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Chapter ten

I flung open the door and called her name. “Cecily? Cecily!”

Tobias stumbled from his room into the hall. “What is going on?” His hair was disheveled, and an angry swipe of scratches splayed across his cheek.

“Cecily isn’t in her bed. I don’t know where she’s gone.”

We both ran down the stairs. “Check the kitchen.” Was her favorite place to be of late.

Mrs. Fredrickson bent over the stove, stirring a pot. Alone. No Cecily to be seen. She turned, a question in her eyes.

“Have you seen her? My sister?”

“Not yet, I haven’t. Playing hidey-seek as children are wont to do, like as not.” She laughed.

We tore from the room and searched everywhere.

Tobias met me in the small foyer. “She was forever wandering off at Mayfield.” He shook his head.

“I’ve failed you, Tobias. I’m so sorry.”

“Tessa, I…”

“We need to be searching.” I cut him off. I’d have to make a better apology after we found her. Had she been taken like Tobias's wee nephew? Lord, no…please not that…

“Get your pistol, Tessa. We need to be ready for anything.”

I dashed to our room and took a minute to load the weapon properly. Tears smarted. I stepped to her bed and there lay a message hastily penciled. How had I missed it? My lack of sleep along with my careless yearnings.

I didn’t want to wake you. I’m going for a walk. –C.

A walk? Why would she do such a thing alone?

Unease clenched my middle. Mayhap we should have informed her a little more of the dangers rather than try to protect her overly much.

It was thoughtless of me, more so since I knew she was prone to wandering at night and I had not been as watchful as I should have been.

She hadn’t wandered in several weeks. I’d grown lax.

I carefully carried my pistol and made my way to Tobias, who looked like he’d burst from tension.

I handed the note to him. “Here—she left this on her bed.”

He snatched the paper and read. “Foolish child. But still, I cannot condone her wandering. It isn’t safe until the situation with Cummins is squared away.”

We exited the front doors. “I’ll check the sables,” Tobias shouted over his shoulder, “You walk the perimeter.”

I obeyed. If she were truly lost—or taken, Tobias would never forgive me. I’m not sure I would forgive myself either.

“Cecily!” I shouted. I was so very angry with myself for not giving her my full attention. No, I had to pine and wait for Tobias on the cold stairs last night like a love-sick debutante. I was such a fool.

The sun had fully risen. Tobias shouted her name repeatedly. Others among the small staff joined in. I made my way to the overlook where Tobias and I had hidden while waiting for Cummins to escape, but a few days ago.

I gazed down at the castle ruins. Somehow, I knew she was there, like I had an inner compass pointing to the child. Tobias ran to my side and paused.

“I think she is among the ruins.” I pointed. I didn’t think. I intrinsically knew.

“Why would she take a walk there in the dark? Wouldn’t that be frightening for a young girl?”

“Not for her.” We made our way down the hill. “I believe she was often out of doors at Mayfield, mostly at night. Her favorite place was the folly that shelters the Grecian woman holding grapes.”

“The folly?” Surprise hit his voice.

“Indeed.”

“The folly is a bit of a walk from the house. I had no idea she frequented that spot.”

We entered the crumbling gates and shouted again.

Tobias paused and spoke in a choked, whispered voice. “There. She is there—on the steps.”

Oh no. Exactly where he’d warned her to never go.

I squinted against the sunlight and placed a hand over my eyes.

True enough, she was slumped upon the highest stone step at the landing, the white of her muslin gown the only snatch of brightness amid the dark shadow.

There was a long drop of empty air beneath her. The fall could kill her.

“We must not shout and wake her—that could prove a tragedy if she startles and—” he gulped. “I want you to go to her, Tessa. You are much lighter than I am—the stairs less likely to give way… I will be on the ground so I can catch her if she falls.” He shook his head. “Be watchful of your footing.”

I gulped at the climb. Twas steep. “Yes—good plan.”

He cast another glance at his sister; his face had paled with fear. “Let me get into place first, then you may begin. Go cautiously.”

I swallowed again as we walked swiftly to the tumbled interior walls of the castle steps. Fresh guilt surged. This is how Samuel lost his life—on the rotted stairs of Joseph’s abandoned estate. A similar tragedy must not happen to another sibling. Nay, not if I could help it.

Tobias took his place among ancient stones and a tangle of vines whose growth had trailed off in the deep shadow of the rise. It was as though the sun never reached that place. He nodded. I was to begin my ascent.

I climbed the steep, narrow stairs worn smooth by time, yet now precariously wedged upon other stone that faltered with crumbling support.

Tobias was right to warn her off of them. Why had she disobeyed? Why had she not wakened me if she wanted fresh air? I should have been with her. A child’s mind doesn’t often think of consequences. Posh.

I lost my balance a little. What looked firm was not. I moved to the next step, then the next. Finally, I made it to her. I leaned my body fully over hers, so that when she wakened, she wouldn’t startle and fall off the edge. “Cecily?” She breathed but didn’t move. “Cecily. Wake up.”

“Tessa?” Tobias shouted. “Is she alright?”

I jostled her. Once she slept, the child was terribly hard to wake. I jostled her again, and she emitted a small moan. “Wake up, dear. Tobias is worried.”

Her eyes snapped open. She lifted her head and looked at her surroundings. “Where am I?”

“The castle stair. Were you having dreams about being a princess?”

“Princess…” She mumbled. “No.” She peered over the edge.

“Why did you come without me?”

She shifted her weight toward the wall that ought to be secure, buried one arm around my waist. “You were sleeping. And I was ever so hot.”

Last night wasn’t warm, it had been cool enough I’d worn sleeves. I put my hand to her forehead. She was burning. Ill. “Don’t make any sudden moves and don’t let go of me. I’m going to get you down.”

“I can climb down myself.”

“Your brother will have my head if you do.”

Her lips formed an “o”. “I didn’t mean to disobey.” Her voice wavered. “I was so terribly hot. Now I’m freezing cold.

Indeed, the day was warming.

“We must get you to Mrs. Fredrickson, yes? Get some hot porridge into you.”

“And tea. Might I have tea? I’m so cold.”

I shouted down. “She is ill Tobias.”

He swore.

We made our descent slowly. Each step was an accusation of my neglect. Fevers could be dangerous. Depending… One could not be too careful.

Tobias shifted position as we moved downward and finally to safety.

“Thank God.” He took her up in his arms.

“I am stronger than before, Tobias. Please put me down.” Her little demand bespoke the woman she’d become. He did as bid.

“I’m sorry and I will do as you tell me. I will go to bed, stay in bed, and not wander out of doors without Tessa, but first, I want you to listen.”

He gave her a fatherly nod. “Indeed, you will stay in bed if I have shackle you.”

She winced. Not the best words to use for a girl who had been bound to her room for far too many hours of her short life. No wonder she’d sneak to wander about Mayfield’s grounds.

“As I was saying to Tessa, I got too hot, so I went outside. I saw a shadow and thought to chase it.”

His brows rose. “You thought to chase a shadow?”

“He ran here. I thought him a knight wakened.”

“Cecily, you know ghosts aren’t real.”

“I realize that now. But I was hot and it seemed so at the time.” She shrugged. “I chased him here. Only it wasn’t a knight at all, it was that rude man that you kicked from Burtins. The one Tessa found drunk behind the chapel altar.”

Tobias gave me a look loaded with meaning. I would also be kicked from Burtins and I did not blame him. “Interesting.” He asked her another question. “You followed him all the way here?”

Cecily looked confused but nodded. “I did.”

“Did he see you?” I asked.

“No, but he almost did. I was afraid, so I climbed the stairs. I heard him coming. Since everyone here knows not to go up them, I didn’t think they would see me. They didn’t.”

“Not entirely unwise given the situation—wait a minute—they? Was there more than one man?”

She nodded. “Another man joined him. They fought.”

“Where?”

“You need spectacles.” She pointed. “They fell asleep, too. I’m not afraid of them now that you are here.”

We looked where she pointed. There were indeed two men. One Cummins, the other, unmistakably the imposter look alike. Patrick Audlington. Bile rose in my throat.

Tobias put a finger to his lips and whispered. “We must be very quiet so as to not wake them.”

He played a gentle game with his sister. They were asleep, indeed. This was no lie. But they would never wake. This I could see. Dear God…

Tobias scooped Cecily in his arms as she whispered. “Can I go to bed now? I’m so cold.” She shuddered. She was cold but a sweat had broken upon her forehead. She was truly ill.

“Tessa, I will see her to bed and situate Mrs. Fredrickson beside her. I will send Uncle to town for the doctor—and the magistrate.” He nodded towards my pistol. “There is your weapon. I need you to guard the—men.” He’d been about to say bodies. “Be sure no one disturbs them.”

“They cannot do me harm. I will do as you ask.”

He shifted Cecily to lay across his shoulder. “I hate asking.” Compassion lit his eyes.

“I am capable.”

“I know.” His warm eyes barely grazed mine. “I’ll return as soon as I can.”