To Walk in the Sun (Wiggons' School for Elegant Young Ladies - Book 1) (25 page)

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Tess
offered in a weak voice while she remained on the opposite side of
the room.

Vincent glared at her. “Have you ever
considered muzzling them?”

Tess bit her bottom lip and did not answer.
Her eyes shifted to the door. She probably hoped Wesley would
appear so she could escape.

Vincent downed the glass of brandy and poured
another one. He knew it was the only thing that helped him through
this pain.

Her head tilted and she studied him.

“What?” he barked out.

“Where does it pain you?”

“Here, here and here.” He pointed to his
forehead, temples and the top of his head. “Why?”

She moved forward. “Lie down.”

His eyebrow shot up with intrigue.
“Pardon?”

“I said, lie down,” Tess ordered.

If his head hadn’t pained him so much,
Vincent would have found delight in being ordered about by Tess.
Especially since she wanted him on his back. A place he wouldn’t
mind having her, if he were pain free.

He did as she suggested. “This doesn’t help,”
he insisted.

“Just be quiet,” she reprimanded and pulled a
chair to the end of the couch. A moment later he felt her finger
tips massaging his temples. Her hands soothed his brow.
Occasionally she would stop in her ministrations to press a finger
to a particularly sore spot on his scalp until the tenderness
disappeared. Every muscle in his body began to relax and the pain
dimmed. Vincent let a sigh escape.

Her hands moved away, he reached out and
grabbed her wrist. “Not yet.”

Her chuckle was low. “Just one moment and I
will be right back.”

He didn’t open his eyes but could hear her
move about the room and blow out the candles until no light shone
on his closed eyelids. She returned to her seat and placed her
hands back on his head. Another sigh escaped.

* * *

“Lord Atwood, I believe I have discovered the
reason for. . .”

Tess looked up. She had just finished pulling
the blanket up to Atwood’s chin. He had fallen asleep a short time
ago, but she continued to massage his temples until a snore escaped
his lips.

Wesley stepped out into the hall and Tess
followed, closing the door behind him.

“What were the girls up to?” She didn’t try
to mask the irritation in her tone.

“They were exploring the house and something
scared them in the cellar.”

She was going to kill them. No doubt they
were still searching for Lady Atwood.

“I will see what I can do,” Tess offered.
“Though I fear another lecture will do very little,” she muttered
under her breath.

She began to walk up the steps but was
stopped by Wesley.

“How did you get him to sleep like that?”

Tess didn’t understand. Lord Atwood usually
slept during the day.

“He is relaxed,” Wesley continued.

“He is asleep, as you just pointed out.”

“No, did you see his face?”

She shrugged her shoulders. He looked like
any normal person when they slept. Perhaps he was more handsome
than most, but nothing else was out of the ordinary.

“It is relaxed. Even in his sleep, when the
headaches are bad, his brow is wrinkled.”

A smile pulled at her lips. “Oh, that is
because his headache is gone. Or will be when he wakes up.”

* * *

“It had to be her.” Tess heard Eliza insist
as she opened the door.

All three girls looked up at her entrance.
Their faces where ashen, eyes wide.

“Who?” Tess demanded and closed the door
behind her.

“Lady Atwood,” Rosemary insisted.

Tess took a deep breath in order to try and
calm herself. She was anything but calm at the moment. “Am I to
understand that you went to the cellar in search of a non-existent
vampire?”

“But she does exist,” Eliza insisted.

“She does
not
,” Tess yelled.

Each of the girls scooted back at her
tone.

“I have had more than enough of this from the
three of you.” She paced as her anger rolled off her body.
“Vampires do not exist. Lord Atwood is not a vampire and he has
not
brought his wife back from the dead.”

“But the noise…”

Tess turned on her. “Could have been
anything, Eliza!” She stared down at the three of them. “I have had
more than I can take of your foolishness. You will cease and desist
now. You will stop with these crazy imaginations and use your
energy to better your studies. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Miss Atwood,” they each answered in
unison and in docile tones.

She knew better than to trust they would give
up on their beliefs, but perhaps they would behave, at least for
one night.

Tess strode for the door. When she had her
hand on the doorknob she turned to them. “If this continues, I will
write to each one of your parents. If it still continues, each of
you will be sent home.” She exited the room and slammed the door
behind her.

* * *

Vincent opened his eyes slowly and waited.
Nothing. Thank goodness. He stretched his arms over his head then
moved to sit up. The room was blanketed in darkness, except for the
low fire.
What time is it
?

“How are you feeling?”

Her voice came from the area of his desk and
he turned. “Better than I have in days,” he answered as he stared,
trying to make out her appearance.

The flint struck and Tess lit the lamp at his
desk, illuminating her face. “I had a tray prepared for you.” She
stood and motioned to the covered dishes on his desk.

His stomach growled in response. “How long
did I sleep?”

“It is just past nine now.”

“You should have awakened me.” He took her
abandoned seat and lifted the covers. Though cold, the food still
looked appetizing. His stomach growled.

“You had been awake a full twenty-four hours
when you fell asleep. I thought it best to leave you to your
slumber.”

He picked up a piece of bread and sat back
and studied her as he nibbled at the crust.

“Is there something I could get for you?”

“No,” he smiled. “I believe I have everything
I need.”

She fussed with her skirt before she took a
seat in the chair across from him. “I want to apologize for the
girls.”

Vincent reached forward and poured a cup of
tea. He had forgotten about them. “What scared them?”

“A noise in your cellar.”

His head jerked up and his eyes bore into
hers. “What were they doing in the cellar?” he demanded in slow
deliberation.

Tess scooted back. She hadn’t expected this
reaction. What was so important about that part of the house?

“I am sorry. It is just that . . .”

“You don’t need to explain,” Tess hastened to
say. “They should not have been snooping and I have had a long talk
with them.”

Vincent arched an eyebrow and looked at her.
“Do you think they will actually listen to you this time and
behave?”

Tess bit her bottom lip and turned away. “I
would hope that they do. I’ve threatened to write to their parents
if they do not.”

“I am not sure those three will ever listen
to anyone,” he chuckled and slipped is spoon into the bowl of cool
soup. “At least not when they are together. I shudder to think what
their husbands will have to put up with.”

“I am sure they will eventually mature,” Tess
offered with hope.

Vincent lifted his eyes and looked at her.
“You have much more faith than I do.”

She chuckled and relaxed. “By the way,
Rosemary found a piece of the map in a book today.”

“How is that possible?” Vincent asked as he
continued eating his meal.

“I am sure it is the piece Sophia copied. I
thought we should give it to Percer.”

The spoon clanged against the Wedgewood bowl.
“Are you out of your mind, Miss Crawford?”

She stood and looked down at him. “Percer is
going to return and demand a piece of the map. I don’t see why we
can’t give him this one.”

“Because as soon as he thinks he has it, he
will kill you at worst, or have you arrested at best.”

She sighed and turned away from him. Her
normally erect spine curved due to her slumped shoulders. Surely
Tess did not feel she was already defeated. “Which is why I will be
leaving.”

“What?” he yelled and stood at the same
time.

She whipped around and looked at him. “It is
the only answer. I am not safe either way and it is better if I
leave the country. I had not meant to tell you, but I could not
leave without an explanation. Not after you have done so much for
us.”

Vincent moved around the desk so that he
could stand directly in front of her. Her head lifted so she could
look up at him. “You will not run from that madman. I will protect
you.”

“How?” she cried.

“I will find a way.” He punctuated each word
so she would understand.

Tess threw up her hands and turned away. She
walked to the sidebar and poured her own glass of brandy. The woman
must be truly disturbed to take such an action.

“Have either of your servants returned?” she
asked, her back still to him.

Vincent grimaced. Now was not the time for
such news but she had a right to know. “David has. He is the one I
sent to Lord Perham.”

Tess turned to look at him. “At least the man
will now be able to guard against danger.”

“Perham is dead.” There was no better way to
say it, so he didn’t try to soften the impact of his words.

Tess swayed and grabbed the corner of his
desk for support.

Vincent marched forward and assisted her to a
chair.

“How?” Her eyes searched his for answers.

“It has been deemed an accident.”

“But you don’t believe so?” she
persisted.

Vincent took a seat and ran his fingers
through his hair. “No,” he answered before he told her all that he
had learned.

She stood to pace. Agitation flowed off of
her in waves. “This is not good. I can only hope Sophia’s father is
well.”

“I am sure he is,” Vincent offered in an
attempt to comfort her, but couldn’t deny he was concerned. Michael
had yet to return.

She stopped before him and looked down. “Now
you must realize the necessity of my leaving?”

He smiled at her and her ridiculous
statement. “I understand no such thing.”

“My being here can only bring danger to you,
the household, the girls.”

Vincent reached out and grabbed her hands.
“You do not think I can protect you and them?”

She threw her head back and looked at the
ceiling. “You could try, but Percer cannot be trusted.”

“I believe I am rather insulted.” Vincent
stood to look down at her.

“You misunderstand.” Her eyes met his.

Vincent lifted his hand to cradle her cheek.
“No, I do understand,” he offered in a soft quiet voice. “You have
every right to fear, but I will protect you. I promise.”

He leaned forward and brought his lips to
hers. He was grateful when she did not pull away, but returned his
affection. His arms snaked around her waist and pulled her to him.
Tess’ arms came up and around his neck. Her fingers caressed
through his hair. Vincent groaned and delved further and Tess met
him every step of the way.

His hands moved forward to clutch her bottom
to pull her tight against his body. Tess reared back, broke the
kiss and pulled away from him. “We should not have done that?”

“Why?” He knew his smile must have infuriated
her because her spine stiffened as well as her soft lips.

“I told you I would not behave in such a
manner again. We are to have a professional relationship,
only
.”

He reached out to her but she maneuvered away
from him.

“I am serious, Lord Atwood. I will not carry
on a dalliance with you, especially with impressionable young
ladies in this household.”

“I am not seeking a dalliance.”

“Further,” she continued as if she hadn’t
heard, “I intend to have the fake piece of the map delivered to
Percer and be gone in a very short time.”

“Tess, you are not going anywhere,” He ground
out.

“You cannot stop me.”

He arched an eyebrow and looked down at her.
He knew the look to be a challenge.

“You have no hold on me,” she insisted. “It
is best that I disappear and safer for everyone.”

“I can protect you,” he insisted once again,
his tone soft.”

“How?” she cried in frustration.

“Marry me.”

“
Delay not thy generous action, lest I die
even this night,

consumed with disappointed desire; and behold
her face no more.”

Wake Not the Dead

Johann Ludwig Tieck

Chapter 21

Tess could not believe he just made such an
outrageous suggestion. For a moment, all she could do was stare at
him, stunned. She had to make a conscious effort to close her
mouth.

“Are you going to say anything?” Vincent
asked, an odd smile quirked on his lips.

“Are you insane?” she cried.

The smile fell and at that moment Tess knew
he had been serious. She would not weaken. Despite what he may have
just said, Atwood certainly could not seriously consider marrying
her. “Why?” she asked when he said nothing further.

“To protect you, of course,”

“That is not a reason to marry,” she
dismissed and turned back to the door. She had every intention of
retreating to her room, where she would stay for the night.

“I have others,” he called from behind.

She turned to look at him. “Other what?”

“Reasons to be married.” He grinned at her
and shrugged.

“What could those possibly be?” Her
frustration with this man increased by the moment.