“What are you talking about?”
“I would have told you. I should not be telling you now, but how can I not tell you? We are friends and you have the right to know.”
Belinda stood up and approached her. A knot formed in her stomach. Whatever had upset her friend must be truly terrible. “Lillian, for god’s sake, what are you talking about? Start at the beginning.”
When nothing was forthcoming, Belinda asked, “Where did you go when you left London?”
“Blackpool. It is a small town in the northwest.”
“What did you do there?”
“There is a young girl who lived there. She is the illegitimate daughter of a powerful man. She’d been kidnapped by demons and rescued in Wales. The capture left her quite shaken. She needed to be brought to the school for treatment and evaluation.”
“Why send you all the way to Blackpool? The hunters that rescued could have taken her. And why take her all the way to Scotland. Would not the hospital in London have been closer?”
“She was quite difficult to contain, angry and violent. She required special care. She may be trainable once she is restored, so they wanted her in Scotland.”
The explanation made sense, though it got Belinda no closer to understanding Lillian’s state of distress. “So you took her to the school?”
“Yes.” Lillian began to pace again.
“Do her parents know where she is?”
“Her mother was killed by demons. The father supported them but wants no part in the girl’s life, for obvious reasons.”
“Because she is illegitimate?” Belinda silently cursed the man who would abandon his child.
“That, and her mother was Chinese.”
“Oh my. That should be a very long story and likely a good one, but what did you find at the school that has you so out of sorts and how does it concern me?”
“It is the school itself.”
She didn’t understand and a tickle of frustration started bubbling inside her. Her voice was more agitated than she would have liked. “You are being cryptic.”
“I was specifically told not to tell you.”
“Why? Tell me what?” Her voice ran with frustration. She tried to suppress it, but the entire conversation was so out of character for her friend that fear began to seep into Belinda’s mind. She always hated being afraid.
“I may be shipped away for doing it, but I just cannot keep it a secret. The school is at Castle Brendaligh. Your father oversees the running of the school.”
The words crashed into Belinda’s mind. “No.” She said no, but she knew her friend wouldn’t lie. She thought back through the years. “Brice runs the school.”
“Brice is in charge of the training. Lord Clayton, the Earl of Shafton runs the operation in its entirety.”
“Why would I be kept in the dark?”
“I do not know.”
Her stomach roiled and her head spun. She had to sit down. The chair was too far away so she sat on the carpet and leaned her head on her knees.
Lillian knelt down next to her.
How could this be? Why was her father’s Scotland home part of the Company? Why in heaven’s name had she never been told? More questions flooded Belinda’s mind. “Did you see him? Did you meet my father?”
“He is the one who ordered me to keep the secret from you.”
“But he did not say why?”
She shook her head. “When I asked, he said that it was for the best. For your safety.”
Rage simmered to the surface. “My safety! I have been abducted and nearly drowned and the other night they tried again. I think that it is safe to say that the demons know who I am, and they know who my father is. He is not concerned with my safety. The selfish bastard is concerned with his own. He is afraid that when I found out I would go up to Scotland and flush him out.”
“Is that what you are going to do?” Lillian asked.
Her lips twitched in a very unladylike snarl. “I am going to do worse than that. I am going to bring my mother with me. It is time we all came out of the darkness and saw the light. She has had him on a pedestal for far too long.”
Belinda got up from the floor and brushed off her skirts.
“I hope I am not interrupting,” Gabriel said from the doorway.
Lillian got up and looked around nervously. “I should leave.”
“No. Stay. I value your input, Lilly. I’m going to tell Gabriel everything you just told me and then we are going to devise a plan. There is some time before the new moon.”
“Oh my god. You are going to go now?” Lillian asked.
Gabriel strode quickly into the room. He faced Belinda with only inches separating them. “Are you going somewhere?”
“Scotland.”
He paused. “Are you getting married in a hurry?”
Laughter bubbled up from her chest. When it reached her lip, she couldn’t stop her giggles. “I had not thought of it, but really, why not?”
Lillian gasped. “You’re going to get married? I thought you were going to see your father.”
Gabriel looked from her to Lillian. “I’m a bit confused. Perhaps you should tell me what is going on, Bella.”
She did exactly that. She told him about the demon hunter’s school being in Castle Brendaligh, and her father being the head of the school.
Gabriel listened wide-eyed until she had finished the entire story. “It actually explains quite a lot.”
She stood with her hands on her hips. “It really does. All those years staying away. All those visits cut short by business.”
“Not to mention your abduction and rather unusual talent for the hunt,” Gabriel added. “It must be in your blood.”
“I think that I shall call for more tea. We have a lot to think about.”
Lillian sat back and smiled. “I feel so much better.”
“Were you worried that I would lose my head?”
“Mostly, I worried you would not believe me.”
“Never that, my friend. I trust you with my life.”
Lillian nodded. “There is still the matter of having disobeyed a direct order, but I think I will survive one way or another. It is not as if there are an unlimited number of demon hunters.”
“You have skills that will outweigh this incident. If necessary, Gabriel and I will speak for you.”
Gabriel cleared his throat. “I think it will be a long evening. Should Miss Dellacourt join us for dinner?”
Belinda clapped. “Oh, yes, do, Lilly.”
“I cannot, but I thank you. I am working tonight. Reece has some tavern we must visit to gather information.”
“I understand.”
“Will you still be touring the hospital in the morning or will you be leaving for Scotland immediately?” Lillian asked.
“I would really like to check on those ladies from last night before we go. I think we should go to the hospital as scheduled,” she said.
Gabriel agreed.
“I will see you in the morning then.” Lillian left a few minutes later.
Alone in the parlor, they sipped their tea, neither one in a rush to make conversation after the afternoon’s revelations.
It now made perfect sense that her father had never allowed his family to travel to the castle in Scotland. But so many other things didn’t make any sense at all. Why wouldn’t he warn his family of the danger? Her father had a lot to answer for. Her thoughts were a jumble of information rushing around in anger and confusion. Gabriel’s presence was oddly comforting.
Gabriel broke the silence. “May I state the obvious, Bella?”
“To what end?”
He nodded. “Lord Clayton being part of the Company might not be an entirely bad thing. It certainly makes your involvement less complicated.”
“I suppose.”
“He did come here when you were abducted.”
“He came and saw me one time in the hospital wh
ere we are going tomorrow. He stayed with my mother for two days and by the time I returned here, he was gone. Mother said that he had urgent business.” Wishing she could state the facts coldly did not banish the bitterness from her voice.
“Do you think he avoided you because he knew your abduction was in part, his fault?”
“It is highly likely.”
“A bit cowardly,” Gabriel mused.
“Who is cowardly?” Lady Clayton asked from the entrance.
“Father.” Belinda spoke before she could monitor herself.
“I beg your pardon.” Her mother stormed into the room.
“Never mind, mother.” She should not have been so coarse with her mother. Her eyes were half-lidded and she wavered when she stopped her forward motion. “How are you feeling?”
“I am a bit under the weather, but I heard we had company and did not wish to appear rude.”
Gabriel was on his feet. He bowed. “You are the epitome of a gracious hostess, my lady. You could never appear as anything other.”
She gave him a muffled curtsy and smiled, the earlier comment forgotten.
“We have some news for you, mother.”
Lady Clayton took a seat next to Belinda. “Oh, what news?”
Gabriel cleared his throat. “Your beautiful daughter has finally agreed to do me the honor of becoming my wife.”
The countess clapped her hands and beamed.
It was worth agreeing to marry him just to see her mother’s joy. She smiled at her. “I have a bit more happy news, mother. We have decided that the three of us should make a trip to Castle Brendaligh to see father and marry in the ancestral home.”
Her mother’s smile wavered. “You want to go to Scotland to marry.”
“Oh mother, do not say it as if we are running off to Gretna Green. We’re going to visit father, and while in Scotland we shall marry. It is perfectly respectable and quite romantic.”
She had no idea how Gabriel would react. His expression was more amused than she would have thought. She predicted either furious at her for being so high-handed or ecstatic over the speed at which he would get his wish. Neither was the case. He watched her with a hint of a smile on his face and a glint in his eye.
The countess looked down at the rug and then up toward the window. She tugged at her fingers until the knuckles turned white. Then she straightened imaginary wrinkles in her dress. “It might be best to send a note to your father and ask his permission to come.”
“No,” Belinda and Gabriel answered at the same time. They shared a smile.
“Mother, I think it best if we surprised father.”
“Your father detests surprises.” The countess’s fingers clenched in her lap.
Belinda put her hand over her mother’s. She waited until she had her mother’s full attention. “It is time we stopped worrying over what father likes or dislikes. He has ruled our lives without being a part of our lives for long enough, mother. I am going to Scotland and Gabriel is coming with me.”
Gabriel nodded.
“It would make me very happy if you would come, but I will not bully you if you’d prefer to stay here.”
“Do you love him?” Her mother asked quite seriously. It was a question that should have been asked out of the presence of the gentleman, but Lady Clayton stared her daughter in the eye without glancing at Gabriel.
“I love him very much.” Her heart pounded in her chest. She had no idea how the notion had come to her, but her body sang at the idea that in a few short days she would be Gabriel’s wife.
“I loved your father once.” Her voice was far away lost in some distant memory.
“And did he deserve your love?” It would have been wiser to keep her mouth closed and allow her mother to forget the conversation. However, it was rare for the countess to have such a long period of lucidity in the afternoon and Belinda wanted to know how her parents had come to their current state.
“At the time he did. He was very smitten and very attentive when we were first married.”
“What changed?”
Her eyes darted across the room. She stared at the bookshelf and then at the table. Biting her lips and wringing her hands as she struggled to remember. Belinda was about to tell her to relax and let it go, but then her mother spoke as if the incident had just happened. “There was some kind of riot up at that castle when you were about three years old. He went up there to sort it out and that was that. He barely returned to us after that.”
“Why did you not send for him?” The question came from Gabriel.
The countess turned sharply as if just remembering that he was in the room. “I sent for him weekly at the beginning. Each time he said he was very busy with local business and promised to return as soon as he could. After a year, I assumed he had taken a mistress who he preferred. I had Belinda, and she was a wonderful little girl. Do you remember?”
Gabriel’s gaze met Belinda’s. His love for her practically reached across the parlor and gripped at her. She couldn’t look away.
“I remember her very well, my lady. She was as magnificent then as she is now.”
“Tullering, you must promise me that you shall always come when Belinda calls for you. Never make excuses to be apart from your family. I will not have her make the same mistakes that I made.”
Gabriel crossed to where the two women were sitting holding hands. He knelt down in front of Belinda’s mother and placed his hands on top of all four of theirs. “I think that the mistake was entirely the earl’s, my lady. You are not to blame. However, I promise you that I will always come to Belinda, no matter my business elsewhere. You see, I never wish to be parted from her from this day forward.”
A tear slid down the countess’s face. “I’m very happy to hear that.”
“When did you stop asking father to come home?”
Her thin shoulders rose and fell sadly. “I still ask. Whoever that woman is, he must love her very much.”
Belinda didn’t completely discount the idea that there might very well be a woman in Scotland, but she seriously doubted that was the reason her father never came home. Gabriel’s reference to cowardice was much more likely. “We will just go and see, mother.”
Her mother nodded, pulled her thin shoulders back and took a deep breath. “Are you joining us for dinner, Tullering?”
“If you will have me, my lady.”
Chapter 12
Gabriel took Belinda’s hand and helped her down from the carriage. He looked up at the simple structure. There was nothing unique about it and certainly nothing to indicate people were recovering from demon attacks within.
The hospital was located in Cheapside in a mid-sized townhouse, converted for the sole purpose of treating victims of demon attacks. A small parlor continued to serve as such and they waited there for the doctor to appear.
Belinda had advised him of a note from Lillian that morning saying she wouldn’t be able to join them for the visit, as Reece required her for more information gathering.
A young girl entered the parlor. She was the youngest women whom they had saved. Upon seeing them, her eyes widened and she turned to flee the room.
Belinda got up quickly. “Oh, please do not go. You are the reason we’ve come.”
The girl stopped and turned. Her face registered surprise and then confusion. She was clean and had been given clothes but was definitely the youngest women from the demon sacrifice. Her brown hair was pulled up and tucked under a white cap and she fidgeted, moving from foot to foot. “You come for me, Miss?”
Gabriel stood, but kept his distance, not wishing to frighten the fragile girl.
Belinda crossed the room. “We found you the other night and wanted to make sure that you and the others were doing all right.”
The girl’s brown eyes widened once again and she looked from him back to Belinda in her soft blue day dress.
“But you’re a lady and that there’s a ge
ntleman. Why would you come after me? I’m just a scullery maid.” She must have realized she was speaking more frankly than was acceptable in most circles and she lowered her eyes to the floor. Her cheeks flushed a deep red.
Belinda didn’t miss a beat. “You are as worthy of saving as anyone. What is your name?”
“Lizzy, miss.”
Belinda treated the girl to one of her brightest smiles. “Lizzy, I am Belinda and this is Gabriel. We are delighted to see that you are doing so well. How are the others?”
The girl’s face fell further. “Not as good as me, miss. The Negro girl is coming along, but the other two ladies ain’t doing too well. Doctor says it may take months for them to recover their senses.”
“I’m very sorry to hear that,” Belinda said.
A woman in a serviceable, but stylish dress entered the parlor. “Ah, I see you’ve met one of your charges. Elizabeth has been helping me with the others. She is quite a bright girl.”
The girl blushed again and made to leave the parlor, but then stopped and turned back. “Miss, may I ask you something?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Did you fight those things in the old church?”
“I did, with the help of Gabriel and some of my other friends.”
The girl’s eyes darted around the room before settling again on Belinda. “How did you learn to do that?”
“I was trained by the very people who sponsor this hospital. Why do you ask?”
Elizabeth looked at Gabriel. He saw the spark of something in her eyes and an uncertainty there as well. He nodded hoping to encourage her to ask her questions.
She turned back to Belinda. “Can anyone get that kind of schooling or is it only for gentlemen and ladies?”
“Do you wish to fight demons, Lizzy? It is very dangerous. You might serve in other ways. You might be able to work here at the hospital. It would be far safer.”
It surprised Gabriel that Belinda was attempting to talk the girl out of becoming a demon hunter. She herself was so determined that everyone be treated equally.
“So then it’s only for upper crusts, like you.” The girl’s face fell into a severe frown.
“No. If you wish to try to become a hunter, we will take you to a place where that is possible. If you are able to complete the training then you can do what we do. I only caution you because it is not a normal sort of life.”
Ascension Page 16
