Ether & Elephants

by Cindy Spencer Pape

  The eldest MacKay sibling, one of the first female physicians in Britain, pulled Nell aside. “Are you having relations yet? If you are, I can provide you with some prophylactics until after the wedding. Trust me, you do not want to have to deal with getting married and having morning sickness at the same time. I was delighted to have a baby right away, but frankly, I’d rather have waited just one more month.”

  Nell blinked. Of course, she’d realized that most of her friends had anticipated their vows, but she hadn’t realized Genny was pregnant at her wedding. It had simply never occurred to her to count. “Um, not yet.” There she was, feeling like the last virgin on the planet except for the children upstairs in their beds.

  “Give it time.” Genny gave Nell a one-armed hug. “You’ll know when the moment is right. Meanwhile, I’ll pop over to your room with a few packets just in case.”

  The next hour was a string of whispered conversations with each of the other women. Mostly, the comments were bawdy or full of pithy advice, or sometimes both, as in the case of the dowager duchess. The only person to express any doubt about the engagement was Belinda. “Are you sure he’s the one? Something just feels…off to me. If you’d like, I can read the cards for you.”

  “I’m sure. But thank you for caring.” Nell bussed her friend on the cheek. She had a special fondness for Belinda, whose Gypsy background also made her something of an oddity among all the pale Britons in their two families.

  “Of course I care.” Belinda smiled sadly. “Roger reminds me a great deal of my first husband Micah. He was a wonderful, caring man. He never did anyone a wrong in his entire life. But I never knew true happiness either, not until I met Connor. I understand the difference between love and affection more than most people. All I’m saying is think before you leap.”

  “Let me ask you something.” Nell saw how difficult this was for her friend to talk about, and the words rang too true to dismiss. “If Micah hadn’t died, would you still be happy? Would you regret having married him?”

  Belinda paused before answering. “I’d have just gone on living. We’d have been content, as we always were. But I wouldn’t have met Connor, or had the twins.” Belinda’s first husband had been sterile, Nell recalled. “And I would never have known what I was missing. Your case is different. You’ll always know. The question is whether or not you can live with that.”

  Nell sipped her tea, considering. Finally, she said, “I’ve been thinking about little else since the moment Roger proposed. Maybe he is my Micah, as you seem to suggest. But more than anyone else here, you know what it’s like to be different, to be darker-skinned than society expects, to be eyed with suspicion. Micah gave you a refuge from that. A chance to live an ordinary life. That’s no small thing.”

  “No, it isn’t.” Belinda opened and closed her mouth as if there was something more she was trying to say. Finally, she sighed. “The men will be here any minute, so I just want to say one more thing. Wait until you’ve found this child. I don’t know much from the cards, but I know he is, or could be, a tipping point for several lives, maybe including yours. Give yourself time as a fiancée before you become a wife.”

  “We planned on that,” Nell promised. “Truly. In any case, I’m more worried about finding Charlie first. I won’t marry him tomorrow. You have my word.”

  Belinda sighed. “Good.”

  The gentlemen arrived and the party moved to the music room, big enough for dancing when the gathering was as intimate as this one. Roger came straight to Nell’s side and didn’t relinquish her arm until the music began.

  And there was dancing.

  The orchestra Melody had hired was a small one, suitable for an intimate gathering, but each of the eight members was a master of his instrument. Nell felt the pulse of the music flow through her veins, as it always did when the notes were right and the souls of the musicians poured through into the song. Across the dance floor, Nell sent a grateful smile to her hostess, who knew how much Nell loved a well-played tune and loathed a bad one. Melody winked. Despite her name, she couldn’t sing or play a whit, but recognized art when she heard it. And she’d brought them here as a gift to Nell, or at least partly so.

  In honor of their engagement, the host and hostess ceded the first dance to Roger and Nell. As he took her in his arms and swept her into the waltz, she felt it again, that sense of being warm and cared for. Only the music made her heart race as they swirled around the floor, her family looking on.

  “So,” Roger murmured in her ear, “I heard something interesting over port. I didn’t know you and Tom had ever been an item. I thought you were strictly brother and sister.”

  She swallowed hard, not allowing her feet to reflect the dread that coiled down her spine. “We are—brother and sister, I mean. We’ve never been an item as you put it. It’s an old tease among the family. I had a little bit of a tendre for him when I was little, that’s all.”

  “But it’s entirely over. On your part as well as his?” There was no judgment in Roger’s tone, just concern. He was beyond thoughtful.

  “Entirely.” Oddly, it wasn’t a lie. She’d finally, after three years, come to terms with the fact that she and Tom would never be. Great heavens, what a relief. The weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. “Don’t be concerned about a schoolgirl crush, dearest Roger. I’m not twelve, anymore. If Tom and I had been meant to be, he wouldn’t have married someone else. And I’m glad. Otherwise I would have missed out on teaching, which I love. And I never would have met you.”

  His hands squeezed lightly on hers and on her waist. “Then I must be grateful for that.”

  “We’ll be happy, you and I.” She leaned her head against his broad shoulder. “I promise.”

  “I hope you’re right.” His lips brushed her temple as the music stopped. He stepped back and bowed over her hand while the others in the room applauded. “I have your ring, you know, back at the school. It was my mother’s, and I’d been holding on to it for months, building up the courage to ask you.” They stepped off the dance floor and his expression turned more serious. “When I return there for my things, we’ll make our final decisions on all the details, all right? You were entirely correct, my dear. We need to find Charlie first, and give ourselves some time to sort out our future.”

  Nell bit her lip. She let her father take her hand and whirl her into a country reel. What the hell had happened, and why? Just when she’d made up her mind! Roger turning the tables on her didn’t make any sense. What had someone told him? And who? Nell swore she was going to rip someone’s guts out through their nostrils if this kept up.

  Throughout the course of the party, she had no luck whatsoever in gathering any information. She danced with each of the men, of course, except for Tom, and given the size of the gathering, she danced with most of them more than once. Not one of them would admit to anything more than finding Roger to be a “decent sort of chap.” By the time the music stopped and everyone said goodnight, she’d determined she’d scream if she heard that phrase just one more time.

  The younger crowd milled around the refreshments table for a little while after the orchestra left, though one by one the couples retired up to their rooms. A few of the men had wandered off somewhere, probably to Victor’s study for another round of port and cigars. Nell had no idea where Tom had gone, and she didn’t care. Finally, only she, Roger, Wink and Liam remained, finishing off the last of the cheese tray.

  “I’m going to take a brief stroll and smoke one last cigar,” Liam said. “Care to join me, Roger?”

  Roger shot Nell a questioning look and when she nodded he stood and kissed her cheek. “Sounds good. I’ll see you in the morning, darling.”

  The men walked them to the stairs before turning toward the front door. Arm in arm, Wink and Nell began to ascend until brisk footsteps in the hall below brought them to a halt.

  Kendall Lake stood below them on the parquet floor of the front hall. “Something’s come up. Can you
join us in the library?”

  Both women turned and followed Kendall. Inside the library waited a meeting of some of the top Knights of the Order, the duke, Sir Fergus, Merrick, Connor and Tom, all of them looking grim. Nell sank into a chair and gripped the armrests, while Wink stood behind her a hand on each of Nell’s shoulders. Nell gazed into her father’s eyes. “What’s happened?”

  Merrick slapped a sheet of paper against his knee. “This whole situation has just become more complicated.”

  The duke opened his mouth to speak, but Tom turned to him from where he paced in front of the hearth. “Let me, sir. Please.”

  The duke agreed and Tom continued to pace, back and forth, speaking to Nell without looking directly at her. “You know how Wink discovered there may be more men who fell prey to Polly’s scheme?”

  Wink murmured her agreement while Nell remained silent.

  Gritting his teeth, he ground out, “Well, it seems that either there are others just like her, or she reached well above myself and much more recently than we’d supposed.”

  “Go on.” Nell dug her fingers into the leather upholstery but managed to keep her expression neutral. “What has this to do with Charlie?”

  “Tom, sit down.” Merrick gently shoved his foster son into a chair and took a seat between him and Nell. “The connection, dearest, is that a couple matching the description and going by the name of Barrymore departed London this afternoon by steamship.”

  “With them was their ten-year-old son who happens to be blind,” Kendall added. “It turns out that there are other government parties searching for these individuals. All our inquiries over the past few days have drawn the attention of, well, the palace.”

  Merrick reached over and squeezed Nell’s hand. “I thought you should know. His Grace, Tom and I leave for London tonight.”

  “Let me get my coat,” Nell said. “I assume we’re traveling by air?”

  “Nell, you shouldn’t—” Tom broke off with a curse. “Hell. Bring a bag. We may leave for India directly from London.”

  “I don’t think so.” Roger strode into the room, the flat soles of his shoes slapping loudly on the floor.

  Liam stood behind him, arms crossed in a false display on nonchalance. Nell couldn’t help wondering what Roger would think if he knew he was six inches away from a werewolf. Not all the special abilities of the Hadrians and their friends had been discussed yet.

  “My fiancée traveling across the world chasing potential criminals? No. It was bad enough that she was going to be traipsing around England, but a journey abroad? That’s utterly unreasonable. Darling, if someone from the school must go after Charlie, let it be me.”

  Nell stood. “No, Roger. I have to do this. I have resources that you don’t.”

  “Like what? A gift for music? I don’t see how that will be of use.”

  Nell arched an eyebrow. “Oh don’t you? How about this?” She let her voice soar into song. “Sit down and be quiet, Roger.”

  He sat, his mouth opening and closing like that of a goldfish, but seemingly unable to utter a word.

  A few muffled chuckles filled the room, some disguised as coughs.

  “You can speak now.” Resuming her seat, Nell tipped her head. “Still interested in marriage, Roger? I can do that at any time, you know.” Please let him be brave enough to accept my gifts.

  “What did you just do?”

  Her voice quivered. “I don’t have a name for it. I almost never use it except in life or death circumstances. I just thought you ought to know, if you truly intend to marry me. Like other people in this house, I have powers, Roger. Ones I was born with.”

  “You can compel people with your voice?” His own came out as barely a whisper. His face paled and his eyes grew round as plates. “Anytime you want?”

  “As I said, I don’t usually do it unless it’s a matter of life or death. But to marry me, you’d have to trust me implicitly and believe I’d never control you to get my own way.”

  “I knew some of your family had…gifts, as you call them, but I thought you were ordinary.” His tone broke. “Nell, I can’t believe this. How could I ever live, knowing you could do that at any time?”

  She fought back tears. This was not how things were supposed to have happened. “I don’t know. My family seems to trust me. I guess it would all come down to you. There is more, by the way. I ought to ask if your new estate has ghosts. If there are any, you see, I’m the one who’ll have to live with them, day in and day out. You’ll probably never know they’re there.”

  “Y-You…” he sputtered. “Ghosts? Bollocks.”

  “I’m afraid so.” She sighed. “It’s real, Roger. And what’s more, these things are often passed down through families, so our children might have them too. Mostly, though, I wanted you to know that I’m not the sort of wife who will blindly do as she’s told. I will always, always follow my own conscience.”

  “I can’t…” He shook his head, his mouth gaping.

  She clasped her hands in her lap. “Still want to marry me, Roger?”

  “No.” Roger gestured around the room. “This, you, all of it—it’s too much. I do care for you, Nell. And yes, I liked the fact that you have high connections, but not at this price. To live with a woman who can compel with her voice, to know that she sees, or thinks she sees, ghosts? No. It’s simply too much.”

  “You know, an engagement can be seen as a contract,” the duke inserted. “You’re going back on a promise young man? I assure you, you’ll find no better woman than Nell, no matter how long you search.”

  “Sue me for breach of promise if you must, but our engagement is off. I’m sorry, Nell. I do love you, but I don’t believe that’s enough.” Roger turned toward the doorway but Liam blocked it.

  Nell gripped her father’s hand with her right and Wink’s with her left. “It’s all right. Let him go.” She wished she felt sad. She looked at her father’s questioning gaze and shook her head. “No lawsuit, Papa. In fact, I’ll take all the blame and jilt him. I’m sorry, Roger, but I just don’t think we’d suit. I wish you well at finding a bride who meets your needs, but it would never have worked between us.”

  Roger inclined his head in her direction, his lips pressed into a tight line.

  Nell stood. “Goodnight, Roger. And now, gentlemen, I have a bag to pack. I’ll meet you in half an hour, if that suits.”

  Merrick shot a pointed glance at Roger. “You’ll be gone first thing in the morning, I assume?”

  He cleared his throat. “Of course.”

  “And if any word of anything you’ve seen here gets out, you can and will be charged with treason.” Kendall’s voice was calm, even convivial. “Just so you understand.”

  “With excruciating clarity.”

  Liam gave Roger a feral smile and stepped aside, and Roger strode from the room.

  “I’m taking my private airship right away,” the duke said. “Along with Kendall. There is a meeting to prepare. I assume you, Merrick, will be shortly behind me with Nell and Tom?”

  “We will,” Merrick said.

  “Connor and I will continue to work from here,” Sir Fergus said. “Along with Melody and Wink on their Babbages.”

  “Keep in touch and I’ll send on any information the minute we discover it.” Wink hugged Nell. “Come on, I’ll help you pack.”

  Merrick walked the two young women Nell’s bedchamber, pausing outside the door. “Sorry, sweeting. If it helps at all, I don’t think he was at all good enough for you.”

  “Of course you don’t, Papa.” She leaned her cheek against his evening coat. “I’m all right. Truly. Perhaps better than I’ve been in a long time. I’ve moved on. That means a lot.”

  “You’ll be all right, traveling with Tom?” He searched her expression. “You don’t have to, you know.”

  “I know. And I’ll be fine. This isn’t about my former feelings for Tom. It’s about catching a villain and finding Charlie.” She went up on her toes and kis
sed his cheek. “And I’m going to hold you to your promise to buy me a school and find someone to help me run it. That’s how I truly knew Roger wasn’t right for me. He wanted me to give up teaching entirely, and I don’t think I can.”

  “Perhaps a school in the north this time? Cornwall was a long way away.” He held her door, ushering Wink and Nell inside. “Your mother would love to have you closer.”

  “Northumberland would be lovely.” She waved him off. “Now go on. We all need to change into traveling clothes.” She set her maid to packing a bag.

  * * *

  Tom had to work hard at not breaking Roger Braithwaite’s patrician nose. How dare the bastard jilt Nell? Especially over something so innate as her powers. Not that the bastard was good enough for her, of course, but the man ought to be flogged, just the same.

  Unfortunately there was no time for that. Tom hurried to change out of his formal evening clothes and pack for London. Within the hour, he, Merrick and Nell were in one of the Order’s fastest airships, piloted by one of Melody’s protégés. The trip to London was swift, and there was little time for discussion. Once they’d landed, they found a steam car waiting at the airfield and they were rushed directly to the Duke of Trowbridge’s townhouse, despite the fact that it was three in the morning. Not only was Kendall’s father head of the organization, he was also a close advisor to the throne. Therefore, it came as no surprise that once the butler had taken their coats and breathing masks, they were ushered into the duke’s private study to see one of the monarch’s privy councillors sitting beside the duke in front of the hearth.

  The shorter, rounder figure swathed in black, however, did come as something of a shock. Tom bowed instinctively, even as his mind boggled. Since her widowhood, Queen Victoria almost never left the palace. Certainly not in the dead of the night.

  On either side of Tom, Merrick bowed and Nell dropped into a deep, graceful curtsey.

  “Come closer, my dears,” the monarch said, beckoning with one black-gloved hand. “What we have to speak about requires utmost urgency.”