Emma Holloway - A Study in Ashes

She was leaning toward a killer from Her Majesty’s Laboratories, but there was still Edmond’s radical politics to consider. She had known the Schoolmaster was one of the rebel leaders, but had never suspected he was actually a Baskerville—although technically he wasn’t a Baskerville at all. Still, if anyone knew he was a radical, they might go after his family. Evelina chased that thought a moment, mesmerized by the sight of the moor through the wobbly glass of the ancient window.

“Miss?” asked the housekeeper.

“Thank you, Mrs. Barrymore. I can look after myself from here.”

“Very good, miss.” The housekeeper left, her solid tread receding down the corridor.

Evelina eyed her suitcase, sitting patiently beside the bed, along with a bag that carried, among other things, two of the books on rare elements she’d taken from the college library. She’d read through all of one and most of another on the train. Neither of them were terribly thick volumes.

She had been a long time without a maid to perform little services such as unpacking, and decided to take advantage of her presence. Feeling delightfully lazy, she turned her attention instead to her toilette, using the comb from her reticule to tame what she could. There weren’t enough hairpins in the Empire to combat the frizzing effect of the damp moorland air.

It hadn’t been an easy trip down. Tobias had said little the entire way, explaining nothing of why suddenly, when he had been about to divulge a secret that would start a civil war, he was taking her south to investigate the death of a minor baronet. Questioning him had got her nowhere, and that was unusual. Tobias used her as a sounding board. Silence meant something serious had happened, and that had her worried. But he can’t stay mute forever. We’ve always been too close for that .

Her fingers stilled, a hairpin in one hand and her comb in the other. Here she was, focused on Tobias Roth one more time, even if she no longer wanted him for a husband or even as a lover. And yet she still cared for him as one of her oldest friends. As long as he was in trouble, she wasn’t walking away.

There was a light knock on the door, probably the maid. Evelina looked up from the mirror above the washstand, and nearly dropped her comb in surprise. “Nick!”

He flashed a smile, dark eyes widening with interest as his gaze traveled over her. He’d spent time outdoors and looked much more himself, tanned and confident as he moved. Not that there was much room to move in the tiny room. She was in his arms before she’d drawn another breath, and it felt wonderfully right.

“Hello,” he said, the vibration of his voice traveling from his chest to every nerve in her body. A warm, liquid ache made her lean closer, as if contact alone could relieve it.

“Hello,” she replied, glad they were in daylight. She could see the mahogany lights in his eyes this way, like sunlight trapped deep inside them. “What are you doing here?”

His grin widened. “I came with the Schoolmaster. We stopped along the way. That news report you showed me about the Red Jack was correct. I was able to find Athena!”

His excitement sparked through her, and her heart lifted. “That’s wonderful news! Is she here?”

“Under lock and key. I stayed as long as I could in hopes of seeing you, but now I’m off to Cornwall.”

“Cornwall?”

His smile faded. “There’s a town there where Striker and I were building a second ship. If anything happened, the crew agreed to leave word there for the others. That way we’ll know if there were survivors.”

Evelina’s joy faltered. She’d heard this story before, and felt the same chill in her blood. The chance of finding survivors was not good. She put her hands on his shoulders, the wool of his jacket rough to the touch. “Be careful. I don’t like the thought of you traveling alone.”

“I won’t be half dazed from falling out of the sky. I won’t be easy pickings this time.”

Evelina frowned. Nick was a creature of the air. Without a ship, he was trapped and vulnerable on the ground. “Does anyone else know that you’ve found Athena?”

“Three of the Schoolmaster’s friends: Edgerton, Penner, and Smythe. They’re staying in town.”

“I know them. Michael Edgerton and Bucky you can trust. Smythe is a hothead.”

“I’m not worried about what they’ll do to me. They want an airship, and with Athena I can give them the best.”

“I’ll be happier when you’re back in the air.”

He gave her a reassuring squeeze. “Whatever I find in Cornwall, I’ll be back with a ship. Any pirate worth his salt has booty stashed here and there, hopefully at a decent rate of interest.”

She couldn’t help smiling. “You always did keep a few coins at the bottom of your saddlebags.”

“Gran Cooper always said to hope for the best and plan for the worst.” He kissed her forehead lightly. “And there are people I want to look after. That means looking ahead and making plans. And you’re the heart of those plans, Evie.”

They were still holding each other, carrying on their conversation with noses almost touching. That was just fine with Evelina—she could have stood there holding Nick all day. But she could feel his energy, forward-moving like a hawk in flight. He wouldn’t stay still for long—not when he was on the cusp of regaining what he had lost.

“And now that I’ve told you my tale, what about yours?” He tapped her bracelet. “How did you get out of the college?”

“Tobias brought me here on the Gold King’s orders. I’m here to help Uncle Sherlock with Sir Charles’s murder.”

A muscle in Nick’s jaw thumped with tension. “The Schoolmaster has taken it hard. He loved the old man. But was there really a supernatural connection?”

“I don’t know yet. It’s rather hard to sort out fact from Dr. Watson’s embellishments.” As she spoke, uneasiness crept through her. She wanted to tell Nick about Nellie Reynolds and the laboratories, but if she did he would stay to make sure she was safe. That would mean a delay in leaving for Cornwall—which meant more risk. Even if they could trust the Schoolmaster and his friends, there was a chance someone else might find out about Athena and a pirate captain with a rare strain of the Blood. Never mind the usual thieves and villains—they were far too close to Her Majesty’s Laboratories. If the attempt to destroy them failed, she didn’t want Nick caught in the struggle. Her own feelings aside—and they were legion—the rebellion needed Captain Niccolo and his ship.

He leaned closer. “Is there a chance you can escape for good?”

“Uncle Sherlock is working on that,” she said. “He’s thinking along the same lines.”

“Good.” He put a hand on either side of her face. “He’s one of the few I’d trust with you.”

“I’m sure he’d be honored to hear it,” she said dryly.

Nick kissed her forehead again. “I’ll be back here with my ship soon. Take a chance if one comes and know I’ll be looking for you.”

“Is this good-bye?” she asked plaintively.

His smile grew wicked. “We can make it a long good-bye.”

Hot guilt surged, accusing her with every secret she was holding back. I’m as bad as Tobias . But she buried her chagrin in a kiss, hiding her secrets behind sweet affection. Her heart hurt even worse when Nick returned the kiss with a passion that said he hadn’t detected her ruse. But I’m doing it for him . She’d thought him dead once and never wanted to suffer that tearing grief again. Nick wanted to protect her from the world. Was it so selfish to protect him back?

He took her lips again, and every other thought melted into mist. His mouth was hot and hungry, his breath warm as it fanned against her skin. She seemed to come apart inside, not sure if she was dropping away or launched into flight. Excitement and desire tingled deep inside, as if the kiss was transforming her very bones.