C. Archer - The Wrong Girl

Because he might not like the answer. I nodded, understanding completely. "Tell me about being on the streets with the other children."

"When we were small, the bigger children took care of us. We thieved for them, picked pockets, whatever we could to survive as a group. They were like a family to me, I suppose, but life was hard and some of those older children...they were cruel. But not to me. I had these." He waggled his fingers. "As I grew older and I realized the power it gave me, I began to take charge. Since I was the only one who could keep the entire group warm in winter, no one argued against me. Besides, I was a capable fighter by then."

I nodded. I saw how good he was against Ham. That man had been huge, but Jack had held him off and got some swift punches in.

"We had to steal to live," he said. "It never bothered me much. It was just something we did to survive. Then one day Bollard showed up and everything changed." He huffed out a wry laugh. "Most of the children were terrified of him. He gave me a note. It told me to go with Bollard, and I'd be given all the food I wanted and a warm bed. The warm bed wasn't so enticing, but the food was. Tommy insisted on coming with me, and when August tried to send him away, I refused to stay. If he had to go, I would too. August gave in, grudgingly."

"What explanation did Langley give for thinking you were his nephew?"

"He gave none. He said I was his nephew and my name was no longer Cutler. When I asked him how he found me, he said he simply asked the right people. Like I said, evasive answers."

Neither of us spoke for a long time, but something bothered me. I didn't know how Jack would react when I asked, but I suspected it was something he'd already considered so I asked anyway. "Do you think Mr. Langley made a mistake and got the wrong boy?"

He shook his head. "He questioned me thoroughly about my parents. Their names, where they were from, what they looked like. I didn't remember them, but I own a knife with a distinctive handle. I assume it came from them as it's always been in my possession. I showed August, and he said he recognized it."

"May I see it?"

He blinked at me from beneath the hair that had tumbled over his forehead. "It's in my room."

We hopped off the wall and walked as close to each other as possible without actually touching. It was enough to warm but not overheat me. Neither of us wore coats or gloves, and I doubted I ever would again. Miss Levine had tried to force me, but I no longer saw the point.

"Jack," I said.

"Hmmm?"

"I'm so glad you abducted me."

He chuckled. "So am I."

"And thank you for telling me about your childhood."

"It was either I tell you or you'd find out from Sylvia anyway. She has a loose tongue."

I laughed and hoped he never found out it was Tommy who'd given me more information than Sylvia.

I gazed up at Frakingham House ahead. The builders had begun to erect scaffolding on the eastern wing in preparation for the repairs, and already the network of wood and steel looked like a complex spider's web. A man stood on the driveway, his head tilted up to look at the burnt section of the house. A suitcase sat at his feet.

"Who is that?" I asked.

Jack squinted. "Gladstone?"

"Good lord, it is. Samuel!" I called.

He turned and I waved. He left his suitcase and came to meet us. "Good afternoon, Lady Violet, Mr. Langley." He tipped his hat. "What a pleasure it is to see you again."

"Actually, my name is Hannah." At his raised brows, I added, "It's a long story to be told over tea. So what brings you to Frakingham?"

"I hear they call this place Freak House." He shot a grim glance at the building. "I thought it might be somewhere I would fit in."

Jack crossed his arms. "You mean to stay?"

"I hoped to speak to Mr. August Langley and propose a research project."

"How exciting," I said. "Are you not working with Dr. Werner anymore?"

Samuel frowned. "No."

"What makes you think August would be interested in your proposal, Mr. Gladstone?" Jack asked.

"Call me Samuel. I believe your uncle has an interest in neuroscience. I thought perhaps he may want the chance to work with a real hypnotist."

"August is very busy," Jack said. "And neuroscience is not his field of expertise."

"I'd like to speak to him anyway."

Jack held out his hand for Samuel to go ahead. We entered the house and Tommy showed Samuel up to Langley's room. Jack, Sylvia and I waited in the parlor.

"How odd," Sylvia said. "I wonder why he left Dr. Werner's employ."

"Perhaps he was thrown out," Jack said.

Sylvia eyed him suspiciously. "You don't appear to like Mr. Gladstone very much. Why?"

Jack looked to me then away. "He's too self-assured."

It sounded so absurd coming from someone of equal confidence that I snorted a laugh. He glared at me.

Finally Samuel returned. His smile was so broad it almost stretched to both ears.

"What did he say?" Sylvia asked.

"He said I may stay here while I conduct my research."

Sylvia clapped her hands. "Splendid. It appears our little household is growing."

"This is good news," I said, lifting my eyebrow at Jack in a challenge.

After a moment, he sighed and clapped Samuel on the shoulder. "Welcome to Freak House."

THE END

C.J. Archer has loved history and books for as long as she can remember. She worked as a librarian and technical writer until she was able to channel her twin loves by writing historical fiction. She has won and placed in numerous romance writing contests, including taking home RWAustralia’s Emerald Award in 2008 for the manuscript that would become her novel Honor Bound . Under the name Carolyn Scott, she has published contemporary romantic mysteries, including Finders Keepers Losers Die , and The Diamond Affair . After spending her childhood surrounded by the dramatic beauty of outback Queensland, she lives today in suburban Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and their two children.

She loves to hear from readers. You can contact her in one of these ways:

Website: http://cjarcher.com

Email: cjarcher.writes@gmail.com

Twitter: @cj_archer

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CJArcherAuthorPage

Look out for

Playing With Fire

The second book in the first FREAK HOUSE TRILOGY.

Hannah and Jack learn about their pasts and fall in love, but Tate's escape from prison puts their lives at risk.

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In the meantime, have you read THE MEDIUM? Here's the description. Read on for an excerpt.

Seventeen year-old spirit medium Emily Chambers has a problem. Actually, she has several. As if seeing dead people isn't a big enough social disadvantage, she also has to contend with an escaped demon and a handsome ghost with a secret past. And then there's the question of her parentage. Being born an entire year after her father's death (yes, a year) and without the pale skin of other respectable English ladies, Emily is as much a mystery as the dead boy assigned to her.

Jacob Beaufort's spirit has been unable to crossover since his death several months ago. It might have something to do with the fact he was murdered. Or it might not. All he knows is, he has been assigned by the Otherworld's administrators to a girl named Emily. A girl who can see and touch him. A girl who released a shape-shifting demon into the mortal realm. Together they must send the demon back before it wreaks havoc on London. It should be a simple assignment, but they soon learn there's nothing simple when a live girl and a dead boy fall in love.