Beyond a Doubt

chapter Forty-One




The Lombard name could only get one so far. The room fee was covered for one night but nothing more. The couch was overly short and lumpy and Bryce’s legs fell over the side. Placing his arm under his head, he tried to get comfortable.

Morning came and his belly growled with hunger. Sunlight wafted through the thin curtains. He shifted and slung his arm over his eyes, blocking out the light.

The door to the next room was closed. Lucy rested in that room, the woman who filled his every waking thought and his nighttime ones as well.

Tonight they planned to attend a ball. With no money and no fancy clothing. Bryce struggled to figure out a way for them to blend in. They couldn’t go with what they wore on their backs. This situation was impossible.

Those thoughts only led to more questions. What kind of man was he? With all his needs currently provided to him by a woman, he questioned if he’d lost his Cameron pride.

It was Lucy. Around her he was a different person.

He sat up with his hands cupping his head. The night’s sleep had been fitful, full of tossing and turning, and bad dreams. He stared intently at the closed doors. As if by the power of his gaze, the large wooden panels opened.

Lucy twirled into the room dressed in yesterday’s clothing. She smiled and said, “What a glorious day.”

“It is?”

“Of course. The sun is shining and we have a roof over our heads. And I have a plan.”

Had he misheard her? “What?”

“Here’s what we do.”

Astonishment filled him at the thoroughness of her thoughts. She had every detail mapped out and listed. Had the lass rested at all?

“What do you think?” she asked.

“I think it sounds brilliant,” he replied, a tad off balance.

She clapped her hands, her face filled with delight. “Good. Now all we need do is enact it. It shouldn’t be overly difficult. We will be asking help of two great actresses.”

The morning hours passed slowly. Bryce reviewed the plan several times in his mind. While he rehashed her ideas, Lucy stood in front of a floor-to-ceiling looking glass. The size of the pane was something Bryce had never seen before. Why, a person could stand in front of it and see his entire self in one moment. It was simply amazing.

Lucy didn’t resemble herself at all, as she was covered in what appeared to be soiled linens, with grass, dirt, and small twigs sticking from her hair. Self-study completed, she turned to Bryce. “Now, let’s start on you.”

She covered him in a sheet and he watched as she ripped the seams of the clothes he’d worn the evening before. Large gaping holes covered the thick material. Hunching his shoulders, he cringed. Next came the dirt. No doubt the cleaning lady for the inn would wonder where the dirt from their potted plants had gone.

Once his clothes were prepared, Bryce dressed. Lucy clucked her tongue with approval. Bryce felt like he had worked all day on the farm, or perhaps ridden a horse over a dry, dusty road. Although the feeling was familiar, he still felt uncomfortable.

They were ready to put on their show, but still they needed to exit the inn without being seen. This proved to be a tad more difficult than anticipated. Every time they opened the door to sneak out a new person entered the hallway.

With an exasperated sigh, Lucy retreated into the room once again. “We are running out of time. We may have to walk out into the hallway and hope the inhabitants escort us to the street.”

“Leave this to me.”

With an awkward stagger, Bryce walked out the door. He hit the walls and thumped other doors. He shoved guests aside and offered a hiccupped apology.

Swear words and curses followed his progress. Bryce avoided cringing by strength of will. Lucy followed close behind, mimicking his every movement. Pride swelled in his breast at her acting skills.

When they pushed through the back door, Lucy burst into laughter. With her arm in his hand, Bryce pulled her away from the inn.

Holding her side, she said, “Where did you learn to do that?”

“Lots of people to watch. Come on, we need to get away from here.”

Lucy followed him willingly into the street. They avoided the horses for fear of being marked. As they walked, Bryce questioned the plan. They did look ragged and unkempt, and on their way to the Tower for their behavior and the destruction of the inn’s room. His lips moved in a silent prayer. Without supernatural help this would never work.

****

Lucy’s feet ached before they reached their destination. Blisters formed underneath the thin soles of her footwear. Without their horses, the walk took longer than expected. When they reached the house, Lucy’s nerves bunched. Instead of thinking about what might happen, she reviewed what had already occurred.

Bryce was the perfect drunk. Never had she seen a drink touch his lips, and yet he appeared more soused than someone leaving a drinking establishment.

Focused on Bryce’s past behavior, she plunged ahead only to have Bryce pull her back.

“Stagger with me.” Leaning against one another, they staggered up the Townsend walkway. When they reached the door, Lucy stepped forward and prepared to knock. But there was no need.

“Winnie dear, we’ve got company.”

Winifred stepped back and allowed them to pass into the interior of their home. They prepared to explain their appearance when Winnie joined them.

“We wondered when you would come. Those workmen have been making some of the worst noise I’ve ever heard. Why, Winifred even went over and told them to be quiet, but they didn’t listen. I’ve never seen a ruder bunch of people.”

Lucy worked hard to control her shock. Winifred laid her hand upon Lucy’s arm and patted. “Dearest, I hate to tell you, but those carpenters you hired have destroyed your home. I wouldn’t pay them.”

“What?” asked Lucy.

“Now look, Winifred, you’ve worried the poor child. Besides, didn’t I tell you Lucy wouldn’t hire someone to come in and destroy her home? You didn’t, did you, dear?”

Lucy shook her head.

“See, there you go. Those people are in Miss Lucy’s house for nefarious purposes. We should have kicked them out.”

Winifred’s eyes widened, her lips pursed. “Could this be true?”

“Winifred, just look at them. They look like they’ve been sleeping in an alley. They need our help.”

“Well, of course they do. Now, what do you need from us?” Winifred asked.

Lucy grasped for the words while Bryce spoke on their behalf. “Aye, ye two are correct. Those men are indeed there for a vile purpose. And we do need your help.”

“Just tell us what to do.”

Lucy finally found her tongue and explained what they needed. Once finished, she began to wonder at her plan. The more she thought about it, the more she believed the two elderly women hardly seemed capable of the scheme.

Once the plan was set in motion, Bryce and Lucy pressed against a window in the living area that faced the Lombard home. The lights in the Lombard home had already been doused. A thick mist hovered inches above the ground, creating an eerie sight. Wisps parted and wrapped around the legs of the elderly twins. They locked arms and giggled as they traversed their yard. Once in the middle of the area, they separated. Their arms disengaged, distended to their full length until nothing but their fingertips touched.

As planned, Winifred approached the front door and Winnie the back. Each woman knocked in unison. Lucy’s chest ached as she held her breath.

When no one answered, they turned the doorknobs. From her position, Lucy could see both twins laying their shoulders against the doors and shoving. They each went inside.

Lucy tried not to worry about the state of the house. The building was only materials crafted together to make a home. Anything destroyed could be pieced back together with time.

But the fear she felt for the twins caused her palms to sweat and her heart to race. She gnawed on her lip. If something happened to Winnie and Winifred, she would never forgive herself. Why had she ever thought this was a good plan?

Several minutes passed. The rising sun reflected off the windows, making it impossible to see inside. Nervous with anticipation, Lucy ground her teeth. When she thought she would break from the tension, the twins emerged, their arms laden with items. Now it was time to get down to business.