(There’s a new part of this story dropping Saturday in the Broadsheet, so it’s time to give last month’s part it’s own post so it can be found more easily.)

Find previous chapters (to previous Harriet and the Colonel stories) here.

Chapter 1 (part 1)

“Life is very dull in the country,” Harriet Philips complained to her sister, three-weeks after she had been allowed to help her brother and his men find a missing maid.

Samantha laughed. “Perhaps it is not as exciting here where there are no criminals to outsmart, but the air in the country is so much better than in town during the summer.” She rested a hand on her ever-growing abdomen. “And I am allowed to put my feet up without a pair of stockings in sight.” She wiggled her toes where her feet rested on a tufted footstool.

“I am quite certain that you could do that in town as well,” Harriet grumbled. “However, I will allow that the air in the country is better.” She rose and walked to the open window that faced south – the exact direction in which they would need to travel to return to town in two-week’s time or so.

“I am very glad that you were able to come to Papa’s estate for a time. Your being here does make things a trifle less dull.” She shot a mischievous smile over her shoulder at her sister. “But you truly can do so little now that you have decided to be a mother.”

Samantha clucked her tongue. “Just you wait, Miss Everything Should Be an Adventure, your time of feeling quite miserable and motherly are not so far off.”

“Is it truly dreadful?”

“Currently, yes because it is just so hot – or I am, at least,” her sister replied.

There was a breeze blowing through the window, but it was a warm summer day. Not overly hot, but undoubtedly warm. 

“I declare this child is going to be just like his or her father.” Samantha continued. “Julian is always warm – even in the depths of winter. I am certain that is what is making me overly warm. I am carrying a human furnace.”

Harriet chuckled at that. “Do you wish to go for a walk in the grass? Or perhaps we could procure a large basin of water and sit in the shade with our feet in it?” She held up a finger to keep her sister from answering as she leaned forward to better see the rider who was approaching.

“What is it?” Samantha whispered as she placed her feet on the ground and pushed up from her chair.

“A rider.”

“Is it the Colonel returned from his visit to Hertfordshire?” Samantha crossed to the window to peer out it with her sister.

Harriet shook her head. “He will be returning from there to town.” And that was likely why she was finding it difficult to entertain herself for this past week. She missed Richard – more than she missed any sort of adventure.

“Perhaps it is a letter,” her sister offered.

“It could be that.” It was a hopeful thought that one of them might have something of interest to read and perhaps a bit of news to share with the other. “I think…” she leaned a bit further forward. “I think that is Samuels.”

“Who is Samuels?” Samantha asked.

“He frequents the little library at Lillesley house.” That was where her brother greeted all of the men who worked with him on covert assignments. She tipped her head. “But why is he alone. I thought he was supposed to be watching that Wickham fellow.”

“The horrible kidnapper?” Samantha whispered. There were things her sister was not supposed to know – but did. Who Wickham was and what he had done was one of those things.

But in truth, it was for Samantha’s safety that Harriet had shared a few details of what had happened in London before they had left. Edmund might carry around secrets that posed dangerous to his sisters, but Harriet would not. This was Samantha after all. The woman was capable of keeping a few names and details to herself.

“Yes.” Harriet moved toward the door to the sitting room. “We will require some refreshment for ourselves and our guest,” she said to the butler. “And please see that my brother is made aware that his presence is required in the drawing room. His office is far too stuffy at this time of day.”

“Why am I needed in the drawing room?” the very brother of whom she spoke said from the grand staircase.

“Did you not hear that we are to have a guest? And I am afraid there is no little library here.”

He frowned at her. “A guest?”

She nodded. “Do come down here so that we can speak more privately.” She could see him sigh. It was not a dramatic lifting and lowering of his shoulders, but they had risen and fallen.

“You do know that I am still the master of this house and my professional domain, do you not?” he grumbled when he had reached her.

“Of course, I do, but I am not about to make Samuels sit in your stuffy study when he has had to ride in the sun for who knows how long to get here.”

“Samuels is here?” Edmund hurried across the room to the window where Samantha was still standing.

Harriet allowed him to verify her words without saying anything. It was an impressive feat, if she did say so herself.

“We cannot speak freely here,” Edmund said with a tip of his head at Samantha.

“I can keep a secret,” Samantha said. “But if you prefer, I can take myself to my room. Truly, I would not mind at all, since I am not required to remain dressed there.” She wiggled the neckline of her gown as if trying to cool herself with it. “Yes,” she said very decidedly. “That is just what I need. I will go to my room and have a rest with a cool cloth and a tray of my very own refreshments.”

She gave her brother’s cheek a kiss and left the room.

“Mr. Wickham is not with him,” Harriet said as they stood watching Samuels dismount his horse.

“I noticed that. I am not blind, nor have I forgotten that he was assigned to Samuels.” He turned toward the door to the drawing room and waited for it to open. “I am sure Samuels will explain himself.”

“Good day, Lord Lillesley, Miss Philips,” Samuels said with a bow upon entering the room.

“Please, make yourself comfortable. We will have some refreshments soon.” Harriet took herself back to the chair she had abandoned out of boredom not so very long ago. “Edmund.” She motioned to the chair Samantha had been sitting in.

“I am rather dusty,” Samuels said.

“Well, that is a problem, but not one without a solution.” Harriet rose, retrieved a blanket from a sideboard, and handed it to the man. “This will be easier to clean than the chair.”

“Why do you have blankets in that cupboard?” Edmund asked.

“Because there is no little library,” Harriet replied. “And your study is stuffy at times.” She turned back to Samuels who was arranging the blanket on the chair before taking a seat. “Your companion did not join you?”

“You mean Wickham?” he asked in surprise.

“Yes.”

Samuels chuckled. “I was not about to bring him here. You and your brother might not mind it, but the colonel would be livid. But do not fear, I did not leave him unattended. However…” He was now seated, and leaned forward before speaking in a lower voice. “He is the reason I am here.” 

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(There’s a new part of this story dropping Saturday in the Broadsheet, so it’s time to give last month’s part it’s own post so it can be found more easily.)

Find previous chapters here.

Chapter 5 (part 1)

Richard tucked Harriet close to his side as he sat in the hackney outside the townhouse that stood at the address on the note found in the watch. “This is not a good idea,” he muttered.

“It is the only way,” Harriet assured him.

He shook his head and blew out a breath. “We could have put your clothes on someone else.”

“That would have been too big a risk,” she countered.

Before he could find a way to refute her argument – which was true, and he knew it – the door to the house opened, and both Louis and another man exited and made their way toward the hackney.

“Stay deep in the shadows until I am out and the door it closed,” Harriet said to Richard before giving him a quick kiss and sliding toward the door.

“If anything happens to you….” He would never be able to live with himself or forgive Lillesley for allowing her to take part in this scheme.

“Nothing will happen.” There was a slight tremor in her voice. “I will be fine.” The tremor was gone. It was as if she had swallowed whatever fear had arisen and vanquished it in a heartbeat. “We will save Louis’s sister, and I will be Mrs. Richard Fitzwilliam. I will be.”

The determination in her voice made him smile despite his nervousness. How he loved his lionhearted lady!

“Where is your sister?” she asked Louis as soon as the door to the hackney was opened.

“She is inside the house,” the man behind Louis said. “She will be allowed to leave as soon as you are inside.”

“No.” Harriet shook her head even as she began sliding out of the carriage. “She must come out before I go in.”

The man’s replying laugh was as icy as a winter’s day. “I do not think a lady with her hands and feet tied is in a position to negotiate with me.” He threw her over his shoulder and grunted. “You are not a slight thing, are you?”

“Are you the man who killed my brother for his watch?” she asked.

Richard quietly exited the carriage through the door on the opposite side as Louis closed the door through which Harriet had gone.

“No. I keep track of the ladies like you.”

Richard heard a thwack.

“I will thank you not to hit my person,” Harriet cried.

“I will hit what I want to hit,” the man said. “Especially when you are asking questions about things that are none of your business. I will remind you only this once that you belong to me now.” 

“Oh, I will not be with you long. My brother and his friend will find you. They are both very good shots you know.”

Again, Richard heard that cold laugh.

“But will they find you?” he asked.

Richard sneered at the back of the man holding Harriet. They did not even have a need to find her. He was here, and Edmund was close by.

“Before we go in, call my sister to the door.”

Louis had stepped between the door and the man they were here to capture.

“One goes in while the other comes out,” he added.

The man cursed. “If it will get rid of you sooner and get her in the house faster, then, open the door.”

Louis obliged.

“Carrick bring the girl,” he called.

“You could put me down while we wait,” Harriet suggested. Her head was up, and she was looking around until she saw Richard standing near the head of the horse attached to the carriage. She gave him a nod. “It cannot be good for your shoulder to be holding me like this. I hear that aches and pains mend less quickly as a man ages.”

Richard could see that Harriet’s hands were free. A few shakes of her feet and the loosely tied rope at her feet would also fall away. She touched her hat as the man grumbled his reply.

“I am not old, and you are not running away. You are mine.”

Her hat fell to the ground.

“How would I run with a rope around my feet?”

“I will not take the chance. You are needed.”

“For what am I needed?”

“For what do you think?” the man replied.

“I am sure I do not know.” That was a blatant lie. Harriet knew far more about what this man was involved in than any proper young lady should.

“For pleasure, of course,” the man answered.

Harriet’s gasp in reply to this was louder than normal. It was a sure sign she was acting the part of a naive lady.

Carrick was at the door with a young maid. My, she was a little thing. Likely younger than her brother Louis, who now had her wrapped in his arms.

“Get out of the way so I can go in,” the man grumbled.

Richard sprang into action as Louis, with his arms still wrapped around his sister, hurried away from the door.

“I think I would like to join you,” Richard said as he bounded up the steps and pushed his way into the house ahead of Harriet. “Put her down.”

“Get out of my way. Carrick!”

Behind him, Richard heard the unmistakable sound of a pistol being made ready to shoot. “I have only to duck or step to the side and you’ll kill your own man. Indeed, at this range, the bullet might go through me and into him.”  He grabbed the guy holding Harriet and pulled him close. “Put her down.”

He pushed Richard away. “She’s mine.”

“No, she is not,” Harriet said right before the man holding her cried out and dropped her.

“My back!” He shouted as he spun around.

Harriet scooted away and freed her legs.

“What did you do to me?” he lunged toward Harriet.

Richard pushed him backward, causing him to fall down the steps.

“I have him,” Jimmy said as he jumped down from his horse. “Go get the others. Lillesley and the rest should be in there already.”

Harriet handed the rope from her feet to Jimmy. “Go,” she said to Richard. “I will stay right here.”

“Promise me?”

“I promise.” She handed him a slightly bloody hat pin. “I case you need it.” He smiled. She would always try to keep him safe, would she not?

“I will make sure nothing happens to her,” Louis added from the door to the hack where his sister was now safely stowed.

And with that assurance, Richard entered the house.

---

(There’s a new part of this story dropping Saturday in the Broadsheet, so it’s time to give last month’s part it’s own post so it can be found more easily.)

Find previous chapters here.

Chapter 4 (part 2)

The blast from Richard’s gun seemed to rattle every pretty thing hanging on the walls of the corridor in which he shot the fellow who refused to follow orders. The other man – the one who had come down the stairs and not through a window – looked one way and then the other, as if contemplating his options.

“I have one shot left,” Richard said. “I rarely miss.”

Of course, the man was likely going to die even if he did enter the study as he was told to do. It would just be some time before he met the hangman’s noose should he comply with Richard’s orders, and it would make their job much easier if the man were living and could be made to give up whatever information he held. If he did, transportation might spare his life.

Thankfully, this fellow did not seem as anxious to die as the other one and stepped into the study.

“They have my sister,” he said as he entered. “I have not done anything other than leave the window unlocked so that fellow could enter. I wasn’t going to do more than make sure the miss was safe and show him where the watch was.”

“What do you mean make sure the miss was safe?” Lillesley said as he rose from where he sat.

Now that Richard was closer to the fellow, he could see that he was no more than sixteen at the oldest, and a groom from Lillesley’s stables. He was tall and muscular for his age, but he was young enough to not need a razor to keep his cheeks smooth.

“They wanted…” He paused and looked for all the world as if he were going to burst into tears. “They wanted your sister.” The words came out in nothing more than a whisper.

“They wanted me?” Harriet stood at the door of the study that led to the little library.

As the groom turned his eyes to her, a tear slid down his cheek. “Yes, miss. But I wasn’t going to let them have you. I was going to tell you to hide, but you weren’t in your room. I could never…” his voice trailed off. “But my sister…” Again, his words trailed away as if speaking further would be too painful.

“What have they done with your sister, Louis?” Harriet had crossed the room and taken the fellow by the hand.

“Harriet,” Lillesley grumbled.

“Did you not hear him? He was not here to kidnap me. He is here to free his sister.” She turned a sharp look toward her brother.

“That is what he says, but it still stands that he let a thief and would be kidnapper into my home.” 

“I can see how that would show him in a bad light.”

“I think it is more than a bad light,” Lillesley grumbled.

Richard stepped forward. “Why do we not let Louis sit and explain to us what he was hired to do while Jimmy finds the appropriate people to dispose of the fellow in the hall.” He nodded to Jimmy who left the room.

“As Louis takes his seat, I will remind you, dear brother, that he was trying to mitigate damages to things more precious than a watch.” Harriet took the seat next to Louis. “At least, I believe I am more valuable.”

“Of course you are,” both Richard and Lillesley said in unison.

“And Louis mentioned his sister,” she turned to the groom next to her. “Is she a maid?”

“She was until yesterday.” His breathing was laboured as if he were attempting to keep his composure. “If they know that you know they have her, she’ll end up like Penny. That’s what I was told.”

“Who told you that?” Lillesley asked.

“Well, him,” Louis said with a nod toward the door. “But he said he heard it from a fellow named Carrick who told him it was you, miss, who found it. The watch that is. That was why they wanted you. He said you were too much trouble.”

“I am that,” Harriet agreed with a smile. “But you were going to warn me?”

“I was. I unlocked the window and then, sneaked up the servants’ stairs to tell you to hide, but you weren’t there.”

“How did you know to look for the watch? I have not told anyone that I had it?” Lillesley said.

“They knew it was your sister who found it, so I suppose they decided it must be here. I did not know that anyone was looking for a watch until they sought my help in getting it in return for…” The lad looked down at his hands and did not finish his thought.  

Harriet’s head tipped to the side. “But how did you know that it would be in the study? Why did you not look for it in my room? Or for that matter, why did you not think that I had given it to my sister as I told the shopkeeper I was going to do.”

Louis was looking utterly confused. “I did not know you had mentioned your sister to a shopkeeper, but I had heard that something had been found and your brother was none too pleased. I was not supposed to hear it. But I did.”

Harriet stood and began pacing. “Why is that watch so special?”

“I do not know, miss.”

“What would make someone steal it not once, but attempt to do it a second time?” Harriet continued as if she had not even heard his reply. And likely she had not. Richard could tell from the line between her eyes that she was deep into her thoughts.

“I do not know that either.”

Again, the groom’s reply was not noted by Harriet as she rounded her brother’s desk and pulled open the drawer. “And what does that have to do with maids being stolen and ruined?” She looked at Louis. “Is there anything that you might have heard that was unusual? What did they say about your sister besides threatening to toss her in the Thames?”

Louis shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Do you know where she is?” Harriet pressed.

Again, he shook his head. “When I asked, the answer was not in English, so I do not know. I do not speak French.”

Harriet turned the watch over in her hand. “French?” She looked at Richard. “So is it espionage or smuggling? But with maids?” She tapped the watch, looking utterly confused, which was pretty much how he felt at present. There seemed to be nothing new to learn from Louis. “Why this watch?” she muttered.

“I do not know, miss. I just know that I was told it was not to be sold. It was more valuable than that.”

Lillesley stood and came to stand in front of Louis. “What do you know about smuggling secrets?”

The lad shrank back. “I love my county, my lord,” Louis said quickly. “I don’t know anything about…” He swallowed and lowered his voice to a whisper, “secrets.”

Lillesley rubbed his chin as he studied the fellow. “No, I would imagine you do not.” Apparently, he did not think Louis was involved very deeply in this whole thing. Likely no more than he had admitted to. “Nor do you know about them now.” He held the lad’s gaze.

“Of course, my lord.”

Lillesley blew out a breath. “This cannot go through the Old Bailey.”

“No, we knew that before anything happened,” Richard agreed. “He will need to be taken to the Great House.”

“What does that mean, my lord?” Louis was looking quite ill.

“It means you will be dealt with outside of the regular means of the law, but you will be dealt with fairly.” He cast a look at Richard. “You may even find yourself employed in various pursuits as needed.”

Richard shook his head. “You said you did not know about Wickham.”

“I did not. However, I do know that occasionally, employment is offered in place of other more exacting punishments.”

“I was not going to hurt her,” Louis cried. “I was not even going to touch the watch. I just want my sister back.”

Harriet came to stand near her brother. “I believe it should be noted that Louis aided in solving one riddle.” She held a tiny slip of paper in her fingers. “This was inside Andrew’s watch.”

---

(There’s a new part of this story dropping Saturday in the Broadsheet, so it’s time to give last month’s part it’s own post so it can be found more easily.)

Find previous chapters here.

Chapter 4 (Part 1)

Richard stretched and yawned. He was supposed to be at home in his own bed, not sitting guard in the little library at Lillesley house. Of course, it was his own doing. No one had given him this assignment. He had volunteered for it.

Dinner at their club had produced a couple of interesting leads where the watch was concerned. Most people had not paid attention to Lillesley’s frequent checking of the time, but two had. One was a footman, and the other was Mr. Newland, a fellow of social standing whose means had been squandered some years back but was now well on its way to being replenished, thanks to a relative of some sort who had passed away just over a year ago. Strangely, his relation’s passing had occurred close to the same time that Harriet’s older brother, Andrew, had died.

It was that bit of coincidence, paired with his obvious appreciation for the engraving on Lillesley’s watch – both of which had come to light during a card game after dinner – which had marked him as suspicious.

The fact that he seemed to be on exceptionally friendly terms with one of the footmen, named Carrick, had changed Lillesley’s opinion of the servant from being someone who admired the finer things in life, which his station did not afford him, to a possible informant and associate of Newland’s.

To the untrained eye, the two men would have appeared as jovial and amiable – the one being counted as a fabulous dinner guest, and the other as a servant who would make any household appear to be of the finest and most welcoming sort.

However, Richard’s eye was not untrained. To him, they were too agreeable. Too eager to please. Too charming. Their good nature read like a veneer applied to a damaged table to hide the scars made by some sort of accident.

Soft footfalls in the hall stopped his ruminations about the men from the club. As he sat in the silent darkness of the little library, a soft glow from a candle could be seen drawing ever closer to the library door.

He had heard no doors or windows open, so whomever this was had either entered through the kitchen or was a member of the household.

A few moments later, a vision of loveliness stood in the doorway.

“Your brother would be less than pleased to know you were here,” Richard whispered. And likely he did know since he was in his study.

“Then, it is a good thing that he is not here yet,” Harriet replied, as she walked along the bookshelves to the right of the room, stopping now and again to run a finger along the spine as if she were contemplating reading that volume. “I need something to occupy my mind,” she said softly. “Or I will spend the full night trying to piece things together. As it is, I have gone over what we know from three different viewpoints – at least twice.”

She pulled a book from the shelf and then, made her way to the chair next to his.

“It is best if you return to your room to read,” Richard said. Having her here could prove to be a distraction. It was not guaranteed that she would be, but there was the possibility. Added to that, there would be danger to be had if someone came looking for that watch.

“I will. In a minute or two.” She placed her book and candle on the table near her chair before snuffing out her light. “I would just like to sit her and hold your hand for a time. I promise not to be a distraction.”

He heard her making herself comfortable in her chair and then, felt her hand tap the arm of his chair. He obliged her by taking it, which elicited a sigh from her.

So they sat for more than a minute or two. Indeed, they sat as they were until Harriet’s hand and arm fell limp and he could hear soft, even breathing coming from where she sat. Apparently, her mind had finally found some rest and allowed her body to follow.

To be honest, having her sitting next to him, made the task of listening and watching in the dark more bearable. His thumb brushed back and forth across hers, and his mind wandered to things that had nothing to do with traitors and murderers. Instead, he imagined evenings before a fire, sitting as they were now. He pictured children on his lap and at his feet. He contemplated being the master of his own little estate.

The idea had, at one time, seemed a drudgery. Something that would hold little to entertain or excite him. So mundane. So dull.

He placed a gentle kiss on Harriet’s hand. Nothing would be dull or mundane with her as his wife. She was not the sort to simply sit, stitch, and entertain callers. That thought had just started him thinking about what she would wish for in her home and duties when the distinct sound of a window sliding open with a soft squealing complaint was heard.

Carefully, he returned Harriet’s hand to her lap, and rising, readied himself to confront the intruder directly if necessary, or after the interloper had attempted to gain what he wanted.

Richard could just make out Harriet’s sleeping form in the greyness of the room. Her plan was coming to fruition. He’d hate for her to miss it, and it would be dangerous for her to wake in the midst of whatever happened. Therefore, he decided to alert her to what was occurring. That way she would be ready to escape to safety should it become necessary.

“Harriet,” he whispered near her ear, “someone is here.”

He felt her wake.

“Stay here and remain silent for as long as you are able,” he instructed, before giving her cheek a kiss.

A whispered “I will” was her only reply.

A floorboard creaked in hall. Whomever it was, was light of foot, for he was making very little noise as he crept nearer to the study. He also seemed to know exactly where he was going. This bit of information caused a realization to crash upon Richard with some force. There was only one way for the intruder to know where to go. Someone inside Lillesley’s home was playing two sides.

Carefully, he moved to stand next to the door, where he could see just a bit of the corridor, but he, himself, would not be seen from the hall.

A second set of stealthy steps descended from above.

“She’s not there,” the one whisper to the other. “Do you have the watch?’

She’s not there? Who was the she they were speaking of?

“Not yet,” the other answered.

“Then, it might be best to leave it,” the first man said.

“We can’t and you know it,” the other answered in a soft snarl.

“But if she is not in her room, she might be sitting guard in her brother’s study.”

Richard sucked in a breath. The she they were looking for was Harriet!

“You have no idea how devious that one is,” the first man continued. “She’s the one who found the watch, you know.”

“How would she know I was coming for it?”

“I don’t know how, but I am telling you, she’s smarter than any of those military men Lillesley employs.”

“I don’t see no light coming from under that door,” the second man said. “And it’ll make our job easier if she’s there. We can get both of the things we need at the same time.”

Richard heard the door to Lillesley’s office open.

“I say, is there no one to announce you?” The question rang loud and clear from the other room and was followed by soft light illuminating the hall. Jimmy had lit a sconce further down the hall and was now standing in the way of escape at that end.

Richard sprang into action to make certain that his end of the hall was also unable to be used for escape. He drew his pistol. “Into the study,” he ordered. “Both of you.”

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