The Rogue Report by Barbara Dawson Smith

Author:Barbara Dawson Smith
Language: ron
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The Honorable Mr. D.L. has purchased a new set of dueling pistols, and has been heard to profess an impatience to put them to use.

— The Rogue Report

"All's quiet, my lady," Elfrida said. "Not a thief to be found."

The oil lamp cast wavering shadows over the walls of Julia's bedchamber. Beneath the white nightcap that covered her gray hair, Elfrida's face looked drawn and weary. The deep circles under her eyes gave evidence to her long vigil. It was two in the morning, and she had kept watch downstairs since ten o'clock.

Now it was Julia's turn.

Tying the sash of her dressing gown, Julia battled a flare of guilt. "Perhaps we should hire a guard to patrol outside at night."

"And allow a stranger on the grounds?" Elfrida shook her head decisively. "I wouldn't trust a man, m'lady. I've known too many bad ones in my time."

"I'm costing you sleep."

"Never you mind that. I'm happy to help."

"But what if I'm wrong? What if that prowler has no intention of ever coming back?"

"Then we'll consider ourselves blessed. In the meantime, it never hurts to be careful."

Julia had told only Elfrida about the man she'd seen lurking alongside the school. Although all the female teachers on staff knew about The Rogue Report, she saw no need to alarm them. Dorcas would have fretted too much, Faith had not yet recovered from the blow of her father's treachery, and Margaret was too old and frail to keep watch.

As for Jack, she wouldn't allow herself to trust him. Not with so crucial a secret as The Rogue Report.

Julia embraced the older woman. "I don't know quite how to thank you."

Elfrida's brown eyes grew a little misty, but she gave her usual grumpy nod. " 'Tis I should be doing the thanking, m'lady. You took me in when no one else would, and one good turn deserves another."

Five years ago, when Julia had advertised for a literature teacher, Elfrida had shown up on the doorstep of the school, her face bruised and one eye blackened. While employed as housekeeper at a brothel, she had been attacked by a drunken client. When she had dared to fight back, the owner of the place had dismissed her on the spot for bloodying the man's nose.

Julia had had her doubts about hiring a woman of such dubious background, but after questioning her further and learning she had had an educated upbringing, Julia had decided to give Elfrida a chance. Never once had she regretted doing so.

As Elfrida went off to bed, Julia took the lamp and headed downstairs. An eerie hush lay over the darkened school. Statues stared from shadowed niches in the corridors. She found herself hurrying past the black maws of doorways, the only sound the echo of her footsteps.

By welcome contrast, her office was warm and cheerful with a fire burning on the grate. She stirred the coals with the poker, tipped in a few more lumps from the bucket, and relished the radiant warmth on her cold, slippered feet.

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