The Black Lotus (Night Flower) (22 page)

“Quite sure.” He drew his hat from the side, catching the edge of a sewing set as he did so. Grasping the bundle in order to return it to the side, he failed to note the shears concealed within the scraps of embroidery. The sharp implements slashed into the ball of his thumb, drawing a cry of pain from his lips and sending bright drops of blood over the white fabric.

“Justin,” Melissa reached for him. “Walker! Get a bandage!”

“Yes Miss.” The butle
r placed the tray on a table and left the room.

“Let me see.” Melissa seized hold of his hand and dragged it toward her. For a moment all she could see was blood, slick and vivid
across the palm and then she saw the wound. A deep yet clean slice dominated her vision. Stunned for only a moment by the shock of her interference, Justin had the presence of mind to draw his hand back and close it but not before Melissa saw the flesh begin to close.

“What?” Her voice was disbelieving and fearful
as the image of rapidly healing skin burned into her mind.

“I have to go,
” Justin pulled away from Melissa and nearly ran for the door. “Forget me.”

Melissa ran after him, yet to no avail, Justin reached the main doors and headed out of the house. Hindered by her long skirts, she arrived outside just in time to see Justin ride from the st
ables at a gallop. Troubled deeply by what she had just seen, Melissa returned to the parlour and stared at the bloodied sewing. Who was Justin, why did he pursue her only to push her away and had she really just seen his hand heal? She settled into the chaise longue once more and determined to find out about him, about his secrets and what he meant to her.

Chapter 23:

Melissa stared across the gardens in the aftermath of Justin’s hurried exit. Her fingers still grasped the bloodied sampler and she kneaded it carefully, trying to convince herself that she hadn’t seen his flesh knit together.

“It’s utterly ridiculous...” She murmured aloud as her eyes once again sought the horizon and the boundaries of Justin’s land.

“
Miss?” Rachel spoke quietly from the door.

“Oh nothing.” Melissa looked up from her brooding to see her maid set a tray of cold cuts onto the sideboard.
As the woman set the tray in place, Melissa stood and stepped before her.

“Thank you for the warning Rachel,”

“That’s quite all right Miss, the woman replied. “He seems like such a handsome man,”

“That he is,” She replied as she turned back to her chair. “You may go now.” As the maid left the room, she sat back down. Settling back into the seat, she resumed her perusal of the garden. If only she could have spoken to him alone, without the interference of Walker. Perhaps then she could have garnered some answers. She crumpled the sampler into a tight ball in her fist and stared at nothing. If she could talk to him alone than she could find out some answers, yet that would never happen within her home. There would always be staff nearby keeping a watchful and gossipy eye on her. Walker might even tell her father about Justin’s visit and he would never be allowed near the house again. Nervously she nibbled her bottom lip and weighed up her options. At the moment she was alone and without a chaperone, a state that wouldn’t happen again for a long time. Justin had added further puzzles to be unravelled and she wanted to know more. Her fingers tapped the arm of the chair in a staccato beat as an idea bloomed within her mind. Her eyes focused more on the horizon. His house was beyond those trees, her eyes widened slightly as she thought it out further. His house was within an easy ride and she was allowed to ride out alone as long as she stayed on the estate. A small smile played about her lips. Turning from the window, she looked across at Rachel.

“Rachel can you tell the grooms to have my buggy made ready, I would like to take a drive.” Her maid nodded and left the room, leaving Melissa to sort through her outdoor clothes. A ride across the estate was permitted and as long as she took a chaperone she could travel further. The idea strengthened further as she reasoned it through. Rachel would accompany her to Justin’s house as a chaperone. Once there she could confront the man. Rachel would not presume to question her orders once they had left the house and she could be relied upon to keep silent if asked. It was a perfect arrangement.

“You’re buggy’s ready
Miss…” Rachel bobbed a curtsey as she entered the room.

“Good.” Melissa reached forward and picked up a pair of kid leather gloves before heading towards the door. “Fetch your outdoor clothing.” She said as she walked past Rachel
and out onto the upper landing. “You’re coming with me.”

In no time at all, the pair were loaded onto the small two wheeled buggy. Designed for a woman to handle and drawn by a pair of placid horses, the small two-seater rolled easily across the landscape. Melissa handled the reins easily, feeling the wind whip the stray wisps of hair about her face.

“Now Rachel, I am going to visit a neighbour.” Melissa announced when they were out of range of the house. Rachel said nothing, yet a curious gleam entered her eyes as her mistress steered the horses away from the gravelled drive and across the rolling lawns.

“I do not wish Jane or my parents to know about this.” Melissa risked a look to her side and Rachel’s face. “Do you understand?”

“Where are we going
Miss?”

“To Lord Lestrade’s.” Melissa answered tersely as they bounced over the terrain towards the small thoroughfare that marked the boundary of lands. “You are to be my chaperone but I do not want people to know that I came here.”

“Miss I..” The young maid stammered. “I can’t lie to your father.”

“I’m not asking you to lie.” Melissa responded as they entered the tangled woodland and moved through at a steady pace. “I’m asking you to not tell him
, there’s a difference.”

“But what if he asks?”

“He shouldn’t.” Melissa drew the buggy to a halt and turned in her seat to face the maid. “But I don’t want to explain my visit to them. If you manage this successfully then there is every chance that you will come with me when I marry.” Rachel’
s eyes widened.

“Really?” Hope tinged her words as she looked at her mistress. It was the best position that Rachel could have hoped for, personal maid to a member of quality.

“Yes, but I want to know I can trust you.” Melissa looked closely at her. “Can I trust you?”

Rachel stared at the horses before them, desire for a new position warring with her duty to Melissa’s parents in her face. After several long moments, she turned to her mistress and replied in a soft, almost inaudible voice. “Yes
Miss. You can count on me.”

Melissa smiled in relief and clucked at the horses, heading through the woodland with trepidation. The woodland separating the estates was tangled and dense, a bridal path barely visible in the tangled undergrowth. Despite the brightness of the day it was dark within the confines of the forest
. As the track grew rougher and more indistinct, doubts began to crowd within Melissa’s mind. What was she doing risking her reputation like this? It was guaranteed to ruin her if it became known that she visited Lestrade’s home with only a maid for company. Even though she could swear Rachel to secrecy, what of all the staff in Lestrade’s retinue? They could gossip and her father would hear. The horses slowed down to a slow walk, carefully picking their way through the rough track. The forest grew darker, wilder and a trickle of fear flowed down her spine. The forest was a perfect spot for brigands and she had failed to bring a pistol with her. She sat stiffly in the buggy, directing the horses mechanically as she struggled to suppress the fears that threatened to stifle her. Beside her on the buggy, Rachel stirred nervously, the darkness of the woodland affecting her also.

“
Miss?” After several minutes tense silence, Rachel spoke into the heavy air.

“Yes Rachel.”

“I think there’s someone watching us.” The girl’s blue gaze was fearful as she stared about her.

“Where?” With difficulty, Melissa managed to make her voice sound level. It was one thing to be scared, it was another to admit it before the servants.

“I think they’re in the bushes to the right.” Rachel shrank back against the hard seat of the buggy and began to nibble nervously on her fingernails. Melissa reined in the horses and stopped. “Miss?” Startled, the maid glanced up as her mistress swung down from the buggy, wielding the large whip she had been driving the horses with.

“It’s alright.” With a confidence she did not feel, Melissa strode to the bushes indicated and pushed them aside. The greenery rustled as she f
anned open the branches revealing the empty interior. At the sight, a sigh of relief escaped her lips and she mentally berating herself for being overly nervous. “There’s nothing here Rachel.” Melissa drew away from the bush and headed back to the buggy. “You’re scaring yourself.” Her maid glanced into the still moving bushes and sighed.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” Melissa replied with some emphasis as she hoisted herself back on the buggy and flicked the tip of the whip over the backs of the two horses. Shaking on the rough ground, the buggy moved off. As the two women disappeared from view, a figure stepped out from behind a large oak, his odd eyes watching as the buggy crested the next rise and went out of sight.

The trees thinned and the buggy left the woodland, Melissa and her maid sighing with
relief as they rolled free of the last trees and stopped on a small hill overlooking the house below. Once it had been a castle, yet now it was ruined and heavily damaged by fire. The east wing however showed evidence of recent repair and appeared to be more liveable than the rest of the building. A trail of smoke drifted lazily from the only intact chimney in the roof.

“Are you sure
Miss?” Rachel stared down at the devastated castle with obvious consternation. The state of the building did little to alleviate her fears about her mistress’s intentions.

“Quite sure.” Melissa directed the horses down the gentle slope and towards the looming ruin at a steady pace. The castle’s bulk filled her vision and the remains of its towers soon blotted out the sun, leaving them in a cold shade. Drawing to a halt before the building’s newly added doors, Melissa stepped down from her seat and walked forward. Above the doorway, the leering face of a gargoyle stared down at her. Discomfited, Melissa raised her hand and banged the heavy knocker against the wood. The noise echoed loudly for several moments before fading into silence.

“It doesn’t look like there’s anyone here
Miss.” Rachel couldn’t quite keep the relief from her voice as her mistress turned disappointed from the door. “Shall we go?”

“A moment.” Melissa turned to her side and walked towards
the large windows to her right. Staring through the murky glass, her eyes wandered over the furnishings of the room beyond. A blazing fire roared in the grate and a plate of bread and cold meats lay on the table.

“
He is here.”

“But he’s not answering the door
Miss. We should go.” Melissa ignored her and returned to the front door. She knew that Rachel was right, but she couldn’t just leave now, not when there were so many questions to be answered. It was likely that she would never get the same opportunity again. Taking a fortifying breath, she boldly depressed the door handle and quietly pushed open the large wooden door.

“
Miss!” Startled, Rachel jumped off the buggy and rushed forward. “What are you doing Miss?”

“I need to find out something.” Visions of that closing wound filled her mind and gave her courage. “Stay and watch and warn me if anyone comes.”

“But
Miss.”

“No buts Rachel. I have to do this one stupid thing before I become just another man’s wife.” Her voice was tremulous yet strong. “Please keep watch.”

Rachel bit her lip as Melissa spoke, her mind a jumble. She should not let her mistress do this, yet she could not stop her that much was clear. “Alright.” She murmured, returning to the trap and turning it round ready to leave. “Be careful.”

A grateful smile edged across Melissa’s face as she turned back to the open door and tentatively walked through. The air in the hallway beyond was cool and slightly musty. Walking slowly
to minimise noise on the flag stoned floor, she moved towards the door on the right. A grand staircase arched to the next floor and she could see the minstrels’ gallery above. The walls of the hall were wood panelled in dark mahogany, the heavy wood adding to the oppressive atmosphere as she slowly moved through. Her initial determination fading as the decayed ruin impressed itself on her. Stepping carefully, she reached the door and depressed the handle. Taking a breath to compose herself, she pushed herself into the ruin. The fire she had seen from the window burned cheerily in the large fireplace and the light was brighter here than in the hall. Above the fire’s mantle hung a large tapestry, the colours in the threads faded through age. Strewn carelessly across the back of a nearby chair was the brown riding jacket from that morning. Crossing the room, she ran her fingers across its suede surface, the motion releasing small bursts of scent across her nostrils.