Obsidian Eyes (23 page)

“So we both have to conceal our knife skills.”

Both girls laughed, but the sad serious light stayed in Eloise’s eyes.

“Rumours are rife that King William will not live much longer and Princess Victoria will soon take the throne. Can you imagine, a girl our age, ruling all of England?”

Allie laid a hand on her friend’s arm. “Perhaps she will herald a new age, one where we can do what we want, not what we are told.”

Hope glimmered in Eloise’s gaze. “Perhaps.” She held up the bodice to Allie. “Now, let’s see if this is going to fit you, and we also need to discuss what we are going to do about your hair.”

Wednesday, 14
^th
September.

Crossing the threshold into the library, a squeak caught Allie’s attention. Weasel waited at her feet, his head cocked to one side. She bent down and picked up her metallic companion, and he sat on her shoulder. His lethal tail curled around her neck and he gave a chirp.

Eloise shook her head and muttered. “You’ll cuddle up to that monstrosity, yet you don’t like my frogs.”

Allie laid a hand on Weasel’s head. “He doesn’t twitch and keep me awake at night.”

Rounding the last stack, they found the atmosphere in the nook subdued. Even Duncan, claiming every inch of the large sofa as usual, looked restrained.

Jared had his back to them, one hand clutched at a gargoyle as he stared into the fireplace, lost in his own contemplations. Zeb looked the worst, his head bowed as he focused on an aethergram in his hand. He looked up on seeing them and narrowed his eyes at Weasel.

Weasel gave a low hiss in Allie’s ear and snuck under the curtain of her hair. “Problem?” she asked.

“My father is gone!” Zeb waved the narrow piece of paper containing the ominous message, forgetting about his traitorous creation.

“Gone?” Eloise echoed in a horrified manner. She perched herself on the wing chair and put a hand on Zeb’s shoulder.

Allie picked up Duncan’s feet and swung them off the sofa before occupying the space she created. Weasel jumped to the arm and then down to the ground, to curl under her skirts. Allie avoided the other wing chair, which would have put her in close proximity to Jared. She refused to look at him, but a shiver went down her spine as he turned and his gaze swept over her.

“He has been taken,” Zeb said. “My mother hasn’t seen him for over two weeks and she’s not getting any information out of KRAC. They keep telling her he is in seclusion while working on something top secret. Which is rubbish. He always sends her a message every day, no matter what he’s working on.”

Allie chewed her bottom lip. It was what they feared might happen after the attempt to abduct Zeb. Her main surprise was Lord Lithgow proved an easier target than his son, since Marshall passed on the attempt on Zeb. She assumed the soldiers would have guarded him closely. She dared a look from under hooded eyes at Jared, to find him fixated on her.

“What does Marshall say?”

He gave a shrug. “Very little. They gave Lord Lithgow a permanent guard after what happened with Zeb and he still vanished right from under their noses.”

“What are we going to do?” Eloise wailed and knotted her hands in her skirts. Her gaze flicked from Jared to Allie and back again, waiting for one of them to suggest a solution.

Jared pulled his brows together. Before he could respond, there came the noise of several people entering the library. They all looked round as Lieutenant Harris and five of his men came up the aisle and surrounded the nook.

Lieutenant Harris took in the assembled group and flicked a quick look to Allie, before addressing Zeb. “Lord Lithgow, if you would kindly accompany me?”

“Certainly.” Zeb started to rise, but Jared put a restraining hand on his friend from behind, pushing him back into the wing chair.

“Where are you taking him?” Jared asked. His posture was alert and ready to jump between his friend and the soldiers if needed.

“To his lab first. Then we’re escorting him to Edinburgh. General Galloway feels it would be better if he resided on base, at least until his research is completed.” Harris drew out each syllable of his explanation.

Jared bristled and pulled himself up to his full height as he glared at the lieutenant. “You can’t just take him. I’m sure Zeb is happy to conduct his research here, safe on school grounds.”

Jared stepped around the wing chair and closer to Lieutenant Harris, moving into the older man’s space. Duncan rose and stood behind his cousin. The undercurrent in the library stretched and sparked. Allie uncurled from her spot on the sofa.

Lieutenant Harris fixed Jared with a stare. “I’m sure he is better off under our protective care.” Behind him, the soldiers tensed, hands edged closer to their weapons.

Jared crossed his arms over his chest. “He’s not KRAC. You can’t just dictate orders and move him like a pawn.”

It was Harris’ turn to bristle at Jared’s words. “The point is not negotiable. His work falls under KRAC jurisdiction so by extension he is KRAC. You are not in charge here, cadet.” He drew out the last two syllables, highlighting Jared’s lower position in the chain of command. Then he waved to his soldiers who moved forward. Allie saw Jared and Duncan stiffen and she could envision the oncoming fight. Just as she decided whether to distract Jared or Christian, Zeb defused the situation.

“It’s all right.” He stood and reassured his friends. “I’ll go, I’ll be fine. It’s not like I have classes to attend.” He gave his crooked smile. Jared and Duncan exchanged looks before standing down. Harris waved a restraining hand at his men to do likewise.

Allie moved forward to Christian and placed her hand on his arm, drawing his attention to her. She had forgotten how clear his blue eyes were, as he turned them on her.

“You’ve already lost one scientist. Don’t be so careless with this one,” she murmured to him. “We’re quite fond of Zeb.”

He looked down at her. “That’s why we’re taking him into protective custody. I promise you, I’ll take good care of him.” He placed his hand over the top of hers.

“I’m sure you will, up until you lose interest and leave him to fend for himself.” She withdrew her hand from under his.

Harris’ eyes widened at the change in her tone.

Zeb turned to Allie. “Do promise to come to Edinburgh these holidays? My mother would appreciate the distraction of your, and Eloise’s, company.”

Allie heard a barely suppressed squeal of excitement from the sofa and knew refusal was not an option.

“Of course, whatever we can do to help.” She squeezed his arm.
Or at least help along one romance, since the other is doomed.

After hurried goodbyes, Zeb was ushered from the library with his escort. The friends exchanged glances as the soldiers departed. As soon as the library doors banged shut, Duncan turned to Allie, open curiosity on his face.

“What did the lieutenant do to piss you off?”

“It’s a long story. And we have other things to worry about now.” Allie didn’t want to elaborate, but Christian touched a sore point by promising to look after Zeb.

Jared held his tongue. “As a priority, we need to determine what happened to Zeb’s father.”

“Shouldn’t we leave it to KRAC?” Duncan looked puzzled. “They’ll be scouring the countryside, they’ll probably have him back within the week.”

“No harm in formulating our own plan,” Jared said. “Although Marshall says most of our options are limited without further information.” His gaze seared through her. “We need to know more about who wants him, and who might hold Zeb’s father.”

Eloise and Allie headed outside to clear their heads. Allie baulked at what Marshall expected her to do, to further seek information from her guild, to find out who held Zeb’s father. He asked the fly to launch itself into the spider’s web. A chill ran down her spine and she tried to bury the thought deep in the back of her brain.

The girls sat below an old stone wall, soaking up the last of the afternoon sun. They discussed their plans for the week ahead, when they heard approaching laughter and chatter. Allie recognised one particularly strident tone in the group. She hunkered down lower against the stone, hoping they would escape notice from those passing above. As the group moved closer, they caught snatches of conversation and it was obvious they were discussing Allie.

“―she can pant after him all she wants. She’ll never have him. She’s not the first tart he’s thrown a coin at for parting her legs,” Madeline said to her friends. “That boy has a diverse appetite and a strange sense of honour. He sees no harm in dallying with commoners. It’s not like they matter—” laughter enveloped the group as they moved out of earshot.

Allie’s ears turned crimson and Eloise laid a hand on her friend’s arm. “You know she’s just saying it out of jealousy, he’s not like that. He’s different with you.”

“Is he?” Allie had yet to figure out what game Jared played with her.

“Yes he is, he relaxes around you,” Eloise said. “He changes when you enter a room. He’s not Viscount Kerr, or heir to the Duke of Lothian, he doesn’t have to assume a role around you. You let him simply be Jared.”

Allie turned sad eyes to her friend. “But none of it matters. All I can ever be is a temporary distraction.” She gave a sigh. What was the point in chasing heartache?

Tuesday, 20
^th
September.

tudents scattered in all directions as they headed to their rooms to get ready for the big dance. All week, conversation had been of nothing else, at least from the girls. Allie was sick of hearing the other girls dissect outfits before the night even occurred.