Chapter Three
It had been dark in that part of the garden when Dane, having given up the chase, had gone back to where he had seen Miss Price sprawled among the shrubbery. He didn’t need light to see her to know that she was in the grips of something terrible. Her small pathetic screams reminded him of a wounded animal caught in a hunters trap as she lashed out with her tiny hands fighting against the ghosts that haunted her. She did not calm until Violet came to her side and softly spoke while he stood back with Alexander explaining how the gun shot everyone heard had been aim at him. He was quite certain that if it had not been for Miss Price knocking into the assassin he would be paying a visit to the devil right now.
Once she had calmed Dane had leaned down and scooped her into his arms and he quickly moved through the garden to the back gate away from the crowd that was gathering. Alex had ordered Dane’s carriage brought around to the back and with him and Violet climbing in behind Dane saw Miss Price returned to the safety of Violet’s home. She sat huddled next to Violet but he oddly wished she was still in his arms, she had felt surprisingly good pressed against him.
He was now in the parlor leaning against the mantle with a heavy glass of brandy in his hand as he waited for Silas Matherson to arrive after being sent word of the assassination attempt. He took a long draft of the amber liquid, the warmth that spread in his stomach chasing away some of the chills that had a hold of him. Dane was not bothered that his life was nearly taken from him as much as he was that Miss Price could have suffered the same fate. If he had not heard her scream he would not have known in which direction to take chase and could only assume that it was the threat of detection that sent the assailant fleeing before doing away with the only witness to his dirty deed.
It was that which chilled him the most, that who ever it was would be looking to eliminate the witness left behind. Dane’s only hope was that the assassin knew of Miss Price’s handicap and would not believe her to be a threat. There had been no way to keep her identity a secret, the crowd had flowed out of the ballroom like water all in the hopes of some bit of gossip. That meant that Violet was in danger also but he saw no way of convincing her to abandon her home to go in hiding until his assailant was captured or eliminated.
He straightened when Violet walked in the room and stormed directly over to him. Her hands balled into tiny fists at her side and her eyes spitting blue fire matching the gown she still wore from the ball.
“You will explain to me what you are involved in this instant Dane Alexander Fitzhugh.” Violet demanded through clenched teeth.
Dane through a quick glance at his fellow spy when he heard Alex chuckle at Violet’s use of his full name.
“I can not…”
Violet stamped her foot, “Don’t you dare treat me like one of those feather brained ninny’s that paraded around in front of you tonight Dane. I know you are involved in something dangerous. Both of you.” She swung around to include Alex in her accusation. “Are you spies?”
Her question was so unexpectedly correct that it caught them both of guard that Violet could not miss their look of guilty surprise. Her jaw dropped open as she swung her gaze from one man to the other.
“You are spies! Please tell me you work for our government and not the French as rumor would have it.”
Alex took a hasty look toward the door while Dane put a hand out to her palm down, “Please keep your voice down,” he told her in hushed tones.
Violet was immediately contrite covering her lips with one hand, “I’m sorry it’s just a shock. I mean I suspected you were involved in something more that just behaving as a rake. But this. Dane if you are working for the French I’m afraid I can not remain your friend. My loyalties are forever with England.”
“As are mine and Alex’s,” Dane reassured her. He motioned with his head for Alex to close the door which he moved quickly to do. “We have been in the employ of the home office for several years and now that the war against France has heated up we have been quite busy.
“And is the woman you were with this evening involved somehow?”
Dane was saved from having to answer when a knock sounded on the parlor door and Violet’s butler Filbert ushered in the Earl of Berkshire who looked as if he had been dragged from his bed which no doubt he was considering the lateness of the hour. Being acquainted with each other the earl and Violet exchanged pleasantries until Herman asked Violet to leave the men to discuss the evenings events to which she flatly refused.
After much posturing by the earl and assurances that Violet would keep their secret the four of them sat down and discussed the situation for a good long while. Everyone agreed that Miss Price would need to be protected from harm by all means possible but in the end decided that it was best to wait for her to recover from tonight's ordeal before any final decisions were made. Herman quickly took his leave after instructing Alex to keep a keen eye on the lovely Miss Benavidez activities during the following days freeing Dane to handle this latest issue. The spymaster was certain she was involved in the assassination attempt on Dane’s life and wanted to know every person she came in contact with and every correspondence she received.
Violet saw the two men to the door to bid them good night where she put a hand on Dane’s arm, “I understand the need to protect Charity but you must appreciate that you can not make a prisoner of her Dane, she has been through too much to ever agree to that.”
“It is the only way to keep her safe Violet.” He shouldn’t be feeling angry about the situation with Miss Price but if the fool woman had not wandered into the gardens alone and unprotected she would not have found herself in the difficulties she was now in. He didn’t care whether she would like it or not but there was a duty to protect her and he knew that spymaster Matherson would see it done.
∞∞∞
“Absolutely not!” Charity declared vehemently. The idea that she was to be confined to the house was preposterous. She didn’t care who might be after her she would not be a prisoner in her own home.
Violet reached for Charity’s hand giving it a squeeze, “Charity my dear can’t you see that it will be for the best. It is the only way to keep you safe until Dane can apprehend the fellow responsible.”
“It’s possible that the person doesn’t even know who I am. It was dark wasn’t it, he may not have even seen my face and if he fled before you or anyone else found me then surely he couldn’t know.” She knew she sounded desperate but she didn’t care.
“Your name is already being bandied about the gossip mill,” Dane stated a little harsher than he meant to but her refusal to see reason was wearing on him.
Matheson had arrived first with his wife in tow to make it appear as if this was purely a social call, she now sat at the back of the parlor quietly sipping tea. Dane disguised as a delivery man had pounded on the back kitchen door while waiting for Violet to give him admittance he covertly scanned the area to make sure he was not followed before he stepped over the threshold.
Once they were all seated in the parlor Dane took the opportunity to scrutinize Miss Price thoroughly. She didn’t seem to be much for the worse after her ordeal though he could see a slight bruising around one wrist where he assumed the assailant grabbed her. Also he saw small scrapes on the palm of her hands before she folded them in her lap. He could tell that she was aware of his eyes upon her for her back suddenly stiffened and her lips pursed and they remained that way as he, Violet and Matheson tried explaining the logic in her staying indoors and out of sight.
“What his grace means,” Matherson said as he glared a warning at Dane, “is that no matter the precautions that were taken to hide your identity people will still speculate and there is no way to prevent them from talking.”
Dane watched as the color drained from her cheeks, “Then he would also know of my connection to Violet.”
“I’m afraid so. Lady Dillingham has agreed that it is best to keep a low profile for the next few days.” Matheson told her kindly.
Charity knew she was being unfair but even her beloved cousin couldn’t possibly know what it was like to have your freedom taken from you. The years she had spent locked away in Bedlam had been a living hell and she had vowed if she ever survived she would never allow another individual to put her behind locked doors. Just the knowledge that she could walk outdoors whenever she wished had eased the nightmare of her years in the asylum.
Charity pushed to her feet and carefully made her way across the room to stand at the window. She felt the heat of the sun on her skin and she drew in long steadying breaths attempting to stave of the despair that was already washing over her. She wanted to raise the pane of glass and let the fresh morning air fill the room but somehow she knew that would not be welcomed. Closing her eyes she tried to picture the gardens beyond the window. She knew every plant, every flower and every pebble along the pathways. She knew which birds sat upon the tree branches and if she tried hard enough she could almost hear their melodious tunes. She would miss the time she spent in the bucolic surroundings but that would be nothing compared to how much she would miss her cousin should something happen to her.
Dane didn’t think Miss Price was aware of his presence at her side so lost in her thoughts was she. She had her eyes closed and he noticed how thick and long her lashes were as they rested against her cheek. Her face was tilted up to catch the warmth of the sun and a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. Her lips, he realized quite suddenly were voluptuously full and bowed with a dewy rose color that had him feeling an unexplainable urge to to press his lips upon them just to test if hers were as soft as they appeared.
Shaking himself he dragged his eyes off her mouth and spoke softly so as not to startle her, “Miss Price it is not advisable to stand in the window like this. Please come away before you are seen.”
His intention was to only keep her safe but Charity turned with clenched fists, “You would even deny me the warmth of the sun upon my face. Is not my prison of utter darkness enough for you Your Grace?”
Dane stopped her with a hand on her arm when she tried to move away from him. Anger that had been simmering just below the edge of his control burst forth, “Need I remind you Miss Price that you would not find yourself in this predicament if you had just stayed where you belonged.”
He heard Violet’s shocked gasp and her reprimanding tone when she spoke his name but he choose to ignore her and the looks of admonishment he was receiving from the others in the room. He knew he was being an arse but he couldn’t help himself.
Charity ripped her arm from his grasp, her voice thick with anger, “Just where do you thing I belong Your Grace? Locked in my bed chamber never to venture out among society so as to never disturb your delicate sensibilities. God forbid that your ostentatious upper class should ever have to dirty themselves by acknowledging that we cripples even exist. Or perhaps you would prefer to go even further and have me locked away in the human filth that is Bedlam starved near to death waiting for my next beating and wondering when I’ll be raped.”
Her words slammed into him like an iron fist stealing the breath from his lungs. Was she right, was he that much of a snob to believe people like her should be housed out of sight? Dane didn’t think he was yet he had never really had any contact with a person of disabilities before. Could the prejudices of society have wormed their way into his thinking without him realizing?
Miss Price was all the way across the room before he knew it. She dropped into the chair she had vacated as if she had no questions about it being precisely where it was. He was impressed by that even though he did want to be.
“I will agree to my confinement only for the sake of Violet’s safety and well being. I only hope that you are better at your job than you are as a person Your Grace and that it will take but a few days to track down the man responsible for the attempt on your life.”
“I will do everything in my power to see it done.” He dragged a hand down his face, choosing to ignore her insult, before he too took a seat. He didn’t know why he found her so exasperating but he did.
Dane hoped that he indeed could find the culprit quickly and have this whole messy business behind him. He looked up to find Violet glaring at him and Matheson looking at him with a puzzled expression before turning to Miss Price clearing his throat.
“Is there anything at all that you remember about the incident that may help us identify the man. For instant did he say anything to you.?”
Dane didn’t think there was anything she could possibly know but then he silently reprimanded himself for having such thoughts. He had to remind himself that she was blind but that did not mean she was stupid in any way. Yet he didn’t think there could be much helpful information that she could provide.
“My contact with him was so brief.” Just as he thought, no help there.
“But I believe he stood at least eight to nine inches taller than I. He was of a wiry build, lean rather than broad and muscular but still quite strong. His hands were soft not calloused and the clothes he wore were of fine material much like people of privilege would wear, it felt crisp and new. I could smell brandy upon his breath, French I believe, with a hint of venison, leeks, and a custard of some sort. His cologne…” here she hesitated for his scent was oddly familiar but she could not describe the reason behind the sensation. “Well I can’t really say. He did say a few words but I did not understand them but recognized his heavy accent to be that of a French gentleman.”
The room stood silent as Charity twisted her fingers in her skirt, a nervous habit that Violet had not been able to break her of, until Matherson spoke with awe.
“Impressive. Impressive indeed young lady.”
It was impressive and Dane felt a new found respect burgeon in his chest that was quickly overshadowed by a dread that came sweeping in. Looking over at his spymaster Dane saw that the man suspected the same thing that he did.
The man that made an attempt upon his life, the one that he hoped to track down and eliminate before any more harm came to Miss Price or Violet was a French spy and assassin known as L’ombre du Trépas. The Shadow of Death.
Suddenly the prospect of finding him within a few days seemed dim. No one actually knew what the man looked like, he was as elusive as a ghost with the uncanny ability to blend into his surroundings without anyone noticing. Just as he had been last night at the ball if Miss Price’s description of his clothing was anything to go by, he had been there all along and he and Alexander had not been any the wiser.
The Shadow of Death had been responsible for the deaths of several prominent political figures all over Europe. His services it was rumored were hired by Napoleon himself and because of his acts of assassination allowing Napoleon to invade Egypt in 1798 and become the President of the Republic of Italy in 1802. He had a reputation of being meticulous in his work with enough patience to lay in wait for days in the freezing cold or sweltering heat before making his kill. His methods of achieving his goal were as varied as his disguises.
The Shadow of Death resided at the top of the list of Britain’s most wanted enemy list yet no one had come close to knowing anything about him until now. Charity’s brief frightening encounter provided them with more information than Britain’s best spies in years.
Dane and Matheson exchange a knowing glance that said they would need to meet later to discuss this turn of events. It was not missed by Violet who looks at him questioningly, her brow wrinkle with concern. He silently shook his head to let her know that he can not discuss it now when Miss Price speaks up.
“What is it? What are you not saying?”
How did she even know that?
“It is nothing,” he tells her but when he sees that she does not believe him he continues, “At least right now it is just conjecture with no real proof to support what we think.”
“And what is it you think?” Violet asked.
Dane shook his head, “I believe that now is not the time for presumptions. When I have gained further proof then I will be able to tell you ladies of my suspicions.”
“You have an idea of who it was in the garden last night based on the little I was able to tell you.” Charity accused looking none to pleased that he and Herman choose not to confide in them.
“Actually Miss Price you were able to tell us quite a lot more than most.” Herman told her, his admiration for her powers of observation evident in his voice. The flattery however did not have any effect on her bearing.
“Still if you wish for my and Violet’s cooperation in this matter I feel that you owe us full disclosure.”
“All in due course Miss Price.” Dane snapped hating the way she got under his skin so easily. He sees her lips purse and her nostrils flare and he wonders how dark her anger would have turned her amber eyes if they had any life in them. Feeling guilty for even having thought that he tried a softer approach.
“I merely do not want to over concern you until I have more information.” He knew immediately that he had said the wrong thing when Violet glared and Miss Price shifted to the edge of her seat as if she was preparing to launch herself out of it.
“Pray do not fear you will wound my delicate sensibilities Your Grace.” Her voice was heavy with sarcasm as she pushed to her feet bringing Herman and him out of their chairs with her. She turned to Violet saying, “I will take my leave now since clearly there is no more to be said on the matter. Violet I shall retire to my bedchamber should you wish to speak with me later. Gentlemen good day to you.”
Dane couldn’t remember a time when he and been so blatantly dismissed by a woman so frustratingly infuriating yet with the most appealing set of lips he had ever come across.