AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Felicity's butler enters. "Is everything all right, Miss Worthington?"
"Yes, Shames. Thank you."
He leaves, but he does not take our anger with him. It hangs about the room in wounded looks and a hostile quiet. My head aches. "Do you think it's true? Do you think Circe really has taken hold of Nell Hawkins?" Ann asks through her tears.
"Yes," I say. "So you see it is imperative that we go into the realms again tonight. Once we find the Temple and bind the magic, you may use it to make them think you are Queen Victoria herself if you wish. But first we find the Temple." And Circe.
Felicity exhales loudly. "Thank you, Gemma. I can keep Mother occupied and away from Lady Denby's clutches until tomorrow. Ann, you are about to become very ill."
"I am?"
"No one would dare to speak badly of an invalid." she explains."Now, faint."
"But what if they can tell that I am pretending?"
"Ann, it is not terribly difficult to faint. Women do it all the time. You simply fall to the floor, close your eyes, and don't speak."
"Yes," Ann says. "Should I fall to the floor or here on the couch?"
"Oh, honestly, it doesn't matter! Just faint!"
Ann nods. With the finesse of a born actress she rolls her eyes back and crumples to the floor dramatically, like a souffle falling in on itself. It is the most graceful fainting spell I've ever seen. It is a pity it has been wasted on us.
"Tonight," Felicity says, taking my hands.
"Tonight," I agree.
We push through the parlor doors as frantically as we can. "Shames! Shames!" Felicity calls.
The tall, icy butler appears."Yes, miss?"
"Shames, Miss Bradshaw has fainted! I fear she has taken ill. We must call for Mother at once."
Even the placid Shames is disturbed."Yes, miss. Right away." As the house erupts into an excited frenzy--for everyone, it seems, loves the potential for disaster, a break in the numbing routine--I take my leave. I must admit that I find a savage delight in rehearsing what I will say to Grandmama about this visit. ". . . and then Miss Bradshaw's kind, gentle spirit was so injured by these false accusations that she took HI and fainted, ..."
Yes, that will be a most satisfactory moment. If only I weren't so very tired.
Dusk has settled over London along with a bit of sleet. It's a raw evening, and I shall be glad to sit at my fire. I wonder what has happened to Miss Moore, if there is anything I can do to save her from her terrible fate. I wonder if I shall ever see Kartik again or if he has been absorbed into the shadows of the Rakshana.
Jackson's waiting patiently at the curb. That can only mean they've discovered me gone and come to the logical conclusion. I'm in for as much trouble as Felicity and Ann now. Most likely, Tom sits inside the carriage fuming.
"Evenin', miss. Your grandmother was very worried about you," Jackson says, opening the carriage door for me. He takes my hand to help me up and in.
"Thank you, Jack--" I freeze. It is not Tom or Grandmama waiting for me. Sitting in my carriage is Miss McCleethy. She is joined by Fowlson from the Rakshana.
"Get in, if you please, miss," Jackson says, exerting pressure on my back.
I open my mouth to scream. His hand presses hard against me, trapping the sound in my throat. "Oi know where your family lives. Fink on your poor dad, lyin' in the sickroom, all vulnerable like."
"Jackson," Miss McCleethy calls."That will be enough."
Reluctantly, Jackson lets go. He closes the door behind me and swings up behind the horses. The lights of Mayfair fade away as the carriage lurches into the traffic heading for Bond Street.
"Where are you taking me?" I demand.
"Somewhere we can talk," Miss McCleethy says. "You are a very slippery girl to catch, Miss Doyle." "What have you done to Nell Hawkins?" I ask.
"Miss Hawkins is the least of my concerns at the moment. We must discuss the Temple."
