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Clara stepped out into the hallway and called "Mr. Willard? Mrs. Nan?" louder, surprised that they were not already there. She did not know the sleeping habits of the dead. Surely those who had lost their earthly form did not need rest as their human counterparts.
She heard footsteps coming from downstairs, and then the flicker of their candlelight as they came down the hall.
"Are you all right, Mrs. Clara?" asked Mr. Willard, his voice filled with alarm.
"I am afraid that a certain resident of this house has decided that we needed a house guest," Clara replied, standing aside so that Wesley could reveal himself.
Mrs. Nan gave a relieved cry. "You are alive!" she said, disbelief in her voice before pulling herself back to more practical matters. "However did you get in? We should have heard you come in!"
"My apologies for waking you," said Wesley. "I can only assume that my sister felt that it would be best if I were here instead of my jail cell."
"This is quite a pickle. Quite a pickle you have gotten us into, Minnie!" Mrs. Nan scolded at the ceiling.
"The police are under the impression that Wesley has expired," reminded Clara. "I do not know what justice could be served if they learn he is alive. They would perhaps think that he had started the fire to mask his own jailbreak. I cannot think what conclusions and accusations they might throw at him."
Mrs. Nan came over and smoothed Clara's hair in a motherly fashion. "Now, now. We most certainly are not suggesting that Wesley go back to that place. If his sister believes he is most safe in our care, than who am I to argue? It would have been a bit more pleasant, though, if she had the decency to warn of us of her meddling rather than waking all of us up in the middle of the night."
Clara squeezed Mrs. Nan's hand. "Thank you for your support." Clara looked out towards the road, aware of the sentry that was keeping tabs on all of the comings and goings of her house. "We must hide Mr. Lowenherz here, though. Someplace safe. There is a creature out there I saw from my window which, I believe, should not know of what is going on."
"Is this the same creature who watched you the other night?" asked Mr. Willard.
Clara nodded. "Indeed it is. I was woken by the house," she said, placing her hand upon the wooden doorframe. "It was as if it wanted me to distract this thing while Minnie smuggled her brother inside. I fear this being."
"This house will keep him protected for as long as Wesley needs to stay," said Mr. Willard confidently. "We have those extra rooms upstairs. I shall see that we get you settled in one of them. And please accept our apologies, on Minnie's behalf, for any chaos that this may have encouraged. She is a spirited, strong-willed girl and I do not know if she always thinks through her schemes."
"I for one," said Wesley, "am grateful. I would have been killed if not for her."
"Well, then," said Mr. Willard. "There is nothing left to do but to see you upstairs." He nodded at Clara. "Perhaps tomorrow, we can send Red around to fetch his things."
"Would such an action alert the authorities?" Clara asked.
"Then we shall ask Red to fetch some other things, even if they are not necessarily Mr. Lowenherz's things," stated Mrs. Nan, taking control of the situation. It was as if having this new purpose had rekindled the light in her.
"That is most kind," thanked Wesley. He turned to Clara. "Now, if you would excuse me, it has been a long time since I had a soft bed to call my own and the quiet of well-behaved housemates."
Mrs. Nan snorted. "Don't let that sister of yours hear you talking like that. She has been having us up at midnight practically three times this week!"
"I think we all best would be served by a quiet night," said Clara. "I am sure the answers will come in the morning."
Mrs. Nan gave the walls of the house another glare. "Yes, Minnie. Let's see what answers you have for us."
Mr. Willard motioned to Wesley. "If you would please follow me, I shall show you to your room."
Wesley went over to Clara and kissed her lightly upon the cheek. "I would not do this for anyone but you."
"I know," she replied. "And I am grateful."
As soon as the two men left, Clara turned to Mrs. Nan. "How will I ever keep him safe? A falsely imprisoned, escaped fugitive presumed to be dead!"
"Now, now," the good housekeeper replied. "It will all sort itself out. This building has a funny way about it. It shall shelter him from this storm."
"Someone attempted to kill Wesley," said Clara. "They burned down that prison to protect their secrets. If Trevor Beltza learns that Wesley is still alive, I fear all of us are in harm's way."
Mrs. Nan paused for a moment, but then quietly she said, "I fear you are right."