Page 40 of The Lady and the Lion (Victorian Outcasts #9)

thirty-seven

S amuel woke up rested, happy, and with his beautiful wife in his arms. Perfect.

A ray of sunlight sneaked through a narrow opening in the curtains to light her pert nose. Her dark eyelashes fanned over her cheeks, and her plush lips were slightly parted as she breathed softly over his skin.

The maid had come at dawn, but Vivienne had kept sleeping, and he was happy to hold her in the semidarkness.

He caressed her hair, trying to disentangle her long tresses the night of lovemaking had messed up. As it had his thoughts.

She blinked her eyes open, twitching her nose as if it were tickled by the sunlight. “Good morning.”

He stroked her naked back, marvelling at the softness of her skin. He wanted to ask her how she was faring, but that would mean stopping caressing her, and he had no intention of doing that.

“It was wonderful.” As she buried her face in his chest, her voice came muffled.

He agreed. The best night of his life.

“Will you stay with me tonight? Every night?” She gazed up at him. “Forever?”

He reluctantly stopped caressing her to sign, “If you want me.”

“I do. And now I want a good morning kiss.”

He kissed her gently when loud thuds ricocheted off the walls. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, ready to bolt out.

“What was that?” she asked. “An intruder? It sounded like the shutters were being slammed hard.”

Footsteps thudded, and doors slammed.

“That woman is insane!” That was the captain.

“What’s happening?” Vivienne asked.

Samuel had a hunch.

“Stay here.” He kissed her and left the bed.

After he put on his nightshirt and dressing gown, he opened the door to find Bernard carrying a tray with tea, scones, and eggs. The scent of butter and vanilla teased his nostrils.

The butler bowed his head and lifted the tray, a serene smile on his face.

“Please serve breakfast to Lady Vivienne,” Samuel said, wincing as another bang boomed.

The butler bowed again, blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding downstairs.

Dobkins’s and Captain Jackson’s voices came louder, overlapping each other.

He rushed down the steps to the hallway. They talked together, raising their voices, as if it were a competition on who spoke louder.

Potter stood in a corner, wiping his hands on his apron, and Mrs. Foster looked out of the window. William yawned, stretching his arms over his head. Richard was pale and shivering.

“Silence!” Samuel signed with no effect whatsoever. He waved and stomped a foot on the floor.

They ignored him.

Mrs. Foster stepped between the captain and Dobkins. “Silence, you two. Mr. Lyon is here.”

Silence dropped. Finally.

Captain Jackson and Dobkins turned towards him with matching scowls as if he were intruding in a private matter.

“What the hell is going on?” he signed with brisk fingers.

The captain pointed a finger at Dobkins. “She wants to barricade the house.”

“There was someone lurking in the garden,” she said, her face red.

“I didn’t see anyone.” The captain shook his head. “And even if there was someone, starting to panic and yell and slam every door wouldn’t be the right thing to do.”

“Is anyone hurt?” he asked, gazing around.

Captain Jackson waved a dismissive hand. “The noises were the most dangerous thing.”

“You aren’t listening.” Dobkins jabbed a finger in the direction of the garden. “There was someone in the garden.”

“I’m listening, and I told you there isn’t anyone in the garden.” The captain glowered at her.

She was as tall as the captain, so if he was trying to intimidate her, it didn’t work.

Samuel agreed with the captain. But it was better to be cautious.

“He was hiding behind the bushes,” she went on, “and yes, I might have panicked a little, maybe I shouted and tried to barricade the garden doors with a chest of drawers, but the captain didn’t want to take his gun when I asked him to.”

“I don’t want to shoot anyone unless it’s absolutely necessary,” the captain said.

“I was terrified, and you didn’t believe me.” She shook, her voice breaking.

“There was no one in the garden!” Captain Jackson pressed two fingers to his temples. “I never said I didn’t believe you. I said that when I went out, I didn’t find anyone. So the danger was gone.”

“I won’t let anyone hurt Lady Vivienne.” Dobkins clamped a hand over her mouth.

Samuel frowned. “Neither will I. You need to trust me. All I want is to keep everyone safe.”

“How? We aren’t strong. Anyone can sneak up on us and slit our throats in our sleep.” She wiped her eyes.

The captain frowned. “That’s morbid.”

While Samuel was sorry to see her so distressed, he didn’t like her lack of trust in him.

“With due respect,” Mrs. Foster said. “We’re perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves.”

Dobkins seemed about to rebuke but lowered her gaze.

“What’s happening?” Vivienne came down the stairs in a lovely blue gown that fit her tightly, accentuating her small waist.

“Dobkins panicked after having allegedly seen someone in the garden,” Captain Jackson said.

“Did you make all that noise? The scream and the bangs?” Vivienne stopped at the base of the stairs.

“I’m sorry.” Dobkins curtsied and left the hallway in a hurry.

“Alice,” the captain said, but she ignored him. “Hell.”

“I checked the garden as well,” William said. “I didn’t see anyone.”

“Sir, I think I saw someone.” Richard raised a trembling hand. “A man in dark clothes.”

“Where?” the captain asked.

Richard made a vague gesture towards the garden. “I’m not sure.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Captain Jackson looked out of the window.

“I was…” Richard swallowed a few times.

“It’s all right, Richard.” Samuel patted his valet’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go to the kitchen and have a cup of tea?”

“Let’s have a look.” The captain beckoned Samuel to follow him.

“I need a cup, but first…” Richard opened a cabinet and handed Samuel a coat and a pair of boots. “It’s a crisp morning, sir.”

They walked along the path weaving through the garden.

The sounds of carriages and hackneys came from the other side of the wall wrapping around the house. Climbing the wall didn’t require any special skill, but the front and back doors and the windows were sturdy with anti-theft locks not even William could break.

He stopped next to the bench where he and Vivienne had sat the other day. The bush behind it had been flattened as if something heavy had dropped on it. A few footprints marked the soft soil.

He pointed them at the captain.

The captain clicked his tongue. “Yes, Alice was right. There will be no living with her after now.”