A door somewhere down the hall opened, and the man turned his attention toward it. Arista slipped back into the stairwell and ran up the stairs as fast as she could. Her hands were shaking so badly, it took three tries to open the door at the top.
Precious minutes had been lost because of that man, and her chances of being seen had increased. She had to get out of this place. As the hour grew late, more men would be roaming the halls. She couldn’t get the feeling of the man’s touch out of her head. If she’d had the time, she might have jumped back into the tub of cold, dirty water to wash it away.
Arista counted seven doors and knocked softly. The door immediately swung open, and Arista stepped inside the darkened room. She met Becky’s wide-eyed stare in the flickering candlelight, and then her glance slid to the chair in the corner of the room. Her heart thumped against her ribs dully.
Wild raised an eyebrow. He looked at the bundle of clothes in her arms.
“I hope you have not changed your mind already, my dear?”
“So I’m to be a prisoner after all, then?” Arista asked.
Wild laughed. “Of course not, but I am invested in your safety. If you’d like to venture out, I’d be more than willing to provide an escort. At this hour, it is most prudent.” Just what she needed. Someone to keep watch over her every move. And report back to Wild, of course.
“I’ve been on the streets since I was five,” Arista said, forcing herself to speak calmly. “I don’t need anyone to go with me.”
“It would make me feel better, knowing you were protected. You have only just recovered, and I hate to think of you on the streets alone.”
“He’s right, miss,” Becky chimed in. She wrung her hands together and glanced between Wild and Arista. When Wild smiled at her, the girl visibly relaxed.
“I only wanted to get some air,” Arista lied. “I can’t move in this dress. But you’re right, it’s not safe. And I’m suddenly feeling tired. If you’d excuse me, I’d like to rest now.”
Wild stood, and Arista hugged the stolen clothing tighter. Though the conversation was nothing but civil, Wild’s mouth tightened, and she knew he distrusted her.
“Truly, I am not used to being inside for such a long time. I only wanted to stretch my legs in the night air, as I’ve always done. It’s safer as a boy.”
“I understand, my dear. Really, I do. I don’t like long confinements, either. After tomorrow, you can come and go as you please. I only ask that you honor my request tonight.” He held out his hands for the clothing she had borrowed. Arista shrugged and placed the bundle in his outstretched arms, pretending the stolen clothes were of little importance to her. Of course he didn’t trust her yet. That was something she would have to earn.
“Good evening to you, ladies,” Wild said. With those last words, he closed the door and left Arista alone with Becky.
“Miss, what were you thinking?” Becky clasped her hands tightly in front of her, and she kept looking at the door as if expecting Wild to return any second.
“There is something I need to do, Becky. Tonight. Now, help me figure out a way to escape.” Arista stalked to the window. They were high above the street, and had no way to climb down; it was pointless to try. With no idea where they were going in the morning, she had to get out now, while she still had the chance to find her way back to their old home.
Deep voices could be heard from outside the door. Arista pressed her ear to the wood. A guard. Damn.
“I need to go back to the house. Wild is looking for Nic, but I’m not sure I can trust him yet. I have to let Nic know that we’re okay, and tell him how to find us. I’m afraid he may think we died in the fire, too.” It was only half the truth. She and Becky would have the means to live any way they chose.
“But if Mr. Wild said he was looking…” Becky twisted her fingers together and glanced at the door.
“I’m sure that Nic will go back to the house, looking for a hint that we’re still alive. I’m just going to leave something so that he knows for sure. I’ll be back before anyone misses me, I promise.”
She hoped to be gone and back before anyone missed her.
“There’s a guard outside the door. I need a way to distract him.” Arista looked around the room for anything that might be useful. The only thing she had was her knife. That wouldn’t work. She wasn’t a murderer. The heavy candlestick? Would anyone believe he was simply sleeping if he were sitting prone against the wall? She had to take the risk.
Arista picked up the heavy candlestick and glanced at the door. The man was big, but if she hit him just right…