The Pursuit (14 page)

“I’m Karoline.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Karoline. I’m Edward.”

“Just Edward?” She looked surprised. “Not Mr Edward?”

“Edward is my first name. Shall we be on a first-name basis?”

“Mother would never approve.”

She was petite and young-looking, but her vocabulary spoke of someone older. The two continued to visit for the next 30 minutes until Karoline’s mother arrived, looking more than a little unhappy that her daughter was still eating.

“It’s my fault,” Edward explained in very good French. “We’ve been talking.”

“You are too kind, sir.” She smiled at Edward, but it was strained. “Karoline,” her mother said in a no-nonsense tone, “I want you to finish right now.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Karoline’s mother went on her way, and Edward watched the little girl obey. He ate his own food at a leisurely pace, not talking to his dining companion but noticing that she did take an inordinate amount of time with each bite. Edward found himself wanting to laugh.

At last he saw that she was done. He was getting ready to walk her back to her cabin when her sister arrived, an older version of Karoline but looking as impatient as their mother. On her heels was Denley, who took a seat as soon as the girls exited.

“Did you both eat?” Edward asked.

“Yes, thank you, sir. Mr Steele,” Denley continued, his voice and expression respectful, “I wish to express my thanks for all your help.”

“Not at all, Denley. I’m only glad you’re back on your feet.”

“It’s good to be well again, sir.”

“I can imagine.”

Denley did not hang about but returned to Niki. They shared a cabin this time, since Niki’s clothing had changed her role. Edward didn’t see them until the next day when the charade continued. He could tell that the whole ordeal was starting to wear on Niki. She looked tired, and there was little of the spunk she’d shown the day before.

“I think I could tell you to polish my boots today, and you would actually do it,” Edward said to Niki when she joined him at the railing.

“Why is that?”

“There’s no fight left in you today.” Edward watched her face as he said this. “You must be missing your sword.”

He had done it again. Niki had all she could do not to laugh. Instead, she continued to gaze out to sea.

“Does everyone at home get teased like this?”

“I’m a perfect dear, if that’s what you’re asking. They all adore me.”

Niki kept her eyes on the sea. If she saw his mischievous expression, she would be lost. The thought disquieted her. When was the last time she had felt like laughing? When had she met someone who was so good-natured and willing to help?

“I think you have much on your mind,” Edward commented, interrupting her thoughts.

“You’re right. I do.”

“How long after we arrive in England will you be at your destination?”

“If all is clear, only a few days. How about yourself?”

“About the same.”

“No doubt your family will be missing you, dear soul that you are.”

This said, Niki tossed him a challenging glance and moved on her way. Edward watched her for a time. She was careful to keep her head down and play the part, but to someone who knew her even a little, there was a regal air about her that could not be disguised.

Edward decided it wouldn’t be a surprise to learn she was royalty after all and then realized he would probably never know. The thought left his heart in a quandary.

Brest, France

Once in port Denley never left the deck. The
Henderson
did not waste time at the dock. There was cargo to unload and passengers to disembark, but both Denley and Edward knew that the ship planned to be back underway long before evening.

To anyone else’s eye, Denley’s actions would not be suspect, but Edward knew what he was about. Edward did some looking himself but saw nothing alarming. He reminded himself that he could have been fooled but was fairly certain that no one who would be cause for alarm lurked about or boarded the ship before it left for English shores.

Indeed, in very short order they were back out to sea. And this was the last leg of the voyage. Edward didn’t see a lot of Niki—Denley was on hand to play the part—but he thought that might be for the best. Even with Denley available to see to her needs, Edward knew he was going to worry when they said goodbye.

Chapter Eight

Portsmouth, England

“Are you all set?” Edward asked, having slipped into the cabin next door. Passengers leaving the ship could disembark at any time.

“Yes,” Niki said, working hard to hide her feelings and almost wishing Denley were present.

“Good. Take care of yourself.”

“You do the same.”

Edward hesitated and then threw caution to the wind.

“I hope you won’t find me presumptuous,” he ventured, aware of the way she tensed, “but I wrote some verses down. You don’t have to take them if you don’t want to.”

“I would like to see them,” Niki said with relief, unaware of the yearning Edward could see in her eyes.

Edward pulled a paper from his coat pocket.

“I wrote many of them out, and when I ran out of room, I just put the references. Maybe you’ll have a chance to look them up.”

“I’ll do that. Thank you, Edward.”

She was too vulnerable for him just then. With a brief nod, Edward slipped out the door. Denley was just coming back. The two stopped in the passageway.

“Take care of her, Denley. And yourself.”

“I’ll do my best, sir. I wish you well.”

The men parted, Edward making his way toward the gangplank and Denley into the cabin, where he found Niki sitting on a bunk studying a piece of paper. She didn’t even look up when he entered.

“Everything is ready.”

Niki looked up, her face thoughtful.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes.” She gave herself a mental shake, folded the paper, and placed it in her pocket. “What do I carry?”

Denley had lightweight cases for her, and, though it was against his grain, led the way from the cabin, appearing to all as the older, superior servant. Niki knew her part by heart, and no one gave them a single glance as they left the ship, walked toward town, and rented the first available coach.

“Did Mr Steele say where he was headed?” Niki asked when they were underway.

“Not to me he didn’t.”

“How far is this driver willing to take us?”

“London.”

Niki sat doing sums in her head, figuring out when they would get in and whether they would continue on from London that night or wait until morning. She was anxious—there was no getting around it—but she didn’t want to arrive exhausted.

Kendal-in-the-Forest

Niki and Denley arrived at the home of Edgar and Juliana Lawton in the late evening. Niki had not wanted to stop over in Bath but had forced herself to do so, so as not to arrive at Kendal in the middle of the night.

The forest was dense and heavy around them, but as soon as they drew near the house, light could be seen. The coachman, familiar with the area, made his way competently up the lane and to the front door. Niki was emerging from the coach’s interior when the front door opened. She slipped inside, nodded to the butler, and immediately made for the stairs. The rustle of fabric sounded behind her, but she didn’t look around.

At the top of the stairs she turned right and went to the bedroom she’d claimed as her own. Once inside she turned to see a longtime friend enter, lantern in hand.

“Heavens, Niki!” Juliana wasted no time. “Why in the world are you dressed as a servant?”

“It’s a long story,” she said as they embraced. “Help me with my hair, will you, Jules?”

“You’re late, you know,” Juliana scolded. “Gar and I have been worried for days.”

“I’ve been a little worried myself.”

“Which dress?” Juliana asked, getting down to business.

“Anything will do.”

Ten minutes later, feeling thrown together and not caring, Niki made her way down the stairs. She stopped at the door of the large drawing room where Gar met her. She sighed over his tender embrace.

“Hello, Gar.”

“Hello, Niki. Are you all right?”

“I am now. How are they?”

“Wonderful, as always.”

Niki took a huge breath, suddenly overcome with emotion.

“Don’t fall apart now,” he encouraged.

Niki nodded. “I’ll go in.”

Edgar opened the door and let her enter alone. As the door shut, she stood still for a moment and only looked at the little boys inside. Still in the shadows, they did not notice her entrance. Knowing her voice was going to shake, she called to them.

“Christopher. Richard.”

Hearing her sent them into immediate motion. The blocks on the floor forgotten, they sprang up.

“Mama!”

Niki began to run, meeting her five-year-old twin boys in the middle of the room and going to her knees to hold them. She tried to touch every part of them, kiss them, and talk to them all at one time, and all while crying.

They tried to talk as well, and after a few moments of damp mayhem, Niki fell silent.

“We missed you,” Christopher admitted, his eyes on her face.

“And it’s almost Christmas!” Richard put in.

“I made it just in time, didn’t I? And I missed you too.”

“Where did you go this time?” Christopher asked.

“You’ll never guess,” Niki teased them.

“France?”

“No.”

“Italy?”

“No, much farther.”

The boys looked at each other, and Niki took pity on them.

“I was in Africa.”

Their little mouths rounded with surprise, and Niki laughed. At the same time she heard the door open.

“It’s Denley!” the boys cried, scrambling from their mother’s arms to greet him.

“Hello, Master Christopher; hello, Master Richard.”

“Denley,” they told him, very serious, “Mama’s home, and she’s been to Africa!”

“Africa?” He appeared to be amazed. “How splendid. Did she see elephants?”

The boys looked to her, and Niki laughed. They ran back, headed for her lap, but she had come to her feet, knowing Denley needed her.

“Yes, Denley,” she prompted kindly.

“If I may, Mrs Bettencourt, I think I might retire for the evening.”

“Of course, Denley. Thank you.”

He nodded, weary but at peace, and slipped back out the door. The boys already had their mother’s hands, taking her to see their blocks and the small town they were building. Niki went back to the floor and listened to their chatter, a mixture of French and English.

“Were you good boys while I was away?” she asked them, watching as they grew quiet. Niki looked between them, surprised by this reaction.

“Does someone want to tell me something?”

“We fought today,” Richard admitted. “I punched and Chris kicked.”

“What was this about?”

“We both wanted the special ball.”

“And who got it?”

“No one. Uncle Gar took it, and we had to sit in chairs.”

“Did you apologize to each other?”

Their heads bobbed, their looks contrite.

“Did you apologize to Uncle Gar?”