet Mrs. Daniels has made something delicious at home. I will just settle our bill and meet everyone in the carriage,” he replied, helping me from the chair.

  Jonathan tried to protest, but Jude simply leaned over and whispered something in his ear. “All right, but I’ve got the next one,” he said with a chuckle as he took hold of Sarah’s arm and my hand and led us both outside to wait for Jude and our carriage.

  Jude joined us a few minutes later, and we drove home with less-jovial spirits than when we had set out on our journey earlier. Jonathan and Sarah whispered back and forth until realization dawned and Jonathan tried to include us in their wedding excitement.

  Jude joined in, but I was lost in thought as I kept going over in my head John Lynch, his markings, and how it all tied to Darcy Montgomery.

  Was it all a strange coincidence or was there something more sinister at the heart of it all? Who was the true
puppet master? Was it Darcy or was he merely a puppet at the mercy of the one pulling the strings?

  My mind wouldn’t turn off as I half-listened to Sarah, Jonathan, and Jude go on so innocently about wedding plans, as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

  The only thing that mattered to them at that moment was the culmination of careful planning and preparation for that one perfect day when our lives would be forever joined in union.

  I envied them their innocent and trusting nature.

  20

  MONDAY, JULY 24, 1763;

  A WEDDING TO PLAN AND A MYSTERY TO SOLVE

  NSTEAD OF THE USUAL NIGHTMARE greeting me in the morning, I was awakened by the sensation of sensual lips assailing my person, sending tiny ripples of delight up my spine.

  I was truly enjoying this kind of dream a lot more than the usual nightmares I had become accustomed to.

  I heard myself softly moaning as the fog of sleep began to lift and realization dawned that I was not having a dream at all. Every glorious sensation was real.

  “This is certainly a much more pleasant way to awake than the normal haunting nightmare,” I whispered as his mouth engulfed mine, his tongue both impatient and demanding.

  “You are truly a sorceress making me burn for you even while you slumber,” his sensuous voice rasped. “I could not wait for you to awaken, my love,” he said, raining passionate kisses along the side of my neck.

  I was powerless to resist even if I had wanted to.

  “Just promise me that you will wake me this way every morning,” I said as I shuddered with delight at his touch. “What if Anna or someone else comes to wake us?” I asked, sitting straight up in bed terrified with the mere thought of someone walking in on us.

  “Then we will have an audience,” he simply replied with a half smile on his lips.

  “Jude, I am serious,” panic entering my voice as I looked toward the door.