The Pursuit

  Not wasting any time, Niki went to the bed. She put the tray with its bowl and spoon on the side table and tried to rouse Denley.

  “Come along, Denley,” Edward heard her say. “You need to drink a bit.”

  “Are we leaving?” Denley mumbled as his eyes opened slightly.

  Edward watched Niki try to raise him up and went to help. When Denley’s eyes fully opened, Edward spoke to him.

  “I’m going to roll this pillow under your head, Denley. We’ll go easy.”

  “All right.”

  “There’s some broth you need to drink.”

  “I need…” Denley began and then stopped, his eyes pleading with Edward.

  Niki rose swiftly and moved toward the door.

  Without even glancing at her, Edward said, “Your coat.”

  Niki changed directions long enough to grab this garment and fled. The moment she was gone, Edward took over.

  He’d never assisted someone with such a personal need before, but the compassion he felt for this helpless, dignified man compelled him to action and little thought. He settled Denley back against the pillow as soon as he could and then began to spoon small sips of broth into his mouth.

  Tears came to the prone man’s eyes, but Edward didn’t comment or appear to notice. Weakness was an awful thing for someone capable and usually strong. Edward knew that anything he might say would only sound hollow to the sick man.

  The door opened slowly a short time later, and Niki peeked her face in. She came to Denley’s other side, sitting close, her face showing every bit of concern she felt. It had been embarrassing earlier, and not for the first time was she thankful that her face never blushed. Seeing Denley make an effort to drink and keep his head up, Niki put her own feelings aside and stayed close.

  Without warning Denley’s eyes closed, and he went limp. Niki paled with fright until Edward spoke.

  “He’s just worn out and has taken all he can.”

  Niki nodded, unable to speak.

  “Would you like me to sit with him?”

  “No, I’ll do it.”

  “I’m going out for a little while.”

  “All right.

  Edward left without further word, unaware of the way Niki sat and thought about him for a long time. She then remembered his Bible on the ledge. Hoping he’d meant what he said before, she went for it and returned to the bedside.

  I’ve been delayed but still plan to be with you before Christmas. Don’t worry after me, but please pray for wisdom as I make final plans to come home. If I don’t make it by Christmas Day, I shall be with you shortly thereafter or send word to the contrary.

  Edward hated how cryptic his note sounded, but he was not willing to be more informative at this point. Had a few more answers come to the surface, that might have been possible, but right now he felt it best to be as secretive as his traveling companions.

  Having written and posted the letter to Henry, Edward made his way slowly back to the inn. He passed the bakery and purchased a few sweets, enough to share with Niki, but then moved directly on. He wondered whether his absence might be taken as suspect, but he knew better. He also knew that if Niki asked him, he would tell her the truth: He’d sent a letter home, telling his family he’d been detained.

  “Your eyes have darted behind me to one corner of the room the entire meal,” Edward commented during supper that evening. “What is going on?”

  Niki looked at him in surprise. The day had been quiet. Lunch and their walk after had been uneventful, and Edward had said little even when Denley had managed more broth and remained awake a bit longer. The servant even had some color in his face.

  “I think I’ve been spotted.”

  “By whom?”

  “Someone I wish to avoid.”

  Thinking, What a horrible way to live, Edward asked, “What will you do?”

  “I’ll wait until morning and see if I’m right.”

  “And if you are?”

  “We’ll have to move.”

  “Move where?”

  Niki’s eyes were suddenly full of suspicion.

  “What did you do this morning when you left for a time?”

  “I wrote my family a letter to say I’d been delayed in my return.”

  Niki watched him carefully.

  “If you’re thinking that I’ve betrayed you in some way,” Edward went on quietly, as though they were discussing the weather, “I haven’t. I have no reason to do such a thing. I’ve tried to assure you of my honesty, but I realize you’re going to have to learn that on your own. As for my involvement with you and Denley, I only hope I don’t land myself in trouble because of it. If I do, you’ll have to live with the way you betrayed me.”

  Niki couldn’t hide her surprise. While brief, it nonetheless showed in her eyes just long enough for Edward to be convinced that he’d figured her out.

  “So I’ll ask you again,” he started quietly. “Move where?”

  “From here.”

  “The inn or Lisbon?”

  “Lisbon.”

  “With or without Denley?”

  “I would never leave Denley behind. Surely you’ve assumed that much.”

  “True, I have, but since I don’t know how desperate you are, from whom you’re hiding, or why, I naturally have questions.”

  Niki nodded in understanding even as her eyes darted across the room again.

  “I’m quite finished,” Edward said. “Shall we go up?”

  Niki met his eyes, questions filling her. Why was he helping? Why did he care? And how did he seem to know her needs before she could even voice them?

  With only a nod of agreement, Niki rose to her feet. Not for the first time Edward reminded himself to treat her as he would another man. He was at the stairway ahead of her and started up. It went against everything he’d been taught, but he did it. Not even at the bedroom door did he stand on propriety. He went in ahead of Niki, nodded to Rosario, and checked on Denley.

  Niki paid the young woman and joined Edward across the bed. Denley opened his eyes.

  “I think we’ve been discovered,” Niki wasted no time in saying, seeing no need to be clandestine.

  Denley tried to sit up.

  “We’ve got to go.”

  “I’ll check again in the morning and hire a coach if we need to.”

  Denley nodded, lying back in exhaustion. “I should be doing this.”

  Niki ignored him because Edward was asking a question.

  “Do you plan to slip away while I’m still in my room?”

  Niki looked across at him.

  “No.” Her voice was flat and resigned. “Much as I hate to admit it, I need you.”

  “So what is the plan?”

  “We’ll eat downstairs in the morning, and I’ll ask a few questions. If we need to leave, we’ll go directly after breakfast.”

  “And what of this coach you need? You’ve never been in Lisbon. How will you arrange that?”

  “Money talks, Mr Steele, or haven’t you figured that out yet?”

  Edward watched her for a moment.

  “And what of tonight? Are you not worried that someone will come here to your room?”

  “No, that’s not the concern. That’s never been the concern.”

  Edward had all he could do not to shake his head. He didn’t know when he’d ever been so confused or in the dark on an issue. His temple throbbed a bit, and he knew he was going to have to let this go and take Niki at her word.

  “Well, I’ll retire,” he said, turning to the door. “I shall assume you’ll come for me if there’s a need. If not, I’ll be ready for breakfast a bit early.”

  “Thank you. Good night.”

  Niki stood still even after he exited. She looked down at Denley and was surprised to find him still awake.

  “Do you feel better?”

  “A little. You still trust him, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but I’m not sure why. Why did you trust him?”

 
Denley managed a small smile. “He’s more than a gentleman. I don’t meet men like him very often.”

  Niki didn’t reply. Her eyes swung to the doorway as though she were still seeing Edward Steele. More than a gentleman. She’d never heard the phrase before but somehow knew that Denley had hit the matter squarely on the nose. She looked back to Denley to ask one more question, but his eyes were closed, his features relaxed.

  It wasn’t overly late, but Niki still readied for bed. Unless she missed her guess, they would leave Lisbon in the morning. For that reason alone she needed her sleep.

  The coach was more than adequate. It wasn’t fancy or huge, but it was comfortable, and Edward settled back, Niki beside him, and looked across at Denley, who was already lying on the seat, sound asleep. Just getting dressed and exiting the inn had exhausted the man. The color had receded from his face, and he’d panted with the labor of it all. It was no surprise that he was out cold.

  Edward’s attention suddenly swung to Niki. She had been looking at Denley also, her expression as closed off as ever.

  “Where are we going?” Edward asked of Niki’s ear, as she’d yet to look at him.

  “Coimbra.”

  “Will we stay there?”

  “If it’s safe.”

  Edward wasn’t sure just how many miles that would be, but he had a notion the ride would be long. He’d slept well in the night and was wide awake. The hours suddenly loomed ahead of him. He looked back to Niki, still getting her profile.

  “So,” Edward began, “how shall we pass the time?”

  Niki turned slowly to look at him, her eyes giving nothing away. She stared at him for several seconds before her gaze returned to Denley.

  “I know!” Edward was not put off. “I’ll try to guess why you’re dressed as you are.”

  This time Niki didn’t even bother to look at him.

  “You have found some sort of hidden treasure, and even the map leading you to the treasure is hidden.”

  Niki didn’t comment or turn.

  “No? All right then, you’ve stumbled across a plot to assassinate the king, and you must keep moving until you can return home and tell the royal family what you’ve learned.”

  Niki didn’t so much as blink.

  “No, wait!” Edward sat up in excitement. “You’re an international jewel thief.”

  This statement managed to bring Niki’s eyes to his.

  “Do I look like an international jewel thief?”

  “I can’t actually say. I’ve never known one.”

  His disappointed tone and the perplexed look on his face were too much for Niki. She had to turn away or laugh.

  Edward kept guessing, but Niki did not look at him. Dismissing Edward, her thoughts remained far away. She could hear him speaking but didn’t pay him any mind. They would stop in Coimbra for the night. They would find a doctor to check on Denley. She hoped they would not be followed and he could rest a bit more. They must continue their journey. It was so very important to keep moving.

  Suddenly so tired that she wanted to sleep, Niki let her head fall back against the seat. For the moment she could do nothing. She was in the coach and the decision was made. Willing her mind to slow down, she let her eyes shut. She wouldn’t sleep, but for the moment it felt good to sit still and relax.

  Niki woke slowly, her neck feeling cramped. She felt the fabric of the seat under her cheek and pushed away from it, only to find she’d been lying against Edward’s sleeve. Her gaze going up, she saw that he was watching her, and for the first time he saw irritation on her face.

  “Why didn’t you wake me?” she asked crossly, sitting up, her hand going to her hair.

  “I’ve only just awakened myself.”

  Looking into his bright eyes, Niki wasn’t convinced.

  Edward read the look but didn’t comment. He thought again that it would do no good to tell her she was safe with him. He would have to prove it, not to mention that if he were to speak of it, he’d have to be downright insulting. His taste did not run to women who looked like men. His sisters, all three very feminine, were curvy in all the right places. He wasn’t so shallow as to believe that only looks mattered, but he’d be lying not to admit that women who looked very different from Nicola Bettencourt attracted him.

  “How long did I sleep?”

  “I’m not certain.”

  Niki looked at him. “So you were asleep?”

  “For a time, yes.”

  Niki’s eyes went to Denley.

  “Has he been awake at all?”

  “No.”

  Niki moved across and touched Denley’s cheek. He didn’t feel overly warm, but she wondered if she should try and get some water into him.

  “Do you want the water?”

  “Yes,” she answered without turning around. “Denley?” She touched the man’s shoulder and gave him a small shake. “Can you wake up?”

  Edward had a cup ready long before Niki had Denley awake. It took some coaxing to rouse the man, which concerned her even more.

  “What is it?” he finally asked through dry lips. “Are we there?”

  “No, but it’s been some hours, and I think you need something to drink.”

  Without being asked, Edward moved and helped Denley with the cup. The servant drank gratefully, and Edward filled the cup again. The water revived the weak man. Sitting up, Denley’s eyes opened wide, and he looked around the carriage.

  “Where are we?” he asked of Niki.

  “Somewhere between Lisbon and Coimbra.”

  “Will we stay there?”

  “That’s the plan. How do you feel?”

  “Tired, but not as ill.”

  “I hated to wake you.”

  “It’s all right.”

  Edward was opening his mouth to ask whether Denley wanted anything to eat but hesitated. All three occupants of the carriage felt it at the same time. The coach was stopping. The horses were being drawn back, and the coach was coming to a slow halt.

  From his side Edward moved the curtain.

  “We have company,” he said even as Niki looked around his shoulder and also saw the two men on horseback.

  Niki looked to Denley. “Stay in here. I’ll handle this.”

  Edward looked to see if she was serious and realized she’d been speaking to Denley. He didn’t think Denley would obey, but a moment later, when a man opened the door of the carriage and ordered all of them out, Niki was the first to emerge, moving like a man in control. His heart beating painfully against his ribs, Edward followed her. And to his utter surprise, Denley kept his seat inside.

  Edward felt the ground beneath his feet, but not even the firmness of the earth could give him a sense of reality. It would seem they were being held up, something he’d never experienced in his life. He would have wished for several different companions in this situation, his brother or one of his brothers in-law to name a few, but that was not to be.

  Accompanied by a woman and an ill servant, Edward Steele was in Portugal, out on a road that was miles from anywhere, and about to be robbed of his possessions. He wondered if his family would ever believe this story. He then had the sober thought of wondering whether he’d be alive to tell them.

  Chapter Five

  “Out!” the man who opened the door ordered Denley.

  “That’s my servant,” Niki said in a cold tone. “He’s ill.”

  The man by the door sent another look toward Denley before directing his gaze to the one man still on horseback. Niki didn’t see the exact communication, but the man on foot suddenly backed away from the coach. It took Niki no time to figure out who was in charge.

  “What do you want?” she asked of the man still on horseback, her tone commanding his attention.

  The man who had opened the door had moved to a safe distance; he did not appear to be armed. The other man, larger than the first, had come off of his horse to approach.

  “What do you think we want?” he asked.

  Niki
took in his dirty red vest as she answered.

  “I’m in no mood to play games,” Niki said, her voice low and deep. “State your business!”

  The man smiled an ugly smile, full of malice and greed.

  “My business is your money, sir. I will wait patiently while you hand it over.”

  With a long-suffering look, Niki reached for her pocket. Edward did the same, but before he could lay his hand on his wallet, a short sword appeared in Niki’s hand. Where it had come from he hadn’t seen, but it was now up against the neck of the man with the red vest, pressing hard enough to draw blood.

  The first man, now standing next to his horse, had drawn a pistol. This did not escape Niki’s notice, but she spoke calmly.

  “He might shoot me, but you’ll still die. The choice is yours.”

  “What do you want?” red vest asked, visibly sweating.

  “Throw the gun down.”

  Niki heard more than saw it hit the ground.

  “Now,” she spoke to red vest again. “I want you to get on your horses and ride away from here very fast. Do not bother us again.”

  Anger filled the man’s eyes, but he stepped back. His head jerked and the other man climbed into his saddle. Niki followed red vest for several steps, her sword still out, waiting for him to dive for the pistol, but it didn’t happen. Some words were spoken that she did not understand, but just a few moments later the men wheeled their horses about and took off. Niki watched until they were a good distance away and then rounded on the two coachmen.

  “Who told you to stop this coach?”

  “We thought they wanted a ride,” the one explained in poor English.

  “I hired this coach. It is not your place to offer anyone else a ride! If you stop this coach again before I tell you, I’ll drive it myself, and you can walk back to Lisbon.”

  They nodded, fear apparent on each of their faces. Edward was a little afraid himself but followed when she climbed back inside. Her fist hit the roof, and the coach set off.

  His back against the seat, and his heart still pounding, Edward could not stop looking at Niki. He turned a few times to look out the window, but his eyes came back to her after only a moment.

  “Where did that come from?” he finally voiced.