AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I think it a prudent suggestion. What of Sally? I cannot exclude her from the rotation.”
“No, you cannot.” He hesitated, as if he wished to say something he knew she would find unpleasant. “I’ll secretly double the watch during her shift.” Raising his hand, he cut off her protest before she could voice it. “Moving in makes sense, and it’s only temporary. I know you and the other teachers are aware of the gravity of this situation and are more than willing to defend both yourselves and the girls, but you’d be foolish to refuse me in this for many reasons. As you said earlier, I’m well suited to the task of protecting this school and its occupants. Whereas one of them might hesitate to shoot an intruder, I won’t.”
She marked he hadn’t included her in his statement. “Again, I cannot deny your logic. Although the senior staff have all been shown how to operate a pistol, only Mrs. Sloane and I have any real experience.” In her mind flashed a memory of ice-blue eyes, their light fading into dullness as the life left them. “I don’t know how the girls will react.”
His lips quirked. “If Sarah’s reaction to finding me downstairs tonight is any indication, I cannot imagine the others will have a problem with it—especially not once they hear her tale. Consider, too, what they overheard from the staff about what happened in the courtyard. The secret is out. They know something is wrong, and they’re frightened.”
“I will ask the staff and students about it tomorrow morning and see what they say,” she said at last. “If, however, they object, I must respect their wishes.”
“Understood.” Again, he hesitated. “And what of you? How do you feel about it?”
Her pulse skipped. “I don’t fear you, if that is what you mean.”
“I’m glad. Glad my having concealed the truth from you has not caused you to decline my help.” He stopped, and she saw his Adam’s apple bob before he spoke again. “I hated lying to you, but I was certain telling you the truth would ruin the friendship developing between us. I could not bear for that to happen.”
What she felt for this man was far more than friendship. But such feelings were doomed to be rejected. My scars…
Fri
endship was the most she could hope for with him or any other man. “I was, at first, angered by your apparent betrayal, but you have proven your motives worthy. We both want the same thing—for these girls to grow up protected. Provided we go forth in honesty, I believe we can remain friends.”
The look in his eyes was one of both relief and—unless she was mistaken—regret. He held out his hand. “Then let us begin anew.”
When she clasped his palm, the impact of his touch was such that it stole the breath from her body. Like fire catching in dry tinder, heat raced up her arm and slammed into her chest. From there it engulfed her, pooling deep in her belly and sweeping down the backs of her thighs to make her bare toes curl.
His eyes widened, and Jacqueline heard his breath catch.
In that instant, she knew he felt the same desire. But she couldn’t allow herself to get carried away by the knowledge. Releasing his hand, she clutched her wrapper closer about herself. A silent prayer of thanks winged its way heavenward for the dim candlelight that helped hide her flushing face. “If they agree to let you stay, one of the ground floor offices can be converted into a room for you. What will you tell Mrs. Hayton?”
“The truth—or part of it, anyway—that someone has threatened the school and I’ve agreed to be quartered here until the danger has passed. I’ll still pay her the full rent, and everything but what I absolutely require will remain there until my return.”
She felt a wry smile lift the corners of her mouth. “She will be shocked to hear of my agreeing to such a thing.”
“Then the gravity of the situation should be immediately apparent to her upon learning of it.” His dark gaze bored into her. “If the consensus tomorrow is against my staying here, I’ll have no choice but to ask my superiors for assistance to protect you. I will not leave you vulnerable to an attack.”
The door behind him opened on groaning hinges, and a bleary-eyed Mrs. Sloane peered out at them, her eyes narrowing at once on seeing them together. “Is something the matter?”
Jacqueline thanked Providence for intervening. “One of the girls saw a man out on the street and was frightened.”
At once, all tiredness vanished from the other woman’s eyes. “Shall I send for the constable?”
“No,” Jacqueline replied. “We cannot be sure of the man’s intentions, and I don’t want the constabulary to think us raising a hue and cry over naught. Even if it’s someone bent on mischief, we are safe. Staff are taking turns watching the back gate to ensure no one gets in again.”
Mrs. Sloane nodded, but her agreement seemed reluctant, and her eyes kept returning to their male guest with open misgiving. “Well, good night, then.”
Turning, Jacqueline put them both behind her and went back to her room to panic in privacy. Having him here one night was one thing. Having him here indefinitely was entirely another. But there was no alternative that didn’t involve more people being made aware of the truth, which was something she desperately wanted to avoid.
The way he’d looked at her tonight made her insides all wobbly. What am I to do? She set her candle on the bedside table. Her only hope was to maintain some distance from him. I must not indulge in foolish fantasies!
Especially not when she knew as little as she did about Monsieur Danbury. The mild-mannered, scholarly gentleman was a disguise, not the reality. The sight of that poor, mangled animal hadn’t caused him a moment’s upset. He’d shown no fear at all.
Reason told her that as a constable, he was probably accustomed to a certain level of violence. He’d taken charge, been decisive. He’d known exactly how to handle her staff and deal with Constable Coombs. And now he was coolly planning to entrap Boucher.
The math teacher she’d come to know—and like, if she was honest—wasn’t real. He wanted her to ask her staff and students to let a stranger come and live among them.
It occurred to her then that his “home” at Mrs. Hayton’s was all part of the facade. Where did he really live? Mortification filled her as she then wondered about the more personal aspects of his life. Did he have a wife? Children? If so, he’d been away from them for several months. No woman who’d married any but a sailor would tolerate that.
He must be unwed.
