To Walk in the Sun (Wiggons' School for Elegant Young Ladies - Book 1) (29 page)

“Did you see Lady Atwood?” Rosemary asked
with excitement.

“No,” she answered in all seriousness. “But,
I did overhear a conversation between Mrs. Wiggons and Wesley.”

This caught Sophia’s attention and she pulled
her eyes from the surrounding woods and focused on Eliza.

“Apparently Miss Crawford gave Lord Percer
the piece of the map last night.”

Sophia gasped.

“Which one?” Rosemary prompted. “The real one
or the fake one?”

Sophia clutched her skirts. They played a
dangerous game and she feared for Miss Crawford’s life, her
father’s, and Lord Atwood’s as well as her own.

“The fake one, of course. Miss Crawford is
much too intelligent to give up the real one. Percer probably won’t
even realize it is a fake,” she laughed.

Sophia wasn’t so confident and feared he
already knew he had been duped. They needed to get back to the
house right now. She should have never allowed them to come out
here, where nobody could see them. No wonder Miss Crawford was
insistent they remain close. At the time Sophia assumed Percer had
not returned and believed that as long as he was waiting for the
piece of the map they would remain safe.

“We need to go back.” She stood and
straightened her skirts.

“Sit down,” Eliza insisted. “We still need to
plan for tonight.”

Sophia couldn’t sit. Those two would not
leave until the evening was set. She paced and listened, and ready
to run at a moment’s notice.

“At midnight, we will all dress as spirits,”
Eliza began.

“How will we accomplish that?” Rosemary
asked.

Sophia didn’t pay attention to the
explanation. She knew they would not be leaving the house tonight.
She would say nothing now, but if, when the time came, she could
not convince Eliza to remain inside, she would alert Lord Atwood
and Miss Crawford. Right now, Eliza would just dismiss her fear and
she had more urgent concerns on her mind, like how close was Percer
right now?

“Once we have led her away from the grounds
and town, we will run back here,” Eliza concluded.

“Won’t that leave her out there preying on
other innocent victims? Wouldn’t it be better if she remained here,
where Atwood could control her thirst?”

For once, a reasonable question from
Rosemary, Sophia thought to herself. “I agree,” Sophia offered.
Perhaps this folly could end now if she and Rosemary convinced
Eliza it was more dangerous to allow Lady Atwood to run wild.

“That won’t happen. Once she is away from her
home and once it is the midnight hour and the veil between the
living and the dead thins, she will return to the spirit world and
no longer bother anyone.”

Sophia sighed. Eliza was determined to do
this and she did not have the energy to argue at the moment. “Fine.
Now that it is decided, we need to return. We promised Miss
Crawford we would remain close.”

Eliza rolled her eyes and stood. “Very well,
we will go back.”

It took all that she possessed not to run all
the way back to the house, but she did not want to have to explain
her agitation to her friends. They would think her silly anyway, or
worse, plan how to get rid of Percer.

Relief poured through her when they came into
view of the house.

“I am not ready to go back in yet,” Rosemary
whined.

“Then we shall walk the grounds.” Eliza
looked pointedly at Sophia, as if irritated with her. “Where
everyone and anyone can keep an eye on us.”

The three girls rounded the manor and came to
a stop at the front. A large traveling carriage was parked in the
drive. Curious, they approached to see who the visitor was.
Recognition began to dawn and Sophia hastened forward. The crest on
the door confirmed her suspicions and she ran toward the house.

Eliza and Rosemary took off after her and
followed her into the foyer where they were brought up short by the
sight of Lord Atwood, Miss Crawford and a man standing in the
middle of the room.

Say is they spirit so heavy, or they love so
weak,

or thy faith so hollow, that the hope

of being mine for ever is unable to touch
the?

Wake Not the Dead

Johann Ludwig Tieck

Chapter 24

“Papa,” Sophia cried and rushed past Atwood.
“You are alive.”

The man chuckled and grabbed Sophia to
him.

“Of course he is alive,” Eliza snorted.
“Sometimes you are so dramatic, Sophia.”

Vincent shared Sophia’s relief. After
learning what had happened to Lord Parham, he had feared a similar
fate had befallen Leonard Trent, known to society as Lord
Hopkins.

“I am very much alive and well, Sophia, but I
am glad for your concern.” He kissed the top of his daughter’s
head.

Sophia pulled away and grinned up at her
father.

“Shall we adjourn to the parlor for tea and
refreshments?” Tess offered.

Vincent stood back and motioned in the
direction of the room. Tess went first. Lord Hopkins followed,
though he leaned heavily on a cane.

“What happened, papa?”

“Nothing to concern yourself with,
Sophia.”

Eliza and Rosemary followed the group and
Tess turned to look at them. “I am sure there are other matters
that require your attendance, girls.”

The two held back and watched the door
close.

“Do you think he will take her away, when he
learns what Atwood is?” Rosemary worried.

“Even if we told him, and offered proof, he
would not believe us. Your father didn’t,” Eliza scoffed. “It is
better if we say nothing and just handle the problem on our
own.”

* * *

Sophia remained glued to her father’s side
and sat next to him on the settee. “What happened? How were you
injured?”

She would not let the matter drop, and Tess
could not blame her. “Do you take anything in your tea, Lord
Hopkins?”

“No, thank you.” He reached forward and took
the cup, then focused back on his daughter. “You know how I like to
prattle around in the barn,” he began and took a sip of the
tea.

Prattle seemed like a word an elderly person
would use and Lord Hopkins was anything but an old man. He appeared
strong and virile for a man of approximately forty or forty-five
years, by her estimation.

“Yes.” Sophia hung on his every word.

“I was climbing the ladder to the loft and
the rungs broke under my weight.”

Sophia took a quick intake of breath. Vincent
raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

“No, it was not an accident. Someone had
sawed through the ones at the top. I held on, but did sprain my
ankle.”

Sophia hugged her father and tears glistened
in her eyes. “Oh, papa, I don’t know what I would have done had
anything happened to you.”

“I am fine.” He patted her shoulder. “When I
received Atwood’s message I knew my suspicions were confirmed and
decided to come here to see what we could do about Percer, as well
as protect my daughter, instead of staying home and waiting for him
to make another attempt on my life.”

“Where is mama and everyone else?”

“I’ve sent them to visit your aunt and uncle.
There is no place safer than the ducal estate of Crestview and your
brother is safe at Oxford.” He smiled indulgently at his daughter
before he focused on the adults. “Have you learned anything
further?”

“Miss Crawford delivered a false piece of the
map to Percer last night,” Vincent explained.

“That was very dangerous, Miss Crawford,”
Lord Hopkins admonished.

“I agree,” Vincent added. “I have already
told her as much. Especially, since he is still a danger to her
with or without her piece of the map.”

Tess shot him a warning glare. The less
people who knew of her past and the fact she shot her uncle the
better. How could she trust Lord Hopkins, or Sophia for that
matter, to remain quiet when this was done? Wouldn’t they feel it
their duty to report her to the authorities. At the very least, she
would lose her position at the school. Lord Hopkins certainly
wouldn’t want his daughter taught by a murderess.

Lord Hopkins sat forward. “I don’t
understand. If he has her piece, why is Miss Crawford still in
danger?”

Vincent opened his mouth to answer but Tess
cleared her throat. “Would you like to try the lemon cakes? They
are delicious.” She picked up a plate and held it out to
Sophia.

“Thank you.” Sophia picked up one of the
delicacies but her eyes remained on Tess, curious for more
information.

“I suspect that as soon as Percer realizes he
has been given false information he will try and return for the
original piece of the map,” Vincent offered.

“I agree,” Hopkins said. “Another reason why
I thought I should be here is he will not miss my carriage and it
is better he remained focused in one area, where we can catch him,
instead of going between our two estates in his quest for the
remaining pieces.”

“Does that not leave your own home
vulnerable?” Tess asked. Percer could have left last night and
traveled to Sophia’s home for the remaining parchment. Who knew
what damage he would do at the estate, or to the servants in his
search.

“I’ve posted guards among my staff. If he
attempts to break in, he will be caught and dealt with. In fact, I
am hoping he has gone there so the students remain safe here.”

“I doubt we would be so lucky,” Vincent
grumbled.

“Which is why we need to come up with another
plan.” Hopkins’ ominous tone settled on the group with trepidation.
He glanced down at his daughter, who still nibbled on her lemon
cake, then addressed Atwood. “I stopped by Parham’s estate on my
way to you.” His eyes bore into Vincent’s.

“Yes, my servant has already reported back to
me.”

Tess hoped they would not discuss the death.
Sophia looked at her father with expectation.

“Good, then all is taken care of.” Hopkins
smiled down at his daughter and did not elaborate.

Inwardly Tess sighed. Sophia was already
dealing with too much at her young age. She did not need to know
another man had been murdered.

* * *

Sophia made her way back to her chamber with
slow, deliberate steps. She knew Eliza and Rosemary waited for her
and would pounce on her with dozens of questions once she entered
the room. What could she tell them? She loathed lying, but what
else was she to do? The hunt for Percer would be a game to them and
they would never realize how dangerous it was until it was far too
late. Not that a plan had been formed. None of the adults knew the
best way to proceed and had decided to wait until he showed himself
again.

Maybe Percer had gone to her home. It would
be safer for everyone if he had, not that she liked the idea of
that horrible man being in her house. But better there than here,
especially since her family was protected elsewhere.

One question still plagued her. Why was
Percer still a danger to Miss Crawford? Was it because he believed
she was a murderess? Sophia couldn’t imagine Miss Crawford killing
anyone, but that is the only thing she could think of. Did Atwood
know? She wanted to ask and almost had, but Miss Crawford changed
the subject and Atwood allowed her to do so. That must be it. But,
who had Miss Crawford murdered and why? Oh, she hoped she was wrong
because she didn’t think Mrs. Wiggons would allow a murderess to
remain as a teacher.

“Well, is he taking you home?” Eliza asked
the moment she closed the door.

“No, why would he?”

“Then he doesn’t know?” Rosemary asked.

“Know what?” What were they talking
about?

“That Atwood is a vampire,” Eliza informed
her with irritation.

Sophia sagged against the door and dropped
her head to try and find some control. She wanted to laugh with
relief but the two would find it odd. She had totally forgotten
what they believed. But the ludicrous was much easier to deal with
than the truth. She lifted her head and hoped she appeared serious,
if not dire. “No, not yet, and we must keep it from him.”

“Then why is he here?” Eliza flopped on the
bed.

“Yes, why?”

“The same reason as your father, Rosemary. He
was concerned with my well-being.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, but if
they assumed it was because of the tempest, all the better for
everyone.

* * *

Natalie stood in the center of her room,
hands on her hips, and looked around. “I believe that is
everything.”

“I would have preferred to have Hopkins take
a room at the other end of the hall, but didn’t know what excuse I
could give for having to move three of our students into here,”
Tess groaned.

“I would have been more comfortable with
Hopkins at that end since Atwood is at this one,” Mrs. Wiggons
agreed and turned to Natalie. “Thank you for agreeing to move.”

“It is no problem,” she smiled. “As long as
Claudia does not snore, I am sure we will get along fine.”

Claudia snorted. “I was thinking the same
about you.” She grinned back.

“I could have moved,” Tess insisted.

Claudia laughed.

Natalie smiled and shook her head.

“Dear, you, above anyone else, need to be as
close to Atwood as possible and the door connecting the two rooms
gives me much comfort,” Mrs. Wiggons insisted. “Who knows when
Percer will strike again.”

“If only we knew,” Tess sighed.

* * *

“That was a lovely performance, ladies,”
Hopkins applauded at the end of the impromptu musical recital by
the students.

Mrs. Wiggons smiled proudly. “It is getting
late, girls.” She stood and clapped her hands. “It is time we
retired for the night.”

Tess glanced at the clock. It was ten
already. How had it gotten to be so late?