Mockingbird's Call (14 page)

Fifteen

The new maid assigned to her in Tabitha's absence smoothed Amelia's cloak over her shoulders. While they were waiting for the carriage to be brought around, Uncle Francis emerged from his study to discover where she was going. She mustered a bright smile and told him she had promised to make a morning visit to the Downing household. Another lie. Her conscience hammered her all the way to Mrs. Downing's home, but Amelia didn't know what else she could have done. Everything was in such a mess.

Mrs. Downing's butler, a grizzled black man with a pronounced limp, announced her. Amelia was relieved no other ladies were visiting this morning. Faye was sitting next to the fire, a basket of mending beside her. Mrs. Downing, seated on a horsehair sofa, wore a pale pink morning dress that was covered with bows and laces. Her outfit reminded Amelia of a profusion of azalea blossoms. She dropped a curtsy and nodded to Faye.

“Come in, dear, and tell us why you are about so early this morning.” Mrs. Downing waved her to a nearby chair.

“A train accident occurred last night.”

“I see.” Mrs. Downing shook her head in warning before turning to her daughter. “Faye, would you go upstairs and fetch my wrap? I am feeling a little chilled.”

Her daughter put down her mending. “Yes, Ma.”

“And check in the kitchen for some of those tarts I like.”

As soon as Faye was gone, her mother turned to Amelia. “Tell me what happened.”

Amelia recounted the story Luke had told her and ended with Jared's arrest. “I cannot bear the thought of his spending even one night in jail for something he did not do.”

Mrs. Downing stood up and walked to the fireplace. “I'm afraid it cannot be helped.”

“Yes, it can. I can tell them who the real Mockingbird is. I am tired of all the subterfuge anyway, and I've been having serious doubts about whether I'm following the Lord's will in all of this.”

The older lady sat down again, an intense look on her face. “Think of all the poor souls who may lose their freedom if you step forward now. We have only recently begun to see success with our work, and a lot of it is due to your efforts. You cannot quit now.”

“The railroad will continue without me. That is its strength. The loss of a single agent may cause some hardship, but it will not be shut down.”

“Consider this, Amelia. Your friend, Jared, is a known abolitionist, right?”

Amelia nodded.

“Then he probably doesn't mind spending some time in jail. He might even be glad to be imprisoned if it means the real Mockingbird can continue working.”

The argument was tempting. It would be so easy to simply remain silent. “But I cannot continue to lie. To tell you the truth, I am almost looking forward to confessing.”

Mrs. Downing tapped her chin with one finger as she considered Amelia's words. “At least wait a few days until things quiet down. Give me time to find someone to take your place.”

Faye reentered the parlor at that point and their conversation halted. As the three women discussed the latest news, part of Amelia's mind considered her hostess's request.

She took her leave of Mrs. Downing and Faye and climbed back into the carriage, having decided to honor Mrs. Downing's request. Halfway home, however, she changed her mind. She could not remain quiet. Not even one more minute. Jared could not suffer for her transgressions.

❧

Jared looked around the empty room in West College that had once housed his fellow students. How carefree those days seemed. In the two months since the closing of the school, everything had changed. He supposed he should have returned to his parents' home in Nashville, but he could not bring himself to regret the time he'd spent here, even though it had led to his imprisonment. A temporary condition—or so he hoped. Once they found the real Mockingbird, Luke Talbot would have to release him.

He briefly considered offering to help Talbot in his search for the Mockingbird, but then he dismissed the idea. He might not agree with the lies and deceit involved in keeping the Underground Railroad in operation, but he could not fault the men and women who used it to escape the tyranny of slavery.

The kernel of an idea formed in his mind for a new article. He could write about the railroad. But what new slant could he give it?

As he was considering possibilities, one of the guards came and unlocked the door to his room. “Captain Talbot wants to see you.”

Jared searched the soldier's face for any hint of what was going on. He looked to be in his midtwenties. His uniform was well worn and bore the evidence of several patches, butit was worn with evident pride. He gestured toward the hallway with his chin.

Jared nodded and preceded him. The hallway was filled with the moans and groans of the wounded soldiers who were housed here. Jared's heart hurt for them. So much pain.

They climbed the steps to what used to be the president's office and entered the room. He was not surprised to see Captain Talbot sitting behind the president's desk, but the other occupant in the room made him halt in his tracks. What was Amelia doing here?

“Sit down, Stuart.”

Jared sat down in the wooden chair facing the desk. He glanced at Amelia out of the corner of his eye. Had she been crying? She looked pale and her eyes were red.

“I have a couple of questions for you.”

“What is she doing here?”

“Never mind that.”

Jared bit his lip to keep from responding. It wouldn't do his situation much good to antagonize the captain.

“You have some loyal friends in Knoxville who insist you are a man of your word. Is that true?”

Jared nodded slowly. “My parents raised me to believe that honesty is of paramount importance.”

Luke leaned forward and stared directly into his eyes. “Then I ask you to give me your word that you are not working with the Underground Railroad and that you are not the agent called the Mockingbird.”

Knowing he had nothing to be ashamed of, Jared held the captain's gaze as he answered. “I am not, nor have I ever been, involved with the Underground Railroad. Nor have I ever been known by the name Mockingbird. The very idea is ludicrous. I use words, not lies, to fight injustice.”

“You see?” Amelia spoke for the first time. “It's as I've said. Jared is innocent. If you want to arrest someone, you know who it must be.”

Jared could feel his brows drawing together. What was she talking about? Who should be arrested?

Luke's chair scraped the floor as he pushed himself away from the desk. “I suppose you're right.”

Amelia stood as he approached her and held her hands out. A roaring sound enveloped Jared as he watched Luke fasten handcuffs around her dainty wrists.

“I'm so sorry, Jared.”

Their gazes met, and the truth slammed into him. Amelia Montgomery was the Mockingbird.

Jared was speechless. How had she done it? And why? Why hadn't she come to him? She must have lied over and over again, deceiving all of them. He slumped back in his chair.

“You'll let him leave?” Her voice was drained of emotion. Her whole attitude was one of resignation.

Jared wanted to be angry with her, but it was impossible. How could he maintain anger when she was sacrificing her freedom for his own?

“Yes, but that is the least thing that should concern you now.” Luke's face was frozen as if to hide his pain.

Jared felt an unwelcome empathy with the man. Amelia had betrayed both of them.

Luke turned away from her and approached Jared's chair, a master key in his hands. He unlocked the shackles and waited until Jared stood up. “You may have escaped justice this time, but you'd better watch your step.”

Jared was glad to be exonerated, but at what price? His gaze lingered on Amelia's bowed head and slumping shoulders. “What will happen to her?”

“That will be up to the general.” Luke's harsh tone took Jared's attention from Amelia.

“You can stop her from being. . .executed, can't you?” He stole another glance at her and saw a tear drip from her chin and land on her shackled hands. His heart broke. Jared took a step toward her, wanting to comfort her.

Luke stepped between them. “Stay away from her. You've done enough harm.”

“Don't blame Jared.” Amelia's voice was thick with her tears. “What I did has nothing to do with him.”

“You have to protect her.” Jared adjusted his spectacles so he could see Luke more clearly. “She is your betrothed.”

“That's right. Her fate is in my hands.” Luke's mouth twisted into a sneer. “Not yours. You should escape while you have the chance, before I change my mind and have you arrested for fomenting rebellion in the Montgomery household. If you hadn't filled Amelia's head with your unrealistic notions, she probably wouldn't be here right now.”

“It's not his fault.” Amelia raised her head, and Jared saw the streaks her tears had left on her cheeks.

“Is that so?” Luke's dark gaze raked both of them. “You're not the same girl I grew up with. And don't think I haven't seen the closeness between the two of you.”

Jared wanted to dispute the angry man, but he couldn't come up with any words. He watched as Amelia was taken away by the same soldier who'd escorted him.

Heartbroken, he shook his head at Luke and stumbled from the room. He made his way across the campus by instinct. A part of his brain noticed the differences since the soldiers had taken over the school. Long, deep trenches defaced the hillside sloping to the river, and military tents had sprung up like mushrooms after a spring rain. Soldiers milled about,but no one seemed to pay much attention to him.

Where should he go? What should he do? Jared had no idea. He buried his hands in his pockets and wandered the streets of Knoxville, feeling like a rudderless boat tossed by high waves.

How could he have missed the evidence? He was supposed to be a reporter. He was supposed to be aware of what was happening around him. How had Amelia managed to hide her double life from him?

Jared thought back over the past months. Had he been blinded by her beauty? The answer was a resounding yes. He felt like he'd been an idiot. He ought to feel betrayed, but he could not summon up that emotion. Not when her goal had been freedom for slaves. And when it really counted, she had dropped her subterfuge and come forward to free him. What would happen to her now? A shudder passed through him, but it was not caused by the cold winter air.

He could not leave Amelia imprisoned, but what could he do? He considered going to her aunt and uncle, but that would mean he'd have to confess what their niece had done. He didn't want to do that. They should get that information directly from Amelia.

If this had happened a few days earlier, he could have enlisted Benjamin's help. He thought of the scrapes his friend had dragged him through. But those days were behind them. Benjamin was a soldier, and his superiors would not look kindly on his helping a confessed traitor.

If only his father were here. Adam Stuart would know exactly how to handle the situation without resorting to illegal schemes or outlandish ploys. Thinking of his father made Jared realize what must be done. He needed to secure Amelia's freedom and leave Knoxville. It was time to go home. In Nashville, he would find wiser counsel. Perhaps he could convince Luke to release Amelia into his custody or at least talk Luke into taking her back to her parents' remote plantation home where she would be kept far from involvement with runaway slaves and the Underground Railroad.

Unaware of his surroundings, Jared stumbled on a rock. He would have fallen but caught hold of the rough brick exterior of an empty building. He looked around and recognized the area. He was only a block from Mr. Stone's home—the current office of the
Tennessee Tribune
. He thanked God for leading him to the very place he needed to be. Telling Mr. Stone about his plans to leave was the first step in breaking ties with Knoxville, and his employer would have to find another reporter to write articles for
The Voice of Reason
.

With a new sense of purpose, Jared strode to the house and knocked on Mr. Stone's door. He was ushered into the living room, where he stood in front of the welcome warmth of a roaring fire. He spread his hands out and sighed slightly as they began to thaw out. The door opened, and he turned to greet the man who had hired him.

A smile creased Mr. Stone's face as he entered the room. “This is an unexpected pleasure, Mr. Stuart. Have you come on business? I have already received your latest piece. It's excellent as always. Your talent grows stronger with each article you produce.”

Pleasure warmed Jared's heart. On a day so filled with difficulties, the complimentary words were a balm to his soul. “Thank you, sir. You don't know how much it means to me to hear you say so.”

“Do you have another article for me? Or is there some other reason you dropped by?”

Jared pushed his spectacles up. “I don't have a new article. In fact, that's sort of the reason I'm here.” He stopped and blew out a puff of air. “I mean to say I've decided to go back home, so I won't be able to continue writing for
The Voice of Reason
.”

“I see.” Mr. Stone sat down on a convenient chair. He stared at the dancing flames in the fireplace before turning back to face Jared. “I cannot say I am surprised. I have been expecting something of the sort since your school term ended. Young men must always throw their energy into fighting.”

“I don't know about that.” Jared walked to the window and looked out. The pale winter sun, almost completely obscured by lowering clouds, had barely passed its zenith. What was Amelia doing right now? Was she sitting in the same room he had occupied before Luke released him? Was she frightened? Cold? His heart seemed to absorb some ofthe chill from the other side of the window. “I. . .something has come up that demands my attention.”