Page 38

Felicity was just slipping into her gown in preparation for dinner when there was a knock on the door.

“Bean, come in.” She stepped aside, genuinely pleased to see the young serving girl.

“Mrs. Atherton sent me to help you.” The girl’s wispy blond hair was hidden beneath a hat that resembled a lace doily. Her black dress was two sizes too big, nipped at the waist by a starched white apron.

“How kind. But I can manage by myself.”

“Well, then, I’ll just make myself useful.

” The girl added another log to the fire, then glanced around the room, searching for any chore that might keep her here a while longer.

“Here now,” she called, crossing to where Felicity sat in front of a dressing table. “Why don’t I do up your hair for you?”

“All right.” Felicity relinquished the brush.

“Ah, you’ve lovely hair.”

“Thank you. Tell me about yourself, Bean. Have you worked here long?” Felicity’s eyes closed after just a couple of smooth, long strokes of the brush.

“Since I was eight, ma’am.”

“That’s very young.”

“Not so young. My brother was apprenticed at seven. He works in the stables. Lord Falcon himself arranged for us to work here when our parents died.”

“That was kind of him.”

“Aye, ma’am. He’s a good man. I don’t know what would have happened to us if he hadn’t taken us in.”

“Then you’ve grown up here. You knew Chandler, and William before the accident?”

“Oh, yes. They made all the young ladies’ hearts flutter. Handsome they were. And charming. But that was before they were cursed.”

“Come now. Do you really believe in the Falcon curse?” Felicity’s lips curved in a teasing smile.

The servant gave a solemn nod of her head and lowered her voice. “You’ve not seen Lord William yet, ma’am. When you do, you’ll swear he’s possessed by the devil himself. Stares off into space. Mumbles to himself. Doesn’t seem to see or know anything anymore.”

She twisted a clump of curls and began to anchor it with a jeweled comb.

Just then the comb slipped from her fingers and dropped to the floor.

Felicity bent over to retrieve it. As she straightened, she caught sight of the servant in the mirror.

The poor child was cringing, and all the color had drained from her face.

“I’m sorry,” Bean said with a catch in her voice. “Truly I am, ma’am.”

“No damage done,” Felicity said gently. Seeing the way the girl flinched at her outstretched hand, she asked, “What’s wrong, Bean? Why are you so afraid?”

“Nothing. It’s just…” She accepted the comb and tried again, her hand trembling. “Lady Honora would strike me if I did such a clumsy thing in her presence. Then she would order Mrs. Atherton to have me punished as well.”

Felicity struggled with a sense of outrage. “What sort of punishment?”

“I’d be sent to the scullery and made to work without food for a day or two.”

Felicity could hardly contain her fury. “That’s despicable.”

“But she’s the mistress of Falcon’s Lair, ma’am. It’s her right to do as she wishes. She’s vowed to dismiss all of us unless our work pleases her.”

“Does Lord Falcon know how his new daughter-in-law treats the servants?” Felicity twisted in her chair to face the young girl.

“Oh, ma’am, what could the old lord do about it?” Bean looked away, her voice dropping to a whisper. “There are some days he hardly knows his own name. Like now.”

“Now?” Felicity was on her feet, nearly knocking over the stool in her agitation.

“Yes, ma’am. I was in there not half an hour ago. With Simmons and Mrs. Atherton. Lord Falcon’s skin was the color of those bed linens, and I swear he didn’t even recognize us.”

“Then we must cancel dinner.” Felicity headed toward the door.

“Oh, no, ma’am. That isn’t possible,” Bean cried.

Felicity turned. “Why not?”

“Lady Honora has invited guests.”

“Guests? Knowing her father-in-law is so ill?”

The girl nodded and began twisting her apron in her hands.

“Who is coming to dinner?” Felicity demanded.

“Dr. St. John, of course. He has dinner here most nights. And Lord and Lady Summerville and their daughter, Diana.”

“Who are these people?”

“Old friends of Lord Falcon’s.” The girl lowered her voice. “They live in the lovely manor house just a carriage ride away.”

“Friends or no…” Without finishing, Felicity pulled open the door.

“Where are you going, m’lady?” Bean replaced the brush and hurried across the room to follow her.

“To pay a visit to Lord Falcon. I need see for myself whether or not he’s strong enough to accompany me to dinner.”

The sight that greeted Felicity made her gasp in shock. As Bean had said, Lord Falcon’s skin was pasty and his breathing labored.

This was not the man she had seen just this morning. In the space of several hours, he had aged beyond recognition.

Drawing a chair to the side of the bed, she sat down and took his hand in hers. “Lord Falcon, can you hear me?”

The eyelids fluttered for a moment, then closed.

Felicity touched a hand to his forehead. The skin was damp. Clammy. It had the feel of death to it.

She leaned close and said firmly, “Lord Falcon, it is Felicity Andrews. Robert’s daughter. Don’t you remember your old friend Rob?”

At that his eyes opened, and he stared vacantly at the face swimming in his line of vision. “Rob, is it truly you? Oh, praise heaven. I knew you’d come. You’re the only one who can save me.”

Felicity stiffened as his big hand closed over hers.

“See how I must pay for my sins,” the old man managed between wheezing breaths.

“Hush, now,” Felicity crooned. “You’ve nothing to atone for.”

“But I do.” His voice grew feeble, and for long moments he lay, eyes closed, breathing shallowly. After a long pause he opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on Felicity. His hand gave a gentle squeeze. “You knew. You’ve always known, haven’t you, Rob?”

When she said nothing, he closed his eyes, as if to shield himself from another wave of pain.

“Of course you knew. You could always see through my little charades.” He sighed, long and deep, as if relieved that he was finally about to unburden himself.

“It wasn’t just a love of adventure that caused me to lure you to Africa.

I knew you couldn’t resist a chance to see firsthand how the witch doctors did their healing. But I had…other reasons.”

At her little gasp of surprise, he added quickly, “Ah, I’ll not deny the rest of it.

I needed to flee my brother’s wife as well.

You could tell that I’d…dallied with her, and I was so ashamed.

I thought that if I went far away she would be able to forget me and repair her marriage to my brother.

But it was a foolish, selfish ploy, and one that nearly cost us our lives.

When you and I fell into that cave, I made a promise.

If we survived, I would do the honorable thing and mend my ways. ”

Moved by his confession, Felicity touched a hand to his cheek in a gesture of tenderness. “You didn’t need to tell me all this.”

He covered her hand with his. “Oh, but I did, Rob. You deserve the truth. I feel as though a burden has been lifted from my soul. Now promise me that you’ll find the cure. You see, they are…”

Suddenly he gazed around the room with a look of sheer terror. “You’d better leave before they find you “

“They?”

Instead of replying, he put a finger to his lips and shook his head.

“But I can’t leave you,” she whispered. “You need someone to be with you.”

“I have an angel watching out for me.”

“An angel?”

He gave her a sly wink. “You and I know. Now go, Rob. And kiss your lovely wife for me.”

As she made her way to the door, Felicity felt the sting of tears and had to swallow the lump that threatened to choke her. She found herself hoping that her father was indeed kissing her mother and that both had found a measure of peace.

Lost in thought, she didn’t hear the light footfall behind her as she paused at the top of the stairs. She was jolted as hands shoved roughly against her back. With a cry she tangled her foot in the hem of her skirt and pitched forward.

The stairs were steep, the distance to the landing far too perilous.

Though the fall might not be fatal, it would surely result in some broken bones and a great deal of pain.

With those thoughts rushing through her mind, Felicity struggled to bring her hands up to her face to cushion the blow.

But just before she would have fallen on the landing below, she felt strong hands wrap around her waist. Heat enveloped her.

She was set gently on her feet. Then, as quickly as it came, the heat was gone.

Felicity followed along the hallway toward the hum of voices. When she paused at the doorway to the parlor, the babble ceased. All heads turned toward her.

“Here she is now.” Ian St. John was standing beside the fireplace, one hand on the mantel, a crystal goblet of ale in the other. He looked relaxed, content. The words Gareth had spoken earlier came to mind: “Lord of the manor.” The doctor looked perfectly at home here at Falcon’s Lair.

“You’ve kept us waiting. Come and meet our guests.” Honora crossed the room in a swirl of petticoats and studied Felicity.

Thanks to a stop at her room, Felicity showed no trace of nerves. She had carefully brushed her hair and calmed her racing heartbeat before facing the others. Now, as she looked around, she wondered if someone present was the guilty party.

“Miss Felicity Andrews, may I present Lord and Lady Summerville and their daughter, Diana.”

Felicity offered her hand, which Lord Summerville gallantly kissed. His neatly trimmed hair and mustache were shot with silver. Though his middle had begun to thicken, he still had the proud bearing of a military man.

His plump wife wore a pink confection that was far too girlish for her figure. The neckline was enhanced by a diamond-and-pearl necklace that was worth a king’s ransom. Her smile was warm and genuine. “Welcome to England, my dear.”