A Refuge at Highland Hall (33 page)

She swallowed and looked around.
Please, Lord, show me what to do.

She scanned the camp again. A few men walked along the paths between the tents, and two guards stood on watch at the main gate.

Perhaps the best path was walking in the light. She reached in her pocket, took out the note she'd written to Marius, and walked toward the main gate.

As she approached, the guards stepped forward and lifted their rifles.

“Halt! Who goes there?” the taller guard called.

Lydia's heart hammered in her throat. “My name is Lydia Chambers, and I have a message for Marius Ritter.”

The two guards looked at each other, and the taller one chuckled and lowered his rifle. “You can't just walk up to the gate and pass a message. You have to send it in a letter.”

“It's urgent! Please, he needs to hear this news tonight.”

The shorter guard stepped into the circle of light from the lantern. “What's so important that you couldn't send it in a letter?”

She didn't want to tell him about Marius's private family matters, but if that was the only way to get the message through, she would do it. She walked closer and lowered her voice. “It's about his sister in London. She's been ill. Please, he needs to read this message.”

The taller guard scoffed. “His sister? What's this really about? Are you trying to settle a lover's quarrel?”

“No! Here, you can read it yourself.” She held out the note and passed it through the slim opening in the gate.

The two guards exchanged skeptical looks, but the taller guard took the note, then opened it and scanned the message. He looked up. “Even if this is the truth, we're not allowed to accept anything for the prisoners.”

“Please, he's so worried about her. Couldn't you do it just this one time?”

A slow, sly smile lifted one side of the guard's mouth. “There might be a way I could be convinced.”

The hair on the back of her neck prickled, and she gave her head a slight shake. “I can't pay you. I have no money.”

He lifted his eyebrows and grinned. “I wasn't thinking of money.”

She pulled in a sharp breath. Did he mean what she thought he meant? She quickly stepped back. “No!”

“Are you sure?” He pushed the gate open a few feet, slung his rifle over his shoulder, and stepped toward her. “I could make sure your message gets through.”

“Harry, stop!” The other guard shot an anxious glance over his shoulder, then looked back at them. “You're going to get us both in trouble.”

“I'm just having a little fun.” He focused on Lydia and took a step closer. “I'd say a little kiss would be fair payment for delivering this message.” He held up her note and waved it back and forth with a wicked gleam in his eye.

She lunged and tried to snatch the message, but he grabbed her arm. She gasped and tried to pull away.

“Come on, just one little kiss.” He tightened his grip.

“Stop! Please!” She turned her face away. “Let me go!”

“Lydia!” Marius ran across the open area toward the gate.

The shorter guard swung around and leveled his rifle at Marius. “Stop!”

The tall guard dropped his hold on Lydia, ripped his rifle from his shoulder, and spun around. “Stay back!”

Marius stopped and lifted his hands, but he kept his eyes on Lydia. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, and so is Jenny! Dr. Jon says she's—”

“Stop!” the shorter guard shouted. “You can't talk to him!”

“What did the doctor say?” Marius kept his hands high, ignoring the guard's glare.

“She was in the hospital three days, but she's home now and on the mend.”

The taller guard scowled at Lydia, then walked toward Marius, his rifle aimed at his chest. “Go on! Get back to your tent before I report you to the commander.”

Marius shifted his steely glare toward the guard. “If anyone should be reported, it's you.”

“I wouldn't try it.” But the tremor in the guard's voice betrayed his fear.

“Come on, Marius.” Siegfried moved closer and tugged on Marius's shirt. “Let's go.”

Lydia hadn't realized Siegfried was with Marius until he stepped into the light.

Marius slowly lowered his hands, his glare still fixed on the guard. Then he looked at Lydia once more. “God bless you, Lydia.”

Tears flooded her eyes, but she sent him a tremulous smile. “And you!”

She turned and hurried down the road away from the camp. It was wonderful she'd been able to see Marius and deliver the message, but knowing he was locked away in that camp tore at her heart.

Please, Lord, strengthen him. Give him peace tonight. Help him trust You.

Fighting off her tears, she prayed all the way back to Highland.

A
knock sounded at Penny's door. She yawned and turned from her dressing table. “Come in.”

Helen entered. “You rang, miss?”

Penny glanced past Helen's shoulder. Lydia usually answered her summons, but she had been disappearing and reappearing at the oddest times lately. “Where is Lydia?”

Helen's face turned slightly pink, and she glanced toward the window. “She…had to go deliver a message.”

“For Mrs. Kate?”

“Uh…no, miss.”

“Whom was she delivering a message for?”

Helen bit her lip. “Oh, please, miss, don't make me say.”

What a curious response. “Now you must tell me.”

Helen's gaze darted around the room for a few seconds. “Oh, she's gone off to that camp to see Marius, the prisoner who cut his leg in the orchard.”

“What?” Sensible, honest Lydia?

“Oh, please, miss, don't dismiss her. She's not done anything bad. I'm sure of it. Lydia's not like that.”

“Sneaking out at night to meet a man, let alone one of the prisoners, sounds very dangerous. What was she thinking?”

“She had to go and tell him the news about his sister. She's been real sick, but Dr. Jon said she's well now, so he doesn't have to worry.”

“Helen, slow down. You're not making sense.”

“Mrs. Kate knows about it,” Helen rushed on. “She helped Lydia send the telegram to Dr. Jon a few days ago. They asked him to visit Marius's sister, Jenny, in London and help her out if he could. And he did. And then today when the doctor came to see the babies, he told Lydia that Jenny is better, and she had to go tell Marius.”

Penny's thoughts flashed back to the day in Fulton when she'd bumped into Lydia and made her drop her package of books in the muddy street. Lydia said the books were a gift for one of the prisoners. She'd also said they'd exchanged letters, but this sounded much more serious.

“Please, miss. Lydia's a good girl with a kind heart. She's just trying to help.”

“I understand what you're saying, but you know what Mrs. Dalton and Mr. Lawrence would say if they found out.”

Helen dropped her chin. “Please don't tell them. I didn't mean to get her in trouble. I thought when you heard the story, you'd understand.”

Penny sighed. “I do sympathize. It sounds like she has good intentions, but I'll have to speak to her about it.”

Helen nodded but kept her eyes focused on the floor.

Penny hated to see anyone feeling so forlorn. “Please, don't worry, Helen. I'm sure we can resolve this. There's no need for you to say anything to Lydia. I'll talk to her tomorrow and set things right.”

Helen lifted her gaze. “Thank you, miss. You've always been kind to us.”

Penny rose from the dressing-table bench, and Helen helped her out of her dress and corset. The wind rattled the window, making Penny shiver. Lydia was either very brave or very much in love to walk all the way to the camp on a cold, windy night like this. Either way, Penny had to warn her not to put herself in danger like this ever again.

Alex walked into the library carrying the book he had borrowed the night before.

“Good morning, Lieutenant.” William looked up from his desk in the corner.

Alex hadn't expected to find anyone here at this hour. “Good morning, sir.”

“You're up early.”

“Yes, I thought I'd return this book before everyone gathers in the hall.” Alex glanced around the room. “You have an excellent library.”

“I'm glad you're making use of it.”

Alex scanned the shelf, looking for an open spot.

“Julia tells me you and Penny have grown quite close.”

Alex's hand stopped halfway to the shelf. He slipped the book in place, then turned to face William. “Yes, sir, we have.”

William's somber expression added weight to his words. “I take my role as Penny's guardian quite seriously, but it's difficult for me to watch over her while I'm away in London.” He studied Alex for a moment. “I hope I can trust you to treat her in an honorable manner while you're here at Highland.”

The memory of the kiss they'd shared the day he arrived flashed into his mind, and heat rushed up his neck. “Yes, sir.”

“She's young but not too young to have her heart broken, and I wouldn't want that to happen.”

“Neither would I, sir.”

“Good.” William gave a firm nod. “From what Jon and Julia tell me, you're a man with good character and strong faith, and your service with the RNAS is certainly commendable.”

Alex's chest expanded. “Thank you, sir.”

“No thanks needed. I'm impressed by what you've accomplished.” William rested his elbows on the arms of his chair and folded his hands. “All that being said, I'd like to know what your intentions are toward Penny.”

Alex hadn't expected that question, at least not yet. He knew which way his heart wanted to take things, but he didn't know how William would feel about it. No time like the present to find out. He straightened and met William's gaze. “Penny is an amazing young woman, and spending time with her here at Highland has made me realize how much I care for her, but I'm not sure what the future holds for me now.” Alex motioned toward his eye patch. “I'm afraid my injuries raise a rather high barrier between us.”

“That sounds more like a problem to solve than a wall that should separate you. That is, if your feelings for Penny are the kind that lead to a lifetime commitment.”

Alex's heartbeat thrummed in his chest. A lifetime with Penny would be a dream come true.

“Do you love her?”

The answer surged through him. “Yes, sir. I do, very much.”

“Does she feel the same way about you?”

The sweet kiss they had shared flashed through his mind again. “I haven't spoken to her directly, but she has given me a reason to hope.”

“May I give you some advice?”

“Yes, sir. Please do.”

“My first marriage was arranged by my parents to improve our family's business connections. My wife was attractive and accomplished, but we didn't know each other well. And it was only after the wedding that I realized how poorly we were matched. I hoped love would grow, but after a short time we ended up living separate lives. There was a very painful distance between us when she died in a riding accident.”

Memories of Alex's childhood came rushing back, shaking him to the core.

Concern lined William's face. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, sir, it's just that your first marriage sounds very similar to my parents' situation.”

“In what way?”

Alex cleared his throat. “They met and married in India when my mother was only eighteen. She was never happy there. Finally, she left us, and she returned to England with my sister, Lindy. A few months later she divorced my father.”

“I'm very sorry to hear that. It must have been difficult for you.”

Alex gave a slight nod. “I've always admired my father, idolized him, in fact. But he was not the best husband.” A shudder passed through him. “I don't want to repeat his mistakes.”

Compassion filled William's eyes. “You don't have to. Rather, you can learn from those painful experiences and let them guide you toward a better path.”

Alex swallowed and nodded, but the memory of his father's failures weighed heavy on his heart.

William leaned forward in his chair. “In my second marriage to Julia, I've discovered the importance of faith and commitment and how those can strengthen the bond that holds a man and wife together through good times and bad.”

Alex soaked in William's words, letting them soothe the ache in his chest. Could he take the painful lessons from his parents' failed marriage and turn them around to build a better future with Penny?

William rose and placed his hand on Alex's shoulder. “With God's help and the love of a good woman like Penny, you two could build a fine marriage and strong family.”

Alex met William's gaze. “Yes, sir. I believe that's true.”

“Good, then you have my permission to move ahead in a courtship with Penny.”

Alex's chest swelled, and hope surged through him. “Thank you, sir.” William's belief in him and his encouragement meant more than he could say.

“Of course, before you propose, I'd like to be assured you have a way to provide for her, but you have time to work out those details.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And I think we can dispense with you calling me ‘sir.' William is fine.”

Alex grinned and held out his hand. “Thank you, William.”

William grabbed hold and shook his hand. “You're welcome, Alex.”

Lydia knocked softly on Miss Penny's door, then opened it and stepped inside. She quietly crossed the room and pushed the drapes aside. Light poured in around her. “Morning, miss.” She glanced over her shoulder and was surprised to see Miss Penny already sitting up in bed.

“Good morning, Lydia.” Miss Penny swung her feet over the side of the bed. “Before I dress, there's something I want to ask you.”

Lydia's stomach sank, and she turned to face Miss Penny.

“Last night I rang, expecting you, but Helen came instead. Where were you?”

Lydia's mouth went dry. “I…had to deliver a message to…a friend.”

Miss Penny waited a few seconds, and when Lydia didn't offer further explanation, she said, “I know you went to the camp. I was hoping you would be honest and tell me the whole truth.”

All the air rushed from Lydia's lungs. Helen must have told Miss Penny where she'd gone. Her sister was the only one who knew. “I'm sorry, miss. I was afraid you wouldn't approve.”

“I'm not sure what I think, but I'd like you to tell me the rest of the story.”

Lydia clasped together her cool, trembling hands. “Do you remember that day in Fulton when you met me coming out of the bookshop?

“Yes, I remember.”

Lydia poured out the story, explaining how she'd met Marius and what had passed between them in their letters, their meetings in the garden, the news about Jenny Ritter's illness, and finally Siegfried's efforts to convince Marius to join in his plans for escape.

“So you see, I had to get that message to Marius last night. That was the only way to stop him from trying to break out of the camp. And heaven only knows what would've happened if he'd tried that.”

Miss Penny stared at Lydia, looking a bit stunned by the story.

“It's not right for the government to take a good man like Marius away from his family just because he's German. He's lived in London since he was a boy. His father is dead, and he was taking care of his mother and sister. They need him. But then it's not right for him to try and escape from the camp either.”

“No, of course not.”

“So…you understand why I had to go?”

“Yes, I suppose so. I'm glad you got the message through, but it was quite a risk.”

The weight pressing down on Lydia began to lift.

“I won't say anything to anyone, but if you're ever facing a difficult situation like that again, you must promise to seek my help or Lady Julia's.”

Lydia nodded. “I will, miss. I promise.”

“Good.” Miss Penny's serious expression eased. “You must think a great deal of this Marius Ritter to go to all that trouble.”

Lydia's cheeks warmed, and a smile stole across her lips. “I do, miss. He's a fine man, hard working and very thoughtful. Maybe one day, when the war is over, we can be together.”

Miss Penny smiled. “If he's truly like you described him, then I hope so too.” She rose, crossed the room, and opened her wardrobe. “I think I'd like to wear my coral dress today.”

Relief poured through Lydia. The matter was settled. She wouldn't have to worry about a reprimand from Mrs. Dalton or the possibility of losing her position. She followed Penny and took the dress from the wardrobe.