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It wasn’t so for women.
Hastening to his classroom, he took over from Suzette, who’d stepped in while he was away. Knowing the headmistress would wish it so, he made no mention concerning the reason for his late arrival. Thankfully, his tardiness went unquestioned.
That evening when he left, Will carefully doubled back and hid in an alley from which he could see the gated rear entrance to the school and construction site. Within seconds of the last of MacCallum’s men clearing out, he saw Mrs. Sloane and another woman close and lock the strong iron gate.
Satisfied, he made for Hayton House and dinner.
Chapter Eight
Jacqueline blessed the impulse that made her look through her window at the exact moment Monsieur Woodson decided to double back toward the school.
Has he forgotten something?
She went down to meet him, but he didn’t attempt to reenter.
Curiosity gnawed at her. Returning upstairs, she looked through every outward-facing window until she found herself at the end of the hall overlooking the school’s rear. All the rooms in this section were unoccupied until the construction was complete, so there was no one to see her peering out into the gloom.
Had she not caught a flicker of motion, she would never have noticed him there in the alley. What is he doing?
Through a narrow slit in the curtains, she watched as MacCallum and his workmen filed out into the adjacent street, their boisterous talk and laughter drifting upward to echo off the buildings around them. Mystified, she remained rooted to the spot, waiting to see what Woodson would do next. A few minutes later, once all was quiet, the mathematics teacher emerged and began once again walking toward Mrs. Hayton’s.
Warmth suffused Jacqueline, and her cheeks lifted in an irrepressible smile borne of unexpected joy. He’d meant what he’d said about being concerned for her safety. Enough to inconvenience himself by delaying the comforts awaiting him at home. Enough to potentially place himself in danger. The person who’d written that awful message today might well have been waiting in that alley.
Despite what she’d told him, the incident had frightened her. The word on that board had been directed at her and her alone.
It was probably Feeny. But what if it was not him? What if—
No. She wouldn’t allow herself to think it. Impossible. Even if she is still in London, she has no way of knowing where I am. I’ve not been in public without a veil over my face since my return from France, and no one here knows my old name.
Setting aside her anxiety, she tried to apply cool logic to the problem of the hostile message. Precautions were being taken. The staff were aware of the incident and would be on the lookout for any unfamiliar faces lurking about. MacCallum had agreed to henceforth post a watchman during the afternoon respite. Mrs. Sloane and Katie were now assigned to wait while the men left the premises each evening and lock the gate behind them to ensure no one entered.
She went back to her room and checked to be sure the knife she’d hidden just beneath the mattress’s edge was still there. Its cold brass hilt was a comfort against her fingers. Pulling the knife out, she removed its sheath and tested the edge to be sure it remained sharp. Plain it might be, but it would serve in a moment of need. God willing, she’d never need it.
Replacing the blade, she went about readying herself for the evening meal. Downstairs, the soft voices of her students chatting amongst themselves soothed her. She’d decided against telling everyone about the message and had cautioned Janet not to speak of it. They were already nervous enough with MacCallum’s crew being about.
MacCallum. She hadn’t missed the eagerness in his eyes today. She needed to remain in the man’s good graces, but didn’t wish him to mistake her politeness for interest. The last thing she wanted was a determined ox of a Scot embarking on a fruitless pursuit of her hand.
In retrospect, perhaps having Mr. Woodson with her today when they’d spoken hadn’t been a bad thing, after all. She hoped another young lady caught MacCallum’s eye soon, before he could convince himself he was smitten with her.
The next two weeks flew by without further incident. Construction progressed. Coralline wrote to say how well she liked her new position with Lady Dibley. Another employment opportunity was offered to Suzette who, after a long talk with Janet, accepted it with the promise to keep in touch as often as possible. It was a tearful farewell, but in the end, Jacqueline knew it was the right thing for them both.
It became her custom to peek out of the hall window at the time MacCallum’s men were due to leave and see if Mr. Woodson was there in the alley. He always was, and not once did he leave before the last of the crew had gone, when he knew the gate had been locked. Every time she saw him emerge to begin his delayed journey homeward, her heart clenched a little inside her chest.
I must do something to repay his kindness. Sensing it would make him uncomfortable for her to openly acknowledge his sacrifice, she said nothing of his new habit. Instead, knowing he’d spend at least half an hour standing in the damp and chill, she decided to stop by his classroom at the end of the day with a fresh pot of piping hot tea. At least he could start his vigil warm.
So it was that Jacqueline found herself at his classroom door, laden with a tea tray, waiting for his last student to file out of the room. She slipped in and saw he’d removed his spectacles and was massaging his temples.
“I do hope I’m not disturbing you?”
Startled, he opened his eyes—eyes that, unobstructed by glass discs, were like twin gems of deepest blue. They crinkled at their corners as he smiled. “No, no. Not at all, come and sit. Please.”
Setting the tray on a corner of his desk, she waited while he pulled up a chair.
“To what do I owe this visit?”
“It’s getting colder in the evenings,” she replied, suddenly nervous. “I thought you might like a cup of tea to help fortify you before your walk home.” It sounded like what it was, a weak excuse. “I also thought to check on your progress with the students.”
One side of his mouth twitched up a little higher as she poured. “Not receiving any complaints, I hope?”
