Shattered Moments (18 page)

August
1626

Virginia

Kit fortified himself with a cupful of brandy before getting ready to head upstairs.  He’d spent several hours riding around aimlessly to get his thoughts in order after leaving Jamestown, in a fruitless attempt to formulate a plan, but all he came up with was that he was, for lack of a better word, fucked.  It wasn’t bad enough that now his wife knew about the trysts with Buckingham, but now Deverell had died violently, most likely making Kit the prime suspect in her eyes.  Charles had come back to the plantation several hours ago, so Louisa had heard the news and had time to form an opinion, so the only thing he could do was confront her and force her to listen.  He had to explain.  She might not be ready to forgive, but she needed to know the facts.  Kit nodded to Charles who was still finishing his drink and rose to his feet, ready to face his wife.  He was just about to climb the stairs when the sound of galloping horses distracted him.

“Who could that be?” asked Charles
as he glanced out the window.  It wasn’t fully dark yet, but the light was fading fast, the purple shadows of a July twilight quickly darkening to the all-encompassing blackness of a summer night.   The crescent moon that hung at a jaunty angle in the starlit sky paled in comparison to the flickering light of the torches advancing at breakneck speed toward the manor house.

“There are at least five men
,” Charles announced.  “What could they want?”  He opened the door, smiling as he recognized Sir George Yardley.  “Sir George, what brings you here at this time of night?” Charles asked, opening the door wider to invite the governor in.  The rest of the men remained outside, but they looked grim; their muskets slung across their shoulders and the light from the torches throwing strange shadows across their faces and making them look demonic.

“Good evening, Mr. Whitfield.  As it happens, I’m here to see Lord Sheridan.  Sir.”  Yardley bowed to Kit who was standing behind Charles, but
seemed hesitant to speak.  “Is Mrs. Whitfield here?” he suddenly asked Charles.

“She’s upstairs with the children.”  A look of concern appeared on Charles’s face, but the
governor held up his hand, indicating that he had no reason to worry. 

“And Lady Sheridan?”

“I’m here, Sir George,” Louisa replied as she came down the stairs, her gaze fixed on the governor.  “Is something wrong?”

Sir George just stood by the door, stepping from foot to foot, his hands clasped behind his back and his face unusually sour, even for him.  He looked at Louisa for a moment before finally speaking, his voice low and even. 
“Lord Sheridan, I’m arresting you for the murder of Aloysius Deverell.  You will be taken into custody and remain incarcerated until the trial.  Will you please come with me?”

Kit whipped around to see the look of incomprehension on Louisa’s face as she processed the
governor’s words.  She was pale and scared, but she remained silent as her eyes finally found Kit’s.  He thought he saw understanding and tenderness in them, but he was probably mistaken.  They hadn’t spoken since she showed him the letter, and things were far from resolved between them.  And now this. 

“On what grounds am I being arrested?” Kit asked
quietly.  He hadn’t moved from his spot, and the men outside inched closer to the open door, ready to move in.  Annabel appeared at the top of the stairs behind Louisa, but no one paid her any mind, all eyes on Sir George. 

“You threatened Mr. Deverell on your property three days ago
and promised to beat him to a pulp and throw him in the river, which is exactly how he died.  Now, please come with us peacefully, or we will have to exude force.”

“Who told you this?” Kit asked, the shock evident in his face.

“A witness came forward this afternoon after the discovery of the body, and signed a written statement describing the incident.  Now, please come with us, Lord Sheridan.”

“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me who this witness was.  Who could have heard me threatening Mr. Deverell on my property?”  Kit looked at Charles, but he just shrugged his shoulders, as shocked as the rest of them.

Sir George briefly glanced at Charles before facing Kit squarely and replying to his question.  “The person who made the accusation is Mrs. Annabel Whitfield.  It seems she overheard you speaking to Mr. Deverell.  I’m afraid that’s rather damning information, Christopher.  I will do all I can to help you, but the law is the law, and murder is a hanging offense.  Now, please come.” 

Kit glanced at Louisa, who stood frozen
on the lower step, her face slack with shock, her eyes full of incomprehension as she stared down at Kit.  He could see Annabel at the top of the stairs, a look of intense satisfaction on her beautiful face.  She’d never looked as ugly to him as she did at that moment.

“I didn’t do it, Lou,” he said.  “I swear
; I didn’t do it,” Kit called out as Sir George took him by the arm and steered him toward the door.

“I know you didn’t,” she replied, her fingers digging into the banister as she swayed and slumped to sit on the top step,
resting her head against the wall.

Kit didn’t bother to look at Charles as he was led away.  Charles had nothing to do with what Annabel had done
, he was sure of that.  Charles could be self-serving at times, but he was a good man who would never betray a friend.  His one weakness was his wife, and what a venomous besom she could be at times.  Why would she accuse him of murder?  Suddenly, Kit felt a chill pass through him as he vaulted onto his horse.  What if he had killed Deverell?  He’d been so blind drunk he might not remember.

“How could you?” Louisa roared, advancing on a cowering Annabel, who was attempting to hide behind Charles.  “How could you do such a thing?  What would possess you to speak out against Kit?  What has he ever done to you, you vicious shrew?” 

Louisa took a gulp of air in an effort to calm herself.  She felt as if the walls were closing in on her, the warm evening air not enough to fill her aching lungs.  The children were crying upstairs, woken by her outburst as Genevieve tried to calm them and Minnie’
s curious face appeared for a moment at the top of the stairs; her eyes round with curiosity.  Louisa noticed everything through a haze of disbelief, her mind still trying to deny what just happened, and to find a logical explanation for why her husband was hauled away by the governor to be confined in the local prison until the trial.  The murder trial. The thought made her turn on Annabel again as she hissed, “You bitch,” under her breath.

“Now, look here, Louisa, there’s no need
for name calling.  I’m sure Annabel has a perfectly reasonable explanation, don’t you?” he asked, turning to his wife and glaring at her from under his eyebrows.  “Please tell me there’s a good reason for what you did, Annabel, because at this moment, I’m ready to wring your neck.”

Annabel was panting like a steam
engine; her face red to the roots of her hair as she finally stepped out of her hiding place and faced Louisa.  “I heard.  I heard it all, Louisa.  Your darling husband threatened to kill Deverell and toss him in the river.  In my opinion, he deserves to hang.”

“Well, no one is asking you, are they?”  Louisa bellowed, ready to scratch Annabel’s eyes out.

“Why would he want to kill Deverell?” Charles asked, skillfully inserting himself between the two women.  “They hardly know each other.”

“Ask her,” Annabel spat out, “or maybe she doesn’t know.  Seems our Kit likes
to keep secrets that are worth killing for.”  Charles visibly paled, but Annabel was on a roll now.  “I might stay quiet about a lot of things, but I will not condone murder; you hear?!”

“Murder?!” Louisa yelled.  “You just condemned my husband to hang.  You are the murderer.  And what
secrets are you blathering about?”

“Do you think I don’t know that Tom is my brother’s son?  Do you think I’m
ignorant of the fact that your whore of a niece spread her legs for everyone and anyone with a stiff cock and got herself pregnant?  Lucky for her that dolt Theo married her, or she would have been disgraced and ostracized.  Well, Tom belongs to me, you hear?  He is my flesh and blood.  He’s the only family I have left besides Charles and the children, and my father’s estate is lost to us because Tom is not legally my brother’s son.  I know that little whore had something to do with Tom’s death, and it was Kit who allowed it to happen.  It was Kit who failed to see the signs and rein her in before it was too late.”

Louisa sank down on the settee, her legs shaking so badly she could
n’t manage to stand for another second.  So this is what this was about.  With both Little Louisa and Theo gone, there was no one to blame besides Alec and Valerie, and they had been away when Tom died, with Kit acting as guardian to Louisa. So Annabel decided that this was fitting punishment for the wrong done to her family. 

“Charles, I think you need to take your wife and leave this house.  Tomorrow morning will do.  I will not stay under the same roof with this woman, nor will I ever speak to her again, and I cannot guarantee her safety once I regain the strength to get up.”

“Come away, Annabel.  We’ll go stay with Cousin Wesley in Jamestown.  I’m sure he won’t mind.  He was just complaining about how lonesome it is to be in that house all by himself.  Pack a few things for yourself and the children.  Now go!” he roared as Annabel stood rooted to the spot.

“Louisa, I’m deeply sorry for what Annabel has done, and I will do everything in my power to help Kit, but you don’t have the authority to throw us out.  Only Alec can do that, and I will have a word with him when he finally shows up.  And I
would dearly like to know where he is.  All these unexplained absences are rather suspicious.  Where are they, Louisa?”

Louisa looked up at Charles, her eyes swimming with tears.  “I have no idea where they are, and that’s the truth.”  She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders quaking as she sobbed quietly, her face averted from Charles. 

“Louisa,” he said, coming closer, but she waved him away.  “Just go, Charles.  You’ve done enough.”

August
2010

Princeton, New Jersey

Alec looked around in wonder as they passed through FitzRandolph Gate and walked across the campus of Princeton University to the physics department located in Jadwin Hall.  Valerie hadn’t been to Princeton since she was in college herself attending a football game with a few of her friends, and then crashing a wild party afterwards, much of which she still couldn’t remember, but everything looked much the same.  The main part of the campus boasted a cluster of stately, ivy-covered buildings built in the Collegiate Gothic style, so popular at one time for building places of learning.  Princeton was meant to remind one of Oxford and Cambridge, and feel the weight of influence and power as soon as one passed through the gate onto this impressive campus.  There were few students around as it was summer break, but some were seen here and there, lazing around on the lawn or reading under a leafy tree.  Valerie supposed that summer classes were in session for those who wished to take them.

They walked past the
imposing cathedral and made their way toward the newer part of the campus, built in the twentieth century and cleverly hidden behind the older buildings.  Alec just stared in disgust at the ultra-modern building which housed the physics department, its angular shape so at odds with the beautiful architecture they just saw.  A row of potted trees formed a path to the entrance, and a modern sculpture made of metal graced the open space in front of the building, looking like some alien creature who dropped from outer space and was about to go on a rampage of destruction.

“What in the world is that meant to be?” Alec asked as they passed the sculpture.  He gave it a wide berth, but his eyes never left the metal panels which reflected the sunlight and
glinted menacingly.

“I’ve no idea,” Valerie replied, her voice tight with nerves.  Her stomach was twisted into knots and her hands ice-cold and shaking with nerves.  This was their only chance, and it was a long shot at best. 

Alec put his arm around her as they approached the entrance and kissed the top of her head.  “I know you’re terrified.  Just have faith.”

“Oh, Alec, I just want to go home,” she moaned as her eyes filled with tears.  “I want to go home.”

“I know, sweetheart, so do I, but it’s out of our hands now.  We just have to put one foot in front of the other and see where it takes us.  If you think too far ahead, you’ll never get through today.”

“I can’t help thinking ahead.  The thought of never seeing any of them again just breaks my heart, again and again.  I wake up every morning and look around to find myself not at home in our bed, but in this waking nightmare.  I want to go home,” she whispered.

Alec just steered her through the door.  She knew he felt the same, but he was more stoic.  Men weren’t supposed to fall apart at the first sign of trouble.  He had to be strong for her, and he had been calm and supportive as he always was in times of crisis.   

**

The secretary was a young, perky woman who seemed to respond to Alec’s cultured British accent a lot quicker than she responded to Valerie.  She practically purred when Alec asked for her help, batting her eyelashes and smiling provocatively, her face drooping when she realized she couldn’t help.

“I’m sure you understand, Mr. Whitfield, that we are unable to divulge personal information about the staff, but I can confirm that Professor Bloom is still employed by the department and will be back to teach a class in September
.”  She smiled pleasantly at Alec in the hope that he didn’t blame her for the regulations which forbade her from helping him.  Her smile indicated that she would have jumped through flaming hoops if he so much as offered to take her for a drink.

“I can’t wait till September,” Alec replied pleasantly.  “Is there anything at all you can tell us, Amber?”  He gave the woman a dazzling smile which made her blush
prettily.

“Well, I suppose it wouldn’t be against the rules to tell you that although I can’t provide you with Professor Bloom’s address, you just might be able to find it in the phone
book under Nancy Bloom.  There’s a phone book right over there.”  Alec practically beamed at her as Valerie leafed through the book, searching for Nancy Bloom.  “Got it,” she announced triumphantly as she found an address on Mercer Road.  “Let’s go.”

“You’ve been a very great help,” Alec said, smiling as the young woman purred, “Not at all, Mr. Whitfield, not at all.”

“Oh, stop smirking,” Valerie said as they left the office.  “You’re old enough to be her father.”

Alec just laughed and planted a sweet kiss on Valerie’s lips.  “I believe you’re jealous, my sweet, and that makes it all the more
enjoyable.  Come, let’s go find the professor.”