The Pursuit by Lori Wick Page A

Edward making his way toward the gangplank and Denley into the cabin, where he found Niki sitting on a bunk studying a piece of paper. She didn’t even look up when he entered.
    “Everything is ready.”
    Niki looked up, her face thoughtful.
    “Are you all right?”
    “Yes.” She gave herself a mental shake, folded the paper, and placed it in her pocket. “What do I carry?”
    Denley had lightweight cases for her, and, though it was against his grain, led the way from the cabin, appearing to all as the older, superior servant. Niki knew her part by heart, and no one gave them a single glance as they left the ship, walked toward town, and rented the first available coach.
    “Did Mr Steele say where he was headed?” Niki asked when they were underway.
    “Not to me he didn’t.”
    “How far is this driver willing to take us?”
    “London.”
    Niki sat doing sums in her head, figuring out when they would get in and whether they would continue on from London that night or wait until morning. She was anxious—there was no getting around it—but she didn’t want to arrive exhausted.

    Kendal-in-the-Forest
    Niki and Denley arrived at the home of Edgar and Juliana Lawton in the late evening. Niki had not wanted to stop over in Bath but had forced herself to do so, so as not to arrive at Kendal in the middle of the night.
    The forest was dense and heavy around them, but as soon as they drew near the house, light could be seen. The coachman, familiar with the area, made his way competently up the lane and to the front door. Niki was emerging from the coach’s interior when the front door opened. She slipped inside, nodded to the butler, and immediately made for the stairs. The rustle of fabric sounded behind her, but she didn’t look around.
    At the top of the stairs she turned right and went to the bedroom she’d claimed as her own. Once inside she turned to see a longtime friend enter, lantern in hand.
    “Heavens, Niki!” Juliana wasted no time. “Why in the world are you dressed as a servant?”
    “It’s a long story,” she said as they embraced. “Help me with my hair, will you, Jules?”
    “You’re late, you know,” Juliana scolded. “Gar and I have been worried for days.”
    “I’ve been a little worried myself.”
    “Which dress?” Juliana asked, getting down to business.
    “Anything will do.”
    Ten minutes later, feeling thrown together and not caring, Niki made her way down the stairs. She stopped at the door of the large drawing room where Gar met her. She sighed over his tender embrace.
    “Hello, Gar.”
    “Hello, Niki. Are you all right?”
    “I am now. How are they?”
    “Wonderful, as always.”
    Niki took a huge breath, suddenly overcome with emotion.
    “Don’t fall apart now,” he encouraged.
    Niki nodded. “I’ll go in.”
    Edgar opened the door and let her enter alone. As the door shut, she stood still for a moment and only looked at the little boys inside. Still in the shadows, they did not notice her entrance. Knowing her voice was going to shake, she called to them.
    “Christopher. Richard.”
    Hearing her sent them into immediate motion. The blocks on the floor forgotten, they sprang up.
    “Mama!”
    Niki began to run, meeting her five-year-old twin boys in the middle of the room and going to her knees to hold them. She tried to touch every part of them, kiss them, and talk to them all at one time, and all while crying.
    They tried to talk as well, and after a few moments of damp mayhem, Niki fell silent.
    “We missed you,” Christopher admitted, his eyes on her face.
    “And it’s almost Christmas!” Richard put in.
    “I made it just in time, didn’t I? And I missed you too.”
    “Where did you go this time?” Christopher asked.
    “You’ll never guess,” Niki teased them.
    “France?”
    “No.”
    “Italy?”
    “No, much farther.”
    The boys looked at each other, and Niki took pity on them.
    “I was in Africa.”
    Their little mouths rounded with