ear Mister Wilkins,

As I write this to you, I must confess that I am quite disturbed. I seem to have a leak within my house, which is causing me no undue amount of stress. As you are the closest I have to a male relative, I beg for your assistance in this matter.

Already, I have lost one important document to the leakage. I would appreciate your expertise as you have, by your very gender, more contacts than I to see this problem corrected. Please, send word or a name, so I can fix my home before I lose another precious item to water damage.

Yours,
Miss Candice Carrington

Candi sat back and reviewed the letter. She was confident that Mister Wilkins would understand the “leak” in her “house” was actually a leak in the Scribes’ house. In addition, the note mentioned losing a document due to the leak and that it needed stopping before more was lost. She anticipated a name would be forthcoming in the next day or two. Then, she could take care of the leak herself.

As she sat sanding her missive, a dull thump and scrape came from above stairs. They used the area for storage and Candi doubted London contained a rodent large enough to make such a racket.

Placing the note in a secret compartment, contained in the bottom of her work desk, Candi straightened. She rose and reached behind her for the taijijian displayed on the wall behind her head. Most thought the sword no more than decoration. The double-edged jian, with its thin blade was antique, yet well kept. In the hands of a Taijiquan practitioner such as Candi, it was deadly.

“Cho,” she called softly as she opened her front office door, “there is some disturbance upstairs. I shall deal with it as quietly as is possible.” The Chinaman nodded and nearly bowed. Old habits died hard, but he was trying to become more westernized. Behind him, Candi saw that the young gentleman was still in the store, browsing a selection of rubies.

Gripping her taijijian, Candi did her best to hide it within the folds of her skirt. She walked out of the office and around a small hall to the back stairs. She did not believe the young man saw her as he seemed intent on the gems. Staircases, both outside and within, connected to the room above.

She climbed the stairs on silent feet, careful not to step on the spots that would creak. Breathing slow so that she could hear, Candi placed her ear to the rough surface of the door. Muffled voices drifted to her and she opened herself to feel who was within. Shock filled her as she felt her Aunt Mirabelle’s presence. Confused as to why her aunt would use her storage room for nefarious purposes, Candi braced herself to open the door.

“I’ll ask one more time, nicely.” It was her aunt’s voice, muffled from the door, but still recognizable. “The next time you will suffer. Who are you and what is your reason for being here.” This time the voice was so cold and frightening that Candi barely recognized it as her aunt’s. The tone had only been used within her hearing a handful of times. She knew her aunt meant what she said.

“Is it safe to come in?” Candi called from outside. She did not wish to ruin her aunt’s interrogation. It was best not to cross Mirabelle when she was in this mood.

After a short pause, a grunt and then some shuffling, her aunt called out, “Please do join us, Candice.” Her tone was once more polite and refined. It was so unlike what she had heard before that Candi almost smiled as she turned the knob.

Entering the room, she took it all in with a mere glance. Her aunt was standing behind and off to the left of a gentleman who was tied down to an old chair. They’d placed it up here, waiting for it to be reupholstered a month ago. She knew from experience, the padding was no longer good and the furniture piece was highly uncomfortable. Standing in front of the gentleman and to the right was Mr. Harrison. Behind the right shoulder of the unknown man was Mr. Darcy.

“Three against one? Seems a bit unfair. What did he do to make you so angry?” she asked flippantly. Really, it disturbed her that Aunt Mirabelle thought to bring a stranger to her business in order to interrogate him. All without her previous knowledge?

“Well, this gentleman claims to know you. As we all know that is untrue, I thought it best to get to the bottom of his claim immediately. I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, dear.”

Candi studied the mystery man more closely. He had dark hair, slightly longer than was considered fashionable. Intelligent eyes were at odds with his sheepish smile. Here was an enigma, Candi thought.

“Well, I can say that I do not recall our meeting, Mister?” the last trailed off as a question.

“Lord, actually. Lord Arystone. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Carrington.”

“I thought you said we had already met?”

“In my dreams, perhaps.” The roguish reply came out in a deep rumble. Candi succeeded in not shivering at the sound. Candi allowed her smile to show. He had some nerve. However, whether it was from courage or idiocy had yet to be seen. It did not escape her attention that he had yet to answer the question that was plaguing Candi as well as her aunt.

“Lord Arystone you say?” Aunt Mirabelle interrupted.

A wary look passed behind his eyes which quickly became shuttered. The sheepish smile had yet to slip. “Yes, that is me.”

“We’ve been trying to talk to you for years. The Fates must be smiling upon The Crucible indeed!” Aunt Mirabelle said with a smile that sent shivers up Candi’s spine. It went far beyond a cat which had cornered a hapless mouse. She felt sorry for the gentleman, but did not know how to extricate him from the situation. Too, she had no idea whether she wanted to perform such a duty. He was far from forthcoming.

“Yes, I do recall an invitation or two I was sorry to decline.” he said.

“Lucky for you, we are finally able to have that conversation.” The smile her aunt gave him sent a whole different set of shivers up Candi’s spine.

“Aunt,” she tried to say more, but was cut short.

“This is none of your business, Candice. It’s something for the Crusaders to deal with.”

Candi shot the gentleman a sympathetic look. She couldn’t help him at the moment, but perhaps she could do something in a few days to aid him. Why she was willing to stick her neck out for him, she could not fathom.

“Very well, aunt. I have a letter I need to post. Will I see you for dinner?”

“I don’t think I will be able to make it tonight, dear. Work, you know?” she said with a laugh.

Candi's answering smile didn't quite reach her eyes. She exited the same way she came into the room. The letter she had written did take precedence. Perhaps after it was safely delivered, she could see about informing Lord Arystone’s family that he would be unavailable for the next week or so. Crusaders were notorious for not thinking too far beyond their immediate goals.