The Blue Flames, page 34
“Weapons?” Harriet asked.
“Definitely,” Caradoc answered.
When they arrived at the clearing a few minutes later, both were wearing pistols under their coats. Caradoc had managed to buy his from the stable master a few days ago after learning he had an extra one he never used. Beatrice waved the stragglers in and gestured to the constable standing nearest to her.
“Dear friends,” she said, “I am sorry to interrupt your day once again, but I have some good news to share. Constable Eberton here has just informed me that the bandits on the Ashing River Bridge have been routed!”
The guests shared an audible sigh of relief, save for the Colonists, who remained too much on their guard to be relieved. Eberton took a step forward.
“The way is free and clear again to the south,” he said. “But I highly advise against traveling just yet. Two of the villains managed to evade arrest and escaped into the forest. As we speak, we are searching the cabins to make sure neither of them are hiding here.”
The collective relief turned back into worry. Caradoc glanced around. Sure enough, there were officers going into the cabins, checking every room. He racked his brain for anything incriminating they might have left behind. No. There was nothing to reveal that they were Colonists. There was the illegal vial of Red Jarmarac, but they weren’t likely to look for escaped bandits in a travel bag.
The constable cleared his throat as if by way of apology. “We’ll also need to select some of you for an interview. Nothing to worry about. Just a few questions to try to determine as much as we can about the situation, and if there were any other suspicious characters in the area. We have discovered that at least one unfortunate traveler fell victim to them in the past week, which makes our investigation a degree more serious than a mere scattering of mischief-makers.”
The guests began to panic amongst themselves, but Beatrice raised her hands again.
“Friends, please do not worry. This is not an interrogation. No one is a suspect or under threat of arrest. It is merely a search for more information. After your cabins have been cleared, you may return to your rooms. If a constable knocks at your door and asks you to follow them, I ask that you be as obliging as possible. Tomorrow, those of you who wish may return home at your leisure.”
The constables finished their search a half hour later. Harriet and Caradoc returned to their cabin and sank onto the sofa together, rife with apprehension.
“They might not choose us for questioning,” Harriet said, trying to sound hopeful. “And they didn’t seem to take any special notice of us—not when they’re so concerned with finding the other bandits.”
Caradoc shook his head. “We can’t run, anyway. Not with so many eyes looking around. Even if we are chosen, we should be able to stick to our story.”
Another knock came at the door. They both stood from the sofa at the same time, their hearts sinking with dread. Caradoc tried to look through the window to see who it was, but the view wasn’t good enough. Harriet went to the door and ever-so-slightly cracked it open. She looked outside, then fell back and opened it wide with a look of astonishment.
It was Cora, cradling the baby in her arms and looking close to tears.
“Hello, ma’am,” the young woman said, her voice thin and timid. “May I come—”
“Of course! Come in. Come in.”
As soon as Cora stepped into the room, Harriet shut the door behind her. The young woman turned and caught sight of Caradoc. Fear filled her eyes.
He nodded to her and tried to soften his expression. “Hello.”
She swallowed and returned the nod. “Hello, sir.”
Harriet gestured to the sofa. “Sit down, Cora. Please.”
The young woman obeyed, holding the baby even closer. “I-I’m sorry to barge in like this. And . . . I’m sorry I didn’t have the courage to speak to you ‘til now.”
Harriet sat next to her. “Don’t be sorry. It’s a difficult situation. We know that.”
Caradoc sat in a chair near the corner. “Are you all right?”
Cora’s nervousness gave way to a small smile. “Imagine . . . you being worried ‘bout me. I knew it would be all right to come here.” She glanced back at Harriet. “I recognized you, ma’am. As soon as I saw you. I know anyone else would’ve called the police, or at least told Miss Babbin. But I couldn’t. It didn’t make sense. It’s never made sense. Not any of it. You were always so kind to me. The kindest person I ever met.” She looked at Caradoc again. “And you, sir. It took me a little longer to realize it, but I knew you as well. I remember when you came to the house to help Mr. Whistler when he was ill. So I . . . I couldn’t work it out, how you could’ve done such terrible things like everyone says you did. I couldn’t believe it. So when I saw you, I decided not to say anything, not even to Lucas. I didn’t want to make you nervous or afraid that I might tell someone about you. And no matter what happens, I’ll keep quiet, ma’am, I promise.”
Harriet put a hand on her shoulder. “What do you mean, Cora? What’s happened?”
“Lucas and me. They’re taking us for questioning, along with some others. Said it could be a few hours. I came to ask if you’d watch little Caroline while we’re gone. Miss Babbin is busy with things and, well, there’s no one I really trust more than you.”
Harriet didn’t have to think twice. “Of course.”
Cora placed the baby in her arms. “She’s two months. And she’s just been fed so she shouldn’t need anything ‘til I get back. I don’t rightly know what this questioning will be like, but I don’t want her getting upset by it. She mostly sleeps during this time of day.”
Caroline was half-asleep already, tightly swaddled in a yellow blanket, and did not stir upon being handed to a complete stranger. Harriet gazed tenderly at the child and brushed a finger against her cheek. “She’s beautiful.”
“Thank you. And . . . again, ma’am, I’m sorry for being so distant. And I’m sorry you’re in so much trouble. If there’s anything we can do, me and Lucas would be more than willing to help.” She looked at Caradoc. “He’s especially grateful to you, sir. You’ve been so kind to let him work on the fence with you.”
“He’s been kind to put up with me,” Caradoc replied. “And you can tell him I said so.”
“I will,” she said with a smile, then glanced down at the baby again. “Oh. She’s fallen asleep already. Taken to you right away, ma’am.”
“And I to her.”
“You sure you don’t mind?”
“Mind? I insist on it. We’ll take good care of her. Don’t worry.”
Cora leaned forward and kissed her daughter’s brow. “Well, I’d better be going. Thank you again. Ever so much.”
They all stood. Caradoc went to the door and held it open for her.
“Goodbye, sir,” she said.
“Goodbye. And don’t worry about the interview. It should be easy enough.”
She nodded, then stepped over the threshold and headed for the clearing where Lucas and Constable Eberton were waiting. He shut the door and watched through the window. The constables talked with the couple for a moment, then nodded towards the wagon. They took each other’s hand and went towards it.
“Do you believe her?” he said. “That she won’t say anything?”
“She wouldn’t have left her child with us if she hadn’t meant it,” Harriet answered.
“Maybe she only did it to put us off our guard.”
“No one would leave their infant daughter with people they believed were dangerous. Not even Bill Stone himself.”
Caradoc looked out the window again. The wagon was gone, along with Lucas, Cora, and the constables. Only Beatrice remained, gazing out into the forest.
Two hours passed. Harriet sat in a rocking chair in the bedroom and cherished every moment holding the child, who slept soundly the entire time. She laid a hand on Caroline’s stomach just to feel the tiny breaths being drawn in and out, and was hard pressed even to tear her gaze from the infant’s face.
Caradoc relinquished his plan to work on the fence that day, too worried that a constable would pay an unexpected visit while he was gone. He busied himself instead with whittling the blushing birch cane on the back porch, now in its final stages.
When the shadows grew long, he went into the house again and saw Harriet sitting in the same place he’d left her, stroking the baby’s brow.
“Aren’t your arms tired?” he asked.
“A little.”
“Put her down on the bed. She’ll be all right.”
She shook her head. “I’d rather have tired arms.”
There was no convincing her. It half-broke his heart. The time would soon come when the child would have to return to her mother, and it might very well be the most difficult thing Harriet had faced since leaving Riverfall.
Caradoc hung up his coat, retrieved the map of Eriaris, and returned to the bedroom to lie on the left side of the bed. It was a practice he had undertaken every night. He would rumple the bedding, toss the covers around a bit, and try to make it look as though he’d slept there at least some of the night. The maids came every day to make the bed, and they had realized how suspicious it would look to have only one side of it slept in after so many weeks. If anyone did catch him on the sofa, it would be easy enough to say they had argued the night before. He turned onto his side and spread the map open, propping up his head on his hand. He squinted, leaned in closer, then farther away.
“Are you trying to read without spectacles again?” Harriet said.
“I am. But not with any great success, I admit.” With a sigh of frustration, he rolled onto his back and held the map closer to his face. “For weeks I’ve been trying to think of a way to rescue Riva when we get back to Riverfall. Since she’ll only be accused of aiding us, the worst she can get is lifetime imprisonment in Stalikos.”
Harriet’s brow creased with worry. “The poor girl. Do you think they’re treating her well?”
“The Entrians pride themselves on their unimpeachable moral virtues. I can’t imagine they would stoop to practicing anything as undignified as torture. It wouldn’t fit their image.” He propped up the pillow behind him and leaned against it. “But there must be a hundred spelltraps about the place. I can’t begin to see a way in. What I wouldn’t give for a recent newspaper. We’ve no idea what’s been going on in the world beyond the Ashing River Bridge.” He chucked the map down and looked at her again. “Do you need a glass of water or anything?”
She leaned forward and attempted to stand without waking the baby. “No. But I have been wanting a warmer shawl. Here. Take her for a minute.”
“She won’t want me. Just lay her down on the bed.”
“One minute, that’s all I ask. She’s not dangerous.”
Caradoc swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat on the edge. “She’ll start bawling as soon as she sees my face.”
“No, she won’t. Here.” She passed the baby into his arms. “Got her?”
“Yes, I’ve got her.”
The infant squirmed and was roused awake for a moment. She gazed around the room, bleary-eyed, but soon closed her eyes again. Her grasping hand closed around Caradoc’s finger as he adjusted the blanket around her. Before he knew it he was gazing into her face, just as Harriet had done.
“Hey,” he said softly, “that’s my finger you’ve got. I was told you wouldn’t be dangerous.” She weighed almost nothing at all. He brushed his thumb against the tiny hand and shook his head. “You’re a wondrous little thing, do you know that? No bigger than a turnip, but with a whole universe inside you.”
She relaxed her grip on his finger as she fell deeper into sleep. He stared at her a while longer, then glanced up. Harriet had the same tender look in her eyes as when Caroline had first been placed in her arms. Only this time, she was gazing at him.
“What?” he asked.
She dropped her gaze as if embarrassed. “It’s just . . . I’ve never seen you like this before.”
“Well, I’ve never held a turnip like this before.”
She tugged the shawl tighter around her shoulders and sat on the corner of the bed. “Have you never thought of having little turnips of your own?”
He scoffed, but good-naturedly. “No. I’m not really suited for that kind of work. Vastly underqualified.”
“That’s nonsense,” she said. Then softer, “You’d make a wonderful father.”
“How do you know?”
She smiled. “Because you already have been.”
The amber-gold light of the setting sun streamed into the back window and fell across the quilt. Caradoc gazed out towards the overlook in somber reflection. “I wish I knew where Ink was. If he’s all right. I should’ve told him he doesn’t have to play it so tough all the time. I’ve made so many mistakes.”
“Great men make mistakes. Even great fathers.”
He allowed himself only a few more moments of regret, then tried to rouse himself with a smile as he slid down next to her. “But never great mothers. Which is why I am giving her back to you.”
She took the baby again. It was just enough movement to wake her. The child fussed, flailing her pudgy little arms with her eyes still shut.
“Uh, oh,” Caradoc said, tucking her arms beneath the blanket again. “I broke the spell.”
Harriet rocked her back and forth. “It’s all right, Caroline. It’s all right. Maybe we should sing her a lullaby.”
He stood and drew the curtains over the window, blocking out the strong sunlight. “I’d be no help there. The only ones I remember are pirate lullabies.”
Harriet almost laughed but suppressed it for the baby’s sake. “And what exactly is a pirate lullaby?”
“They are ballads sung very softly by wistful old men, either about sinking ships, getting drunk, or watching ships sink while getting drunk.”
Harriet smiled. “Well, who knows? Maybe she’d like that.”
Someone knocked at the front door. All traces of mirth vanished in an instant.
Chapter 34
A Sign of Things to Come
Caradoc went to the front door and opened it. Cora stepped inside and nodded in greeting.
“Hello, sir. Sorry I was away so long. They questioned Miss Babbin as well and they wouldn’t let us leave ‘til they’d spoken to all of us.”
“It’s all right. Did they find anything?”
“Not that I know of. But they did ask if we’d heard any rumors about the Colonists coming to the East Country. They think some of the criminals here would be sympathetic towards you and might offer to help. Of course, I didn’t say a word about the two of you.”
“Was Beatrice there when you were questioned?”
“No, sir. It wasn’t ‘til they brought us back in the wagon that they decided to speak with her.” Cora broke into a smile as Harriet entered the parlor.
“Here she is,” Harriet said. “Slept nearly the entire time.”
“So no trouble, then?”
“No. No trouble at all. She’s a perfect angel.”
Harriet gave little Caroline back to her mother. She was making every effort to smile, but there was anguish in her eyes.
“Thank you,” Cora said. “Thank you a hundred times. How can ever I repay you?”
“You already have. With your discretion.”
Caradoc nodded. “We owe you our lives for it.”
“I was happy to do it. It wasn’t my first time being questioned, anyway.” She looked at Harriet again. “When you and Mr. Whistler first left the house, ma’am, all those years ago, the police came and interviewed the staff. There were Entrian folk with them as well. We told the truth—about what good people you were, and how neither of you would ever hurt another soul. They went to your families after that, yours and Mr. Whistler’s. I heard your father gave them such a fuss they nearly put him in a jailhouse for good measure, but your mother talked them out of it.”
“They weren’t arrested, then?”
“No. And that was lucky, from what I heard about the other families. Guess it had something to do with their high standing in society.” The baby stirred in her arms. Cora rocked her again and shushed her. “Well, I should be getting back. Thank you again.”
As Caradoc opened the door for her, he cast a furtive glance around the village. The constables were gone, along with their wagons. Cora stepped out onto the front porch. Harriet almost followed her, but stopped herself at the open doorway.
“Goodbye, Cora. Goodbye, Caroline.”
“Goodbye,” the young woman said with a smile, then moved off towards her own cabin.
Harriet stared after them, hugging her arms around herself. The look of anguish returned to her expression, even worse than before. Caradoc stood next to her and put his arm around her shoulder. She leaned against him and clasped a hand to her throat.
“It’s not the last time you’ll ever hold a child in your arms,” he said.
Her eyes filled with tears. “How do you know?”
“Pirate’s intuition.”
They watched until Cora and the baby had finally gone out of sight.
“Do you want to go for a walk?” he asked. “Get out of the cabin for a while?”
She wiped a tear from her cheek. “That would be lovely.”
He fetched her coat from the stand and helped her into it.
“Just a moment,” he said.
He disappeared into the bedroom. When he returned a minute later, he was wearing his own coat and held something in his hand. It was the cane of blushing birch. The color was a gorgeous deep scarlet which had been polished to a high sheen. He held it out to her, and she accepted it with a look of disbelief. It was slender and light, with flowering vines etched all along the length of the shaft. The handle was in the shape of a horse’s head. On its nose was a diamond made of a white gemstone.
“Is this Annabelle?”
“As near to her as I could make it. Couldn’t find a real diamond to put on the nose, either. Had to use moonstone.”
