To Walk in the Sun (Wiggons' School for Elegant Young Ladies - Book 1) (22 page)

In such manner would she frequently exhort
and cheer him,

so that, in a short time, his melancholy
entirely disappeared.

He now ventured to declare to the unknown
that passion

with which she had inspired him. . .

Wake Not the Dead

Johann Ludwig Tieck

Chapter 18

Vincent held the door so Tess could precede
him into the library. There was little light from the low embers in
the fireplace and he moved around lighting lamps and candles. She
stood in the spot where she stopped, not sure what to do. He turned
to her. “Please, take your seat behind the desk.”

Tess made her way to the comfortable chair,
retrieved a piece of foolscap and readied the quill.

Vincent paced before the fireplace, beginning
the letter to Sophia’s father and stopping only to start up and
then back track. Tess wrote and crossed out words, knowing she
would have to recopy the correspondence once he decided exactly
what he wanted to say.

With a frustrated sigh, he turned to her and
ran his fingers through his hair. “I can’t come right out and tell
the man what has happened, or the threat he faces.”

Tess set the quill aside. “Who do you trust
above all in this house?”

“Wesley, of course,”

“Have him deliver the message verbally. It is
better that this situation be explained in person rather than read
in a letter.”

He looked at her, a smile tugged at his
lips.

“Very good, Tess.” He walked to the bell pull
to summon his valet. “However, I cannot send him.”

Tess leaned back in the chair. “Why ever
not?”

“I need the man,” Vincent answered as if she
asked a ridiculous question. “He will know who to send
however.”

A scratch sounded at the door. “Come,”
Vincent announced.

Wesley stepped into the room. “We found no
one in the house, Lord Atwood. And everything is locked and
secured.”

“Thank you, Wesley. We managed to find the
map piece.”

The valet’s face relaxed. “Very good, sir.
Will that be all?”

“No.” Vincent sighed and rubbed his dry,
tired eyes. When this was over he was going to sleep for a week, if
the students managed to remain quiet, that is. “For this
conversation we need privacy.”

After he closed the door, Vincent explained
everything that had happened. Well, not everything, for which Tess
was grateful. Wesley grew pale, walked to Vincent’s decanters, and
poured himself a glass of what Tess assumed was whiskey. He downed
it and poured another, then turned to his employer. “I don’t know
it didn’t occur to me before.” He walked across the room and sat
into the large leather chair.

“What?” Vincent watched him with
interest.

“The names. I should have made the
connection.” The man sipped from the glass.

“I don’t follow?” Vincent shared a confused
look with Tess.

“Everyone one of those men have estates, or
at least the families do, close bu. The furthest on away is only a
day’s ride, and all are along the coastline, like this one.”

“So, you think they all knew each other?”
Tess prompted.

“Or at least when that map was originally
drawn up.”

“My parent’s home wasn’t far from here, to
the west. Sophia’s family lives about the same distance but to the
east.”

“At least it explains the odd coincidence.
But why did the men make up the map to begin with?”

“I wish I knew. It has caused nothing but
trouble.” Tess toyed with the quill in her hand.

Wesley stood abruptly. Apparently the shock
of what he had been told had now worn off. “What shall you have me
do?”

“I need to know who we can trust to deliver
messages, and not be sidetracked on their mission, and remember
everything I tell them. Someone with excellent recall.”

Wesley sipped as he pondered the request.
“Michael and David would be best.”

Vincent poured himself a glass of brandy,
though it held much less than it normally did. “Please send for
them.”

The two servants, one a footman and the other
a stable hand, arrived in a matter of minutes. However, their
appearance left much to be desired as one was still tucking his
shirt into his pants and neither had bothered to use a comb on
their hair. Vincent didn’t seem to care but Wesley studied them
with a critical eye, brow raised. Each blushed and tried to
straighten their clothing further. What astounded Tess were their
faces. Both had the darkest of hair and the most brilliant blue
eyes. Neither could have been over sixteen years of age. They had
to be brothers, because they were practically identical in
appearance. The only difference was the clothing they wore.

“I have a very important task for both of
you,” Vincent announced. Both of their spines straightened and
their arms fell to their sides as if they were soldiers being given
orders. Vincent told them exactly what they were to say. He
questioned them and asked them to repeat his words. When he was
satisfied they would not fail, he settled into a chair. “Take
horses from the stables and do not stop for anything. Return here
and report directly to me when you are done.”

“Yes, sir.” They both bowed and quit the
room.

“Will that be all, sir?” Wesley asked,
turning to his employer.

“Yes, Wesley. I am sorry to have disturbed
you so late in the evening.”

“It was not inconvenient, Lord Atwood, and
certainly urgent. I shall see you in the morning.”

He closed the door behind him when he left.
Tess rose from the chair and stretched. It had been a very long and
arduous day.

Vincent poured another glass of brandy and
held it out to her.

“I don’t think I should.”

“It will help you sleep,” he insisted.

With reluctance she took the offering and
settled onto the couch. Vincent sat down next to her.

She hoped he did not try to kiss her again,
or touch her person. It was wrong to behave in such a manner but
she feared she would not have the will to fight him.

He smiled at her over the rim of his glass
and her stomach quivered. This was a dangerous place to be. She
should return upstairs, alone, and crawl into her bed. Alone.

No, she should be planning on where she would
go next. Percer could still come after her. He still expected her
to deliver Atwood’s piece. If she didn’t leave, she would go mad
waiting for him to contact her.

Perhaps if she never left the house, then he
could never get word to her. Also, she should forbid the girls from
leaving as well. She turned to Atwood. “I think we need to keep the
girls in the house. If they must go out, for whatever reason, they
should not leave the terrace area.”

He sighed and cradled the goblet in his
hands. “I understand that you wish to protect the students, but
keeping them inside will not do them any good. What explanation
could you offer?”

“They can’t roam the estate.
He
is out
there and I don’t doubt that he will use whatever means necessary
to get the piece of the map. He already threatened to use Sophia,
what is to stop him from hurting someone else?”

He reached over and grabbed her hand. “I
agree. However, if we change their behavior, he will know. I think
that would be more dangerous.”

“But it is too dangerous to allow them out,”
Tess insisted.

Vincent shook his head. “I will alert my
staff. Perhaps it is time I put them to work on the grounds. If
they are out in abundance, and keeping a lookout, the girls will be
safe and Percer won’t be the wiser.”

Tess wanted to believe him, but she needed
assurance the girls would remain safe.

Vincent must have read the reluctance in her
face. “Trust me, it is best this way. I am sure he is watching the
house very closely, if not looking in windows. He wants that piece
of the map badly.”

Tess brought her hand to cover her mouth. Oh
no. Was he watching tonight?

“Tess, what is it? You have gone very
pale.”

She swallowed and then lifted the glass to
her lips and took a deep drink.

“I demand you tell me what has upset you. You
are practically shaking.”

She looked up and met his eyes. “I was late
when I met Percer last night.”

“Go on.”

“I explained what I was doing. He already
knew. He said he saw us through the window.”

“I am not surprised. But why should that
upset you?”

“What if he was watching us tonight?” Heat
spread across her face.

“Then he will conclude that I have a strong
desire for you or you were doing what was necessary to obtain the
piece of the map.”

Tess stilled and looked at him. He didn’t
seem at all concerned that a voyeur was watching his attempted
seduction of her.

His eyes narrowed as he continued to look
down at her. “What was it tonight, Tess? Were you with me because
you wished to be?”

She didn’t understand what he was saying. Why
else would she have allowed such liberties?

“Or, were you willing to use your body to get
my piece of the map.”

Her hand came up and smacked him before she
gave thought to her actions.

Vincent grinned and rubbed his jaw. “I
suppose I have my answer.”

Tess set her glass on the table and stood.
“How dare you assume I would prostitute myself for a piece of the
map!”

Vincent came to his feet and looked down at
her. “I had to ask. You allowed me to kiss you, to touch you. Then,
you were going to run away from my house never to be seen again.
What else could I think?”

Her spine grew rigid. “I told you everything
upstairs and you still think I have an ulterior motive?” Hot anger
flowed through her veins like lava. “If I allowed you such
liberties only for a piece of the map, why would I have stopped you
from going further?” she demanded, her face burned from this
embarrassing argument.

“A change of heart?” he goaded.

She turned and walked to the door. “I can
assure you,
Lord Atwood
, we will never engage in such
immoral activity again.”

Tess reached for the door but his arm snaked
around her abdomen. “Tess,” he whispered in her hair. “I would
never dream you would prostitute yourself for any reason?”

She remained rigid. “Why did you accuse me in
the first place then?”

“In case he is watching”

Tess stiffened against him.

“He witnessed your working, my attempted
seduction and now our argument.”

“And?”

“It is better Percer not know what to make of
our relationship.”

“We don’t have a relationship,” Tess bit
out.

“Perhaps not yet, but we will.”

She turned and pushed him away. “It would be
well advised if you kept your distance, Lord Atwood.” Tess turned
and strode from the room.

* * *

Vincent watched her as she marched up the
stairs. He should go after her, but held himself back. There was
too much to think about. Too much had happened tonight.

He turned back into the library and closed
the door behind him. She did allow liberties, not as many as he may
have wished, but she had not reacted to his kisses and caresses
like an innocent. For a moment, he did wonder if she was willing to
do anything necessary to get the map and it was a valid question.
How well did he know her anyway?

She had deceived him since they met. Had
Percer not shown up here, would he have ever learned her true
identity or the fact that she had killed her uncle?

He turned and walked to the sideboard where
he refilled his glass. At least it wasn’t murder. No, a horrible
accident for which she would always blame herself. Given the same
circumstances, he would probably lie as well.

The question now was what to do about Percer.
No doubt the man would make contact, very soon, to see if she was
successful in obtaining his piece. His gut tightened at the thought
of
that man
being alone or even in the vicinity of Tess.

No, her true name is Theresa. Vincent settled
into the leather chair by the fire. Theresa didn’t fit her. Tess
did, however. He wondered if he would feel differently had he been
introduced to her as Theresa. He didn’t believe so.

Regardless of what she called herself,
Vincent knew he needed to protect her. Percer was capable of
murder, unlike Tess. Vincent knew in his gut that Percer had been
responsible for the deaths of Gibbons and Banter and would probably
not hesitate to kill another.

If Tess did give him the map piece, he would
kill her as well. Percer would not want to leave anyone behind who
could identify or stop him. If she did not comply with Percer’s
demands, then how soon would it be before a magistrate showed up at
his door to arrest her for the murder of her uncle? And, who would
the courts believe? Percer actually had a sterling reputation
amongst the
ton
. Of course, they didn’t know his true
character. Whereas Tess had run from the crime, changed her name
and hid. All actions of a guilty party. If she did not hang, she
would be shipped off to Australia. The thought sickened
Vincent.

Something had to be done about Percer before
he destroyed anymore lives.

* * *

“Did anyone see you?” Eliza asked in an
anxious tone when Sophia returned to their bedroom.

Her face heated but she looked her friend in
the eye and lied. “No.”

“Oh, I was so afraid you would be caught. Or
that Lady Atwood would find you.” Rosemary dramatically fell into
an overstuffed chair.

“Now, all we need is for Rosemary to find the
fake map piece in her book tomorrow and give it to Miss Crawford,”
Eliza concluded as she crawled into bed.

Sophia turned to look at her friend. She had
forgotten to tell Miss Crawford about that part of the plan.
Oh
well, when it happens, Miss Crawford will know what they are
about
. At least she hoped. This was getting too complicated.
But, at least the adults knew the truth, which was important. She
just had to keep her friends from becoming too involved. They would
never appreciate the danger until it was too late.