Chapter 9

Maura woke with a start, breathing hard, skin clammy. Reaching for a tangled mane, she found a blanket twisted around her body.

A knock sounded at the servant’s passageway. She glanced at the table by her bed and saw the scroll, undisturbed. Sunlight streamed through the windows. It was the morning of the second day.

Nona entered, carrying a tray of tea and toast. Maura tried to comb her hair with her fingers and straighten the covers. She hovered between two worlds, one from her dream and one of reality—morning at the Gunter’s with a servant appearing to help her get ready. Maura wasn’t sure which world was stranger.

Nona frowned at the mass of covers and Maura tangled inside. “So, was it a bear ye wrestled, wain?” She placed the tray beside Maura, then busied herself around the room. She chose the new yellow gown from the closet and placed it on the bed. Then poured warm water into a basin and put a clean towel nearby.

Maura watched, too exhausted to be polite or even climb out of bed. “I’m so tired.”

“’Tis all right, my dear. Don’t I know ye is in quandary? But you’ll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind. You’ll rise to a new day. Never fear.”

Nona had appeared at Maura’s side after the dinner fiasco like a gentle breeze, placing broken plates and shattered glasses on a cart. Maura had jumped up to help, which appeared to be just as shocking to the guests as taking the tablecloth and all its contents with her to the floor. How could she let Nona clean up her mess without helping?

“Peace, lass,” Nona had said.

Day two in the count to five as Nona helped Maura get dressed for an interview with Tobias that had been set for this morning. She’d placed a final comb in Maura’s hair when someone pounded on the servants’ entrance. Nona opened it, and Adele tumbled into the room, trembling and out of breath.

“What hissy has provoked ye?” asked Nona.

The young girl panted the words between gasps for breath. “There’s been an accident at the factory.”

Nona turned white and ran to the door, then stopped and spun once around the room.

“Go,” said Adele. “I’ll take care of the young miss.”

Nona gathered her skirt and ran out the door.

“Accident?” asked Maura when she was gone.

Adele closed the distance between them and whispered, “Her grandson Rory works at the factory.”

Nona had a grandson? Compassion welled up in Maura. “May I help in some way?”

Adele didn’t answer. The young maid who’d toppled in unannounced stood frozen in place, gaze beyond Maura.

Maura turned to see Lilith standing imperiously at the entrance of the room. Someone was in trouble. Perhaps she hadn’t heard what happened to Nona’s grandson.

“Mr. Tobias Fitch has arrived, Maura,” Lilith said, examining the room. “He’s waiting downstairs.” She glanced at the young servant with open irritation. “Adele, take your place in the kitchen.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Adele curtsied and slipped out the servants’ passageway.

Lilith stood like a Roman goddess, carved in stone, with her black hair pulled into long ringlets against her shoulders. Gone was the gracious matriarch. Her porcelain features were frozen in place. The Lilith who’d taken her shopping the day before had vanished, replaced by this cold, angry version.

Maura felt she needed to make an appeal. “Nona’s grandson has been injured. Adele delivered the news.”

Lilith’s countenance softened. “You aren’t acquainted with how we run our home, which is understandable. We have an assignment to carry out, and it requires the help of many. You were to be ready for an interview with your guardian this morning—one to prepare your defense. Because of the confusion, you’re late.”

Late? Maura was already dressed, thanks to Nona’s help. Lilith’s barely contained outrage didn’t make sense. Something else had offended her, but Maura didn’t know what.

“This is the second day of your stay, and each day is critical to prepare for your trial,” Lilith said with lifted eyebrows. “I have an appointment and must leave now. Adele will serve tea in the parlor.”

Maura took another look in the mirror and adjusted a simple golden strand around her neck. Thanks to Nona she was prepared for any social event of the day. And looked far better than she’d ever managed on her own. She had no idea how a disaster with Nona’s grandson had become a breach in protocol, as well as a reminder of what she already knew. She was on borrowed time.

Adele had seated Tobias and stood nearby with the tea service when Maura arrived downstairs. The fabric of the young maid’s apron wiggled as her knees shook, like a frightened gazelle.

Tobias stood and bowed when Maura entered the room. Maura took a seat near him as Adele served them.

She searched his eyes, wondering how his attitude toward her had changed since the formal dinner. She’d shattered all kinds of social conventions—along with everything on the table. Tobias appeared to be his usual picture of composure, though. He took papers out of a leather case and placed them in a neat stack on his lap.

She remembered her dream from the night before. Something about her advocate reminded her of a picture she’d seen once of Orion. Before he’d become a constellation, anyway. Orion was so handsome, so loved by the goddess Artemis that she’d carried his body to join the stars.

This was a strange time to remember Greek myths.

He met her gaze, seeming oddly immune to her strange eyes. How had a man who had never worked a plow or dug in a garden gotten that scar?

He lifted his gaze to hers. “Tell me about your flight as a child.”

Maura pressed her back against the chair, shocked at this opening statement. “How do you know about that? Have you spoken to Benjamin?”

Tobias scrutinized her intently. “I’ve been studying your case, Maura. We can’t afford surprises during the trial.”

“Then you also know, Mr. Fitch, that I was very young. I don’t remember much. Only that Benjamin and I left and settled in the village near Sir Taylor’s estate.”

“You don’t know why you left?”

“This information can’t matter. I’m on trial for the death of Nicolaus Taylor, not an event that happened to me as a child.”

“Of course.”

What happened to sweet, funny Tobias? This was the man she’d met the first day, all business. What had it meant to take his hand?

“The prosecutor, Sir Hugh Taylor, will offer any incriminating evidence he can find,” he said. “I need to know as much about you as I can.”

Maura took a sip of tea and placed it back on the saucer with careful hands, stalling for a moment to gather her thoughts.

“Uncle Benjamin raised me,” she said as her mind rushed through the snatches of what she knew and how Benjamin had filled in the gaps. She swiped at tears that ran down her face without permission.

Tobias pulled a silken handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. She dabbed her cheeks, unsure of how to return it soaked in tears and a runny nose.

“I understand this isn’t easy,” he said.

“Benjamin…I need to know if he’s safe. That he isn’t paying the price for my escape here.” Maura hugged her arms, suddenly chilled.

Tobias peered out a towering window that warmed the room, then turned back to her. Maura thought she saw a glint of darkness brush across those brown eyes. “Our lives here are sequestered, in a way. We aren’t privy to information about the world outside, unless it pertains to Sanctuary, of course. But I’ll pursue information regarding your uncle.”

“I was forced to leave my parents as a child,” she said, staring at a fleck of dust on the carpet. “They promised to follow me later, but they never did. Benjamin is the only family I’ve known since.” She shoved a strand of hair back into what she hoped was its place. As if in answer, the ornamental comb fell into her lap. Carefully styled locks now streamed out of place, unrestrained. Like the emotions she fought to control.

Tobias leaned closer. “Tell me about the night Nicolaus Taylor died.”

Maura took a deep breath and blew it out. “He’d been feverish for several days. When I tried to talk to Sir Taylor, he sent me away and told me not to worry. A potion was delivered later that afternoon. I gave Nicolaus the medicine, except he only grew weaker.

“When I heard the child cry out, I went to him. He wasn’t breathing. I ran to Sir Taylor immediately, hoping maybe he could do something. He’s so smart, and he has all those machines and… I wasn’t thinking, wasn’t willing to accept the truth.

“Sir Taylor accused me of murder.” Maura swallowed a sob, her throat tight. “I wouldn’t have hurt Nicolaus. You must believe me.”

Tobias was taking notes. He glanced up. “What did you do then?”

“I ran…to Benjamin.”

“How did you find our city?”

“My uncle somehow knew…the way.” She couldn’t tell Tobias about the hedge without sounding crazy. “Aiden Garrett saw me on the road to Sanctuary. He escorted me to the city by carriage.”

“Before Sir Taylor exacted revenge?” Tobias jotted notes on his paper without bothering to notice the expression on Maura’s face.

“How did you know?” she asked.

“There are many paths into the city,” he said. “We’re aware when a person seeks refuge, as well as when the blood avenger pursues.”

“The hedge extends for miles. It’s hard to believe that every entrance is watched.” Especially the unlikely ones like hers.

“We have a responsibility to steward our refugees. A host of creatures, trained for that very purpose, live alongside the wilderness hedge. Perhaps you saw a bird of some kind after your arrival?”

Maura had seen the great wings of a bird when she’d landed on the outskirts of Sanctuary. “The eagle was a spy?”

Tobias shook his head. “Not exactly. He’s a sentinel and one of our finest. His name is Maximillian. You had nothing to fear from him, formidable as he appeared. He was noting your entrance and alerting us to your circumstances.”

“If the carriage driver hadn’t arrived, Sir Taylor would’ve killed me,” she said, reminding him of what he supposedly already knew.

“True. Although legally you were within the boundaries of Sanctuary. And the carriage did arrive with timely help, did it not?”

Maura thought about Aiden’s open curiosity and how he’d appeared to bumble her defense. And then how he’d wielded his sword so skillfully. Strange. But he’d done his job.

“You’ll find mysteries in this city that have existed for many years,” continued Tobias. “Your days here will unveil a multitude of ways we honor our time-honored calling to provide refuge for the accused, until a fair trial can be arranged.”

“I don’t understand—not exactly—how I made it to this city. It seemed almost magical. The time, the weather, and the terrain here are entirely different, but my journey from home was brief. How could that be?

Tobias shook his head. “Whatever path you took, I’m glad it led here.”

To safety? Or to him?

Tobias reached for a sheet of paper from the stack on his lap. “Now. About the trial. The entire city will gather at our city amphitheater. You’ll face the Council, Sir Taylor, and me at the base of the arena. I’ll find a way to communicate with you. Keep your eyes on me. The crowd will be noisy. Our community regards their participation as a right and a duty. It won’t be a quiet gathering.”

“Like a real amphitheater? Will there be lions? Wild beasts?”

“No lions. Sir Taylor will be the first to bring his case before the Council.”

“Sir Taylor murdered a young man in cold blood before Nicolaus died. One who had no opportunity to run to the shelter of this city. Certainly, you’re aware of this.”

“He’s a man of great influence and will use his standing in this region to leverage his case. He’ll malign your motives in any way he can. I cannot speak to Sir Taylor’s behavior. My concern is for you and your case. For that reason, I must ask. Is there anything hidden that, if discovered, would seal his arguments against you?”

“How can I know?” She glanced out the window. A day like this one had convinced her to bring Nicolaus for an evening visit with Benjamin. A cloudless sky became a perfect night to share their favorite constellations. She took a deep breath. “Sir Taylor accused me of neglect when I took Nicolaus out one evening to visit Benjamin. He’d napped long that afternoon, and the weather was balmy. Nothing to suggest it was a dangerous venture.”

“Yet you fear he’ll accuse you of causing the boy’s illness.”

“I’m afraid so. And there is one other thing. The medicine that was sent had an odd scent. It wasn’t like any medicine I’d given Nicolaus before.”

Tobias took furious notes. “When you took him outside at night—was that routine?”

“It wasn’t routine, but neither was it forbidden. I was often lonely. I would never have put the child’s health in jeopardy.”

“What else?”

“What else about me that could incriminate my motives? My parents are…gone. Sir Taylor’s wife died in childbirth. That fact only drew my heart to Nicolaus.”

Tobias nodded. “It’s clear that you loved the child. One more question. What is the mystery behind your eyes?”

So, he had noticed. She lifted her chin and straightened the soft fabric of her new dress with one hand. “My father once told me I carried the light of the stars. Are you implying I may be accused as a witch who enchanted a small child only to poison him?” She gathered herself up in a huff, resisting the urge to run back up the stairs to the safety of her room. Instead, she stood with one hand on a hip and the other pointed at her advocate.

“It’s true that I’m odd and alone.” She hated the way her voice wobbled and curls dangled into her eyes. “I have no friends other than an aging uncle and a young child who died unexpectedly. If you view these speculations as incriminating, I may as well lay my head against the executioner’s axe right now.”

Tobias stood and bowed. He held up a hand as if to stop her words. “I’m here as guardian and advocate, not adversary. I must be sure you won’t bow to accusations I’m certain will come. Sir Taylor will do all in his power to prove you guilty. Are you confident in who you are? Will you stand, knowing the truth about yourself despite lies?”

There was a mystery behind this man, her advocate. His face was usually the picture of undisturbed poise. Now, though, and certainly at the dinner party, something in his form betrayed that composure. What did his body say that his face would not?

“One thing I know,” she said, straightening her shoulders. “I’m innocent of the death of Nicolaus Taylor.”

“Excellent. How else can I help you?”

“I remember the smell of the medicine sent for Nicolaus. It seemed familiar in some way, but I couldn't place it. There’s an apothecary nearby that I’d like to visit in hopes of identifying it.”

“I’ll send an escort.”

“That won’t be necessary. I’ll go and return without delay. You’ll check on my Uncle Benjamin?”

Adele hurried in to bring Tobias his coat and hat.

“Tell him how to find me.”

“Wait for an escort.” Tobias’s words were more command than request. “We’ll meet again, and I’ll give you an update at our meeting. Two o’clock tomorrow afternoon.”