Steam & Sorcery (18 page)

Unfortunately, the sex spell wasn’t diminished in the gaming room, which occupied most of the other side of the house. Another fifteen or so patrons and their companions were in here, some gathered around the central roulette wheel and some playing cards at various tables. Merrick paused in the doorway to get a sense of the magick in the room. If anything, it was even stronger—as if there were a second spell augmenting the first. This room had a piano in the corner, and a woman in little more than a corset and stockings sat atop it, singing.

“Some of the women are gambling, aren’t they? Is it fun?”

Merrick gritted his teeth. The second spell was no doubt to encourage reckless wagering. “Some people think so.”

“Should we try it? Or should we do what they’re doing?” She pointed to a couple kissing on a sofa along the side of the room.

Hell, was that Gideon MacKay? Merrick pulled her back out into the hallway. “You know, love, I think we can just go home and make our own magick.” He’d come back tomorrow, during daylight hours, to investigate the place. Clearly there was real magick here, and clearly Caro was at risk, which was unacceptable. With that, he nearly dragged her out the front door, barely remembering to stop and grab their coats as they left.

A few minutes later they were back in Merrick’s carriage, and Caroline had climbed into Merrick’s lap.

“You know that there was a lust spell in that building?” He was trying to be an honorable man, though he was fighting a losing battle with his own desire—especially when her fingers undid his cravat and began to work on his shirt studs. What was it about this one woman that made him forget all his principles?

“I don’t care. I’ve wanted this for days.” She shoved her hands under his shirt, running her fingers through his sparse chest hair, and brought her lips down on his.

He was lost. Their tongues dueled as she smoothed her hands across his chest. Merrick pushed her cape off her shoulders, then slid the short puffed sleeves of her gown down her arms, baring the entire expanse of her upper body. It was short work then, to lift one breast out over the top of her corset, to pluck and roll the swollen nipple between his fingers.

Her knees straddled his thighs, and she ground down against his erection. There were far too many layers of clothing between them, but Merrick ached to feel her warm damp flesh over his. He started to slip his free hand under the hoop of her skirt, when the carriage jolted to a grinding halt, nearly catapulting Caro out of his arms and onto the floor.

“Attackers!” Debbins kicked the wall separating the inside of the coach from the driver’s box.

Instantly, Merrick set Caro down beside him on the seat. “Stay here.” Unconcerned about his state of undress, he pulled a small box from under the seat and took out a pair of revolvers. One he held in his right hand, the other he held out toward Caroline. “Do you know how to use this?”

“A little. I’ve shot one, but it’s been years.” Still she held it properly when she reached for it, so Merrick nodded.

“Use it if you need to, but try not to hit me or Debbins.” Then he moved back the curtain and looked out, taking stock. There was one black shadow on this side of the carriage, holding the horses. Pistol in one hand, unsheathed sword-stick in the other, Merrick eased open the door and slipped out into the night.

Caroline sat on the floor of the coach and tried to breathe. One moment she and Merrick had been on the verge of making love and now they were under attack. The coach rattled and shook as shouts and shots mingled with crashes and thuds. She set the pistol carefully aside to right her corset and bodice. Once she was covered, she picked it up again and moved to open the curtain on the window to the driver’s box.

There were at least three of them attacking Merrick and Debbins, who was still on the box, an empty pistol by his side, wielding his whip. As she watched, a dark figure leapt from the ground up to Debbins, clawing at him with…talons?

Vampyres!

Caroline eased open the glass and shot the creature in the head as it reared back to bite the coachman. The force of the shot flung it back off the coach. While she didn’t think that would kill the monster, at least it might slow the thing down.

“Thanks, miss.” Debbins flicked his whip at another, only to have the undead creature rip the weapon from his hand, almost pulling him from the box. Seeing the direction, Caroline braced the pistol on the window opening and shot at that monster as well, her bullet catching it in the leg. Again, she may not have killed it, but it did fall down. A moment later, Merrick ran to it and stabbed it through the heart with his sword stick. The vampyre instantly crumbled to dust.

“Good shooting, miss.”

“Here—you can see them better than I can.” She handed the revolver through the window. Debbins immediately turned and fired.

Something thudded hard against the doors of the coach, and Caroline saw the handle begin to turn. She scooted against the far wall and reached for Merrick’s large, black umbrella, with its steel-tipped ebony shaft. Wood—that was supposed to hurt the undead, wasn’t it? She held the umbrella in both hands. When the door was wrenched away, something dark and foul-smelling launched itself inside. She raised the makeshift weapon and shoved with all her strength.

“Caroline!” She heard Merrick shout, heard the slap of running feet.

With a horrid shriek of pain or anger, the vampyre impaled itself along the cloth-wrapped ebony shaft. When Caroline shoved again, it teetered in the doorway, finally losing its footing to topple to the ground. Merrick loomed above it and stabbed it again, slightly to the left of where the umbrella stuck out of its chest. This one dissolved more slowly into a malodorous puddle of rotted flesh.

“That’s the last of them.” Merrick’s chest heaved as he looked up at Debbins. “You all right?”

“Aye, sir, thanks to the lady.”

Merrick’s gaze bore into Caroline’s in the dim light of the streetlamps. “Caroline—are you hurt?”

“Not at all.” She bit her lower lip to keep it from quivering.

“Good then. If you’ll just give me a moment.” He muttered something, used a gesture, and in moments, the remains of the vampyre were gone in a puff of smoke. “There are several others to deal with.” His heels clacked on the macadam as he circled the carriage, muttering. Then he returned and swung himself back in, this time seating himself across from her. “Home with all speed, Debbins.”

“Aye, sir.” He whistled the horses into motion and Caroline closed the window between the inside of the coach and the driver’s box.

“Merrick, I’m sorry…” she began.

“I apologize…” he said at the same time.

“I wasn’t myself…”

“There was a spell…”

Finally they both stopped trying to talk and just stared at each other, both still breathing raggedly.

“You gave Debbins your gun.”

“He was in a better position to use it.”

Merrick sighed. “I don’t know whether to thank you or spank you. The vampyre he shot with that pistol would have ripped my throat out—it was two on one. But you ignored my instructions and left yourself vulnerable, which infuriates me.”

His protectiveness warmed away a little of the cold dread generated by the attack. “I did what I thought was right. I won’t apologize for that.”

“No, you wouldn’t.” A smile flitted over his face as he reached across and took her hands in his. “You handled yourself well, Caro. Though I foresee a huge increase in my umbrella budget as long as you remain in the household.”

“Thank you.” She didn’t let go of his hands, but studied his face. “Were you injured?”

“No, thanks to you and Debbins. Six vampyres attacking together—that’s a record number as far as I know. I wonder if our visit to Arcanum triggered the attack, or if it was something else.”

“We’ll have to tell your aunt, and Mr. Berry. They could be at risk as well. And even the children—they don’t go out at night, but we should still take extra precautions.” She gave a shaky laugh. “Damn, I’m still trying to come to grips with it myself. Merrick, we were almost killed.”

“Almost, but we survived. That’s the important thing. And Caro? We
will
need to discuss that other thing that almost happened tonight as well. Some of it was caused by magick, it’s true, but there’s something else between us that has nothing to do with the spell at Arcanum—something beyond a simple chemical attraction. I behaved badly. You really should slap my face.” Whatever the force that pulled them together, it was growing too strong to resist. Merrick wasn’t even certain he wanted to anymore. All he could think of was Caro in his arms.

Caroline shrugged. “No. I’m sorry I succumbed to the spell, but—I can’t say you’re wrong, either. We’ll simply have to do our best to keep our…emotions under control.”

He snorted. “I’m not precognitive, but even I can see that’s not likely to happen.”

After scrubbing the makeup off her face, Caroline allowed herself the indulgence of a long, hot, bath when she got home. Merrick had shut himself in his study to write down his notes about the club and the attack, as well as pen some messages to be delivered first thing in the morning. Neither of them had said a word, but they’d silently agreed to avoid one another, or so she assumed.

She wasn’t at all sure what to do about her attraction to Merrick. It was like nothing she’d ever felt before, so she had no frame of reference. On the one hand, she’d always prided herself on her exemplary behavior. On the other, she wasn’t likely to ever marry. As long as they were careful to avoid repercussions, there would be no permanent damage done if she indulged in an affair with her employer. Well, except to her heart, of course. But she rather suspected that was already a lost cause.

She’d just finished drying off when she heard Jamie’s screams. It wasn’t the first nightmare he’d had since the night of her arrival, but this one sounded worse—his cries were louder and higher pitched than usual. Hurriedly, she dragged her nightgown over her head and struggled into the sleeves. She grabbed her dressing gown on her way out the door, but didn’t stop to put it on.

Sally had gotten there first, and was comforting the child even as Caroline entered the room, Tommy on her heels. As usual, the children all hurried to his side. When Jamie saw Caroline beside the bed, though, he burst into tears and flung himself into her arms. She held him tightly, stroking his hair. “Shhh, darling. It’s all right. It was only a dream.”

“N-no. It w-was one of…
those
dreams. You’re alive. I can’t believe you’re alive.” He clutched her tighter and sobbed into her shoulders.

“Well, everyone else should probably head back to bed, eh?”

Caroline turned to see Merrick silhouetted in the door, shirtsleeves rolled up, coat and waistcoat absent altogether.

“Piers can come sleep in my room,” Tommy offered. “Then you can bring Jamie in later. He’ll sleep better if we’re all together, like before.”

“Thank you, Tommy.” Caroline smiled at the young man, then nodded to Piers. “You heard him—off you go. Girls, you too. Back to bed.”

As Jamie’s sobs eased, the other children slipped out, prodded by Sally who discreetly closed the door behind her and the girls. Merrick perched on the iron rail at the foot of the bed, just inches from where Caroline sat on the mattress with Jamie in her lap. When the big man awkwardly eased out a hand to pat the boy’s shoulder and utter, “There, there, lad,” Caroline’s heart crumbled completely. How had she ever thought she stood a chance of resisting him?

For now, though, Jamie was what mattered. When his wrenching sobs dissolved into hiccups and sniffles, Merrick handed her a large white handkerchief, which she used to wipe Jamie’s eyes and convinced him to blow his nose. After a few more moments and a glass of water, he was still pale and frightened, but settled enough to speak.

“Would you like to tell us about the dream, Jamie?” Caroline settled back against the wrought iron bedstead, still holding him close.

“It was the k-kind that come t-true.” He sniffled and looked from Caroline to Merrick with his blue eyes wide and still damp. “The vampyres, they k-killed you. Both of you. Then w-we were all alone again.”

“Were we in the carriage when it happened?” Merrick asked.

Jamie nodded against Caroline’s chest.

“Then it might already have happened, rather than being of the future. We were attacked tonight, but we won, Jamie. The vampyres are gone, and Miss Caro and I survived.” Merrick’s tone was as gentle as Caroline had ever heard it, though his rigid posture still gave evidence of his awkwardness about actually caring for these children.

“R-really?” The boy looked hopefully up at Caroline. “Did you have on a pink dress with flowers on it?”

“No, it was green. But it’s hard to tell color in a dream, isn’t it?” Though she
had
ordered one in a soft pink with a pattern of darker pink roses on the skirts. A chill ran down her spine.

Jamie shook his head. “No. It will happen again. And you’ll be gone.”

Caroline hugged him tightly. “I promise you, we will be very, very careful. Your dreams are warnings, aren’t they? That means if we’re cautious, we can prevent the bad things from happening—that’s what Wink told me.”

He sighed and shook his head dubiously. “Grown-ups never listen.”

“That’s what happened to your mum, right?” Caroline didn’t like to bring back bad memories, but Jamie so obviously needed to let it out. “She wouldn’t listen, and she died?”

Jamie nodded. “Said such things were talk of the Devil.” He looked up at Caroline. “I’m not bad, am I? I try to be good, but the dreams still come.”

Merrick moved closer, until he could look Jamie right in the eye. “Your dreams aren’t bad, Jamie. They’re a gift—a gift from fate, or God, if you like. They’re meant to help, not harm. Miss Caro and I will be very cautious about driving at night, now that you’ve warned us. You did a good thing, son.”

His little shoulders heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you, sir. I don’t know what we’d do if something happened to you two.”

“You’d still have Miss Dorothy,” Caroline reminded him. “And Mr. Berry. He is an honorable man, though I know you don’t care for him. Why, even Mr. MacKay would probably come around to help out.”

Jamie shuddered. “Not him. Don’t like him.”

“Really? I thought he was very kind to bring around candy for all of you when we were all feeling low.” Gideon had been a regular visitor after Caroline and the girls had been attacked, and he had, indeed, brought treats for all the children. Caroline had no idea that they hadn’t taken a shine to the pleasant young man. Perhaps it was because they wanted Merrick and Caroline together—that would give them a far greater sense of security. Of course. It was the only answer that made sense.

“He’s asleep,” Merrick murmured a few moments later, before anyone had thought of anything else to say. “I’ll carry him over to Tommy’s room, then if you have a minute, I think we need to discuss this.”

“Of course.” She handed the sleeping child—he really was out like a light, even after just a few seconds—into Merrick’s arms, and drew on her wrapper as she stood. “Let me get the door for you.”

Tommy was in the middle of the double bed in his room, reading silently while Piers snored quietly on one side of him. Once Merrick laid Jamie in the empty spot, Tommy pulled the covers up and laid his book aside. “Thank you, sir, miss. Good night.”

“You’re a good big brother, Tommy,” Caroline said. “Good night.” With that, she followed Merrick from the room. To her surprise, he didn’t take her to the sitting room where they’d talked before. Instead, he walked right into her bedroom and settled himself in the easy chair by the window.

At a complete loss, Caroline closed the door behind her and pulled the small desk chair over so she could sit facing Merrick, their knees mere inches apart.

He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “One of the things I promised when the children agreed to come here was that no one would beat them. You see, then, how your teaching methods, unorthodox though they may be, were a godsend. And even Edwin has been made completely clear regarding that issue—you have my word on that. Another promise I made was that if something ever happened to me, they’d still be taken care of. It occurs to me I’ve been very lax in addressing that issue.” He looked so tired—more so than Caroline had ever seen him.

She laid one hand on his knee. “Well, in your defense, it’s only been a couple of weeks. And surely, you know your aunt would see to them in an emergency. She won’t admit it, but she quite dotes on them already.”

“Of course she would, but that’s where we have trouble with the law. According to the courts, a woman may not be named guardian of a minor. Not even the child’s mother, sad to say. So my aunt would have no legal standing. Likewise, I can’t leave them in your care—the other obvious choice.”

Her? He thought she was an obvious choice? Caroline could do little more than blink in stunned silence.

“Edwin would be another possibility, of course, and I’d have no qualms leaving Tom under his guardianship, but he hasn’t any patience with the younger boys, and definitely not the girls.”

“No—I can’t see that being a comfortable arrangement for anyone.” Though Berry seemed to be an adequate teacher for Tommy, Caroline still didn’t like the man.

Merrick nodded grimly. “Thus ends another option. I had thought perhaps Sir William MacKay—but he’s not a young man. Perhaps his older son Fergus—you haven’t met him, but he’s a good, honorable man, and a close friend of mine. The problem is, he’s a Knight as well, and spends most of his time in Edinburgh. For a while I was thinking Gideon might be a possibility, but if the children don’t like him, then no. Honestly, I also think he’s still too young and busy sowing his wild oats.”

“Really?” Caroline wondered at the frown on Merrick’s face. Did he not like Gideon either? How odd. “I hadn’t gotten that impression from him, but you’re right, he is quite young. Still, it seems to me you have a more simple solution than you realize.”

“I do?” He lifted one eyebrow in that way she had already begun to love.

“Of course. You talk to Sir William, and possibly to his elder son. You explain that while one of them would be the children’s legal guardian and financial trustee, your wish is that they remain with Dorothy, and a staff of her choosing. I believe Sir William would honor such a promise, don’t you?”

He smiled and laughed. “Of course he would. Thank you, for being able to see the forest instead of just the trees. You’re right. As long as England must maintain such arbitrary laws, that is the best possible solution. Hadrian House is entailed, and goes with the title, and the estate, of course, but the money is mostly my own, so I’ll be able to leave them well set up. Dorothy is already independently wealthy—she’s actually quite a wizard with investments.”

“Well, then, you see? A quick visit with your solicitor, a chat with Sir William, and all will be well.” She patted his knee. “Thank you, though, for asking my opinion. That you trust me to that degree means a great deal.”

Merrick reached down and took both her hands in his. “If anything, you’re the one who trusts too easily. Caro, I want you to know that I’ve never, not once in my life, taken advantage of a female in my employ.”

“Of course you haven’t.” She smiled at him, memorizing every line of his face, so that one day, when she didn’t have him to look at anymore, she’d be able to remember each detail.

“But I’ve come close with you—twice. And I think I’m about to kiss you again.”

“Well, that’s not taking advantage now is it?” She leaned forward and dropped a soft peck on his lips. “Not if I kiss you first.” Every bit of her skin felt charged as if with electricity, and she was excruciatingly conscious of the bed only a few feet away.

“Caro, be very, very sure. This isn’t a thing that can be undone.” He squeezed her hands tightly and the cords of his neck grew taut with strain. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

That made her smile. “I’m told it always does the first time—but that it improves with practice.”

“True, but that’s not what I meant.” His lips twitched into a grin. “And I think you know that.”

She did. “I’m not asking for a lifetime, Merrick. I’m asking for tonight.” Caroline wouldn’t say no to forever, but she knew it was never going to happen—not for someone like her. This night, however, and perhaps a few more, would be hers.

She stood and untied the sash on her dressing gown before dropping the wrapper to the floor. One by one, she began to unfasten the small bone buttons at the neck of her nightgown.

Merrick’s chest expanded as she watched him suck in a deep breath and lean back in his chair. He watched her with hooded eyes. Without taking his gaze off her, he unbuttoned his shirt, pulled the tails free of the waistband of his trousers and shrugged out of the shirt and braces. Lord, he was magnificent—broad and dark, with fine whorls of hair on his chest and in a narrow line that bisected his abdomen before disappearing into his trousers.

Caroline’s nightgown now gaped nearly to her navel, and with one more deep breath, she shifted her shoulders again, pulling her arms free of the voluminous sleeves. With a little shimmy she let the fine cotton lawn drop to pool around her feet.

“Caro.” Merrick’s hands clenched hard on the arms of his chair. “Come here.”

There was almost no room between them as it was, so she stepped between his knees, moving up to lay her hands on his now-bare shoulders.

“Stand right there and take your hair down,” he murmured. Her breasts were level with his face, but he leaned back and tilted his head upward to look her in the eyes. “I’ve seen it up and braided, but never down. Something tells me no man ever has, not since you were a child. Am I right?”

Caroline licked her lips and nodded. She stood there, stark naked. He was looking at her nude breasts, for heaven’s sake, and he wanted to talk about no man ever seeing her
hair?
She’d never understand males, not if she lived to be a thousand. Still, she did as he asked, pulling out the few pins that held her hair in a haphazard knot, which had tilted precariously to one side since her bath, with a number of tresses already hanging loose.

He reached out and tangled one hand in a long strand of her hair. “Ah, it’s as glorious as I’d imagined. It’s a primitive thing, a man’s pleasure in being the first. On a rational level, it makes no sense at all.” His words seemed calm as he watched her, but his raspy, deep voice belied his seeming indifference. “One would think, after all, that a degree of experience might actually be useful. But innocence appeals to the baser instincts, somehow. I consider myself a very fortunate man at this moment, Caro. Luckier than I deserve.” With that, he placed his hands on her hips and pulled her forward. Leaning in himself, he placed gentle kisses on the swell of each breast.

“Oh.” Off balance, she swayed a little, until he steadied her by shifting his hands around, until one cupped each globe of her bottom. Her eyes flew open at the intimate touch—somehow almost more so than the other night when he’d caressed her to orgasm.