Devil Disguised (22 page)

She opened the door and ran from the room.

“Dammit.”

He slammed the glass down onto his bedside table. Desire coursed through him. She offered herself to him and he pushed her away. He was a damn fool. He could have pleasured her and still kept her virginity.

“Dammit,” he called out again as he went to grab his shirt and the key that would open her door.

Leaving his room, he made sure the hallway was empty before he ran to Lily’s room. He tested the doorknob. It was locked. He inserted the key and opened the door.

Stepping in the room, he closed and locked the door behind him. Lily was standing next to her bed, but turned
towards him and gasped. The shock and disbelief disappeared from her features, replaced by anger.

“Get out,” she ordered.

Ignoring her warning, he moved forward with purpose. She shook her head and held up her hands.

He said, “Lily, I made a mistake.”

“No, I made the mistake. I completely misread you.” She gestured towards the door as she clenched her fists together. “Please leave, I am going to bed now.”

She tossed the bed covers back and pointed at the door.

“Dear God,” he gasped.

Duncan could not believe what he was seeing. Something was moving on the bed behind Lily.

She began to turn towards the bed and he felt his heart constrict. “Lily, don’t move.”

“What?” She started to turn again.

“Lily, please! Stay still!”

Clearly now, he saw a snake moving closer to the edge of the bed. He kept his eyes on the snake and then glanced quickly at Lily. She seemed to realize that something was terribly wrong.

Her voice trembled slightly as she whispered, “What is it?”

“A snake.”

She gasped.

He held out his hand and said, “Walk towards me now. Very slowly. No sudden movement.”

She moved forward while he focused on the snake. Reaching out, Lily touched his hand and he instantly lifted her into his arms.

He carried her to the chair by the desk and said, “Stand on the chair.”

She moved her feet down and steadied herself.

“Don’t you dare get off that chair,” he ordered.

She nodded and said, “What about you? You are barefoot!”

Ignoring her words, he walked to the bed and pulled the covers back completely. A black snake was coiled near the edge of the bed and, to his horror; he saw another snake under one of the pillows. Looking down at the ground, he walked cautiously to the door and rang the servant bell cursing to himself that it would be Dot, not Simon, who would come to Lily’s room. He would normally shout for Simon, but he would not risk waking the other guests nor his sister and the baby.

As expected, Dot came to the room and was shocked to find him at the door.

He said, “Dot, get Simon and Peter here straightaway. Tell Peter to bring an empty flour sack and Simon must bring my boots. Do not alert anyone else.”

She nodded and ran away. Duncan looked down at the floor and confirmed the two snakes were still in the bed. If he had not come in the room when he did, Lily would likely be dead. He looked at her and thought she was thinking that very same thing.

Tearfully, she said, “Duncan?”

He nodded at her in understanding and wished he could comfort her. Turning to his left, he saw her robe and retrieved it. Tossing it to her, he said, “Lily, I know. Please stay there. Simon and Peter will be here soon.”

Duncan went back to the door just as Simon came scurrying forward. He was always amazed by how fast the older man moved.

Simon handed Duncan his boots. “My lord, what do you need?”

“A snake handler.”

The older man paled at Duncan’s words and said, “Snake? Please say you are jesting.”

Simon leaned into the room and Duncan pushed him back. “Snakes. Two of them.”

Just then, Peter came rushing forward carrying an empty canvas bag of flour.

Duncan leaned against the door and put on his boots before he took the canvas bag and said, “Simon, go check my room and be sure I do not have any surprises, but be careful! Peter wrap your right hand in cloth as best you can, but leave your fingers able to move.”

Duncan took one side of the bag and hooked it over the edge of the drawer on the bedside table. Looking at Peter he said, “Hold this side with your protected hand. I am going to put the snakes in this bag.”

Peter looked terrified, but complied. Duncan walked cautiously over to the fireplace and took the iron poker. Moving to the bed, he placed it under the coiled snake at the side of the bed and carried it quickly to the bag. “Peter, do not move.”

The snake fell into the bag. Both he and Peter exhaled in relief.

Peter was about to move, but Duncan ordered, “Keep a hold of the bag. There is another snake.”

Peter’s eyes widened as Duncan went towards the pillows.

Lily said, “I think it moved.”

Duncan pushed at the pillows, but the snake was no longer on the bed. He found it slithering across the floor towards Lily’s chair. He followed it trying to figure out how to capture or kill it, when the door to the room opened and Andrew entered carrying a shovel. Without hesitation, Andrew slammed the edge of the shovel on the snake, slicing it in two.

Lily cried out and gripped the chair tightly.

Andrew said, “Dot came to wake us. She also brought the shovel because she thought there was a mouse in Lily’s room.” He shook his head. “A snake?”

Duncan walked over to Peter who appeared frozen in place. Duncan lifted the bag carefully and closed the top of it.

The bottom of the bag moved as if on cue when Duncan replied, “Two snakes.”

The men exchanged glances before Andrew looked at Lily. “Are you all right?”

She looked terrified, her face pale, but she nodded in response.

Simon entered and said, “My lord your room is fine.”

“Good.” He looked at the group and said, “I am taking Lady Montgomery to my room. Then, Simon, you and Dot will need to inform the guests. I do not think there are any other snakes about, but I must make certain. Andrew, please start asking the staff and anyone you see what they know. I am looking at the only three people
besides Lady Montgomery and myself that know there were two snakes in her bed. Dot arrived first, but she is not aware of the snakes. It should remain that way. If anyone else has that information, I will assume they are the culprit and will have to answer for their deed. Am I understood?”

Everyone murmured their agreement and began to leave the room.

Andrew stepped closer to Duncan and whispered, “It was a close call wasn’t it?”

Duncan lowered his voice and replied, “Too close.”

Andrew continued, “Someone did this during the party. There is good chance someone saw something.”

“I am hoping for that, but so far this person has been very clever. I am not counting on finding him, but I am just glad no harm was done.”

Duncan carried the bag to the fire. A hiss sounded as the bag went up on flames. “We have a dead snake to show the authorities. I thought of keeping the other alive, but I cannot risk it being in this house.”

“Understood. I will meet up with you soon,” Andrew replied.

Andrew left the room and Duncan turned towards Lily who started to step down from the chair. “Lily, no!”

He lifted her into his arms and said, “There may be another snake in here somewhere.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled against him. His heart constricted with the intimate gesture.

Her voice cracked as she whispered, “Thank you. If you had not come in the room when you did.”

He held her tightly and carried her to his room. He put her down on the bed, but she did not release her hold.

Gently, he pulled her hands away from his neck and said, “Lily, you are fine now. Try and get some rest. You will have privacy. I am going to lock the door and there is only one key to this room, which I have. No one can get in this room without me. Understand?”

He turned to leave, but she reached out for his hand. “Duncan, so much has happened. I just -”

He kissed her hand, interrupting her to say, “Lily, I am just happy you are all right. Please, try and rest.”

She nodded and released his hand. Giving her a slight smile, he left the room and locked the door.

ILY HEARD THE
key turn and knew the door was locked. Despite Simon’s earlier words, she got off the bed and checked the entire room. Nothing moved or looked like it would move. She put another log on the fire and then went back to the bed. She began to shake. If Duncan had not come into her room, she would have been bitten by the snakes and would have likely died in her bed.

Taking deep breaths, she tried to calm herself with the fact that Duncan had come to her rescue. He had obviously reconsidered what happened between them since he came in her room without even knocking. Still, she had never been more embarrassed in giving herself to him and then being rejected, but when he entered her room, the passion in his eyes had been unmistakable. She knew at that moment he still felt something for her, but then he had paled completely. Remembering the look of shock on his face came back full force. She knew
something terrifying was behind her. Snakes. Someone put snakes in her bed. Unconsciously, she pulled her legs up, hugging her knees and tried to focus on anything other than her fear.

Lily’s eyes flickered open as sunlight was streaming into the room. Last night she had forgotten to close the drapes and she shielded her face from the bright light. Sitting up she gasped as she saw a bath, along with a tray of food, and fresh clothes had been set out for her. How had she not heard a thing?

Getting into the warm bath water, her concerns left her for the moment. She sat in the water until it cooled and then dried off near the fire. After she ate and dressed, she tried to open the door. It was still locked. She rang the servant bell and heard Dot’s voice on the other side of the door. “Lady Montgomery, I hope all is well. The earl has left the house and I do not have the key. Are you all right?”

“Yes. I just wanted to leave, that is all. Thank you. When you see Lord Cavanaugh, please tell him I would like to leave the room.”

“Of course, my lady.”

The sun was setting, but it did not provide the tranquility it usually did. A scraping sound directed her attention to the door. A tray of sliced meat and cheese was slide under the door. Apparently, Duncan had not returned and she would spend another night locked in his room.

The next morning, a bath and food had been left for her. She began to check all parts of the room for secret
passages. How were the servants getting into the room while she slept? After another search of the room, she walked to a small bookshelf and chose a book to read. Dusk had fallen and Lily rang the servant’s bell again. Finally, there was a knock on the door. Lily rushed to the door to see Simon enter with another tray of food, but he was backing out and closing the door!

Banging on the door she shouted, “Simon, let me out of here!”

“I am sorry, my lady. Lord Cavanaugh is downstairs, but he insists you stay in the room one more night.”

“Tell him I am not his prisoner! This is absurd!”