The Charleston Chase (Phantom Knights Book 2) by Amalie Vantana Page B
Authors: Amalie Vantana
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leaned
forward until my arms were resting on my knees.
Once I heard the front door close behind the others
I said, “Why did Guinevere go to Boston, Martha?”
Martha’s face became serious, her eyes pools of
untold knowledge. Looking at her that close I was surprised to
realize that she was not as old as I suspected. She was probably in
her early thirties.
“She did not go to Boston, but to Baltimore and if
you cannot guess why you are not as knowing as I credit you
for.”
Leaning back slowly, I did know
why. It came upon me all of a sudden, like a black room with
unknown depth had been illuminated. Tingling started in my hands,
and I glanced down to see that I was clenching them tight.
Releasing them, I said, “She went to find John.”
Martha smiled smugly, “A right knowing one is what
you are, Miss Martin, and I pity any who tries to best you, as I
have told my mistress often enough.”
Rising, I said, “Thank you, Martha, and do be sure
to send word if you are so bothered again. You may be sure of the
Phantoms coming to your aid.”
She smiled and waved as I left the room and then the
house.
It was in a state of abstraction
that I walked with the others back toward home. Guinevere had gone
to find Jack. For the first five blocks I found it intriguing, but
then I started questioning the truth. Martha worked for Guinevere,
why would she so willingly tell me? The truth was; she would
not. Going to find Jack indeed.
Martha had spoken the truth about one thing though;
I was a right knowing one, and Martha knew that when she uttered
the words. She expected me to see through her deception. But why?
What was Guinevere about and what did it have to do with Sam?
“Raven? Have you heard a word I’ve been saying?”
Charlotte demanded, and I pulled my thoughts back to the
moment.
“Forgive me, Juno. What was it you were saying?”
“Why did you allow that man to escape?”
“He was unnecessary to our mission.” She appeared
surprised, so I explained. “If you want to be successful in this
life you must expand your mind in every situation. Determine all
possible outcomes, weigh in all factors. That man would never have
surrendered. He would have killed Martha first and possibly harmed
one of you.”
“So you lied,” Rose said.
“I prevaricated about the truth. Guinevere did go to
Boston; she did leave Martha behind.”
“How did you know he would believe your sham?” Betsy
asked.
“The way to prevaricate successfully, or lie,” I
said, smiling wryly at Rose, “is to stare into your opponent’s
eyes, and speak with a firm voice. Never be the first to look
away.”
Rose laughed and shook her head. “You do frighten me
at times, Raven.”
“Speaking of frightening, what was the answer to
your death riddle, Sphinx?”
She grinned. “Have you never heard the term, two
sisters as different as...”
“Day and night,” I said with dawning
understanding.
“Precisely.”
Chapter 9
Bess
19 March 1817
Charleston
S eated in
the parlor, I was composing a letter to Edith Harvey, my dearest
friend in Philadelphia, when a knock fell upon the front door. When
it was opened, Levi came in.
“You are
late!” Charlotte cast him an angry look.
“I am early, your clock is late.” Levi grinned,
looking both young and mischievous. “I do believe this belongs to
you, Bess.”
An elegant woman stepped around Levi and into the
parlor. Her blue traveling gown was rumpled, and her hat sat at a
jaunty angle over black hair. Blue eyes shimmered with falling
tears.
Tears sprang to my own eyes as surprise hammered me
in the chest. “Mother!”
Dropping my quill on the desk, I rose and rushed
toward her. She met me in the middle of the room; the brim of her
hat bumping against my forehead before her arms encircled me in an
embrace that threatened my ability to breathe.
“How do you come to be here?”
She gripped my arms, pushing me back so she could
look me over.
“Is Jack with
forward until my arms were resting on my knees.
Once I heard the front door close behind the others
I said, “Why did Guinevere go to Boston, Martha?”
Martha’s face became serious, her eyes pools of
untold knowledge. Looking at her that close I was surprised to
realize that she was not as old as I suspected. She was probably in
her early thirties.
“She did not go to Boston, but to Baltimore and if
you cannot guess why you are not as knowing as I credit you
for.”
Leaning back slowly, I did know
why. It came upon me all of a sudden, like a black room with
unknown depth had been illuminated. Tingling started in my hands,
and I glanced down to see that I was clenching them tight.
Releasing them, I said, “She went to find John.”
Martha smiled smugly, “A right knowing one is what
you are, Miss Martin, and I pity any who tries to best you, as I
have told my mistress often enough.”
Rising, I said, “Thank you, Martha, and do be sure
to send word if you are so bothered again. You may be sure of the
Phantoms coming to your aid.”
She smiled and waved as I left the room and then the
house.
It was in a state of abstraction
that I walked with the others back toward home. Guinevere had gone
to find Jack. For the first five blocks I found it intriguing, but
then I started questioning the truth. Martha worked for Guinevere,
why would she so willingly tell me? The truth was; she would
not. Going to find Jack indeed.
Martha had spoken the truth about one thing though;
I was a right knowing one, and Martha knew that when she uttered
the words. She expected me to see through her deception. But why?
What was Guinevere about and what did it have to do with Sam?
“Raven? Have you heard a word I’ve been saying?”
Charlotte demanded, and I pulled my thoughts back to the
moment.
“Forgive me, Juno. What was it you were saying?”
“Why did you allow that man to escape?”
“He was unnecessary to our mission.” She appeared
surprised, so I explained. “If you want to be successful in this
life you must expand your mind in every situation. Determine all
possible outcomes, weigh in all factors. That man would never have
surrendered. He would have killed Martha first and possibly harmed
one of you.”
“So you lied,” Rose said.
“I prevaricated about the truth. Guinevere did go to
Boston; she did leave Martha behind.”
“How did you know he would believe your sham?” Betsy
asked.
“The way to prevaricate successfully, or lie,” I
said, smiling wryly at Rose, “is to stare into your opponent’s
eyes, and speak with a firm voice. Never be the first to look
away.”
Rose laughed and shook her head. “You do frighten me
at times, Raven.”
“Speaking of frightening, what was the answer to
your death riddle, Sphinx?”
She grinned. “Have you never heard the term, two
sisters as different as...”
“Day and night,” I said with dawning
understanding.
“Precisely.”
Chapter 9
Bess
19 March 1817
Charleston
S eated in
the parlor, I was composing a letter to Edith Harvey, my dearest
friend in Philadelphia, when a knock fell upon the front door. When
it was opened, Levi came in.
“You are
late!” Charlotte cast him an angry look.
“I am early, your clock is late.” Levi grinned,
looking both young and mischievous. “I do believe this belongs to
you, Bess.”
An elegant woman stepped around Levi and into the
parlor. Her blue traveling gown was rumpled, and her hat sat at a
jaunty angle over black hair. Blue eyes shimmered with falling
tears.
Tears sprang to my own eyes as surprise hammered me
in the chest. “Mother!”
Dropping my quill on the desk, I rose and rushed
toward her. She met me in the middle of the room; the brim of her
hat bumping against my forehead before her arms encircled me in an
embrace that threatened my ability to breathe.
“How do you come to be here?”
She gripped my arms, pushing me back so she could
look me over.
“Is Jack with
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