Viridis - A Steampunk Romance (28 page)

Seth smoothed her hair down and nestled her close
with her head tucked under her chin. “How are you doing, my love?
Gavin offered to pick a few things up the apothecary and should be
here soon enough. Hopefully, he’ll have something that will get you
back on the mend, aye?”

“Hmpf. I was wondering where the sneaky bastard had
gotten off to.” She felt Seth’s body start to shake. “Are you
laughing?”

“I’m sorry, love. He told me about locking the door.
You must admit, it is rather funny.”

“Funny?” She spun in his arms to face him in
disbelief. “The one thing it was
not
, was funny.”

“Och now, ye must admit, it is just a wee bit. No?”
He started trailing kisses across her face.

“No.” Yet each gentle touch of his lips melted away
a bit of her anger, replacing it with an overwhelming relief that
he had come back to her safe and sound— if only for now. “The man’s
a bully and a brute.”

“Aye, maybe. But he’s also loyal and caring,
especially where you’re concerned. It’s for those exact reasons I
knew he’d be capable of taking care of you in my absence and making
sure you were kept safe. I lesser man would not have managed
it.”

Her eyes burned from the fever, but she opened them
to look into his face. “You will marry me, won’t you?”

“Aye, love, there’s nothing I want more.” She knew
it would have to do for now. He kissed her, then settled her head
back on his shoulder. “You should try and get some rest.”

Sleep would be a wonderful if it weren’t for the
dreams. They had been getting more severe with the fever. However,
her head was dizzy with fatigue, and she knew, she’d not be able to
stay awake much longer.

“I don’t want to sleep, Seth.” But already her eyes
were half closed as sleep pulled her under into a dark abyss of ice
cold cells, a hangman’s noose and Victor’s hands sliding over her
naked body.

Chapter Forty Five

The cold had dissipated overnight, a warm breeze
trailing in from the south. A thick fog had settled close to the
ground, and the warm temperatures had left the roads and walkways
covered with streams and lakes of dirty water from the melting snow
and ice. William’s shoes, and socks, not to mention the hem of his
pants were soaked through, the lack of visibility leaving him
unable to avoid most of the puddles in his path. He hoped it was
not a sign of how the rest of his day would go.

At the offices where Special Services was housed,
William waited for someone to arrive so he could discuss the most
recent developments in Niles’s case. His previous requests for
information and help had been ignored, but he was hoping they would
not deny him if he came in person, especially with Lord Victor
Fenwick’s potential involvement, and the possibility that Niles had
been passing on SS secrets to the Cause.

“Inspector William Thomas? Alexander Barnes.” The
man coming through the door extended his hand to William, giving it
a good shake. Of average height, Barnes looked to be in his
forties, with a lean, muscular frame. His chestnut hair, cropped
just above the collar was starting to go grey at the temples. “How
can I be of assistance?”

William had his pad and pencil out, ready to ask his
questions.
“
Are you familiar with a Lord Niles Hawthorne?”
At Barnes’s acknowledgement, he continued. “I’m given to understand
he worked for you in an effort to gain information on the
Cause.”

Barnes tilted his head, his deep brown eyes giving
away nothing but the intelligence behind them. “He did.”

Up until now, William only had his suspicions about
Niles’s involvements, and it felt good to get confirmation. Now if
he could only get Barnes to confirm the rest. “Were you also behind
his attempt to steal Lady Hughes formulations for her herbals?”
William had the satisfaction of seeing one eyebrow shoot up in
question.

“Was he successful in his attempts?”

William ignored the question. “Did you know Lord
Hawthorne had an information module that contained a list of agents
he thought were working on infiltrating the Cause?”

Barnes’s eyes went wide, if only for the slightest
of moments. “How did you gain access to that information?”

Looking back at Barnes, he said, “I do not see why
that matters.”

Barnes pounded his fist against the desk, making
everything on it jump. “It matters as a point of national security.
I cannot risk having our modules infiltrated. Who helped you, for
surely you did not accomplish it on your own?”

William kept his eyes locked on Barnes, but said not
a word.

Barnes sat back in his chair, his hands steepled
before him as he eyed William as if for the first time. “Perhaps we
can help each other? After all, the list of people who could
accomplish such a task is relatively short, and most are already
known to us. However, I’d like to know for sure. They could be a
valuable asset, you see.”

“Yes, I believe I do.” All too clearly.

Chapter Forty Six

The horrible tasting herbal Gavin had brought Phoebe
seemed to have eliminated her fever once Seth had managed to get it
down her gullet. Her throat was still fairly sore, but it did not
hinder her in going about her day.

Having assured himself she was no longer feverish,
Seth had left with Gavin to find the parts needed to start building
the tinkering he had shown her the designs for— his proof that he’d
be staying in London. With the designs complete, he would start the
construction of the prototype model—
if
he were able to get
the parts necessary. She knew that, in all likelihood, they would
need to be manufactured to his specifications. Luckily, Edinburgh
had become a tinkerer’s haven since the war, and was less than a
day’s airship ride away with cargo ships making regular deliveries.
Whatever Seth could not locate in London, she was sure the
Tinkerer’s Guild in Edinburgh would be able to produce and ship
with little difficulty. Perhaps they could even take a small trip
there in the future.

She was heading to her laboratory when she saw the
files for Martha and Sarah lying on the side table. She’d been
loathe to look into the matter, not wanting to believe that one of
her maids had betrayed her, though she knew she was only putting
off the inevitable. Sighing, she took the files over to the chair
by the fire and resolved to finally deal with the issue, despite
the fact she would rather be oblivious to the situation and
tinkering away happily in her lab
.

Aside from the basic information and letters of
reference for both maids, Phoebe was relieved she didn’t find
anything in their files that might incriminate them.

She probably should write to each of the ladies that
had employed them, asking for further information about each girl,
though she dreaded having to do it. She glanced at the names and
addresses. For Martha, a Mrs. Forrester from Newcastle. For Sarah,
a Lady Isoble Johnston, who lived not terribly far from her own
home.

Phoebe headed to her lab. The bay of windows showed
off the surprisingly bright day. After the frigid dreariness of the
last few weeks, the warmth that now danced in on golden waves of
sunlight was a welcome change. She sat at her desk and quickly
composed the two letters, then decided to walk to Lady Isobel’s
residence and take advantage of the beautiful weather before the
fickle weather saw fit to interfere.

Mrs. Forrester’s letter would get dropped in the
post and go by aethergram, an amazing tinkering that duplicated an
image of the letter and then sent it over the aether, the image
reforming upon arrival at the post closest to its destination.

Letters in hand, she called on Martha for help
getting dressed to go out. The dress she chose was one comfortable
enough to walk in but nice enough to pay a visit, in the off chance
Lady Johnston invited her in. Martha quickly brushed her hair,
taming the curls by pinning them away from her face and up off the
nape of her neck.

Martha helped her into her coat, saying, “Are you
sure you’re well enough to be going out, Mum? And you sick in bed
with a temperature just last night, if you don’t mind me
saying.”

“It’s a beautiful day, and one we’re not likely to
see again soon. I’d hate to miss the opportunity, and a bit of
fresh air will do me good.” Phoebe slid on her calfskin gloves,
then picked up her letters and headed for the door.

“Will you not take Samuel with ye? Just in case you
take to feeling poorly.”

Phoebe could see Martha was genuinely worried for
her, so she agreed to take Samuel along, if for no other reason
than to ease her mind.

Phoebe watched as Samuel shrugged into his coat. The
garment, though clean, was looking mighty threadbare. Perhaps a few
new articles of clothing could be added to his current wardrobe—
something more appropriate to his new position of footman. She
smiled at him. “Are you ready, Samuel?”

Returning her smile, he said, “After you, Mum.”

Chapter Forty Seven

“There he is.” Seth motioned towards Moore, who was
holed up in the corner of the ale house.

Gavin made his way across the room, his wide
shoulders and height parting the crowd and leaving a path for Seth
to follow. Being this close to the docks around lunchtime had the
place hopping with customers, most of which would just as soon
stick a knife in you than look at you. With Gavin in his kilted
plaid and the war not twenty years old, it was a good thing he was
familiar enough with a good many of the men here. Otherwise they’d
have probably ended up dead, or tossed onto a ship as slave labor,
bound for far distant shores.

Making it to Moore’s table, they pulled a couple of
chairs and sat down. Moore gave them a tilt of the head in welcome.
“Good of ye to make it.”

Gavin caught the serving girl’s attention, getting
them a couple pints of cider and a couple of steak and kidney pies.
Turning his attention back to Moore, he said, “Have ye any more
information on when the crates will be ready for transport and how
many of them they’ll be? Ye’ll also need to arrange to have the
crates picked up well outside London as I ain’t keen on having
myself arrested with that sort of cargo. Understood?”

“Aye, it is. We’ve a supplier that’ll have the
crates docked at Inverness once they’re ready. There should be
thirty crates, give or take, but it could still be another few
weeks before they’re ready.”

Gavin started to say something, then shut his mouth
as the pies and cider were placed on their table. Giving the pretty
girl a smile, he said, “Thank ye, love.”

The girl smiled back, batting her eyelashes at him
in as coy a manner as she could manage. “You’ll let me know if y’
need anything else?”

“Will do, lass.”

Seth couldn’t help but smile and shake his head.
Like bees to honey.

Seth and Gavin had figured out an arrangement to
minimize the danger of Secret Services finding out about the
shipment of weapons Gavin would be transporting for the Cause.
Getting back to the matter at hand, Seth took a long draw on his
pint, before saying, “Gavin will leave me details of the exact
location, and when the time comes, I’ll let you know, but not
before hand. Understood? The Cause has been infiltrated by far too
many who’d be happy to see it all come tumbling down like a house
of cards.”

“You worry yourself needlessly, boy. We know who
those people are and they only get what information we want them to
have. Even that inspector that came sniffing ‘round here the other
day, left with no more than he had come with. ” Moore sat forward
leaning an elbow on the table. “If there’s a problem, we take care
of it. Dinna waste your time dwelling over things that ain’t your
concern. Your time is much better spent with what ye do best,
aye?”

Seth did not need to wonder how Moore would
eliminate any problems. It was all too easy to drop a body in the
Thames at the right time of day and have the current carry it out
to sea, no one the wiser. And when dealing with the man, Seth was
smart enough to not forget it either.

Gavin ate a few forkfuls of pie before continuing.
“Ye’ll need to have the payment taken care of as I willna handle
any of the funds for the transaction. And I needna ken what’s in
the crates either, aye?” Moore nodded in agreement, and Gavin
continued. “Ye’ll also need to pay my expenses. It’ll be my only
charge, but I need to ask for payment if only to make this a proper
transaction, for that’s all this is. Nothing more than business.
I’m in no way contributing to yer cause, aye? I’ll nae be charged
with aiding a revolution.”

“Understood. I’ll let ye know once I have the
details. Until then.” Moore stood and tipped his hat.
“Gentlemen.
”

They watched as Moore’s lithe form disappeared into
the throng of people. Gavin shifted to the seat Moore just vacated
so he was now sitting across from Seth. “Ye ken I support the Cause
wholeheartedly, but that man makes me itch like a dog with fleas. I
dinna ken what it is about him, but I dinna like him one bit.”

Seth nodded. “I know what you mean, and Clarke’s no
better. It was smart of you to keep it strictly business, aye? The
less you know the better.”

“I willna argue with you there,
a
charaid
.”

Chapter Forty Eight

After dispatching the aethergram to Martha’s former
employer, Phoebe decided it was too close to luncheon to call on
Lady Johnston, especially since they’d be arriving unannounced.
Instead she and Samuel paid a visit to Phoebe’s seamstress, where
Phoebe informed her, with a pang in her heart, that there was no
longer the need to rush things along. While there, she had Samuel’s
measurements taken for a new winter coat and wardrobe
.