Reece led the way up the steps. “Or maybe the point is to hide in plain sight.”
“I suppose that is true of the demons as well.” A shiver ran up her spine at the comparison.
He pulled her hand through the crook in his elbow. “Our enemy still prefers the desolate places below, my dear. I see this new location as a step in the right direction.”
Thor stood a head taller than Reece and wrapped on the door with his huge fist.
A moment later, a well-dressed butler opened the door. “Mr. Thor, you are not expected. Is something amiss?”
“Not a bit, Black. I have brought Mr. Foxjohn and Miss Smyth to see the new offices.”
The butler stood almost as tall as Thor. It seemed that thug-like butlers were common in The Company homes. His dark hair was swept back, and when he glared at her, she wondered if he read her mind.
“Sir, miss, welcome to the London office. I will inform Mr. Douglass you are here. Please wait in the parlor.”
“Douglass?” Reece asked.
Thor said, “I guess you’d already been injured when he joined our ranks.”
“He was at school with me. A good fighter, smart too.” Elizabeth sat and watched Reece pace the floor of the well-appointed parlor.
“Who is he?”
An easy smile exposed yellowed teeth as Thor stood near the door, his arms folded with his cap in one hand. “He’s to marry Miss Serena.”
“Gabriel’s sister?”
“That’s the one.” Thor’s tone stayed light in spite of Reece’s pacing.
Reece stopped and finally sat. Nodding, the deep crease between his brows smoothed. “Lilly told me about him once when she described the rescue of Gabriel’s sister. I was still quite sick from poison. I remember now.”
The parlor door flew open. Thaddeus Douglass filled the space. A very big man with his long red hair hanging loose around his broad shoulders, he rushed over to Elizabeth and bowed before shaking her hand. “I was not expecting you Elizabeth, but tis good to see you again.”
“Good to see you too, Tad. I did not know you were running the London office. Very impressive for your first assignment.”
He waved off the compliment and turned toward Reece. “It’s only an interim post. I believe I was a last resort. Mr. Foxjohn, it’s an honor to finally meet you. You’re a legend around here.”
Reece looked down at Thaddeus’s offered hand. For a moment, Elizabeth didn’t think he would take it, but then the two men shook. “I’m no legend. I just have lived longer than most hunters. If you have the time, I would be pleased to see what you have been doing in my absence.”
A broad smile filled the big Scotsman’s face. “Oh, aye. Follow me.”
Down a hall and through a large double door they entered a room, which might have once been a gentleman’s study. Now it served as a war room, complete with a table covered in maps, marked with precise lines and circles depicting battle plans.
“Reece!” A young man barreled across the room and grabbed Reece in a bear hug.
Reece slapped the other man’s back. “Jamie, my boy, good to see you.”
“I thought you were done in for a while, my friend.” A hint of a Scottish accent lilted across the room. They broke the embrace. Jamie was broad-shouldered, with brown hair and light eyes. He had a dark scar down the right side of his face, from his eye to his chin.
Reece pointed to the mark. “When did this happen?”
“The same day you were injured. Lucky for me, it was my only wound.”
“A hair higher and you would have lost your eye. You were lucky.”
She’d heard stories about the master’s ascension. That battle had nearly cost Reece his life. Demons had wounded and killed several hunters that day, but the hunters sent more demons back to hell. The master had managed to enter their world, but the foiling of his ritual by the rescuing of Lady Belinda weakened him. She’d never had the nerve to ask Reece about that day. Would he tell her?
With a nod, Jamie slapped his back again and grinned. “When are you coming back to work?”
He pointed to his cane. “It will be a short while yet. I have some work to do to regain the rest of my strength.” He turned to her. “This is my slave driver. Elizabeth Smyth, I would like you to meet my old friend, Jamie Robertson. Jamie and I ran this office when it was across the bridge.”
Jamie grinned and shook her hand. “He’s being generous. He ran the office. I fetch and carry and pick up a blade now and then. It’s nice to meet you, lass. Be sure to get him fit for fighting. He’s sorely missed.”
“I will do my best.”
“What have you been doing in my absence?”
Jamie pointed to the map, and they all converged on it.
“You still use my notations?” Reece bent low and scanned the paper.
Thaddeus joined him at the table. “Yes, sir. There is no reason to change a system that works perfectly well.”
The crease had returned between Reece’s eyebrows. He pointed to a round mark. “What is this?”
The Scot nodded and directed his finger to two other similar marks. “This is where we’ve had strange reports of missing people or other unnatural occurrences.”
Elizabeth examined the locations of the circles—one in St. James, another in Piccadilly, and the third near Parliament. “We had such an experience yesterday, Tad.” She pointed to the center of Hyde Park. “Our experience took place here.”
“What happened?”
She looked at Reece, and he gave her a nod. She explained what they had experienced complete with the disappearance of every other living thing in the park. A chill ran up her spine, and the hair on the back of her neck prickled with the retelling. It took a great effort to keep her voice from shaking.
Reece finished the story by recounting the way the master had singled her out after the battle at the school.
“Then you were a specific target, Elizabeth.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “It would seem so.”
Tad turned toward Reece. “What do we do, sir?”
Reece continued to study the map. “You continue to run this office. I still have to get back into fighting form. Elizabeth and I will check into the fate of the other three women who were part of the ritual at the old church. Perhaps if we can learn something about them, we will be able to figure out what the master is up to.”
Thor stepped away from the doorway. She’d almost forgotten his presence. “I can drive you to find the women.”
“I thought you had business with Lord and Lady Tullering?” Reece asked.
“It’ll only be a day or two delay, and then I’ll be off to see if the new babe is ready to join our ranks.”
Elizabeth’s chest tightened at the idea of a new generation of hunter about to be born. Would they rid the world of these monsters before Belinda and Gabriel’s baby actually had to join the fight? She hoped so, but how did they fight an enemy that can manipulate the world the way the demons did?
Thor turned to her. “May I speak with you for a moment…in private, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Of course.” She followed him out of the war room and into a small parlor with a writing desk and a few chairs. She felt his gaze on her without looking.
“What can I do for you, Thor?”
He worried the cap in his hands and stared at his shoes. “I hate to ask such a thing.”
She stepped forward and touched his shoulder. “Whatever it is, be assured I will try to help.”
“You see, I did promise I would head to the country estate as soon as the office was moved.”
“If you must go, we can manage on our own.”
He shook his head. “No, it’s not that. I want to tell his lordship I’ll be arrivin’ a bit late is all.”
“Of course. You want to send him a message.”
The big man grinned. “Yes, so you see why I need your help.”
I
t took her a full beat to put all the pieces together. “Would you like me to write the note for you?”
“If you wouldn’t mind too terribly? I haven’t quite got the hang of me alphabet yet.”
“I have only learned myself, but I’m happy to help you.” She went to the desk, sat, and pulled out a piece of foolscap. Her hand shook with the thrill that she could help another person with their correspondence, when a year earlier she could only print the alphabet and the single word she’d written was her name. It took a few deep breaths to steady her excitement “What would you like to say?”
He scrunched up his eyes. “Gabriel, I’ll be a few days late whilst helping Reece and Elizabeth. No need to worry. Then just sign mi name if you would.”
Elizabeth jotted the note as he’d dictated. It took her longer than it would have someone whose writing skills where better, but she still had to think each letter through. Once she completed the message, she handed the paper to Thor. “There you are.”
“I’m thankful, miss.”
“No need. You might think of going to the hunter school, Thor. You could learn to read and write for yourself. It’s more useful than you would expect.”
“I’ll give the matter some thought. In the meantime, I’ll be getting this off in the post, then bring the carriage around. Assumin’ you and Reece want to get to work on findin’ those other women.”
She curtsied. “Indeed, we need some answers today. I’ll go and fetch Reece and meet you out front.”
He tipped his cap and opened the door for her, then rushed down the hall.
When she returned to the war room, Tad, Jamie, and Reece were still engrossed in the map.
Reece startled and spun toward her. He knocked her backward before catching her forearm to keep her from falling. “Lizzy, why must you sneak about so?”
She looked from him to the map. A large circle had been added to the center of Hyde Park. “I do not sneak. What were you talking about that you did not hear my approach?”
Tad looked at the floor and backed away a step.
Jamie stared at the ceiling.
“I recounted our experience in the park again, and we were discussing the ramifications.”
She studied him. He would not meet her gaze. Her stomach knotted, but she kept her tone even. “You mean you were speculating about why I was the target and how it can be used to better The Company position.”
“Lizzy, you don’t understand.”
Her heartbeat tripled. “Because I’m just a simple scullery maid? Of course, how could I recognize such complex matters?”
“That is not what I meant.” Still he looked everywhere but at her.
Backing away, she turned toward the door. “I think it is exactly what you meant. Thor is waiting with the carriage. I think it best if we start with Doctor Barns. She would have kept in touch with the other three women for a time.”
She stepped out of the office and let the drizzle cool her temper. Thor had not yet arrived with the carriage. He’d probably gone to post his own letter. Certain Reece would only be a few moments behind her, she did not wait for the carriage. She walked the few blocks to the townhouse they’d converted into The Company’s London hospital. The walk would do her good, give her time to think. How could he have gone from wanting her as his wife to thinking her too simple to understand the happenings in her own life?
Frustration burned in her gut. How could she have thought for even an instant they could make a life together? His proposal reeked of noble intentions. No amount of education would ever put her at his level. That was clear.
She tromped up the steps to the hospital and knocked on the familiar door.
A nurse dressed in a plain blue gown and a white cap opened the door. “How can I help you, miss?”
“I’m with The Company. I’d like to speak with Doctor Barns if she is available.”
“Lizzy.” Reece’s call came from the street.
She turned as he jumped down from the carriage, then returned her attention to the nurse in the open door. “We would like to speak with the doctor.”
The nurse looked over Elizabeth’s shoulder, then back at her. “The doctor is with a patient, but who shall I tell her is calling?”
“Reece Foxjohn and Elizabeth Smyth.”
Her eyes widened for a moment before she stepped back and opened the door all the way. “If you will just wait in the parlor, I’m sure the doctor will see you.”
She refused to look at Reece as they followed the rosy-cheeked nurse into a nice but not overdone front parlor.
Once they were alone, he approached her. “You had every right to be angry with me, Lizzy, but not for the reasons you think. I have never and would never think of you as less than me. You are far superior in all the ways that matter in the least. Thaddeus and I were talking about you and the crazy situation we found ourselves in, and I was surprised you arrived when you did.”
“Why? You know I was only going across the hall with Thor.”
In a flash, his expression went from contrite to ferocious. “What was all that about? What did he want with you?”
“A private matter.”
“You are angry and yet you secreted away with another man.”
“I did no such thing. Do not try to make it sound as if I have done something out of order.”
“Then tell me what he wanted.”
“It is none of your business. What does a fine gentleman care about the goings-on between the help?”
His eyes narrowed and his hands fisted at his sides. He stepped close enough for his breath to warm her cheek. “You and I are equal, Lizzy. I have never thought anything as base as you imply. I was jealous in the office, not an unusual state for a man when the woman of his affection has gone into another room to have a private conversation with another man.”
The declaration took the fire out of her. “And the conversation with Tad?”
“He suggested we use you as bait.”
“It’s a valid option.”
His jaw ticked and he wrapped his arm around her waist. “I do not like it.”
“Nor I.” She struggled to catch her breath.
“Am I interrupting?” The cultured and soothing voice of Emily Barns broke through their conversation. Her customary bun swept her brown hair from her face with not one strand daring to disobey.
Elizabeth pushed away and he released her. She shook off her embarrassment, pushed her wildly disobedient hair off her forehead, rushed over, and hugged Emily. “Doctor, so nice to see you.”
“Elizabeth, you look wonderful.” She turned to Reece. “You are looking very fine as well, Reece.”
His grin made Elizabeth’s stomach bubble with anticipation. He took the doctor’s hand in both of his. “I am feeling stronger thanks to you and Miss Smyth, Doctor.”
“So you are both feeling fine. Then what brings the two of you here today?”
She still shook from the encounter with Reece. “Perhaps we might sit down and talk.”
“Of course.” They followed the doctor to a grouping of chairs.
“We are looking for the women who were part of the sacrifice on the same night as me. It seems the master is not quite through with me yet, and we wondered what had become of the rest.”
“Oh dear, that doesn’t sound good at all.”
Reece’s frown smoldered just as much as his smile.
Her heart fluttered.
He shook his head. “It is not good, but Elizabeth is strong, and I have no intention of letting the demons have her again. She has more capable friends now.”
Was he talking to the doctor or to her? Whichever, warmth settled around her when he spoke.
“I’m sure you will both be careful. I can help with the two older women. The oldest was a seamstress, Mrs. Karen Sweeney. She died not long ago. While she did return to her husband and her work, she never really moved on from the incident in the old church. She thoug
ht God had abandoned her. I saw her as often as I could. About a month ago her husband told me she took her own life.”
Her chest ached. “What a shame.”
“That is regrettable. I do not wish to seem insensitive, but we are in a bit of a time crunch, Doctor. Can you tell us anything about the other two women?”
“The working woman, Colletta, was admitted to bedlam a week ago due to claims of monsters trying to take her away.”
“That claim does not make her crazy,” Reece said.
Dr. Barns nodded. “She has been quite hysterical. After the death of Mrs. Sweeney, I didn’t want to take a chance on losing her too. I had her committed as a precaution. I realize her claims may well be true, and after what you’ve said, I fear it’s likely.”
“What of the African woman?” When Elizabeth rested in the hospital, Tally was the only one of her fellow victims able to talk. They had a brief friendship.
“She is alive as far as I know. She has been working in the kitchens of Lord and Lady Browntrout.”
Reece stood. “I’m not encouraged by Mrs. Sweeney’s death. You say she took her own life, but after the demons’ attempts to reclaim Lizzy, I wonder if that is really what happened.”
Stomach in knots, she made an effort to steady her voice. “We may never know the answer to that question. I think we should go and see Tally at the Browntrout’s home. At least we can warn her to be on her guard. Then we can go and speak to Carlotta. Perhaps she can tell us exactly what she has seen.”
Emily Barns dusted off her skirts and stood up. “I’ll get you the address for Mr. Sweeney and write you a note so you may visit Carlotta. I wish I could be of more assistance.”
Elizabeth hugged her. “You have done more than your part. Thank you for your time, Doctor.”
“Indeed. Lizzy is correct. We might not be here if not for you.”
They waited for the note and address, said their good-byes, and stepped out of the hospital.
Thor waited with the carriage door held open for them.
Reece gave the driver the direction of the townhouse where Tally’s employer lived, and a few moments later, they were underway.
Betrayal Page 9
