A Season Beyond a Kiss (62 page)

“Afternoon, Birmin’am,” Olney greeted with a cocky grin. “How ye feelin’ this evenin’? Maybe ye don’t know it, but ye’ve been out for quite a while. In fact, the sheriff was of a mind ta think ye were gonna sleep clean through till morn’n. Guess he figgered it was safe ta leave ye.”

“Be quiet, Olney,” Jeff snapped. In spite of the throbbing in his head, he swept his gaze carefully about the confines of the jailhouse and found it empty save for Olney and himself. Though he was sure his head would likely come off, he staggered to the cell door and reached out to shove it open. Much to his amazement, it wouldn’t budge. Angrily he shook it and then, leaning his forehead close against the bars, peered down the narrow corridor leading to the back of the building. “Dammit, Rhys, come open this door!” he railed at the top of his lungs. “You have no reason to keep me locked up in here!”

The curly-haired scalawag sniggered in amusement and, lying back upon his bunk, folded his arms beneath his head and crossed his stockinged ankles. “The sheriff an’ his deputy went out a while ago. Someone came flyin’ in here, sayin’ a man had gots his throat cut at some boardin’house. ‘Ere’s just ye an’ me here now, Birmin’am. Yep, the ways I figures it, Sheriff Rhys wanted ta keep ye for a spell, maybe just ta show ye who’s boss.”

“I’ll show him who’s boss,” Jeff promised with a snarl, eyeing the ring of keys hanging on a lofty hook across the narrow hall. He stumbled back to the cot, picked it up and promptly smashed it to the floor, breaking off a wooden leg. Flipping it over, he proceeded to kick off the rest of the supports and then used one to break apart the frame.

All of this was enough to make Olney sit up on the side of his bed and chortle. “I always knew ye had a bad temper, Birmin’am.”

“You haven’t seen the half of it yet, Olney,” Jeff assured him, finally freeing a side frame from the cot. It was just about the right size, slightly longer than he was tall.

Jeff took up the rail and stepped back to the bars of his cell. Sliding the piece of wood through the iron barriers, he grasped one end firmly and, slipping his free hand through another section of bars, maneuvered the end of his makeshift pole until he had positioned it just beneath the ring of keys hanging from a peg on the far side of the corridor. Fishing around until he had the end of the shaft in the circlet, he took his time easing the ring off the dowel. He grinned broadly in satisfaction as the metal loop slid downward along the wooden shank, right into his grasp.

Olney had watched in rapt attention for the last few moments. Now he closed his mouth, realizing it had plummeted open in surprise. Perceiving some hope for his own escape, he approached the bars of his cubicle as Jeffrey unlocked his cell door and stepped out. The rascal licked his lips, already tasting the freedom that could be his if he could only get the other man to comply. “Eh, Birmin’am, how ’bout lettin’ me out, too. I really didn’t do anythin’ deservin’ o’ bein’ locked away for years ta come . . .”

“What about attempted murder?” Jeff asked curtly. “As my butler can attest, you tried to kill me when you and the rest of Gustav’s brigands forced your way into my house.”

“Oh, but that were just a bloomin’ accident, Birmin’am,” Olney cajoled and reached out a hand imploringly, hoping the man would relent. “Please, ye’ve gotta understand. I didn’t mean ta shoot ye. Me pistol just went off by itself.”

Jeff clasped the ring of keys in his hand and, taking aim, sent them sailing back to the peg from whence they had come. Then he settled his hands on his lean hips and shook his head sorrowfully as if sorely lamenting his perfect bull’s-eye. “Now I really didn’t mean to do that, Olney. I’m sorry. They just landed there by accident.”

Olney snorted, sounding much like a bull elephant. “Yeah! Sure! An’ ye’re a black-hearted liar, Birmin’am.”

Realizing his headache had eased, Jeff decided he felt remarkably well and content with himself, at least enough to toss a grin toward the young miscreant as he strode past his cell. “Like you, Olney?”

  
  H
ER CAT BOUNDED ALONG BESIDE HER AS SHE TOTTERED
past flowers taller than she. Musicians were playing in the neighbor’s yard where a number of guests had collected, luring her ever onward to the garden gate. Through the ornate filigree adorning the iron barrier she espied several couples swirling about the marble terrace adjoining the elegant mansion. Entranced with a childlike fascination for fairy tales, knights in shining armor, and beautiful ladies, she watched the graceful dancing, her small body swaying to the music. Her cat purred as it brushed against her skirts. Inquisitively the animal turned to peer into the adjoining garden, and then, with lithe grace, leapt through the bars. The feline paused to investigate a recently tilled flower bed near the opening before sauntering leisurely onward to other areas, by slow degrees nearing the cluster of people who sat in a group near one corner of the terrace.

Suddenly a loud barking rent the peace, and a large dog raced across the lawn toward the cat, who hissed in sudden fear and scurried to the safety of several large, encompassing shrubs, through which the canine could not readily pass. Frantically searching for an opening, the dog raced back and forth in front of the bushes until a loud whistle drew his attention. A tall, young man with short-cropped black hair strode into view and issued a brusque command, sending the dog lumbering back toward the house where a servant put him on a leash. The nice man squatted near the shrubs and coaxed the cat out of hiding until it came into his arms where it purred contentedly beneath the long, slow, gentle strokes of his hand.

Tossing a glance toward the gate, the gentleman broke a flower from its stem and came forward with a grin. Smiling into the aqua-blue eyes that watched him intently through the bars, he swung open the iron portal and stepped through. He whisked the animal to the ground and then, with a gallant bow, offered the flower to the little girl.

Smiling timidly, she accepted the young knight’s gift and sampled its fragrance. The petals tickled, and she wrinkled her nose as she giggled. Leaning her head far back, she peered up at the one who loomed over her. The early afternoon sun shimmered behind his head, and the brilliance of the halo around his dark head made her squint and rub her eyes. Yawning, she dropped her head and fingered the petals as she examined the pretty flower.

“Looks like it’s your nap time, little miss,” the handsome knight remarked with a chuckle. “Perhaps I should take you back to your parents before you fall asleep out here.”

Bending low, he lifted her up into his arms and followed the winding trail back toward the neighboring mansion. After another yawn, she began to sing a tune her mother had taught her. Her tall knight joined her. He had a nice, soothing voice, and soon he was waltzing her along the path, evoking more giggles.

Once they gained the clearing near the place where her mother had been gathering flowers from their garden, the young man sat her to her feet and was about to turn away, but she caught his hand and grinned up at him until he squatted down. Throwing her arms about his neck, she kissed him on his cheek and then ran laughing to her mother, who had turned in time to witness the exchange. Smiling, her parent invited the man in for a cup of tea, but his uncle had invited guests over to meet them, he explained, and hurried back along the trail.

Tilting her head from side to side, she began to chant a singsong ditty as the sun smiled down upon her and a butterfly flitted past.

  
  R
AELYNN CAME AWAKE WITH A START, NOT ENTIRELY
sure why she had been snatched so abruptly from her dreams. She lay for a moment, trying to discern what was wrong, all her senses keenly attuned to the sounds of the house. A distant thump intruded and, in trembling apprehension, she waited to hear more, hoping it had come from a neighbor’s house.

Another thud and a chair scraping over a bare floor downstairs brought Raelynn out of bed in an instant. Shaking uncontrollably, she searched down the length of her bed, patting her hands over the rumpled covers as she sought to locate her robe. She found it near the foot and donned it in frantic haste. She stumbled over her slippers and slid into them, all the while mentally sorting out what she must do. If the noises had indeed been created by a human, then she could entertain no hope that it was her husband returning. Before departing, Rhys Townsend had taken time to assure her that he would be keeping Jeff locked up for his own safety. Nor could she believe that it was Elizabeth or Farrell returning. When the newly wedded couple had left, they had said they wouldn’t be coming back until Sunday night at the earliest, still a good many hours away.

Cautiously Raelynn crept through the impenetrable blackness until she reached the door. Once there, she turned the doorknob ever so carefully and eased the portal open. She was thankful for the shaft of moonlight streaming through the windows at the far end of the hall, for it allowed her to see her way clearly. A concern for Jake and her servant drew her down the corridor toward Tizzy’s room. Slipping within the cubicle, she paused within the door to let her eyes adjust to the dense shadows until she could make out the girl sleeping soundly in her bed. Raelynn approached and, leaning across, pressed a hand over the maid’s mouth.

Tizzy came upright with a muffled gasp and searched about with widened eyes, until her gaze lit on her mistress. The spark of fear shining in her dark eyes ebbed as her brow gathered in confusion.

“Don’t make a sound,” Raelynn whispered, leaning near the girl’s ear. “There’s someone moving around downstairs, so listen very carefully, and please, please don’t make any noise. Slip into your robe, wake Jake up, and wait for me at the landing. I’m going to fetch Miss Elizabeth’s pistol from her room, and then, if I can, I’m going to try and lure the intruder away from the kitchen. Make sure the path is clear before you slip downstairs, so watch and listen very carefully to determine where the man may be. You’re to leave by the back door. Go directly to Mr. Farrell’s apartment, and tell him that I’m here by myself and that there’s a prowler in the house. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Miz Raelynn,” the girl whispered back worriedly, “but if’n it’s Mistah Fridrich downstairs, yo’ gonna be in mo’ trouble than ah’d be if’n ah stayed. Why don’t yo’ let me draw him ‘way from de back door whilst yo’ leave an’ take Mistah Jake ta Mistah Farrell’s. Dat way yo’ll be safe an’ sound.”

“No argument, Tizzy. Just do as I say,” Raelynn insisted. “Mr. Fridrich won’t kill me. He wants me too much. You, he might. Now get yourself up, and hurry! If I get a chance to slip out the house, I will, but I’ve got to make sure you and Jake are safe before I do.”

Tizzy heaved a reluctant sigh, but she had no other option. She had to obey. She set about fulfilling the behest as quickly as possible and, some moments later, waited at the top of the stairs with a cautious hand over Jake’s mouth as her mistress began a cautious descent.

Raelynn winced as the step upon which she had cautiously lit popped beneath her weight. In the next instant, she heard a bump in the dining room. In Elizabeth’s absence, the draperies of the front parlor had been left open, and one glance confirmed that there was no one in the room. In a rush Raelynn completed her descent and flew to the parlor from whence she dared to call out, “Who’s there?”

No verbal answer came, only another thump.

“I know someone’s here in the house!” she cried in quavering tones. “Now who are you?”

A strange scrape, much like a foot being dragged across a section of floor, made her start and clasp a trembling hand to her throat. If she had had any doubt before, then her suspicions were now thoroughly confirmed. There
was
an intruder prowling around.

“Gustav, is that you?” she called in a faltering voice and tried desperately to pluck up her courage. “If it is, you’d better be warned. I have a loaded pistol in my hand, and I’ll use it if I must.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Raelynn saw Tizzy and Jake scurrying into the hall. Lest the man hear them moving about, she continued talking. “You shouldn’t have come, Gustav. Sheriff Townsend will see your intrusion into this house as reason enough to arrest you. This time you won’t be able to claim innocence.”