That afternoon, Nora had been tinkering around in the sitting room provided for her use. She played with a few water glasses and candles, trying to resurrect an old idea for an experiment. The project occupied her quite happily for a while, but when she heard the front door open and close a few times, she decided to find out what was happening. She was about to enter the front parlor when she heard an out-of-place noise. A sob?
“Reggie, you don’t have to go. Even if he’s telling the truth, you don’t owe these people anything!”
“I just don’t know!” Another half-stifled sob reached Nora’s ears. She stopped short at the doorway, peeping in at the scene of Regina sitting on the long couch, with Ash leaning over the back, his arm around her shoulders, his head close to hers.
Ash was speaking, trying to soothe the distraught Regina. Nora was about to step in and offer to help, when something in their pose kept her feet still. Why was Ash so close to her? Why did she cling to him like that? Surely that was not how family behaved.
“Ma’am?”
The new voice startled her. Nora turned to find a maid bearing a tray with tea.
“I…I was going in the parlor,” she began to explain. She felt like an eavesdropper.
“Best not to, ma’am,” the maid said in a practical tone. “Miss Fox is in a state.”
“Oh. Yes, of course.” Nora backed away.
She backed all the way to her room, where she grabbed a straw hat and rang for Judith.
“I have to get out. I have to walk,” she announced, once Judith appeared.
Nora walked out of the house with Judith following dutifully, no more intrusive than a shadow.
She tried to focus on the quiet streets, and the green trees in the park, where the summer heat was less.
Despite her effort to forget, the image flashed against her eyes again. Ash consoling Regina. But how close they were, how strangely intimate they seemed. Ash had her close in his arms, like a lover.
Or was Nora giving into jealousy for no reason at all? Perhaps she really was out of her mind, and everything before was just a fantasy she dreamed up.
Nora took a deep breath to steady herself. “No. It’s nothing.” But the way Ash’s lips were at Regina’s cheek, the way he had his fingers entwined with hers.
“I’m imagining it.” But Nora didn’t imagine things. She saw them.
And then, when she looked up, she saw something else.
A familiar shape darted between two trees a few hundred yards ahead. Nora would know him anywhere. It was Edmund Morrison.
She stopped in her tracks. Judith nearly bumped into her.
“Ma’am?” the maid asked, confused.
“That man.” Nora nodded in Edmund’s direction. “The tall blond one in the grey jacket. Do you see him?”
“The one walking the dog?” Judith asked.
“Yes. We need to follow him, but he can’t see me! Not once. Understand?”
“Ah, why must he be followed, ma’am?”
“I can’t explain now. Just come with me.”
Nora kept a healthy distance between her and Edmund, but she never let him out of her sight. She watched as he exercised Tippo on the lawn of the park, and then as he and the dog walked out a gate onto the busy thoroughfare.
She hoped to see where he was living or if he was going to meet someone. He walked slowly, often stopping to watch some woman or other who happened to be passing by or standing by a shop. The dog constantly sniffed the air.
Edmund was looking for her, Nora realized. He must be walking likely neighborhoods in the hopes of catching her. Even in a city the size of London, with many thousands of people, it might not be that difficult. The classes sorted themselves out, and there were places Nora would never be found, because they were either too high or too low for a lady of her standing. Edmund could cross those places off his list.
Nora suddenly felt the comforting anonymity of London crumble. Edmund was already closer to her than she ever wanted him to be. Why was she practically daring fate to expose her?
Just then, Tippo sniffed something in the air and snorted, turning his head toward Nora and Judith.
“Oh, Lord!” Nora gasped. “We’ve got to hide! Get away!”
“This way, ma’am.” Without further ado, Judith practically pushed Nora into the doorway of a spice shop, redolent with smells and much darker than the street outside.
“Ladies, what are you in need of for your kitchen? Binsley’s has it all!” the proprietress said cheerfully, dusting her hands on her apron. A cloud of cinnamon scent surrounded her as she walked toward them. “Pepper? Anise? What are you looking for?”
“A back door,” Nora gasped out.
“Excuse me?” The proprietress’s eyebrows rose an inch.
“A man has been following my mistress,” Judith said. “Very unpleasant man, and she’d rather avoid him than suffer his acquaintance.”
“I know the type,” said Mrs Binsley, wrinkling her nose. “Say no more.”
She pointed to a narrow pathway between two towering stacks of crates. “Through there, if you please. The door opens onto Grape Alley. Mind your skirts and shoes! And noses, for it stinks to high heaven.”
Nora murmured her thanks and the two women slipped out into an alley every bit as nasty as advertised.
They both managed to avoid the worst of the refuse piles, and then to escape Edmund and Tippo’s possible pursuit. By the time Nora returned to the house, she was tired from walking far longer than she intended, and tense from thinking of Edmund so close by. When she saw Ash approaching, her first instinct was to reach out to him.
“Where were you?” he asked. “I was worried.”
“A walk. And while I was out, I saw him!”
“Who?”
“Wait…what happened this afternoon?” she asked, remembering what drove her out of the house. “Why was Regina crying?”
Ash shook his head. “News…a relative she never thought to hear from again.”
“She got word of a death? Oh, I am so sorry.”
“Not a death. It’s complicated, and not my story to tell,” Ash said. “I’ve never seen her so upset. Not ever. Reggie’s always been unshakable…”
Nora felt horrible for suspecting an illicit relationship between them, especially when Ash was so clearly distressed on Regina’s behalf. “At least she had you there. That must have helped.”
“I hope so.” Ash seemed lost for a moment. Then he blinked. “Forgive me. You said something happened while you were out, and I cut you off. Tell me.”
“I saw Edmund. ”
“Where? When?”
“On the street, while I was walking.”
“You were walking alone?”
“No, Judith was with me. She saw him too.”
Ash looked at the maid, a question in his eyes.
Judith said, “There was a man that distressed Mrs Morrison, and she asked me to help her follow him. Whether it was Mr Morrison or not, I couldn’t say,” Judith added, a bit reluctantly, “since I’ve never seen him.”
“If it was Edmund, why did you follow him?” Ash asked Nora. “That was dangerous.”
“To see where he went, of course! If we knew where he was staying, wouldn’t that help?”
“You risked a lot, Nora. Judith, you should have known better than to allow it.”
“Am I a maid or a nanny?” Judith responded. “I did as instructed.”
Ash sighed. “So you did. You are excused.”
Judith gave a little curtsey that might have had some mockery in it. Then she retreated toward the servants’ wing.
Ash turned back to Nora. “Next time, I’d prefer it if you told me before you go somewhere.” He took her by the arm, leading her into the drawing room, where things were already prepared for the meal of afternoon tea. She had been gone longer than she thought.
“You were occupied,” she said, remembering the scene, all too vividly.
“Even so. It would not have been an interruption.”
“Your Aunt Regina might disagree.”
“She’d say your safety is more important than some misplaced sense of politeness.”
He escorted her to a seat, then sat himself. Nora looked to the door. “Will Regina join us?”
“She’s lying down in her room after the shock she received,” Ash said, after pouring Nora some tea. “I’ll have something brought up to her.”
“It was Edmund,” Nora said suddenly, her mind still occupied by the afternoon’s event. “I’m not mad. He was really there, and I didn’t dream him up.”
“I believe you.”
“I can’t prove it,” Nora went on, miserably. “I know Judith thought it strange when I insisted we shadow him. But it was him. He had his dog, Tippo! Of course no one in London knows the dog either…”
“Nora.” Ash took her hand. “I believe you.”
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “You do?”
“Yes. It makes sense that he’s come to London. But if he is here, you need to be extra circumspect. Don’t go anywhere you used to go when you lived with your husband. Edmund is probably watching for you there.”
“Should I stay in the house?”
He made a face. “I hate to insist on that. You were locked up long enough.”
“It’s different this time.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” Ash gave her a little smile. “I’d feel better if you stayed. Just for a few days, or until we learn where Edmund Morrison is staying. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
* * * *
For the next several days, Nora did remain in the house, except for a few daily walks in Judith’s or Ash’s company. For those walks, Nora wore a fancy straw hat that obscured much of her face. A lady ought to wear a hat out of doors anyway, so it was not unusual except for its slightly exaggerated brim.
“Does it look as if I’m hiding?” Nora asked the first time Judith offered it to her.
“No, ma’am. It looks very glamorous, with all those feathers along the band. Miss Fox said so, and she would know.”
Apart from the walks, she didn’t have much opportunity for diversion, so she was delighted when Ash asked her to join him that evening for a supper: “Here at the house,” he said, “but still a little surprise. Will you come?”
Of course she would. In preparation, Judith laid out a gown Nora had never seen before. “What’s this?” she asked. The gown was silk—a lovely mossy green color—with jet beads sewn at the neckline, adding a subtle sparkle. The sleeves and bottom hem were lined with delicate black lace.
“Mr Allander thought it would suit you, ma’am. Do try it on. Hurry now.”
A few moments later, Nora was staring at herself in a mirror, astonished. The deep tone of the dress made her pale skin glow, and her light hair seemed more vibrant. The whole effect was elegant and refined, yet Nora still felt like herself. She smoothed her hands down the silk layers. “Oh.”
“Perfect, ma’am,” Judith said approvingly. “Just let me tend to your hair.”
Tending to her hair meant sweeping the red-blonde waves up into a twist, with a few strands left loose to frame her face. Nora couldn’t wait to see Ash.
Ash smiled when he saw her descend the stairs. “You’re wearing it.”
“Of course,” she said. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
“You look perfect in it,” he said. “I hoped you would like it.”
“I do…though you should not have given me anything.”
“Then you’ll simply have to not mention that it was a gift from me.” He stepped closer and slid his hand down her back. He added, very quietly, “When you wear it, though, I’d like you to remember it’s from me. And know that I want to be as close to you as this fabric is.”
“Ash,” she cautioned, though her whole body reacted to his words. “Behave.”
“I am behaving,” he protested, with a wicked smile. “I’ve behaved for days, and it’s a trial, believe me. Now let me escort you to supper.”
Supper was served not in Ash’s dining room, but outside in the garden. A table and chairs had been placed out on the lawn specially, and the space was illuminated with many candles.
“Oh, this is lovely!” she exclaimed.
“I know you’d like to be outside more than you have been, darling. This is the best I can do at the moment.”
He seated her and then sat opposite. Only two chairs were at the table, so they were obviously dining alone. Nora loved the atmosphere of the gardens at night, but the intimacy of the setting was inescapable. Ash had promised to hide the extent of their relationship. Yet he bought her an expensive gown and offered an unquestionably romantic setting for a simple meal—no one would look at them and think they weren’t intimately involved. His household, at minimum, must suspect the truth.
Yet, did it matter so much? Nora hadn’t been so happy in ages. She loved being with Ash. They talked about everything: what she was working on, what news he brought back from his excursions into the city, silly stories of childhood friends, idle comments about the stars. By unspoken agreement, they avoided discussion of Edmund Morrison or the Zodiac. Tonight was an escape, and only after the very last course did she admit it had to end.
“Thank you for a lovely evening,” she said. “I should go up to my room now, though. It’s later than I thought.”
“I’ll walk you up,” he said, rising to help her out of her seat.
He escorted her upstairs, and with every step, Nora wished she didn’t have to end the evening at her door.
Ash seemed to have the same thought, for he turned to her, and murmured, “I don’t want to say goodnight, darling.”
Nora bit her lip, then said, “You could come in. Just for a moment.”
He opened the door without looking. Nora stepped inside, finding that Judith had left one candle burning, so that the room was bathed in a faint glow.
Ash lost no time, and shut the door behind him. A moment later, Nora was in his arms. He kissed her in a slow and leisurely way, his mouth trailing along her neck and chest. Nora sighed. An intoxicating mixture of calm and arousal swirled within her. If only they had all night.
He paused his attentions for a moment, surveying her with pleasure. “You’re so beautiful, Nora.”
“It’s the gown.”
“It’s not. Let me take it off, and I’ll prove you’re still beautiful.”
“Ash, you shouldn’t,” she chided, though she sounded rather too entranced to be effective.
“It’s not just looks, though I do love the way you look. Your beauty is your spirit. You never give in, even when most people would have lost hope long before. And you never lost that curiosity of a child—that’s why you’re so brilliant. You look at the world, you ask questions about it. Do you even know how rare you are?”
She blushed.
“God, I want to kiss every inch of you.”
“We…agreed…and we already violated that once…”
“I know. But I want you to know that I want you anyway. It’s probably for the best that we’ve agreed to behave. I know that you’ll remember everything I do, so I can’t offer a poor effort. It’s rather intimidating, Nora, to know that every little move is being recorded.”
“By this point, you must know that you’ve already proved yourself.” Nora said. She loved the way Ash spoke, never far from humor, even when things got very serious between them.
But now, he looked more serious than ever.
“Nora,” he said, “there’s something I need to confess.”
“Confess? Is it a sin, then?”
“Some think so.” He took her hands in his.
Nora waited for him to speak, but he said nothing.
“What do you want to say?” she prompted.
“I’m trying to decide where to start,” he explained. “It’s…rather convoluted.”
She frowned. “Could you begin at the beginning?”
“I don’t know where the beginning truly is.” He took a deeper breath, then said, “All right. I think I can tell this properly. Please listen, Nora. What you think at the end is up to you, but at least listen.”
“Of course.” Why did he look distressed? What sin could require such a preamble?
“When I was younger, about nineteen, I was a student of theology,” he began.
She nodded.
“I was living in a country parish at the time, and that autumn—”
There was a knock at the door. Nora jumped in surprise and disentangled herself from his hands.
Ash shook his head in frustration and stalked to the door, yanking it open. “What?”
“Sir,” Crewe said, very carefully not noticing anything improper about the fact that Ash and Nora were alone in a closed, candlelit bedroom together. “I’m afraid you have a visitor downstairs.”
“At this hour? Tell whoever it is I’m not home,” Ash growled.
“It’s Mr Wells.”
Nora gasped. “Daniel! He’s here?”
“Lord,” Ash muttered.
“How could he possibly be here?” Nora asked, bewildered.
“I requested that Crewe try to track your brother down. He found a street direction yesterday and I sent a letter this morning. I thought we’d be lucky if we got any response at all. Then I’d find out if it was the correct Daniel Wells. I certainly didn’t expect anyone to show up at the doorstep.” To Crewe, he said, with an edge of anger, “I’ll be down in a moment.”
“With me!” Nora added.
“No,” Ash corrected. “Mrs Morrison will be summoned after I speak with her brother. No questions, Nora. Trust me on this.”
She wondered exactly what required trust, and then belatedly realized exactly how bad it would look for Ash and Nora to traipse down the stairs together. “I’ll stay here for a few moments,” she whispered, heat rising in her cheeks.
“Thank you,” Ash said, squeezing her hand. “It won’t be long.”
No, it wouldn’t be long at all. Not long before she saw her family for the first time in years, and not long before she would be whisked away from Ash…possibly forever.