Night School

‘But I can never forget the way he treated you …’ he said, his shoulders tense.

‘I know. But he’s apologised and I’ve forgiven him, so now you have to,’ she said. ‘He’s helping me. Isabelle wants us to work together, so please stop being so macho. It’s not like you.’

It was after midnight and they were sitting on the bed in Allie’s room. The window was closed and locked, and a bar had been affixed across the shutter to secure it more snugly. Isabelle was insisting that one of them should spend the night outside Allie’s room, but they were both insisting on staying. Sylvain was outside the door now.

‘I’m sorry,’ Carter said. ‘I know I’m being jealous.’

‘Ya think?’ Allie laughed.

He smiled back shame-faced. ‘A little, maybe.’

‘You’re the one I want, Carter West.’ She climbed up onto his lap so that her legs straddled him and her face was inches from his. ‘You have nothing to be jealous about.’

His hands slid down her back as she wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘Only you,’ she whispered, leaning forward to kiss him.

They kissed until all thoughts of Sylvain left their minds and they were entirely focused on each other. Carter’s hands slid down to her hips and pulled her tightly against him and she did not resist. When his hands pulled her blouse out of the waistband of her skirt and ran up and down her bare back her skin tingled. When she nipped at his ear with her teeth she could feel his heart race.

When she pulled back from him, they were both breathless; Carter’s face was flushed.

‘I’ll be the grown-up this time,’ Allie said.

‘Do you have to?’ he whispered. Her skirt had hiked up, and he stroked her bare thighs.

‘Unfortunately.’ She climbed to her feet and, leaning forward, lightly brushed her lips against his, pulling back before he could grab her. ‘Somebody’s got to and I get the feeling it’s not going to be you.’

‘Not this time,’ he said.

Running her hands through her hair to smooth it, she said. ‘So, I’m glad we had this little talk …’

He laughed.

‘Will you try and not be so jealous?’

‘I’ll try,’ he said. Standing up, he reached for her but she was at the door in two seconds and flung it open.

‘Good night then.’ She looked around outside until she saw Sylvain sitting with his back to the wall watching her door, expressionless. ‘Good night Sylvain.’

‘Good night, ma belle Allie.’ She thought she heard regret in his voice.

Carter walked past her out the door, leaning over to kiss her lightly. ‘If you hear or see anything at all, just shout, OK?’

‘I promise.’

As soon as he was gone she changed into clean white pyjamas and climbed into bed. After she turned out the light, she re-ran the evening in her mind, remembering the way his lips felt. How much he’d wanted her.

Not once did she think about Nathaniel, or danger, or needing bodyguards. Instead, suffused in the warm glow of happiness, she floated into sleep.

Later, she would wonder what woke her. Maybe it was footsteps in the corridor. Or voices outside the door. Either way, when her door burst open and the light switched on, she was already sitting up in bed. It was three o’clock.

‘Get up, Allie,’ Carter’s face was grim. ‘Nathaniel’s coming.’





TWENTY-NINE


Allie worked to stay calm. Still groggy from sleep, she tried several times to put on her slippers but couldn’t seem to make her feet slide into them.

‘Leave them. There’s no time.’ Carter reached for her hand and pulled her into the corridor where Sylvain stood alert, waiting for them.

‘This way,’ Sylvain said, leading them away from the staircase.

‘Where are we going?’ Allie whispered.

‘Out of here,’ Carter said.

They ran to the end of the hallway, where Jules waited for them by a un-numbered door Allie had always assumed was a broom closet. Without a word she pushed it open to reveal a narrow, winding stone staircase, dimly lit by exposed bare bulbs.

They ran down at breakneck speed, Sylvain in the lead, Allie and Carter in the middle and Jules bringing up the rear. Nobody spoke. When they reached the bottom, Sylvain opened a door leading into a room Allie had never seen before – a crypt-like space that seemed to be hewn from rock, with thick limestone pillars covered in elaborate carvings, lighted by flickering gaslight. The stone floor felt dusty and cold beneath Allie’s feet.

I don’t believe it. There is a dungeon.

‘Where are we?’ she whispered.

‘Cellar,’ Jules said.

She, Sylvain and Carter had formed a ring of sorts with Allie at the centre. They each had their backs to her, peering into the shadows.

‘Should we get her out of here?’ Jules asked.

‘Isabelle said get her out if it’s safe,’ Carter said. ‘But how do we know if it’s safe?’

‘Stay here.’ Sylvain’s voice came from behind Allie.

Soundlessly, he disappeared into the shadows.