A Thin Line (20 page)

“Let’s get to it.”
 
A footman brought in their supplies and the two women began sorting and stacking.

Across the square, a rap sounded on the Duke of Hawkescliffe’s front door.
 
He stood in the foyer, straightening his cravat before he left for the office.
 
He had found that McKenzie had been called out of town and in his place he had a meeting with the head of the Foreign Office, Home Office, War Office and the Prime Minister.
 
The War Office was so expansive with the war effort that it had an appointed Cabinet member to oversee it and then Director McKenzie ran the day-to-day issues.
 
His head already pounded, and his scar was pulling, drawing down the left side of his lips.
 
He ran his hand along the puckered skin and turned towards the door.
 

His butler turned towards him, “A Mr. Dixon is here to see you, Your Grace.”

Curious, he motioned the man to follow him.
 
He walked into his study and turned on him.
 
“Who are you, Dixon, is it?”

“Yes, Your Grace.
 
I am in charge of the protection detail for Miss Simmons.
 
When Mr. McKenzie left, he told me should anything occur to report to you.”

Gabe felt slightly taken aback by this.
 
First, he left him in charge in lieu of his absence and now his men reported to Gabe as well.
 
He would have to question him when he returned to London.

“Well, what information do you have?”

“Two well-dressed gentlemen came, stayed ‘bout thirty minutes then left.”

“Do you know who they were?”

“Asked the lad who watched their horses.
 
They were Lords Dewhurst and Southerby.”

“And you say they both left?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“What did they do while there?”

“They, Miss Simmons, and her companion walked around the square.”

“They never went inside?”

“No, Your Grace.”

“Good.
 
Keep your eyes open.
 
I will be at the office.
 
Send word if necessary.”

“Aye, Your Grace.”
 
The man left the room.
 
What did Southerby and Dewhurst want?
 
Right now, both men were at the top of his list.
 
He would have to see if he could find more information on the two.
 
Gabe made a mental note to ask the Director of the Foreign Office about Southerby after their meeting.

He retraced his steps to the foyer and left his house.

***

Still blind.
 
“Damn,” the man swore before continuing away from the house.
 
Either she had not yet shared her information or she did not know as much as he had originally suspected.
 
Right now she remained an unknown factor that could be very dangerous to their mission.
 
Most women in her predicament would have retired to the country and allowed family to care for them.
 
He really had underestimated her.
 
She appeared much stronger than he had given her credit.

He still did not know how she had come across his meeting with Natalia.
 
He had been so careful to make certain he had not been followed.
 
How long had she stayed, and what had she heard?
 
She had heard enough to set up a meeting with that damned Hawkescliffe.
 
It became more and more difficult to slink around that man.
 
He tended to be everywhere.
 

His thoughts turned again to the meeting with Natalia and how it had ended with them both sweat-soaked and breathless.
 
Had Mikala witnessed their carnal appetites?
 
Just considering the possibility had his loins tightening to an uncomfortable level.
 
He wouldn’t kill her right off.
 
No, he would find out what kind of lover she made first.
 

Perhaps he would allow Hawkescliffe to watch.
 
He could picture the scenario in his mind, Hawkescliffe bound, unable to move or look away as he ravished the young, nubile Mikala.
 
Excitement coursed through him.
 
Then he would show the little bitch a thing or two before he finished her off, with the stoic, condemning duke sitting helplessly nearby.
 
He chuckled softly to himself.
 
Indeed, he had plans for Miss Simmons.
 
A great many plans, but first he had to find that damned grail.

Chapter 15

The butler announced dinner just as Kala and Mrs. McGafferty attached the last rope.

“Well, what do you think, Miss Mikala?”

“I think I have some freedom back,” she clapped her hands.
 
“Mrs. McGafferty, I’m so excited.
 
Now I can get through the house and part of the gardens on my own.”

“You just remember not to go outside without supervision.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Kala attempted to sound meek but failed.

“You mind me now, miss.”

“I will, I promise.”
 
They went into dinner and for the first time in two weeks Kala did not have to be led like an invalid.
 
The next few days passed in a rather boring manner.
 
Kala found that there were not a lot of things a blind person could do.
 
She couldn’t write letters to let her family know of her accomplishment with the ropes.
 
She did catch up on her reading, so to speak.
 
Mrs. McGafferty had a strong reading voice and could read quite well.
 
The two spent many hours reading history tomes because anything else bored Kala.

When they were not reading, Kala spent her time memorizing the layout of the rooms she most frequented.
 
She also familiarized herself where the guns were kept and could quickly place her hands on the one in the library, parlor, and her bedroom at any given minute.
 
Mrs. McGafferty carried one on her person at all times as well, which also eased Kala’s mind.
 
It still disturbed her to know that whoever had done this to her remained at large and could be someone close to her.

She also wondered what had happened to McKenzie.
 
She had expected him to come by and question her at some point upon hearing what happened.
 
However, she had not seen him since before the incident.
 
She would have to ask Southerby when next she saw him if he knew what had become of the director.

One afternoon she gave a shout of triumph and heard a familiar voice call from the foyer, “Whatever was that for?”

“Your Grace, is that you?” Kala called.

“Miss Simmons, the Dowager Duchess of Hawkescliffe.”

“I’m so glad you came.”

“How are you child?”
 
Kala heard heels clipping on the floor and felt arms envelop her.
 
Kala wrapped her arms around the other lady and hugged her back with all her strength, the smell of lavender enveloping her.
 

“I’ve been better.”

“What are all the ropes for?”
 

“Well, that is my brilliant plan, if I do say so myself,” Kala led her over to the settee and sat down, pulling the older woman down beside her.
 
“The ropes are guides to and from the rooms that I most frequent.
 
It allows me some independence if you will.”

“I always knew you were a smart one.”

“How long have you been in town?”

“Most of the little season.”

“And you’re just now coming to see me?”
 

“I know.
 
I wanted to come by sooner, but Gabe said they were allowing no one to see you at first.”

“No, just not him.”

“I see.
 
Well, I’ve had to keep my daughter-in-law entertained as well.
 
And I have had social engagements to attend.
 
However, I have had no one to go with and have been quite bored.”

“How is Gabe’s mother?”

“As pleasant as ever,” the elder lady said on a sigh.

“I am sorry for that.
 
Gabe could always squire you about.”

“Pooh.
 
Gabe is too wrapped up in other things.”

“Lady Clarissa?”

“For a while, yes.
 
However, things seem to have cooled betwixt them.”

“Why do you say that?”

“It is rumored that she has left town.”

“Have you heard the reason why?”

“That nonsense about Gabe?
 
Yes.
 
I haven’t had the chance to address it with him, but I will.
 
In the meantime, let’s speak about why I truly came.”

“Do tell.”

“I have come to rescue you from your prison, at least, temporarily.”

“Really?” Kala could feel her face light up and her whole demeanor change.
 
“I can’t tell you how wonderful it will be to get out of here for a while.”

“I thought you would feel that way.
 
Everything is arranged.
 
One of the guards will accompany us.”

“Guards?”

“Yes.
 
There are men put in place watching this house ever since your attack.”

“Really?”

“Yes.
 
He truly is concerned for your welfare.
 
Now, let’s get you ready and we will have a day of it.”

“What do you have planned?”

“I have been absolutely craving an ice and perhaps a new hat.”

“It sounds wonderful to me.
 
Thompson, I will be going out for the afternoon.
 
Since the rest of the staff and Mrs. McGafferty have the day off, why don’t you take the rest of the day off as well?”
 

“Miss Mikala, are you certain you won’t need me?”

“Positive.
 
Evidently there will be someone accompanying us.
 
Just be sure everything is locked up and I will have our escort see me in and stay with me until everyone returns.”

“Thank you, Miss Mikala.
 
I will see you this evening.”
 
Within a few minutes she, James, and Gabe’s grandmother left for their expedition in the Duke of Hawkescliffe’s town coach.
 
First they went down Bond Street and stopped at several millinery shops.
 

“You know, Lady Hawkescliffe...”

“Please, Mikala, we have known each other long enough that you can call me Judith.”

“All right then, Judith, I miss seeing the colors, but I do greatly enjoy feeling all the textures of the fabric.”

“I see what you mean,” Judith replied.
 
“It does appear that every fabric has its own unique feel.
 
All right, this hat is a pale blue with cream colored roses around the brim with a little bird perched on it.”

Kala thought for a moment about how the hat looked in her mind.
 
She wrinkled her nose, “It sounds adorable except for the bird.”

“You’re right.
 
It does look a little awkward perched on the brim of a hat.
 
Almost as if it is lost or looking for a target.”

“Oh, Judith,” Kala laughed outright.

“Perhaps the milliner can remove the bird.”
 
Judith walked off leaving Kala to run her hands over the cloth.
 
She found that she loved the feel of the smooth satin the best.
 
“She will fix it and have it delivered to the house.
 
Are you ready for an ice?”

“Yes.”
 
She let her companion guide her out of the shop and determinedly ignored the whispering of the other women in the shop.
 
She instinctively knew they were talking about her, but she disregarded their rudeness.

James, the assigned guard, assisted them into the carriage they were once again on their way.
 
After the carriage lurched into motion, Judith could not contain her annoyance,
 
“Those women make me so angry.”

“It is all right Judith.
 
I’m just the latest piece of gossip for them.
 
Look at it this way, within two day’s time, my lack of sight will be the latest
on dit
and poor Lady Clarissa can go on with her life, wherever she might be.”

“I guess that is one way to look at it.
 
Ah, here we are.”
 
Once again, the guard helped the two ladies out of the carriage.
 
Judith led Mikala to a somewhat secluded table.
 
“Vanilla?”

“Of course.”

A shadow fell into her line of vision, and a voice said, “So, I see you are out and about.
 
Enjoying yourself?”