Free The Ghost and Jacob Moorhead by Jeanne Savery

Mary’s rooms?” He sighed. “We had hoped to keep from you that…”
    “ That you are lovers ?” asked Jacob, his whole body stiff with outrage.
    “Lovers?” Rube blinked. Then he laughed softly. “Oh no. That would never do. My father would fall into fits and my mother die of embarrassment if I were to take a lover from among your sort. I would not wish to do that to my family.”
    Jacob recognized irony when he heard it. He sighed. “You suggest that your family would be as outraged as mine. Very well. Then, if you are not sharing her bed, what are you doing?”
    “Guarding her,” said Rube.
    Jacob glanced at the place where the knife had disappeared within the man’s robes. “She’s…in danger?”
    “She managed to insult a man who cannot abide insult. At least he calls it insult and threatens revenge.” Rube frowned. “He has made no overt move against her for very nearly two years now but we know his minions keep watch. Perhaps we have thrown them off stride by coming here. We were very careful and, with luck, they’ll not find her. At least not for some time. But I will not relax my vigilance since we cannot know .”
    “Insulted someone important? Some man overseas somewhere. I was listening, you know. I heard you mention murder? May I know the details?”
    “Insult is perhaps not the correct word…my inadequate English…” mused Rube but then shook his head. “Since you know so much I’ll tell Mary she must discuss the situation with you. Perhaps you’ll decide you must find someone else to chaperon your cousin, that it is too dangerous for others living here for Mary to remain.” Rube shrugged. “The two of you will come to a decision one way or another. But not now. Tomorrow . It is far too late tonight and Mary is tired.”
    Jacob wanted to argue but decided the man was right. “You have her safe?”
    “Go see.” He gestured toward Lady Mary’s bedroom.
    Jacob crossed the room and tapped on the door. There was no answer. Frightened by Rube’s story, he threw back the door and rushed into the bedroom—only to find it empty. He looked around. Spun around. Stared at the impassive Rube who stood cross-armed in the doorway. He relaxed. “Where is she?”
    Rube nodded toward another door at the far side of the room.
    “The dressing room?” Jacob crossed to it and knocked softly.
    After a moment his sleepy-looking cousin opened the door. “Jacob?” she asked and, suddenly alert, glanced to where Rube stood.
    Rube nodded. “He knows.”
    She sighed. “All of it?”
    “No. Only that you are in danger.”
    She heaved a still deeper sigh. “Fiddle.”
    Jacob laughed at her sour expression. “Tomorrow you will tell me the tale and we will decide what to do.”
    She nodded, shut the door and, after a few more words with Rube, Jacob found a nearby flight of servants’ stairs and went down them to the first-floor hall and into his bedroom. Once there, he settled into the well-worn and very comfortable chair set before the fire. He turned up the lamp, picked up his book and laid it on his lap.
    Then, ignoring it, he stared into the fire. “Danger.”
    Danger ?
    Jacob winced at the voice. “It appears Mary is in danger of her life. Thus the bodyguard.”
    I don ’ t like it . My little Mary in danger .
    “I don’t particularly like it either. Especially since Mrs. Jennings and Miss Tomlinson are here as well.” What the devil am I doing , having a conversation with an impossibility ? “And I haven’t even been drinking.”
    Do something . The impossible voice sounded stern.
    “Once I know more, I will. Mary will explain all tomorrow.”
    There was a gentle sigh. Jacob waited. When nothing more was forthcoming he sighed softly himself and relaxed a tension he’d not realized he was feeling. He touched the book in his lap and shook his head. Ten minutes later he was ready for bed, doused the lamp. He put himself to bed, glad his valet had turned down the covers so he need not