A Shadowed Charade (The Lockwood Family #4)

Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

Melody sat beside Wesley in the drawing room, their knees nearly touching. His closeness distracted her. She wondered how easy it would be to reach out and take his hand. Would he welcome her touch? No. She needed to banish these wayward thoughts. She was supposed to be focused on her needlework, but her stitches were uneven, the thread tangling as she tried to concentrate.

With a sigh, Melody placed the needlework in her lap, surrendering to the fact that she was making a mess of it. She glanced across the room at Elodie, who was energetically debating with Lord Belview about the merits of women wearing trousers.

White entered the room with a silver tray in his hand. “Two letters have arrived for Lady Melody,” he announced, stepping towards her.

Melody retrieved the neatly folded letters with a smile. “They are both from Josephine,” she announced. But her relief was short-lived when she opened the first letter.

Elodie’s head snapped up. “Josephine sent you two letters?”

“Isn’t that what I just said?” Melody replied absently, her brow furrowing as she scanned the letter. The handwriting was unfamiliar, and to her surprise, it was a coded message—using the same cipher she had deciphered just days ago.

Wesley leaned closer, his voice low and concerned. “I did not send that particular letter.”

Melody’s breath caught in her throat. “Then who did?”

Before Wesley could reply, Elodie’s voice broke through their conversation. “What did Josephine say?”

Thinking quickly, Melody folded the letter and slipped it into the folds of her gown. “She apologizes for not writing sooner, but her family went on a trip. I shall read the other letter later.”

“Where did Josephine vacation to?” Elodie pressed.

“Bath,” Melody replied quickly.

Elodie scrunched her nose. “At this time of year? That seems like an odd choice. Surely, there are better places to visit than Bath right now.”

Melody retrieved her needlework, trying to focus on the task at hand. However, her mind was still on the coded message. “I cannot speak as to why her family chose now to go, merely that they did go.”

Lord Belview interjected, “Why does it matter to you where her family went?”

Elodie gave him a sideways glance. “It is just… convenient. Josephine was going on a trip right when we have guests.”

Leaning back in his chair, Lord Belview’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “That is quite the leap of logic. Perhaps your time would be better spent on more womanly pursuits.”

Melody watched her sister’s eyes widen, barely suppressing the smile threatening to break free. Lord Belview was clearly baiting Elodie, and she was walking right into it.

Her mother entered the room and announced, “It is time for Elodie’s lesson with the dancing master.”

Elodie groaned theatrically. “Again? Surely, there is a better use of my time.”

“I can’t think of one,” her mother responded.

“Truly? Not even one ?” Elodie pressed.

Her mother smiled. “It is not my fault you dance like a drunken hippopotamus.”

Elodie clutched her chest as if mortally wounded. “You raised me! If you had put me in lessons sooner, I might have been more graceful.”

“I don’t think that would have helped,” her mother retorted.

Rising, Elodie said, “I could have become the most famous dancer in all the world. Ballads would have been written about my elegance and beauty. But, no, alas, it is too late now.”

Their mother turned to Melody with a sigh. “Your sister is utterly delusional.”

Melody couldn’t hold back her giggle. “I am well aware.”

As Elodie continued to argue her point with their mother, Melody’s thoughts drifted back to the coded letter hidden in her gown. She needed to slip away and find a quiet moment to decipher the message. But what excuse could she give that wouldn’t raise suspicion?

Elodie gave a dramatic bow, pulling Melody back to the present. “And that is why I will never master the art of dance.”

“It is one dance lesson,” her mother said, a note of exasperation creeping into her voice. “I am not asking you to fight in the war.”

Elodie pointed at Melody. “Why doesn’t Melody require this torture?”

Their mother gave Elodie a sharp look. “Because, my dear, Melody has learned how to dance.”

Elodie shook her head. “Only someone who truly loved me would be so brutally honest.”

Lord Belview stepped forward. “I would be happy to accompany you to your lesson.”

Raising her chin defiantly, Elodie said, “I think I would rather brave this ordeal alone, thank you.” She headed for the door, pausing in the frame. “Wish me luck. If I die in the music room, all my possessions will go to Melody.”

Their mother frowned. “You are not going to die.”

“I might die from dancing,” Elodie quipped with a swipe of her hand.

Once Elodie had departed from the room, her mother looked heavenward. “Give me patience with that one.”

Taking advantage of the moment, Melody stood and turned to Wesley. “Would you like to see our library?”

“I would,” Wesley replied, offering his arm.

Just as they began to leave, her mother’s voice stopped them. “I believe Lord Belview would also like to see the library.”

Melody stifled her disappointment and turned with a polite smile. “Of course. How thoughtless of me. Lord Belview, would you care to join us?”

Lord Belview inclined his head. “I would be honored.”

They made their way down the hall, and Melody’s mind raced as she tried to devise a plan to be alone with Wesley. But every excuse felt too obvious, and Lord Belview’s presence complicated things. She would have to be careful.

Once they arrived in the library, Melody moved towards the writing desk, retrieving the folded letter from her gown. She picked up the quill and quickly began deciphering the code.

Her breath caught as the message revealed itself:

Your life or your sister’s

Melody gasped, the quill slipping from her hand and clattering onto the desk. Wesley was at her side in an instant. “What is it?” he asked, concern darkening his features.

She showed him the message, her hands trembling. His eyes hardened, a silent understanding passing between them. Without a word, Melody quickly folded the letter and tucked it away before Lord Belview, still browsing through the shelves, could see.

Wesley leaned in, his voice low and controlled. “We need to find out who sent this, and quickly.”

Melody nodded, her mind spinning. She shoved back her chair and rose. “I need to see to Elodie.”

Lord Belview raised an eyebrow, watching her closely. “Is something wrong, Melody?”

“No,” Melody replied too quickly, trying to mask the panic building inside of her. “I just miss my sister.”

“Weren’t you just with her?” Lord Belview asked, confusion evident in his voice.

Melody crossed the room swiftly, not meeting his eyes. “Excuse me. I will be back shortly.”

As she hurried down the corridor, dread curled in her stomach. The coded letter’s warning echoed in her mind. Your life or your sister’s . What if something had happened to Elodie already? The thought made her quicken her pace.

Wesley caught up to her, falling into stride beside her. “Elodie is fine,” he assured her, though his voice had a hint of tension.

She barely spared him a glance. “How can you be so sure?”

“I’m not,” Wesley admitted. “But it is important that you don’t panic. We need to stay calm and think clearly.”

But Melody was far past calm. Panic gnawed at her, quickening her breath. If anything had happened to Elodie, if someone had taken her, she didn’t know how she would survive it.

They burst into the music room, startling Mr. Durand, who threw his hands into the air. “Finally, Lady Elodie!” he exclaimed, clearly irritated. “I have been waiting.”

Melody came to an abrupt halt, her eyes scanning the room. “Where is my sister?” she demanded, her voice tight with fear.

Mr. Durand blinked at her in confusion. “Why would I know where your sister is?” he asked. “Would you care to begin the lesson?”

“I am not Elodie. I am Melody,” she replied.

“Then where is your sister?” Mr. Durand asked.

Melody felt her heart drop. “I… I don’t know.”

“Well,” Mr. Durand snapped impatiently, “inform her that she is late when you find her. I don’t have time to wait around for her whims.”

Wesley stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “We will find her. She may have just gone up to her room for a moment.”

Melody looked up at him. “Do you honestly believe that?”

He hesitated, his jaw tightening. “I don’t know what to believe yet, but if someone has taken her, she couldn’t have gone far.”

Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill over, but she blinked them back, willing herself to stay composed. Now was not the time for tears. “What do we do?”

“First, we need to check the manor,” Wesley replied calmly. “She might still be somewhere inside.”

“I will go speak to White.”

Wesley gave a nod of approval. “Good. I will fetch Watkins and meet you back in the library.”

A single tear slipped down her cheek despite her efforts to remain composed. Wesley reached up gently, brushing it away with his thumb. “I promise you, we will find her. Everything will be all right.”

Melody took a step back, shaking her head. “Remember what I said about making promises you can’t keep.”

“Melody…” he began.

She spoke over him. “I need to go speak to White.”

As she moved past him, Wesley caught her arm, stilling her. “You need to think like an agent, not just a sister. Be vigilant.”

Melody swallowed hard. “I will be.”

“Good,” he said, holding her gaze, his hand lingering on her arm. “I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to ensure Elodie is safe.”

Her gaze searched his face, and she saw a fierce determination in the depths of his eyes. His promise wasn’t empty, and for a brief moment, she found a sliver of calm. “I shall hold you to that.”

Wesley’s expression softened, and his touch provided her with a strange sense of comfort. “We are a team, you and I.”

“Yes,” she agreed softly. “A team.”

It had been hours since Elodie had gone missing, and Wesley sat in the drawing room, a drink forgotten in his hand. Melody was nearby, doing her best to console her distraught parents. From the steady tone of her voice, anyone might have thought she was in control, but Wesley could see the truth in her eyes. Fear.

No word had come yet from Elodie’s abductor, but that didn’t unsettle Wesley. He knew the target wasn’t Elodie—it was Melody. Whoever was behind this wanted her, and they would make their move when the time was right. Until then, they had to keep calm and prepare.

Lady Dallington, her face pale and streaked with tears, wiped at her eyes with a trembling hand. “Where is the constable?” she asked, her voice shaking with barely controlled emotions. “He should have been here by now.”

Melody placed a hand on her mother’s arm. “I am sure he is on his way. Why don’t you rest for a bit until he arrives?”

Lady Dallington shook her head. “And do what? How can I lie down when my daughter is out there, all alone?”

Lord Dallington slipped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Melody is right. You are exhausted. You should lie down, if only for a little while.”

At her husband’s urging, Lady Dallington relented, leaning heavily into his side for support. “Very well. Will you remain with me?”

“There is nowhere else I would rather be,” Lord Dallington assured her, offering a small, strained smile.

As Lord Dallington escorted his wife from the room, Melody came and sat down next to Wesley on the settee. She exhaled slowly, her fingers twisting together in her lap. “My poor mother,” she murmured.

Wesley leaned forward and placed his drink on the table before facing Melody. “How are you faring?”

Her composure shattered for a brief moment, her frown deepening. “How do you think I am faring?” she asked, her voice rising with frustration. “Elodie has been taken and it is all my fault.”

“We will get her back,” Wesley assured her.

Melody’s eyes flickered to the windows. “Where is the constable? He should have been here by now.”

“It hardly matters. The constable will likely be of little help to us anyways.”

At that moment, Watkins entered the room, quietly shutting the door behind him. His expression was grim. “I have spoken to most of the household staff. No one saw anything that could be useful.”

“No one saw anything?” Wesley repeated in disbelief. “Someone must have witnessed Lady Elodie being taken. She couldn’t have just disappeared on her way to the music room.”

“I’m afraid not,” Watkins said. “However, there is more. The footman caught sneaking out last night is nowhere to be found.”

“How is that possible?” Wesley demanded.

Watkins shrugged. “He vanished. But I do believe it is safe to assume he was involved in Lady Elodie’s abduction.”

Wesley shot to his feet. “If this footman was sent here with ill intentions towards Melody, it would explain how the poison made its way into Artemis’s food. Footmen often go unnoticed, blending into the background. No one would question his movements.”

“Who is this footman?” Melody asked.

Watkins hesitated before answering. “Not much is known about him. He arrived two weeks ago with what appeared to be solid references from a large manor up north. According to White, he worked hard and kept to himself—until a few days ago.”

Wesley’s mind raced, piecing together the puzzle. “He was planted here. Whoever sent him wanted Melody. This abduction of Elodie is just a tactic to draw her out.”

“You think this footman is working with someone else?” Watkins asked.

“It would only make sense to assume so,” Wesley replied.

At that moment, a sharp knock came at the door. Jasper entered, his expression solemn. “I have just spoken to the constable,” he informed them. “He is making some inquiries but is not quite convinced that Lady Elodie was abducted.”

“And why not? What are his reasons?” Wesley inquired.

Jasper pressed his lips into a thin line. “He is entertaining the notion that she may have left voluntarily… possibly eloping to Gretna Green.”

Melody’s face went pale. “Eloping? With whom ?” she demanded.

Jasper’s gaze softened with sympathy. “In his experience, ladies of noble rank, especially daughters of marquesses, don’t tend to be abducted. He believes she might have run off with someone.”

Rising abruptly, Melody moved to the window, staring into the distance as though she might find answers. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing. I need to search for her. I have to do something.”

Wesley stepped forward, his voice firm but measured. “You will do no such thing. You will remain here, where it is safe.”

Melody spun around, her eyes flashing with defiance. “You have no right to order me about, my lord.”

Jasper interrupted, his tone calm. “Lord Emberly is right. No good would come from you leaving the manor. We need to think rationally.”

Watkins tipped his head, drawing back Wesley’s attention. “I will continue to gather information and report back as soon as I find anything useful.”

As his valet departed from the room, Melody clenched her fists, her frustration palpable. “I feel so helpless,” she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

Wesley approached her. “You are not helpless. We will find her. But you need to trust us to handle this the right way.”

“And how is that?” Melody asked. “Other than the footman, we have no leads. No real answers. We are grasping at straws.”

Wesley reached for her hand. “You are not wrong, but whoever is behind this has finally tipped their hand. Now, it is our turn to make our move. It is time to find out who is truly after you.”

Melody glanced down at their entwined hands. “I should have been the one taken, not Elodie. This is all my fault.”

His grip tightened slightly. “You mustn’t think that way. None of this is your fault.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away. “I can’t lose my sister, Wesley. I won’t.”

“I know. We won’t let that happen,” he assured her, his gaze unwavering.

Jasper took a step closer to them. “It would help if I knew what we are up against.”

Melody’s eyes implored Wesley’s. “Jasper is right. He deserves to know the truth.”

Wesley paused. It was a difficult decision. Melody trusted Jasper, and Wesley respected the man’s skills. However, by revealing their lives as agents, the very nature of their work could change everything. “I am not sure if that is wise.”

“It is the only way,” Melody responded.

Wesley knew that Melody was right. With a heavy nod, he let her take the lead.

Melody turned fully towards Jasper, squaring her shoulders. “I am an agent of the Crown,” she confessed, her voice steady despite the weight of her admission.

Jasper’s eyes widened slightly, but he held his composure. “An agent? You?”

“Yes,” Melody confirmed. “I decipher enemy codes and have been doing so for over a year.”

Shifting his gaze to Wesley, Jasper remarked, “And you, Lord Emberly, I presume, are also an agent. Assigned to protect Lady Melody, no doubt?”

Wesley nodded. “It is true.”

Jasper let out a long sigh. “This certainly does explain a few things. But why do you think it is your fault that Lady Elodie was abducted?”

Wesley cleared his throat. “There was a leak within the agency. We believe that our enemies learned of Lady Melody’s true identity.”

“And recently, I deciphered a message taunting me about how someone is coming for me,” Melody added.

Jasper grew silent for a long moment. “I had my suspicions, especially after seeing how capable Lady Melody is with a pistol,” he admitted. “But why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Wesley met his gaze. “Until now, I wasn’t sure I could trust you.”

“That is fair,” Jasper said with a curt nod. “This explains why you thought Artemis was poisoned as a part of a plot to reach Lady Melody.”

Melody clasped her hands in front of her, her voice softer now. “Now that you know the truth, will you help us retrieve Elodie?”

Jasper bobbed his head. “I promised Lord Winston I would keep your family safe, and I keep my promises.”

“Thank you,” Melody murmured.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Jasper asked, “Have you considered that Artemis might be behind this? He is a botanist, knowledgeable about poisons, and he was conveniently in the gardens when Lady Elodie disappeared.”

“I have thought about that. But I have not yet decided whether Artemis is a criminal genius or simply a fool,” Wesley replied.

“I shall speak to him,” Jasper asserted.

Melody shook her head, saying, “I will speak to him.”

“With all due respect, my lady—” Jasper began, but Melody cut him off.

“Your presence would only raise suspicion,” she argued. “But Artemis and I have known each other since we were children. I can approach him without arousing any suspicion.”

“I will go with you,” Wesley said.

“No, you won’t,” Melody responded. “I can do this on my own.”

“And if he tries to abduct you?” Wesley pressed, his voice tight with concern.

With quiet resolve, Melody reached into the folds of her gown and pulled out her muff pistol, the cold metal gleaming faintly. “I will be prepared for anything.”

Wesley’s chest tightened. He did not like this, nor did he like the idea of her walking into danger alone. Every instinct screamed at him to stop her, to protect her. But he knew better. Melody was capable. She was not some simpering miss in need of constant protection. Yet, that knowledge did not lessen the knot of anxiety twisting in his gut.

He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to let go of his fear. “I want you to promise me one thing,” he said.

“What is it?”

“If anything feels wrong—if something does not seem right—you get out of there. You get yourself to safety, understand?”

“I promise,” Melody said.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough. For now.