(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.)
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.”
