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Summer stared at the closed sign in Sidney’s shop window. She checked the time; it was almost two. He should have been back from lunch by now. Last night, he’d said he’d be back by one. Goose pimples broke out on her arms, but it wasn’t the cold that made her shiver now.
Where’s Sidney?
The thought entered her mind like an obsession. She could not let it go, could not stop worrying about it, could not stop thinking of the possibilities.
At home... at Meadow’s... at the general store...
Where’s Sidney?
Her brain repeated the phrase over and over again until finally she was forced to confront the answer that was most likely, and not at all what she wanted to hear.
He’s with Irene.
Belle hesitated for only a moment before turning and going to Mrs. James’ boardinghouse. She had barely tolerated the idea of Sidney meeting with Irene alone today, but meeting with her alone for over an hour was out of the question. She would not stand for such a thing.
Careful, you’re making assumptions. What if Sidney simply got to lunch late? He might have only just arrived.
Belle slowed her pace as rational thought overtook her. “That’s true,” she said out loud, catching the glances of a few passersby. She did not care. People had been staring at her all day. Emile had said that Irene was supposed to leave town again sometime next week, but she did not think it could be fast enough.
She did not blame Irene for any misfortunes that had befallen her regarding the crazed man who was pursuing her, but that did not mean she liked the woman. The sooner she was gone from Elmwood, the better it would be for everyone. The townspeople would forget that she and Sidney had ever been engaged, and Sidney would soon forget it himself. Then Belle might finally gain his hand.
Outside the boardinghouse, she paused as two figures emerged from indoors. Irene clung to Sidney’s arm and looked around, terrified. Her eyes were wide and her hair, normally well-kept, looked disheveled; as if she’d pulled herself together quickly. Sidney started down the porch steps, but Irene hung back.
He looked over his shoulder, back at her, and urged her along with a slight tug on her arm. Irene inhaled then went down the steps after him. She paused again at the bottom, however, her head shaking from side to side, then quickly went back up to the porch, her arm outstretched as if reaching for the door.
Sidney followed her and put one hand on her shoulder, spinning her around. His arms went swiftly around her, embracing her, and she buried her head against his shoulder.
Rage and jealousy burned within Belle’s gut. Stay calm. Just stay calm. Her words had little effect on the boiling of her blood though. She stomped over to them and cleared her throat loud enough to draw attention. Irene jumped out of Sidney’s arms and nearly sent him toppling down the stairs.
“I thought I might find you here,” said Belle to Sidney. She glared at Irene.
Irene swallowed and drew her eyes together. She looked at Belle. “Sidney told me of Lucille’s confession to you. I suppose I ought to be glad that you wrangled it out of her, given the circumstances.” She did not sound glad though.
Sidney looked worried. “Belle, I was only comforting Irene because she’s upset.”
“Of course,” Belle said. “I’m not an ogre. If I had a madman stalking me, I daresay I’d be upset, too.” Her voice was cold, but she meant what she said. No matter how she tried though, she could not seem to warm to Irene. Everything about the woman irritated her, even things that were not her fault.
“You don’t understand,” said Sidney. “I met Marshall Anderson. He’s here, in town.”
Belle’s heart suddenly stuttered. “You met him?”
“That’s right,” Sidney said quickly, letting go of Irene and descending the stairs. Irene followed after him, holding onto the back of his coat as if she were a lost schoolgirl. “He came into my shop for a haircut and pretended to be her husband. Said he had accidentally misplaced the address where she was staying and inquired after Lucille Jordan.”
“Lucille is the only friend of mine in Elmwood he could be familiar with,” said Irene. “It makes sense he’d ask after her. I must have let her name slip out once and he remembered it.”
“You have other friends here?” asked Belle. “I did not think you had any friends.” She saw the hurt in Irene’s eyes and scolded herself for her choice of words. “Forgive me. That came out wrong.”
“What is the matter with you, Belle?” asked Sidney, annoyed with her. “How can you behave so coldly to a woman who’s done nothing to you?” He was looking at her as though he did not know her.
“It’s all right, Sidney,” said Irene. “Fools don’t often know what they say.”
Belle’s anger resurfaced but she forced it back down. “I’m sorry,” she said again. “I... I only meant that I did not think Irene had other friends in Elmwood, not that she hadn’t any at all.” She bit her lip, afraid she was making things worse. She looked at her feet and tried again. “What did you tell Marshall?” she asked Sidney.
Sidney had taken hold of Irene’s hand and looped their arms together, as if to spite Belle.
He paused before answering then said, “I told him I had never heard of Irene or Lucille and showed him to a boardinghouse at the opposite end of town.”
He looked around them now, as if worried. “We can’t keep her out in the open for much longer. We must hurry.” He started walking, Irene hanging on him, much to Belle’s irritation. She tried to take Sidney’s other arm, but he brushed it away, still angry with her.
“Where you are going?” she asked him. “Back to Meadow’s?”
Sidney shook his head. “No. Meadow has small children in the house and now that I know the danger of the situation, I would not risk putting them in it.”
“Then where?” Belle persisted. Her eyes widened suddenly. “Not Summer’s!” she shouted, and several people turned their heads in their direction.
Sidney hissed at her to be quiet. “No, Summer is with child. I’m sure my brother would tell me it was fine, but I would not risk his life or Summer’s or that of my unborn nephew.” He paused. “Besides, now that Marshall’s in town, all he need do is ask around and he will find out fast enough who Irene’s friends are. If he learns she’s been staying with Meadow but is not there now, he might check Summer’s next.”
He quickened his pace, and Belle stumbled a bit as she tried to keep up, the folds of her dress catching between her feet. She lifted her skirts to just past her ankles and moved faster.
“Where else is there?” she asked. “Another boardinghouse?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Then where?” Belle asked, irritated he could not seem to give her a direct answer.
He finally slowed his pace long enough to look at her. “Irene is going to stay with me.”
Belle’s heart fluttered, and for a moment, she was certain she’d misheard him. “You?” she asked, looking at Irene, who was at least self-conscious enough to blush. “What do you mean? At the shop?”
“I do not sleep at the shop, Belle,” Sidney said in short, clipped tones.
“And I do not understand,” Belle snapped.
He gave her a look and she lowered her voice just as they reached Sidney’s home. He unlocked the door and ushered Irene in then went in after her. Belle followed him.
“Irene cannot stay with you,” said Belle. “It is entirely inappropriate.” They were stopped in his living room, Irene’s wide eyes bouncing back and forth between them as they argued.
“What’s inappropriate is you telling me what to do,” said Sidney. “I am only trying to help her.”
“If Marshall asks around and finds out you were engaged to her, then this shall be the first place he looks.”
Sidney’s face darkened. “I’ve thought of that.”
“And?” Belle asked.
“It is still better than the alternatives. At least here I can watch her, and I’ll know that she’ll be safe.”
“So, you’d risk your life for hers?” Belle asked.
He hesitated. “I’d risk my life to help anyone in trouble, yes. Only I don’t think it shall come to that. Once Marshall realizes that Irene is not at Lucille’s or anywhere else, he’s bound to go on to another town. Irene simply has to stay indoors till that happens.”
Irene stepped forward now. “I don’t want to stay indoors all day and night. I’m tired of running from him. I want to fight.”
Belle thought that the most reasonable thing anyone had said up till now. “Let’s get Amos. He can help.”
“I’ll talk to Amos,” Sidney said, “but first, I must make sure Irene is safe.”
“How do you know the man you saw is the same man chasing Irene?” she asked.
“Irene says he has a small scar shaped like a diamond under his right eye. I saw the same scar when I was cutting his hair.”
He and Belle stared at each other. “All right,” she said, defeated on at least one point. “Then I’m staying at your house as well.”
Sidney’s eyes widened, and a nervous laugh escaped his lips. “You’re what?”
“You heard me,” she said, her hands on her hips. “I’m staying here as well. I’ll go to Summer’s right now and get my things.”
Sidney shook his head. “You can’t stay here. How would that look?”
“How will it look if people learn Irene is staying here?” she countered.
“But no one will know about that,” he said. “She’ll stay inside, with me, and no one shall see us. I’ll close up the shop for a while and—”
“That is a terrible plan,” Belle snapped. “You cannot stay inside all day and night. If Marshall comes looking for you, he may watch the house from a distance. If you never leave it, he’ll become suspicious. You must go to work and act as if nothing is wrong. That is why you need me. I’ll stay with Irene when you’re not here.”
“But... but...” Sidney said. Irene put a hand on his arm, and Belle wanted to snatch it off, but she did not dare move.
“Belle is right,” Irene said, much to her amazement. “If you change your behavior so drastically as to avoid work altogether, it will only draw suspicion. You must act normally. I’ll stay indoors with Belle. If I need anything, she can get it for me, and you can check on us during your breaks. Your home is not far from your shop. Once you speak with your sheriff, I’ll know better if I can go outside or not.”
Sidney sighed loudly, but Belle could tell he was relenting. “Fine,” he said, grumbling. “We shall try it for a few days and see how things go. Hopefully, it will take no longer than that to get rid of Marshall.”
“Hopefully,” Belle said. “I’ll go and get my things then.” She turned to go.
“What will you tell Summer?” Sidney asked.
Belle paused and considered that. “I’ll tell her the truth, I suppose. There’s no reason to hide it from her. I doubt she’ll think less of me for helping Irene, and she might be able to help you and Emile talk Amos into sending Marshall on his way.”
“Thank you, Belle,” Irene said, and Belle’s stomach spun. She hated the woman, but looking at her now, with her soft eyes so full of fright and worry, she could not help but feel for her.
“You’re welcome,” Belle said and took her leave, wondering if just maybe she’d been too hard on Irene all this time, then quickly deciding against it. First impressions were often the correct ones, and Belle would not change hers just because Irene had turned out not to be a thief after all. It would take more than that to win her over.
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