Secret Reflection (28 page)

Another tap.

‘Come in, Nance,’ she answered in a half whisper, as if she had been woken from a deep sleep.

The door opened but to her dismay Richard stood there.

‘What are you doing here?’ she glanced at her bedside clock. ‘It’s almost midnight.’

His lips lifted to reveal a pair of dimples that made him seem very young and boyish. The bruise on his cheek had faded to a dirty yellow. ‘I wanted to see how you were after today’s ordeal.’

‘At midnight? Have you been drinking?’

He stepped into the room and pushed the door closed. ‘No. I’m quite sober. But I have been thinking and it couldn’t wait until morning.’

He moved towards the bed and behind him John glared with affront.

‘I wasn’t joking on Friday evening when I said I really liked you, Kelly. I want us to get to know each other,’ he looked hesitantly at the mirror for a second before turning back. ‘I know you think Tom and Nancy put me up to it but that was before I knew you. Now I do,’ he moved closer until he stood alongside the bed, ‘I think we would be really good together.’

Dumbstruck, she just stared at him, noting that even as he spoke, his pupils were dilating. All she could think was that he could somehow smell the scent of arousal on her skin, and reacted as any man would. She dragged the bedclothes higher about her neck.

‘I don’t really think this is the time or place—’

He sat beside her and placed two fingers across her lips to silence her.

‘Please don’t say no just yet. I also wanted to tell you that I think I have found the journal you’re searching for … in one of those crates. If you come over tomorrow we can check it out together.’ He let his fingers glide down her throat. Though she’d been enthralled by that same sensation only moments ago, now her flesh crawled across her back. She pushed his hand away, her gaze darting up to meet John’s. He appeared as if he was about to leap through the mirror to defend her honour. With a slight shake of the head, she cast him a warning look before returning her focus to Richard.

‘I’m sorry, but I don’t really want to get into this right now. Please, it’s very late and I’d like you to leave.’

Leaning into her, he rekindled the dimpled smile.

‘I will do as you ask, but before I go I wish to claim a goodnight kiss.’

Shaking her head she wriggled back into the pillows. ‘I don’t think that is a good idea, Richard.’

Refusing to take no for an answer he followed her movement and pressed his mouth against hers, all but laying over her. She pushed against him, trying to wrest her mouth from his.

‘C’mon, Kelly, don’t play coy,’ Richard said as she struggled against him. He was strong, though he didn’t hurt her. And while his movements were deft, all she felt was an icy fear. Her stomach clenched and the more she fought the further the bedclothes slipped. As she pleaded for him to stop she heard John’s roar of outrage. But Richard seemed oblivious. His eyes glowed when one breast appeared above the bedding and his mouth continued to dive at hers. All the while he kept telling her that if she’d only give him a chance he could make her very happy.

A cold dread filled her chest. Would he rape her? As Richard’s hand found her breast she tried to scream but his mouth smothered hers. John bellowed in that same moment and Richard froze at the sound. Pulling away from her, his head spun so fast Kelly almost laughed.

Very slowly, Richard inched away till his back rested against the wall beside the bed.

‘That was the ghost, wasn’t it?’ he whispered in a breathless voice.

Kelly raised her brows but didn’t reply.

‘You’ve seen him, haven’t you? That’s why you want that journal so badly.’ His voice dropped to a lethal tone as his gaze returned to her face. ‘Well, my dear, if you want the journal, you and I might have to make a little deal.’ This time his smile was far from boyish.

‘If you want it you’ll come to the coach house after lunch tomorrow.’ His eyes flicked to the mirror momentarily before he again focused on her. ‘And come alone.’ He all but ran towards the door as if he feared the ghost of Stanthorpe would grab him as he passed.

‘If you don’t come, I’ll burn the bloody thing,’ he said with a sneer.

Although she didn’t want to, she knew that she’d have to comply … John’s survival might very well depend on it. She let out a shaky sigh as she met Richard’s hard gaze. ‘I’ll be there.’

He nodded, then with a final, hesitant glance at the mirror, he slipped from the room.

Kelly waited until she thought she heard the back door close before she dared to chance a look at John. Though stormy, his expression also told of his frustration that he couldn’t help her against the likes of Richard.

‘My apologies—’

‘Don’t!’ she jumped out of bed and came to stand before the mirror, her small breasts heaving. ‘Don’t you even
think
of apologising for something that is beyond your control.’

‘But Kelly, I am appalled that I can do nothing to help the woman I love. It is identical to Anne’s plight. I will not see you endure that.’

Did he actually say he loved her? For an instant she thought she had heard wrong but his gentle gaze assured her otherwise. Her heart squeezed. Those words made it imperative she face Richard tomorrow, no matter what the price. John had to escape his prison if they were ever to have a future.

‘You must not go to him, Kelly. He will hurt you, I know it. The journal is not worth what I know he will ask of you.’

Stepping forward, she laid her cheek against the mirror as if she were leaning into his broad chest. ‘I’m not sure what I’ll do,’ she said. Tears pricked her eyelids but she forced them away. ‘Whatever happens, I am going to get you out of there. I promise.’

An anguished sound burst from him.

‘I forbid you to sacrifice yourself on my account!’

‘That depends on what he asks. It might be something small,’ she shrugged as if making light of the idea, ‘and if he has the journal, then the reward might be worth the price. I want us to have a chance. I just hope—’

‘Do not hope too strongly, my love. I could not bear to see the disappointment in your eyes if it should all be for naught.’

They could argue over this until dawn and she knew neither would win. His honour wouldn’t countenance what she knew Richard would ask, but by the same token, she was
no snivelling virgin. Late in her marriage she had submitted to what amounted to rape simply because the man she married had demanded it of her. She didn’t know whether she could make herself do it again, but if that was Richard’s price, then she would try.

‘It’s very late and I have to be at the police headquarters first thing in the morning. I’d best get some sleep,’ she said as she climbed back in the bed.

‘I shall watch over you.’

As she reached for the alarm clock she hesitated. ‘Will you wake me?’

His eyes seemed to glow back at her. ‘It will be my pleasure.’

Journal of Edward James Ditchley
,

Stanthorpe House, Oxfordshire, England
.

December 23, 1862

My sweetest love, it is getting near time that I can wrest William from Anne’s grasp. She claims she still suckles the child but I have seen a wet-nurse sneaking in from the village, so I know she lies
.

Tonight, I chose to reprimand her for that secrecy, though she knows not why I beat her. She has slowly learned to do as I ask in all ways, meekly kneeling before me to provide for my pleasure. Your murderer has also learned. He watches, as ordered, staring stoically at Anne as she places her mouth upon me. Yet I can still see the anger seething in his eyes, and that is worth suffering the girl’s inept attempts at pleasing me. He knows I will tell his mother of his infamy should he turn his eyes away
.

In the end, this eve, she was so clumsy and incompetent I had to take the strap to her. I daresay Anne’s screams could be heard throughout the house. I forced her facedown upon the side of the bed to take her from behind like a sodomite. John’s anger at this was most especially gratifying. I have happened upon another weapon against him!

Do not fear, my love, I will be rid of Anne soon. She has not usurped you in my heart. And I shall end your murderer’s existence also. His face has become such an anathema that I begin to grow weary of our vengeance
.

Day Ten

Having anticipated a dreadful ordeal, Kelly came away from police headquarters in Oxford feeling light-headed with relief. Tom had been kind enough to escort her, and had refused to be separated from her throughout the hour-long visit. She suspected that Nancy had given him strict orders not to leave her alone, no matter what. Detective Inspector Mathieson didn’t deign to meet her. According to the young constable who’d led her inside from the front counter, the ‘DI’ had been called out on another case.

The young man, who seemed barely out of high school, led her into a small room where they took her fingerprints and made photocopies of her passport and other papers. Apparently they already had photographs that were taken while she lay unconscious at the hospital. After the fingerprints they took a swab of the inside of her mouth and then she waited in reception for a further ten minutes before the constable came back out to say that she was free to leave.

‘That’s it?’ she asked in surprise.

‘Yes, Ms Reid. If the DI needs anything further, he’ll call you.’

Tom didn’t wait, wheeling her around and out the door before she could blink.

‘I reckon they have someone else under suspicion,’ Tom stated as he pulled the car out of the parking bay.

‘What makes you say that?’

‘They were just going through the motions in there. I always thought it was ridiculous that they suspected you anyway. What did Mathieson think – that you killed Deanna and knocked yourself out afterward?’ he shook his head. ‘Made no sense to me.’

‘I didn’t really consider that. Though now that you say it …’ She shrugged. It was impossible to second-guess someone like Inspector Mathieson.

Kelly fell quiet on the trip back to Stanthorpe, distracted by her planned rendezvous after lunch. She hadn’t told either Tom or Nancy of Richard’s midnight visit and at this stage she didn’t intend to. She still wrestled with how she could gain access to the journal but avoid sleeping with Richard to do it.

‘Do you mind if we stop at Abingdon on our way home?’ Tom asked, breaking the silence. ‘I need to pick up some ginger tea for Nance, the morning sickness has hit with a vengeance and the nurse at the health centre suggested the tea might help settle it.’

‘Sure, not a problem.’

When they pulled up near Stert Street, Kelly spied a kidswear store and her eyes lit with delight. She wanted to buy Nancy and Tom a gift to celebrate Nancy’s pregnancy, and while Tom went off in search of the tea, she’d take the opportunity to find something extra special for them.

Kelly climbed from the car and called to Tom as he crossed the street to let him know where she was headed. He gave her a wave and a nod before disappearing into a small store across the way.

Inside the quaint little shop she found a mesmerising array of merchandise for babies and little ones, and she suddenly felt her own body-clock ticking away inside her. Her heart melted when she picked up the tiniest pair of baby’s socks embroidered with miniature teddies, so small that she was certain they would fit a doll. Behind the counter sat a display of teddy bears of every size and colour.

‘Anything in particular you’re after?’ the girl, who lounged by the till, asked.

As Kelly took in the girl’s face, she couldn’t help but wonder if she knew her.

‘I’m not sure yet,’ Kelly answered vaguely.

Tom bustled into the shop with a grin spread from ear to ear. ‘I was waiting for the shopping to start.’ He turned to the girl behind the counter. ‘Hi, Maureen. Not working at the pub today?’

‘Hiya, Mr Wentworth. Mam’s over at Dee’s house helping prepare for the funeral tomorrow.’ She glared at Kelly with harsh eyes momentarily before turning her attention back to Tom. ‘So I’m stuck here until closing.’

Ahh
, Kelly thought. That was where she’d seen her. Maureen was the girl in the pastry-chef’s uniform the day Deanna had tackled her in the rest rooms.

Tom nodded his understanding and began browsing the merchandise. ‘I cannot believe how small this stuff is,’ he commented as he lifted a tiny t-shirt off one of the racks. It was bright red and had a picture of the Cookie Monster on the front.

‘Get used to it, Tom. Babies generally start out pretty small.’

He grinned back at her with that glowing expression she’d seen on both him and Nancy almost continuously since they’d received the news.

‘Can I look at that big bear you have up on the top shelf?’ she asked the girl.

Maureen narrowed her gaze but retrieved a stepladder from by the door and climbed up. ‘It’s the most expensive,’ she said coldly, ‘ninety-nine pounds.’

Kelly shrugged lightly. ‘In this instance, money is no object.’ When the girl handed her the plush bear, Kelly almost sighed. It was the softest thing she had ever touched in her entire life. ‘I’ll take it,’ she said without the barest hint of hesitation. She dug in her handbag for her wallet and extracted her credit card.

The girl frowned continually as she processed the sale and Kelly wondered whether the girl also suspected her of killing Deanna.

As they exited, Tom told the girl he’d see her at the funeral.

‘I don’t think she likes me very much,’ Kelly commented as they made their way back to the car.

‘She’s Deanna’s best friend. While I’m sure the police have kept things close to their chests, people do talk and I reckon the whole village knows you’re on the list of suspects.’

‘Possibly, but she was also working at the pub that day when Deanna first warned me off Richard. And if they were best friends …?’ she let the sentence hang. Chances were the girl would have spread a story or two of her own after Deanna’s death.

‘Don’t worry about it, Kel, the truth will come out soon enough.’

Nancy promptly burst into tears when she opened the colourful carry bag that contained the bear. ‘Oh, sweetheart, isn’t it gorgeous?’ she exclaimed to Tom as she hugged it close and rubbed her cheek against the soft fur.