by Sahara Kelly
*~~*~~*
“Good to see you, Burke.” Del held out his hand and the other man shook it gently.
“You too. I confess I didn’t expect to shake your hand ever again, but then Portia filled me in on your situation.”
“That girl? The maid? She was astounding. She knew about me, had what looked like a Jallai on her arm, and damned if she didn’t use it to kill the man behind me by shooting right through me.” He shook his head. “I don’t think I could have done it.”
“Neither could I.” Burke ran his hand through his hair. “I was scared to death if you want the truth. I had no idea what that damn arm thing was, and I didn’t know if there was any more thonirium around—that fact alone had me quaking. Suppose she’d set it off?”
“I didn’t even think about it.” Del’s voice grew quiet. “I can’t think. Can’t begin to comprehend what’s happened. Not yet anyway.”
“Sahib is dead. You know that.”
Del nodded. “They told me. Good riddance.”
“Agreed.”
“And the explosion was definitely thonirium. There were a few notebooks left in Ringwood’s lab, ones that either Abu missed or regarded as unimportant.”
Del looked up. “How much did he get?”
“Enough to make Whitehall piss itself. Several times.” There was no humor in Burke’s tone. “It’s not good, Captain. That stuff…well, can you imagine what would happen if it got into the wrong hands?”
“Where would he go? Abu?”
Burke thought about that. “Logically, he’d find a way out of the country. There’s nothing for him here, because if he tries to pawn that jewelry he’ll give himself away. I’ve already alerted my London contacts, and Lord Southfield as well, since he’s Lord Lieutenant and a pretty sharp fellow besides. I believe our man will head for the coast.”
Del curled his lip in disgust. “And there are more than enough fishing boats willing to take a jewel or too for a silent trip across the Channel.”
“Yes, I think we’ve lost him.” The response was gloomy.
“For now.”
Burke looked up. “What?”
“I’ve lost everything, Inspector. Everything that could have mattered to me. Everything I could have built a life with here in England. So there’s nothing holding me here or stopping me from going back to India. I can’t serve anymore, but I can hunt that bastard down and stop him from destroying anyone else’s future.”
“If I were younger, I’d offer to accompany you.”
“If you were and you did, I’d accept.”
Both men shook hands once more, a gesture that spoke volumes about their respect for each other. But, in the way of men, no further words were spoken on that matter.
“Tell me of this girl. The one with the Jallai.” Del shifted in his chair and straightened the blanket over his knees. “Since I’m forced to be an invalid again for a bit, I’d like to know more about the young woman who put me here.” He smiled, taking the sting out of the words.
“You truly want to know? It would be dangerous to her if her identity were revealed.” Burke looked at him steadily.
“My word of honor. Whatever we say here is in complete confidence.”
And so Inspector Burke told Fleet Captain Moreton the story of two sisters, a magnificent ball and the loss that followed. They discussed the Jallai, since Del had seen them before.
They touched on the new independence growing amongst young women like Portia, and the courage they displayed.
Then the conversation rambled to other areas, and by the time Inspector Burke took his leave, it was full dark and the candles were lit.
Del groaned as he lifted himself off his chair and carefully walked to the still-open window of his room. Looking out into the night he felt the first tears sting the back of his eyes.
She was gone. The woman who could have given his life meaning, accepted his love forever and built something wonderful for both of them—was gone.
And so the tears fell, bitter and painful, pooling on the sill in front of him just a few yards from where he’d shared everything he was with a woman who gave back all of that and more.
Eventually the pain eased and he looked up into the night sky. At that moment a shooting star lit a bright arc across the horizon and he wondered, just for a second, if it was Vivienne telling him she was there with him.
Logically it was a foolish thought, but still he hoped so. He really hoped so.
*~~*~~*
“So he’s leaving?”
“As soon as he’s up and about. Says he’s going back to India to find Abu. And stop him.”
“Good.” Portia put her teacup down in the saucer with a brisk snap. “I wish I could go too.”
Burke frowned at her. “Look, what you did today was extraordinary, Portia. But the problem is, I don’t know whether you should be rewarded or thoroughly disciplined.”
“James.” Horrified, she stared at him. “Do you really think I could stand by and watch that dreadful Indian kill the Fleet Captain? One of our Air Warriors? And a decorated one, at that.”
“You shot him, Portia. You shot them both.”
She raised her chin defiantly even though she knew her voice was trembling. “Yes I did. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I knew all about Captain Moreton, James. I was looking for you, hoping to tell you what I’d learned about his injuries. Any useful tidbit, you said. And I believed that could be useful.” She grimaced. “Gosh, was it ever.”
“Are you all right?”
“I don’t know, honestly.” She folded the blanket that had lain over her lap. “I’m sort of bubbly inside.” She placed a hand on her stomach. “And I’m perspiring even though I’m a bit chilly.”
James smiled. “Ever practical. Yes, I think you’re still experiencing some shock.”
“Wouldn’t be surprised. I’ve never shot anyone before.”
“And with luck you won’t ever have to do it again.” He tilted his head to one side. “Del told me about that Jallai thing you wear. Where did it come from? May I see it?”
“Of course.” Portia peeled back the sleeve of her maid’s blouse and revealed the slender connections of what looked like a delicate extended bracelet. “My father obtained it somehow. He showed it to me a few years ago and it fit my arm perfectly. I’m not too sure how it works, though, so don’t ask me, please.”
“And you learned how to use it? How to aim and fire?”
“Well, it took a bit of time. And we had to sneak out of the house or Mama would have had a fit.” She grinned. “The mere idea of a woman using a weapon like this…oh goodness, no.”
James grinned back. “Not entirely surprising. Does your father know you have it?”
Portia looked down and ran her hands across the soft blanket. “Er, no. I didn’t actually mention that I was leaving, as you know. So I didn’t have chance to tell him I was borrowing it.” She looked up. “In all truth, James, I doubt he’ll miss it. It was all the way at the back of his safe. I don’t think he’d touched it or thought about it since the last time we used it.”
“His safe?” James’s eyebrow lifted.
“Never mind.” Portia stood. “I should go back to Harbury. I’ll be missed.”
“No.”
“What?”
“You won’t be going back tonight, Portia. In fact, I’m working on a plan to keep you from going back at all.”
Panicked, Portia clutched his hands. “James, you don’t understand. I have to return. Really. Absolutely have to.”
He shook his head. “For tonight, I’ve left word that you were close enough to the explosion to suffer a concussion. I have medical experience and am keeping you here for observation. Since you were damn near unconscious and you’ve been asleep for hours, it’s not an out of the ordinary suggestion. There’s a tiny little room which was probably a maid’s at one time, so you’re not exactly moving into the lap of luxury.”
She paused. “Well, all right. Fo
r tonight, I can see the sense. And it will be a relief to have a good night’s sleep without worrying about…about anything.”
She stuttered, angry at herself for almost revealing her secret, but later, as they sat together in front of the fire, enjoying an informal and simple meal of meat pie and a very good cheese, Portia realized something.
She had to tell James about Devon Harbury and those men beneath the laboratories. It was time someone else knew what horrors were going on and how these men were tortured on a regular basis. If anything should happen to her, who would step in and end the abuse?
It was time that Lord and Lady Harbury were called to account for their actions, because who else could be responsible for Devon’s alleged “death”?
So she finished her meal, cleaned up the dishes over his protestations, and put another log on the fire. Then she tucked herself back under that soft blanket and looked at him as he lit the candles.
“James, I’m going to tell you a story. It’s going to sound far-fetched, I know, and it has elements in it that even I don’t understand. But it is very important that you know. And it’s also very important that you do not reveal a word of what I’m about to tell you until the time is right.”
He leaned back in his chair, a rich brown glass of whiskey at his side. “Very well. I promise.”
“It’s an unbelievable story of science and energy and it features a hero.”
“It does?”
“Yes. His name…his name is Devon Harbury. And I’m going to set him free.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
Lady Harbury will doubtless be wondering if some sort of a cloud is lurking above her home, after two more deaths occur within such a short period of time. Although she’s probably thanking her lucky stars that Randall hasn’t been part of the horrors. At least not up to now.
Of course she has her regeneration vapor to sustain her, to keep her allure fresh and intriguing; the two scientists who provide that unique substance are quiet, undemanding and—if given the occasional treat—behave admirably. Rather like two housecats, even though they are young gentlemen of good breeding.
However, when one considers that their “treats” are young women, the analogy darkens somewhat.
Alwynne also has Stephen Waring, he of the talented hands, to ease her more stressful moments. Between his attentions and the vapor, her life is most pleasant. She can ignore Randall’s gradual disintegration into madness most of the time, unless he makes a mess. Even then, she has people who will clean it up.
Money does, in truth, buy just about everything, including happiness. She has purchased quite a bit of that over the last few years and is still enjoying the benefits. She sees no reason to worry over a couple of unfortunate “incidents”. Life surely will go on, with little or no effect on her personal pleasures.
Unfortunately, Alwynne Harbury has overlooked one quite important scientific fact. Biological ingestion of foreign substances can often have a cumulative effect.
Her “pets” have discovered the truth of this mandate. Their plans to explore and utilize it aren’t in line with Lady Harbury’s goals of delightful ecstasy, but she doesn’t know of their discoveries.
Until she begins to experience some very strange and frightening hungers…and the first frosts of winter cannot cool the fires inside her.
Portia Fielding cares less than nought for Lady Alwynne’s pleasures. She’s fixated on one thing only, freeing Devon Harbury. Now she has an ally, much more experienced in strategic planning and execution. Between the two of them, they might be able to achieve success. If Portia can hold her breath…
Find out more in:
Asylum for the Mechanically Insane
Book 3 – Perversion
(Coming soon to an eBook vendor near your Internet)
About the Author
Sahara Kelly is always happy to explain that her spelling errors aren’t really errors, since she was born and raised in England, where an extra “u” is quite in order. She likes to think it adds colour to her writing. Sadly, it’s not a widely held belief in the United States, so she’d like you to know she still retains a lot from her English childhood even though you won’t see much of it in her spelling.
Arriving in America with her almost-complete collection of Leslie Charteris’ Saint novels and a passion for Monty Python, Sahara’s new life eventually expanded to include a husband, offspring, citizenship, and a certain amount of acclimation to her new surroundings. (She still cherishes that extra ”u” though.)
After more than two decades of writing, Sahara is now enjoying the greater freedom offered to authors by the rapidly expanding independent publishing scene and looking forward to many more such experiences. Being freed of restraints has opened doors—for Sahara and many other writers. There are now no impediments; no obstructions barring the path from writer to reader. Which is, in many ways, exactly as originally intended when that first storyteller sat on a rock outside her cave, tugged her bearskin around her shoulders and smiled at her kids across the open fire with the words “Once upon a time...” (or however it sounded several million years ago.)
To find out more about Sahara Kelly and her writing, please drop by her website and visit her at:
Her website – http://www.saharakelly.com
This is where Sahara shares none of the intimate details of her life, but will present you with a list of books she’d like you to buy so that she can go do research on a beach in Aruba and be pampered with massages accompanied by drinks with umbrellas in them. She’ll send you a postcard. Thank you.
When not dreaming of lazing on tropical beaches, Sahara has a relatively active social presence on the Internet. Take a look:
Follow Sahara on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SaharaKelly
Friend her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sahara.kelly
See what she’s blogging about: http://writersaharakelly.blogspot.com
Sahara on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16158.Sahara_Kelly
Since she has jumped into the world of private enterprise literature, Sahara has formed her own little publishing company. You’re also welcome to come and check it out at the address below:
SK Private Label Publications: http://www.skprivatelabel.com
You can stay on top of what’s on the way from Sahara’s fertile imagination by subscribing to her newsletter or picking up her app for your iPhone or iPad. Yes, there’s even an app for Sahara Kelly. Best bet? Subscribe to the newsletter and keep up to date with everything going on by clicking here. (http://eepurl.com/bxpvp) She doesn’t send them out too often, so you won’t be swamped with unwanted mail. Sahara loathes that and refuses to inflict it on anyone else, so you can go ahead and subscribe without worrying about it.
Also by Sahara Kelly: (*- co-written with S.L. Carpenter)
Madam Charlie
The Gypsy Lovers
Chocolate and High Heels
Tales of the Beau Monde
Letting Off Steam
Winding Her Up
Stripping Her Gears
My Renaissance Romance
Hired Help*
Outside the Box*
Princesses Gone Wild*
Open House
Pure Sin*
Knights Elemental
The Mating Place*
My Lady Vampire
Perfect Whore
And many more…
*~~*~~*
Several of the above titles were co-written with friend and writing partner S.L. Carpenter. Together, they have a dozen or so books available, each featuring their trademark touches of humor and heat. Their most recent release is a brand new stand-alone story titled So Into You.
This, and a whole bunch of Sahara Kelly’s other books, can be found online for your eReader at your favorite vendor. Quite a few are also in print. No excuses, people. You can add her stories to your bookshelves physically or digitally. Go get ‘em.
*~~*~~*
Sahara would like to
mention that she’s recently initiated a new collaboration with her writing partner, S.L. Carpenter. They have blended another of their shared passions — art — and formed an online graphics business focusing on the complicated world of writers. If you’re interested in seeing what they get up to when they’re not writing something twistedly hot and sexy, they’d like to invite you to come visit their business at the link below and check out some of the amazing cover art currently being created by S.L. Carpenter. They’re certainly never bored…
P and N Graphics, LLC
Happy Reading…
