Checkmate, My Lord

chapter Twenty-three


Teddy closed the barn door, exhausted to the bone. Guinevere and Gypsy had made a right mess out of their stalls while he was away. And if that wasn’t enough, one of the sheep had managed to wedge its head in between the rungs of an old cartwheel, forcing Teddy to chase the bleating animal all around the barnyard. He hadn’t been gentle when he popped the wheel off the blighter’s head.

Lifting his arms high above his shoulders, he stretched his aching muscles before turning toward the dark, shadow-ridden lane. He didn’t care much for this part, although given the same choice—play with Sophie Ashcroft or finish his chores on time—he would make the same decision again. Being the focus of her pretty smile all day was worth every hair-raising step he was about to take.

Not for the first time, Teddy regretted his family’s reduced circumstances, as his mother liked to call their lack of funds. According to his parents, they once lived in a grand house like Winter’s Hollow and had scads of servants seeing to their every need. Teddy recalled only small glimpses of their former life, yet it was enough to make him yearn for more than their single-room cottage and meager table fare.

Especially now that his mama was sick. Money would pay for a doctor and medicine to make her better. Money would allow them to hire servants to see to her comfort while he and Papa were at work. Money would mean he could go home tonight and melt into a plump, warm bed, rather than having to fix dinner for his papa and care for his mama.

Night sounds closed in around him, growing louder with every meter he distanced himself from the barn. The sunny day had given way to a partly cloudy night, and at times, Teddy could barely see the hard-packed road beneath his feet. Hunching his shoulders, he shoved his hands in his pockets and wrapped his fingers around the wooden piece Sophie had given him. He drew comfort from the small, solid piece of Dragonthorpe. Even still, he picked up his pace, not daring to look left or right for fear of encountering a pair of bright eyes.

Had it not been for the distinctive jingle of a horse’s harness, Teddy might have toddled right into the back of the motionless carriage. As it was, he’d stopped not six feet away. Fear flashed like a frigid breeze across his flesh before plunging beneath the surface to lock around his pounding heart.

Some instinct urged him to hide. Ducking low, he scrabbled for the knee-high weeds along the side of the lane and crouched there. From this position, he could make out the carriage’s black-as-night panels and carved trimmings. Four matching bay horses stood quietly at the lead, their driver faced forward in the same state of readiness.

Readiness for what?

Teddy glanced down the lane, from where he had just come, but the lack of moonlight prevented him from making anything out. The silent wait did funny things to his body. Sweat slicked down his back and his stomach gurgled. With each passing second, the gurgling grew in intensity, an unpleasant sensation that would normally have sent him running for the nearest privy. But he dared not move, even though he was in danger of soiling himself. Something didn’t feel right about the carriage sitting on the dark lane, with no lamplight.

With Sophie’s papa gone, there was no one to protect her but him. Teddy recalled the new people staying at her house. People she refused to talk about but always watched with a wary eye. No one knew them, and they seemed to just show up one day. When he asked Carson about the new people, the groomsman had told him to mind the shite and not the goings-on at the big house.

Teddy began to squirm, and his face flushed with heat. When he thought he would have to rush into the woods, the air around him stirred and a hint of foul odor assaulted his senses. Out of the darkness emerged the most hideous creature, one he’d encountered several times in the last sennight.

Silas.

Teddy’s eyes narrowed. The skeletal man’s body looked larger than normal, misshapen. Teddy hunkered down as the man drew near. The large, deformed lump at his shoulder materialized into a body. Sophie’s body.

She dangled over the man’s shoulder, unmoving. Teddy nearly gave his hiding spot away at the sight of his friend. She did not struggle or scream or curse her captor to perdition. She simply hung there.

Silas tapped on the carriage door, and Teddy’s heart stopped in shock when the window curtain parted.

A man inside said, “I see the governess held up her end of the bargain.”

Yes, sir,” Silas said.

And the governess?”

Taken care of, as you instructed.”

My message?”

Delivered.”

Very good, Silas.” The carriage door opened. “Place the girl on the bench and let us be off.”

After Silas completed his task, he shut the door and climbed up into the driver’s box. Once he was settled, the coachman flicked the reins and the carriage lurched forward.

Teddy rose from his crouched position and glanced toward Winter’s Hollow. He heard no sounds of rescue. Swinging his gaze back to Sophie, his knees almost buckled when the ambling carriage disappeared behind a wall of impenetrable black.

With one last look toward the big house, Teddy took off and he did not slow until his fingertips touched the metal rail of the carriage’s luggage boot. Having climbed rickety ladders all his life, it took little effort for him to maneuver himself onto the small ledge.

He folded his arms around his raised knees and winced when he felt something sharp prick his hip. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the wooden archer Sophie had given him. The carved piece stood with his legs splayed, one hand holding a bow and the other drawing back an arrow. He had been drawn to this figure from the first moment he saw it standing atop Dragonthorpe’s parapet, a brave soldier protecting his princess with nothing more than a bit of iron and willow.

At the crossroads, the carriage veered toward London and Teddy squeezed his eyes shut, burying his face into his upraised knees. He prayed his mama and papa would be all right without him.