Free Ask a Shadow to Dance by Linda George Page B

house to the parlor windows and peered around the draperies cautiously to see who was calling.
    Andrew.
    Aunt Portia appeared at her elbow. “Why, that—”
    Lisette shushed her again, then motioned for her to follow. Back in the kitchen, she whispered, worried that Andrew might somehow overhear.
    “We have to get to the police station. Is there a way to leave without Andrew seeing us?”
    Andrew pounded harder on the door. Lisette feared the stained glass would shatter in its frame if he continued much longer.
    “Out the kitchen door and around to the shed.”
    “I should have remembered. It’s been so long . . . I have to get my wrap. Tell Seth to be ready to leave the minute I get back.” Aunt Portia nodded and hurried out the back door, careful not to let it make the slightest noise when it closed.
    Lisette hurried back upstairs. There was no sound coming from the front door now. She prayed with all her heart that he’d left. She grabbed her coat, then crept down the stairs, through the hallway and back to the kitchen. When she opened the back door, she pulled too hard, too fast, and it squeaked. The sound seemed amplified to ten times normal. She took care to pull it closed slowly. It made no sound this time.
    Skirting the brilliant yellow ginkgos, Lisette tiptoed through the junipers, then, once she’d cleared the back yard, ran to the shed where the carriage was kept. The shed door stood open with no sign of the carriage anywhere.
    “Aunt Portia!” she called in a loud whisper.
    “Back here, child.”
    Lisette went around to the far side of the shed. The boy she’d seen last night, who had toted her baggage, sat on the front seat with Aunt Portia in the back. His pale blue eyes gleamed with excitement.
    “Hurry, child! I saw Andrew, not a minute ago, walking around the house. If we don’t leave now, he’ll see us for sure!”
    Lisette climbed in, Seth slapped the horses with a buggy whip, clucking his tongue at them, and the carriage jerked into motion. In a few seconds they were into the street. Andrew came running from the back of the house just as they sped away.
    Portia leaned forward. “Boy, if you can’t make those horses go any faster than that, I’ll have your mama whip your behind until your nose bleeds! Now, go!”
    “Yessum!” He slapped the horses’ rumps again, harder this time. They responded with a faster gait. Lisette breathed a sigh of relief but only for the moment. She had no hopes Andrew would give up so easily.
    It took about twenty minutes to reach the station. Seth stayed in the carriage. The minute Lisette stepped inside, she saw Andrew at the counter, speaking to the officer in charge. Her throat tightened and she touched her cheek nervously. He must have had a horse close by to have beaten us there.
    “Here they are now, Lieutenant. I told you they’d be along shortly.” He took a few steps toward Lisette. “Lisa, how are you feeling after your ordeal? You look absolutely worn out.”
    She glared at him but said nothing. Perhaps it was fortunate he was here to witness her accusations against him. They could take him into custody immediately. Aunt Portia was already at the counter. Her exchange with Andrew was anything but cordial.
    “Stand aside. I don’t want you anywhere near my niece ever again, do you hear?”
    “I beg your pardon, Miss Morgan. I was just telling the Lieutenant about the intruder you had at your home last evening. He and his men are going to be on the lookout for this scoundrel in hopes you will not be bothered again.”
    Aunt Portia gaped at him, speechless.
    Lisette stepped forward. “Lieutenant, the intruder at our home last evening was Mr. Westmoreland. He forced his way into the house and struck me several times, as you can see by the bruises on my face. I want him arrested.” She refused to look at Andrew, feeling her cheeks flame with anxiety and anger. The bruises throbbed painfully.
    The Lieutenant frowned. “Well, now, Miss