Beyond a Doubt

chapter Thirty-Seven




Hours later, after Winnie and Winifred’s departure, Bryce continued to process all the startling information. Lucy Bard was really Lucille Lombard. In one afternoon she had gone from unlikely socialite to spy.

From what he gathered, her father Louis had been the original spy, and this had gotten him killed. His dying wish had been for Lucy to deliver one important message. But once involved, Lucy had felt obligated to continue. The cause needed her.

Besides, the acts required of her were quite simple. She visited well-to-do Scottish families. Because of King Henry II of France’s ties with Scotland through the young Mary, only child of James V, word often seeped over borders and across the lips of Scottish nobles. When the ale flowed, so did the words of conspiracy.

The coded messages were placed on common objects which Lucy carried from Scotland to England upon her person. The simple process had held little to no complications until now.

“What about yer companion?” Bryce asked.

When they had first met, Lucy had spoken of a traveling companion who’d stolen her goods. With all the lies told, Bryce couldn’t help but wonder if this had been a fabrication as well.

“Ah, Charles, the shyster. He offered to ride along with me for company, but at the first opportunity he left with my trunk. Took everything I owned in one fell swoop. Mostly he took my clothing. He took nothing that would lead anyone to believe I was anything other than a lady on holiday.”

“Was he searching for the message?”

“I don’t know. It is possible. However, I don’t know how he could have guessed my identity. I assure you, I practice the utmost discretion. No one has ever looked at me in suspicion. Trust me when I say I have seen others under a certain scrutiny which I assure you I have yet to suffer.”

Bryce would never forget her face, so he found it hard to believe that others could. Perhaps Charles had been watching her for some time and she was unaware. If she was always at certain places, it would be fairly easy to realize her involvement. If plots continued to be thwarted after her visits to Scotland, wouldn’t someone begin to suspect her?

“Nevertheless, you do see my predicament.”

Bryce nodded.

“Do you have any suggestions?”

The expectant look on her face urged him to please her. He paced the living area. The study had recently been abandoned for more comfortable quarters. Thoughts flew through his mind. “We might need to search the rest of the house, or—“ he interrupted himself, tapping his finger to his forehead.

“What are you thinking?” she asked, her eyes widening.

“Ye said ye have an itinerary for a full week?”

“Aye, I do.”

“Ye can’t be the only one. If ye follow the rest of Joshua’s schedule, maybe ye will run into his replacement.”

Lucy lunged from her position. She placed her hands on either side of his face as she leaned up and kissed him. “Sheer genius! Why didn’t I think of this?”

Bryce felt heat rush to his cheeks. The compliment took him off guard. Lucy didn’t notice his reaction as she flitted around the room. She spun on one heel. Her expression changed to one of worry and she said, “Oh, no. What did I do with my pouch? I know I laid it upon the couch. Where could it have disappeared to?”

Bryce lifted the dainty drawstrings in the air and handed the purse over. She sighed.

Her eyelids fluttered, and she twisted her hands. “Bryce, thank you. I know you didn’t have to stay here. I know you have a home you want to get back to but maybe, would you consider staying on just a while longer? I mean, just a few more days until the message is delivered.” She paused before adding, “I could use someone watching out for me.”

“Aye,” slipped from his mouth without a moment’s hesitation.

Lucy smiled. She placed the silk pouch to her chest as she walked backward from the room.

****

That night in her bedroom, Lucy dropped to her knees in prayer. Thanks rolled in succession from her tongue. Praise be to God Bryce had fallen into that river; otherwise she wouldn’t be making it through this. The man was a rock in a sea of storms. She suddenly realized how much she’d come to depend on him.

Falling back against the pillows, Lucy realized that she didn’t want to separate from Bryce, now, or ever. Could she convince him to stay? Or would she be willing to leave everything behind to go with him?

Sleep that night was fitful. Several times she woke stifling a scream. The sky lit with lightning, and the shadow of a man appeared. It was Bryce. He stepped forward and rubbed her forehead, whispering soothing words until she drifted back to sleep.

When morning came, Lucy was alone. She stretched across the comfortable fabric, feeling more tired than when she’d lain down the night before. Exhaustion and worry for her future gnawed at her.

Nothing said she had to continue with this mission. It could be dropped now or at any time. All of it could be left behind and she could go on with a perfectly normal life with Bryce. He could be a sheep farmer and she could be his wife and mother to his children. Visions of baby boys and girls danced through her head, only to be crowded out by scenes of death and destruction.

The information she passed along protected men of influence. They were a group of people who by their nature changed the world for the common man. These were people determined to make it safe for those of differing faiths.

In her heart, Lucy knew that to walk away might doom someone to death. That would weigh on her for a lifetime. One way or another, the messages had to be sent. There was no alternative.

That morning, she had another surprise upon entering the kitchen. There in the middle of the room stood Bryce. From head to toe he appeared as an English gentleman. Breeches, tunic, and cloak rested handsomely upon his frame. She squelched the sudden urge to laugh as he twirled around in a circle, modeling his new clothes.

“What do we have here?” she asked, hiding her grin behind her hand.

“The list says today your contact would retire to the park.”

She raised her brow at his put-on English accent.

“Aye, needs work, but as long as I speak sparingly, maybe I’ll go unnoticed.”

“You could never go unnoticed,” she whispered.

The comment sent a pink hue to Bryce’s cheeks. The simple action made him seem all that more handsome. The tunic stretched taut across his chest, the sleeves reached the limit of their capacity. His thighs pushed against the breeches’ material. Lucy looked away, hiding her growing feelings of affection.

“I must ready myself,” she said.

Bryce nodded.

When she returned, she wore a light blue gown covered by a thick cloak. She twirled, and held her breath in anticipation of his reaction. As time passed, Bryce’s opinion had come to mean much to her. He walked to her, removed the hood, and cupped her face. As he bent his head close to hers, Lucy rose on tiptoe. The lightest of kisses from him flitted across her lips, leaving her breathless and wanting more.

“We must hasten. The itinerary gives us but a brief window of time. And since ye don’t know who ye are looking for, it will no doubt take longer than we have.”

Although saddened that the moment was over, she agreed with Bryce.

“Do they know what ye look like?” he asked.

“Nay. In fact, they only know one thing — L.L. Those initials belonged to my father. It was his code name. After he retrieved a message, he would leave those letters somewhere behind. This way they knew he’d acquired the parcel.

“Not only do they not know what I look like, but I don’t believe they know I’m a woman. Father told me secrecy of identity was the only way to survive. I have maintained that.”

Bryce whispered, “Lucille Lombard.”

“Aye, L.L. does stand for me as well.” Lucy waited for the accusations of her lies. No doubt the twins next door had filled Bryce in on his mistake with her name. Breathless, she waited, but the words she expected never came.

Instead Bryce held out his arm in an invitation as he said, “Shall we go? The park awaits.”