Flametouched Read online

  She came uncomfortably close and pushed his hat back to get a look at the wound on his forehead, inspecting it for a few moments before stepping away. “Well, you look a mess and I could have…should have…sent some of the other men in my house to watch so you could rest!”

  Davon exhaled. “Don’t worry, Viscountess. I should still be fit enough to spend a few hours at the ledgers today.”

  She returned an angry look. “I wasn’t concerned that you wouldn’t be able to get to the ledgers, for the Flame’s sake! You were injured!” She put her hands on her hips and looked out toward the grounds. “I…I love Hightower. I want it to be a place where everyone can feel safe and welcome and warm, and it has been nothing but a house of horrors for you. If it’s not my Mother insulting you for hours, then it’s me whipping you to look at the ledgers. And then someone attacks you! It’s all been so irregular and unexpected.”

  Davon didn’t consider himself the least bit knowledgeable in terms of women and their emotions, especially after his failure to read Emile, but the Lady Hightower was on the verge of tears. He knew Elaine was terrified; he now understood that the more composed Lady Hightower felt the same and was dealing with it by berating herself over petty points of hospitality. Her eyes started to water as she finished her diatribe against herself.

  While nothing could atone for his killing of her husband, he could at least offer her help now. “Lady Hightower,” he said, “you have treated me far better than I deserve. It’s been a beastly time for you, but I assure you that I’ll do everything in my power to guarantee that you and Elaine come to no further harm.”

  Her eyes started to water again and she turned away briefly, rubbing them. “I hardly slept at all last night so my eyes feel like they have sand in them. I thank you for your commitment, Mr. Harper, but as I recall, I wasn’t asking for your protection; I was pointing out that I set a high standard of hospitality for Hightower, and I regret that you have yet to enjoy it.” She mastered her emotions, exhaling and rubbing her arms against the cold. “So you’ve been carving something. Some other beast to guard my house?”

  Well, here it goes. He opened his palm. As with Elaine, he could see the possessive spark in Arianne’s eyes. It was more than amazement or appreciation; it was as if something in them recognized that the carving belonged to them. Without asking, she removed it from his extended hand.

  “This is exquisite! And look, it even has a little loop for a chain!”

  At that moment, the first rays of dawn broke above the horizon, falling upon them both. The rosebud unfolded and welcomed the light, expanding in Lady Hightower’s hand. She gasped in wonderment and Davon’s eyes went wide. It was a perfect simulacrum of a rose without the colors. Wafer thin petals caught the rays, blushing their tips a soft pink. While in appearance delicate, the petals did not bend as the Viscountess probed them reverently. She held it for many moments, speechless.

  “Mr. Harper, this…this is a treasure! A marvelous treasure!” She looked at him for a moment, eyes widening. “Let me see your palms.” Davon extended them obediently, knowing what she would find. She nodded. “You are one of the Flametouched! Is this your gift?” she asked, studying the rose.

  “I think so, though I hardly know what to make of it. I have many questions for Lord Ember when I return to Bellshire.”

  He didn’t remember living carvings on the list of gifts Lord Ember had spoken of before the ceremony. Lady Hightower continued to admire the carving for several moments before returning her attention to him.

  “Come in and we’ll get you a warm bath and some fresh clothes. After a good breakfast you will sleep, and later we will talk about what to do about our precarious situation.” These were commands, her tone indicating she would brook no debate.

  “Thank you for your kindness, Lady Hightower.”

  “You are welcome.” She started toward the house, rose in hand, before abruptly turning back to Davon. “I’m sorry, Mr. Harper! I’ve absconded with your carving!”

  “It is finished. Why don’t you…hold on to it for me?” It wasn’t quite the same as gifting it to her, and he hoped she would feel more comfortable. By her smile, she was pleased, and Davon was glad such a simple thing could distract her from her troubles.

  “I will find a chain for it immediately,” she said. “I know the very one. I will be the envy of everyone. “

  As they passed into the dark of the entryway, the flower closed again, to the delight of the Viscountess. Elaine came down the stairs moments later. She had refused to sleep without the sabercat in her room. Garvis had diligently cleaned it for her, though the blood had stained it an uneven maroon color on one side. She clutched it next to her chest and embraced her sister.

  “Look what else Mr. Harper has carved.” The next few moments Davon enjoyed the bright eyes and smiles of the women as they walked in and out of the light to watch the rosebud open and close. Whatever purpose his gift might have, at the very least it seemed to astonish and gladden the recipients, and as far as gifts went, he supposed it a good one. He just wished every piece of serviceable wood he came across would quit transforming itself before his eyes.

  “Mr. Harper here is a bit more extraordinary than he lets on,” Arianne continued. “He is Flametouched.”

  Elaine’s eyes widened. “May I see?” Davon extended his hands again and she tentatively prodded the mark before turning back to Arianne. “He could be Lord Ember someday! The Queen will certainly knight him after this, too! You will be a noble, Mr. Harper. Sir Harper! What do you think of that?”

  Davon felt a bit uncomfortable. Under no circumstances did he want to return to court. “It sounds a bit grand for someone like me, young Miss. I think I could use that bath more than a title at the moment.”

  The warm bath nearly paralyzed Davon with comfort, and after a quick scrub, Garvis trimmed his beard and hair. Another manservant knocked and reported that the sheriff’s men had arrived. Davon relaxed and felt so warm and woozy afterward that he declined breakfast and retired to bed directly.

  Garvis returning with lunch—a sliced apple and a bowl of steaming potato soup—woke him. Davon ate slowly, clearing the fog from his head with effort. He could hear laughter and the happy tones of Elaine and Arianne, not the somber mood he had expected from two women terrorized just the day before.

  The door opened and Garvis entered with familiar saddlebags. “Lady Arianne had these fetched from the Inn for you. Do you have some clothes you can wear, or should I try to find some for you around the house?”

  “I’ve some in the bags, thank you, Garvis,” he answered.

  “You’re welcome. And, Mr. Harper, the Ladies would like to see you soon. They’ve discovered something rather extraordinary about those carvings of yours. They are in the drawing room.”

  Curiosity piqued, Davon dressed quickly and headed downstairs. Lady Hightower, Elaine, and Missa all sat in the drawing room, faces bright. The rose, fully bloomed, hung from a copper chain encircling Lady Hightower’s milky white neck, and she fingered it absentmindedly. The sabercat sat curled like a house cat on Elaine’s lap. The ledgers awaited on the desk.

  “Good afternoon, Ladies,” he said, bowing before making his way to his work. “I am sorry I slept so long.”

  “You deserved it, Mr. Harper,” Lady Hightower said. “Come here for a moment. We have something to show you.” All three of the women grinned knowingly at him and he felt uneasy. Lady Hightower stood and came toward him, stopping just in front of him.

  “Watch this, Mr. Harper.” She concentrated for a moment, closing her eyes, and the rosebud closed. She did it again, and it bloomed.

  “You can control it?” he asked, astonished.

  “Yes!” She moved to stand beside him and threaded her arm through his. He froze and had to exert all his concentration to keep from trembling. She was warm and smelled of lavender. Her touch felt like coming in out of the cold and standing by a roaring fire, both inviting and uncomfortable. He swallowed hard
. How long had it been since anyone had touched him in a familiar, friendly manner?

  “Your turn, Elaine,” Arianne prompted. Elaine concentrated for a moment and the rigid form of the sabercat turned lithe. It cast its gaze quickly about and then leaped from Elaine’s lap to the dark of recess under the couch. “It seems to have a life of its own,” Lady Hightower explained, “but she can also command it. Show him, Elaine.”

  Elaine stared intently at the carving for a moment and the wooden sabercat sprinted from under the couch to stand in front of Davon and bow in deference. Davon used the opportunity to break Arianne’s lock on his arm and stoop down, extending his hands. At Elaine’s behest, the figurine obediently crawled up and sat on its haunches on his palms. Davon rose again, and Lady Hightower discomfited him by latching back onto his arm.

  “But Mr. Harper,” Lady Hightower said, studying his face, “it appears you didn’t enjoy our little demonstration?”

  The sabercat suddenly jumped down and hopped across the furniture and tables until it snuggled up on Elaine’s lap. He was flummoxed and pulled away from Lady Hightower, seeking refuge at the desk. “I don’t know what to say, Lady Hightower. I hope my strange gift doesn’t cause trouble for you.”

  “Mr. Harper!” she laughed. “You are incorrigible! The only trouble you have caused is a bit jealousy. This is delightful!”

  “Do smile,” Elaine joined in. “This is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.”

  Lady Hightower returned to her seat. “How does it work, Mr. Harper?”

  “You’ll think I’m mad,” he warned, absentmindedly arranging the papers and books on the desk. “I just see shapes in the wood. Like that pile of brush out there. I can see a stick that will make two candles, one for Missa there and one for Garvis.” Missa’s face lit up.

  Lady Hightower asked, “You mean that you know whom the carvings are for beforehand?”

  “Usually, yes.”

  “So you knew this rosebud was for me when you saw the shape in the wood?”

  Davon nodded. “With Elaine, however, I didn’t know until I met her.”

  “Fascinating. Missa, fetch Garvis. We need to bring that stick here for Mr. Harper.”

  Davon objected. “Shouldn’t I be about the ledgers, Lady Hightower?”

  “Of course, but you said we needed to discuss how to act next, and we can do that while you carve. Would you like to sit in the garden and speak with me while you carve?”

  “That would be fine, Lady Hightower.”

  “Can I come?” Elaine asked hopefully.

  “No, dear,” Arianne answered. “There are delicate matters Mr. Harper and I need to attend to. We’ll call for you when we are done.”

  She pouted, but Arianne didn’t give way. They left the house through a rear entrance to the green garden filled with vibrant colors. The day was breezy and pleasant, round puffy clouds slipping through the sky and the air just cool enough to make the sunshine desirable. Garvis brought chairs for them both and Davon arranged them to keep Lady Hightower out of sight from anyone that might be watching from the nearby woods.

  After a few miscues as to the proper stick, Davon retrieved his knife and began to whittle a little self-consciously as the Lady Hightower looked on, face expectant. He simply wasn’t used to having someone pay attention to him do anything. But his gift didn’t fail him. His hands knew where to cut and groove and shape. Thankfully, the Lady leaned back and inspected a Red Creeper Vine for a moment before turning her attention back to him.

  “Before I ask for your thoughts,” she began, “I wanted to inform you that I sent two letters this morning, one to Queen Filippa and one to my mother, relating last night’s events. When the Sheriff’s two men came this morning they told me that both my steward and my clerk had fled. No one’s seen either man since late last night when their families said they packed and left suddenly. Certainly guilty behavior. Do you think I am still in danger, Mr. Carver?”

  Davon stopped for a moment and regarded her. A fragrant breeze rustled her dark hair, and her blue eyes were penetrating and deep. Davon realized he was staring and opened his mouth quickly. “I’ve been giving it some thought, and I believe that, yes, you are probably in more danger now.”

  She was surprised. “Why?”

  “Clearly the ledgers contain something criminal. Now, the man sent last night was a common thug, cheap, coarse, and stupid. The kind of man found quickly and by someone of little means. If your clerk and your steward had been pocketing two thousand pounds a year for at least three years, they would be quite well to do. Apparently, however—”

  She sat up straight. “They haven’t been keeping the money.”

  “Precisely. They are working for someone else, and my guess is that that person is probably someone of substance. When people of substance want something illegal done, they can find someone much more skilled than a tavern dog to do their dirty work. I fear that when such a person gets word that the ledgers are exposed, then Hightower will not be safe.”

  Her eyes turned hard. “Should I hire men? Keep a thick guard about the grounds?”

  Davon returned to whittling without even thinking about it. “I apologize if my carving seems disrespectful. I don’t even realize I’m doing it. Hiring a guard might be useful, but the real solution is to get the ledgers out of Hightower as quickly as possible and to make that fact public. I should do it.”

  “You’ll make yourself a target, Mr. Harper! I won’t have it,” she disagreed firmly.

  “It makes sense, Lady Hightower. I may wear the clothes of a common clerk, but I am experienced in the wilderness. I’ll drop word in a couple local taverns that I have the ledgers. I’ll leave in the middle of the night and stay off the road. No one will be able to find me. I can slip into Bellshire and get the ledgers to Mr. Lambert and the Lord High Sheriff.”

  She leaned forward, eyes cold and voice hard. “Now listen to me, Mr. Harper. Everyone knows I am a friend of the Queen, and they will know that I would send the ledgers to Bellshire to be examined. You may be able to play your little game of hide and seek in the woods, but the conspirators will know where you are going.”

  Why is she so angry about this idea? Davon wondered. It made perfect sense to him. Then he guessed what might be troubling her. “I understand that you would like to know what’s in these ledgers first in case it is damaging to Hightower and to yourself. I can assure you, however, that Mr. Lambert and the sheriff will be as discreet as I am. You can get an armed escort to Bellshire a day or two after I leave.”

  Her head began to shake about half way through his argument. He had guessed wrong.

  “No, Mr. Harper. I cannot have you come here, pass through abuse and peril, and then leave with a gun pointed at your head! It isn’t right. It would be improper and beneath my sense of gentility.”

  Sense of gentility? Davon really didn’t understand. “Lady Hightower, I assure you that I have a very high opinion of Hightower and of you. This is simply not a matter of propriety. It is what needs to be done to keep you and Miss Brighton safe.” Suddenly, it occurred to him what to say. “I am a commoner and a clerk. It is an honor that one as lowly as I can serve and protect a noblewoman and friend of the Queen.”

  She seemed appalled and stood, regarding him with flinty eyes. It hadn’t been the right thing to say, after all.

  “I absolutely refuse to put you in danger in this way, Mr. Harper. Refuse, mind you. I will hire men. You will stay here, decipher what you can of the ledgers, and when it is time, you and I will travel together under heavy guard to Bellshire. The matter is closed.”

  He had no thought to reply. She stormed into the house before he could think of anything anyway. He exhaled, perplexed. She was more concerned about the ledgers becoming public than he realized and obviously wasn’t thinking clearly. Of course, her nerves were raw from the disturbing events of the last few days. Another hour in the garden would see the candles carved and likely a more settled Lady Hightower.
He would try to reason with her again then. Whatever she commanded, he would do what was necessary to keep her and her sister safe.

  I’ll miss this place, he thought wistfully to himself as the wood shavings fell in rapid succession. It was the first time in months he hadn’t thought of Frostbourne.

  Chapter 19

  Davon’s second discussion with Lady Hightower went as poorly as the first, his host turning instantly angry the moment he pushed his proposal forward. Fortunately, Garvis, whom Davon could see cared for Arianne and Elaine a great deal, held a warmer opinion of Davon’s plan and had agreed to help him implement it without Lady Hightower’s knowledge.

  Matters settled, Davon enjoyed a relaxed evening with the ladies, Elaine occupying most of his time with queries about nearly everything imaginable, from sabercats to carvings and even guns. Arianne, while attentive, apparently hadn’t forgiven him for even broaching his idea in the first place and had watched him all evening as a concerned mother might a rebellious child she feared would disobey.

  Her preoccupation with showing a common clerk the virtues and quality of Hightower was strange, and he couldn’t make sense of it. Why would she care what a clerk thought of the hospitality of her estate?

  After dinner Davon, rose and stifled a fake yawn. “I’m afraid I am feeling a little worn this evening and will retire to the inn immediately.”

  “I shall see to your horse,” Garvis said.

  “Hold one moment, if you will, Mr. Garvis,” Lady Hightower ordered just as Mr. Garvis turned to go. “Before Mr. Harper leaves, would you see that the ledgers are properly locked and stored in the turret office?”

  “I have already taken care of that, my Lady,” he confirmed.

  Satisfied, she rose, and Mr. Garvis bowed and left. Davon tried to keep the smugness off his face. Everything had proceeded just as he had planned it. He hoped Garvis could execute his part of the scheme without the discovery of his master or he would find himself out of work the next morning.