––––––––
Dominic watched the small argument that ensued between his best friend and the woman who haunted his thoughts and dreams with curiosity. It was obvious they knew each other beyond mere acquaintances; in fact they acted like brother and sister. They certainly quarreled like it from Dominic’s point of view, about four yards away between the shadows of the house and a garden shed.
“I need to go back tonight, Chance. Are you coming with me or not?”
“Not. And you’re not going back either. It’s not safe, Lilly; he’s probably got henchmen crawling all over that house looking for the necklace and you. So why are you willing to walk right in there?”
“I grew up in that house; I know it better than anyone. I can get in and out without being seen.”
“Keep your voice down,” Chance hissed. “Do you want to wake up the entire household and explain to Dominic, the very man investigating your disappearance, why you are out here with me screaming like a hoyden?”
“He’s investigating me?” she whispered back.
“Yes.”
“That’s just one more reason I need to find the necklace and get out of London.”
“No, Lilly, it’s too dangerous.”
“What else can I do, Chance? I’m in danger no matter what I do.”
“Just stay here. Go to bed and tomorrow I will come and get you.”
“But Chance—”
“No. Go to bed, Lilly.”
Even from Dominic’s position he could see the mutinous look on her face. She turned back into the house and closed the kitchen door before Chance could say another word. Cursing to himself, Chance strode back into the night. Dominic could hear the distant creaks and rumbles as a carriage exited the alley behind the house.
Dominic didn’t have to wait long before the kitchen door opened once more and a cloaked figure emerged.
“So predictable, my dear,” Dominic said to himself.
The cloaked figure moved steadily from shadow to shadow, never knowing that Dominic trailed behind. While his prey clumsily snagged branches and scuffed her shoes on the pavement, Dominic never made a sound. His prey shivered in the cold night air, her thin cloak no real barrier against the chilly breeze. Dominic estimated they had traveled about four blocks from his house, but were still in the heart of fashionable London. His prey stopped and entered an alley dense with shadows and unknown dangers. Following quickly behind her, he could see the outline of a gate leading to the side gardens of a large house.
***
Lilly winced as the creak of the gate echoed throughout the alley—or at least it sounded like it in her panicked mind. She was amazed that she could hear anything beyond the pounding of her own heart. As much as she tried to calm herself, she had to admit the she was scared half out of her wits and regretting ever leaving the safety of Lord Redwick’s manor. Not wasting any more time, Lilly darted from shadow to shadow along the thankfully overgrown garden path. She crouched behind a large fern and looked up to what used to be the window to her old room. The climbing roses that once thrived below her window now hung limp and lifeless. Lilly hoped the wood lattice underneath still held tightly to the stone. She scanned the open area around her looking for any movement or noise but found none.
“Come on, coward,” she said to herself. “Your life is at stake and this is your only option.” With a final deep breath for courage, Lilly sped for the lattice, beginning to climb the instant her hands reached the wood. She was no stranger to climbing to her window in the dark of night, although it had been a few years. There had been many midnight excursions between her house and Olivia Brentton’s next door. However, the fear that pushed her on this night was not overlaid with excitement. Reaching her window, she tested the sill and nearly cried in relief as she slid the window up.
Reaching the inside of her old room, Lilly took stock of her remaining nerves and waited for her eyes to adjust. Odd but familiar shapes began to take form, and the memories of her past began to form a layout—provided her room hadn’t been ransacked by Mr. Hollow’s ruffians. Everything looked as she had left it the day she escaped with the servants. Her bed was neatly made and her trinkets and ornaments collected over the years still neatly in place on her nightstand. How she wished she could erase the memories of servitude and crawl into bed like it was all a bad dream. But no, it had all happened. Nightmare after nightmare, day after day, all as real as the very air she breathed.
She neared her vanity table. Her silver brushes were still neatly in place, but her jewelry box had been dumped and picked through. Mourning the loss of her favorite pearl earrings, given to her by her Great Aunt Agatha, Lilly turned away and brushed the tears from her eyes. This was not the time to lose control of herself, let alone break down into the gut-wrenching sobs that were currently threatening. She turned to the armoire and opened the elaborately carved wooden doors. Fingering the soft silks and brocades of her now musty gowns, she felt another tear glide down her cheek.
Reaching behind her gowns, she searched for the notch in the wood and slid the invisible panel open. Blindly, she felt around the small square compartment cleverly hidden inside the false backing of her armoire until her fingers found the softly worn fur of her stuffed bear. Pulling it free into the dim light, she softly fingered the small black beaded eyes and threadbare nose. She had been given the bear when she was five years old by Ellie, the only family she had left in the world, it seemed. She had held it close every night since then, especially when the weather raged, pelting the house with rain and shaking the earth with thunder. Holding it close to her chest, Lilly breathed in the musty but familiar smell and fought the tears that stung the back of her eyes.
“If only you could get me through these troubled times too.”
Suddenly Lilly’s head snapped up. Her body seemed to be tingling with awareness, but before she could turn to face the presence she sensed behind her, a strong arm wrapped around her and a firm hand covered her mouth.
“Don’t scream,” a familiar voice said. “They already know someone is up here. Promise me you won’t make a sound and I will get us both out of here alive. Agreed?”
Lilly nodded. She tried to turn her head and meet his gaze, but he was focused on the bedroom door. He released her from the cage of his arm and gently took her hand. Lilly indicated toward the window as their means of a way out, but Dominic only shook his head no. Her eyes widened in fright. He pulled her silently to the door after showing her how to place her feet so she wouldn’t make any sound. Clutching the bear close to her side, she made no objection. She knew if she were caught by her stepfather’s thugs it would be the end of her life. She would worry about Dominic after they escaped the house, since for the moment he seemed to be the lesser of the two evils.
Silently opening the bedroom door, Dominic scanned the hall. Apparently finding no presences lurking in the darkness, he pulled Lilly into the hall and against the opposite wall.
Keeping to the wall to blend with the shadows, they cautiously made their way to the back stairway primarily used by servants. Dominic’s goal seemed to be to get to the back kitchen door. Reaching the last step of the stairwell, Dominic and Lilly froze as they heard voices in the kitchen.
“What’d ya find, Jake?”
“Nothin’ in the dining room or the back parlor. I even tore up the carpet,” Jake answered.
“I’m gonna strangle that bitch when I find her and make her give up the damn necklace. I shoulda taken her when I ’ad the chance."
The familiar gruff voice was like a shower of terror over Lilly. With frightening clarity she could remember the moment beside the stable when she was pinned against the wall having her very breath squeezed out of her.
“Where’d the bloke say to look next, Dan?” Jake asked. He sounded much younger than Lilly’s attacker, who presumably was named Dan.
“He said the chit’s room, then her ma’s room.”
They could hear the crinkle of paper and Lilly felt Dominic tense.
“Where do ye meet ‘im next?”
“Don’t know yet, ’e always sends a little beggar to tell me right before.”
“Well, let’s get it over wit’ then.” The two men left towards the exit to the main hall. Dominic wasted no time and quickly darted out of the house.
***
After reaching the manor, Dominic woke only the necessary staff to ready a carriage and pack his belongings. He instructed a frazzled Mrs. Fields to pack up Millie’s belongings.
“But my lord,” she cried, “there is no one but the gamekeeper and master gardener in residence. Who will tend to your needs? The staff is skeletal!”
“I will expect you and a few other discreet employees to follow tomorrow. Do you understand me, Mrs. Fields?”
Mrs. Fields looked anxiously between Dominic and a very angry cook’s assistant. “I understand, my lord.” She curtsied and walked away.
The carriage was brought around and baggage hastily loaded. Lilly was unceremoniously tossed inside, followed closely by Dominic. They sat on opposite seats, never meeting each other’s gaze even as the coach began to roll laboriously down the street.
So many infuriating questions ran through Dominic’s head at once, he didn’t know where to begin his interrogation. Besides the obvious revelation, which his mind still didn’t want to believe, he needed to know how involved this girl was with her stepfather.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
Silence.
“See what happens if you incite my anger, I beg you.”
“Millie James, my lord.” Her gaze never moved from the window.
She squeaked as she was hauled from her seat and roughly plopped onto his lap. He framed her jaw in one hand and forced her to look into his eyes.
“Don’t play games with your life.”
“Lillian St. James, my lord,” she finally said, tearing herself away from his iron grip.
Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. She startled Dominic when she buried her face in her hands and began to sob uncontrollably in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, unsure of what to do, but unable to stop himself from comforting her. Her whole body shook with the force of her sobs, each one like a blow to his stomach. He didn’t know what to do or say, so just held her until, surprisingly, she became limp in his arms and he realized she had fallen asleep.