Obsidian Eyes (38 page)

Eloise helped Allie dress in her walking outfit, which she thought more suitable for a meeting in the Gardens. She fussed with the finer details of the outfit and refused to release Allie until the veil of the small top hat sat exactly right.

Allie waved away the fussing hands. “Remind me to go hunting and find you some critters to experiment on. Then you can leave me alone.”

Eloise pressed her best parasol into Allie’s palm as she left.

Jared had the carriage waiting at the bottom step and handed Allie up in silence. Duncan already lounged on the seat, his large form taking up most of the available space. Allie thought they looked like they were out for a quiet afternoon ride, not going to dangle their friend in front of a Reaper agent.

Her pounding headache retreated but an incessant nagging remained. Something wasn’t right about the arrangement between the Reapers and the Whisperers, but she couldn’t lay her finger on the problem. With her father every sentence concealed a double meaning. The Whisperers often spoke in rhetoric and riddles.

What am I missing?

They headed out of the courtyard and Jared urged the horses on to a faster pace. Turning for the military base, it was a short trip and they never slowed. Allie was grateful for the rush of fresh air and the numerous pins holding her hat to her head.

Jared brought the carriage to a halt under the portico and two young grooms stepped forward to take hold of the horses.

Duncan jumped down and held out a hand for Allie, with a smirk on his face at the gentile roles they played.

Allie smiled at him and whispered between her teeth. “I’m going to hurt you for this. And I will be drawing blood.”

He laughed aloud. “It will so be worth it.”

The on-duty soldiers observed their arrival and waved them through the main doors.

Once again Lieutenant Harris and the general awaited them. Today he played with markers on an enormous map of the British Isles. “Harris tells me you were successful.”

Jared stood in front of the table top map with Duncan standing slightly behind and to his right. “Yes. We have a meeting this afternoon. He wants to verify we possess a certain package and then we conclude the deal.”

Harris crossed his arms. “The agent wants to sight Lithgow. We’re going to dangle him as bait in exchange for the location of his father.”

The general scratched his chin for several long and silent moments. “I don’t like it. Why doesn’t he just take him?”

“I believe there is some underlying agreement between the guilds that dictates delivery of Zeb.” The same thing bothered Allie. Why had Le Foy insisted she deliver Zeb to where the Reaper agent held his father?

Galloway held her gaze for several long seconds and then he gave a curt nod. “All right, you can have young Lithgow for an hour. But we’ll have men stationed, discreetly, around you. Then you report straight back here.”

The lieutenant moved to the door and held a quiet conversation with the soldiers stationed outside.

He sat back down in his chair and tented his fingertips. “Apart from dangling young Lithgow, why will this agent reveal anything to you?”

“I’ll ask nicely,” Allie said “He likes me.” She gave a smile and cast her eyes downward, letting her long lashes brush closed.

“Allie made quite an impression on him last night.” Harris’ gaze lingered over her form.

The general gave a bark of laughter. “It’s been a while since we had a decent woman operative. You forget how much better they are at gathering intelligence. I expect you all back here within two hours.” With the matter settled, he turned his attention back to his papers.

Allie, Jared and Duncan turned to leave. Lieutenant Harris put his hand out to Allie.

“I need to talk to you,” he said as she turned to face him, while the others paused by the door.

She met his blue gaze. His hold over her vanished after the passage of so many years. “Do we have anything to say to each other?”

He looked hurt at her tone. “I know I left you, but you got out. God, look at you, Allie. I barely recognised you. And last night—” he swallowed under his tight collar.

She wondered if the count was the only person she made an impression upon.

“You’ve changed and seem to have landed on your feet.”

She could see the rekindled interest in his face as he calculated the value of her outfit.
The Runner still lurks inside you.

“I didn’t escape,” she said, remembering her last few days as a runner in London.

Christian looked confused and Allie shook her head. “I never got out. I died in Newgate prison.” She turned on her heel and left him staring after her.

t was a short ride to the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens. They arrived early for their meeting with Illyich and alighted at the Arboretum Place entrance. Allie noticed the soldiers stationed by the exits and hoped like hell they wouldn’t alert their target and scare him off, although at least they were wearing civilian clothing.

Zeb looked green around the gills at the whole affair. He was far more comfortable in his laboratory and had never been overly fond of the outdoors.

Jared helped Allie down from the carriage and offered her his hand, leaving Duncan to escort Zeb. She put up the parasol and placed it over her shoulder before taking his arm as they wandered into the Botanic Gardens. The silence stretched between them, larger than the green manicured lawns.

Jared worked his jaw back and forth, before asking Allie a question. “What’s the history between you and Harris?”

Allie thought of the handsome soldier and wondered at Jared’s interest. “Why? Are you jealous?”

“Yes.”

The answer was so unexpected Allie missed her step. She considered her response, before taking a deep breath and let another portion of her story free. “I met him on the streets. He was eighteen. I was twelve. Christian was a street enforcer for the Runners, he worked for Fredericks, managing the gang of kids. He used to look out for me. I looked up to him and whenever I saw him he was the bright point of my day.”

Jared was quiet, his eyes serious. “Did you love him?”

Allie didn’t have to think about her retort, she shook her head. “No, but I was infatuated. I was starved of attention and he gave it to me. And then one day he simply vanished.”

“He got out and enlisted.”

Allie frowned. “But how? He was marked, you don’t leave the guild.”

Jared shrugged. “Perhaps they can’t reach into KRAC.”

She made a noise, chewing over how Christian could carry his Runners’ mark and rise in the military. “However he did it, he left me behind. I always imagined he would come back for me and he never did. He just forgot about me and moved on with his life.” She remembered crying at night from the pain of a broken heart, shattered trust and abandonment.

“I would never abandon you,” Jared’s voice was soft from next to her.

Allie thought how steadfast Jared was in his friendships and his unfaltering sense of honour. “I’m starting to get a sense of that.”

“We still need to talk.” His grip tightened on her hand, as though he feared she would take fright and run.

“I know.” Allie’s heart raced.

He stopped and turned to face her. “No games remember? I don’t want you as a distraction. I want—no, I
need
you, as something more.” He reached out and placed his hand on the nape of her neck, his thumb stroked the sensitive skin as he drew her near. Using the cover of the parasol to shield them from Duncan and Zeb, he kissed her. His tongue danced over the seam of her lips, before he let her go again.

“We can find a middle ground and work this out, you only have to meet me half way,” he said. He tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow as they continued walking.

Allie let out a long held breath. She was heading to an encounter where she needed her wits about her and her thoughts had been turned upside down and shaken violently. Her awareness of Jared next to her heightened as she remembered their kiss the previous night and her body screamed out for more. She was being underhanded. There was no future for her and Jared, because she simply didn’t have one to offer him. By defying Le Foy, she resumed her walk to the gallows.

She had to centre herself, push those thoughts to one side while she concentrated on the task at hand. She needed a distraction, like teasing Jared.

“There’s no need to be jealous of Christian. Hakim though,” she let out a whistle. “All the women in the harem thought he was very fine looking. And he was the most talented guard at the palace.”

Jared’s gaze cut through her and his face paled. “Hakim?”

“Hmmm,” she drew out the noise. “He’s the one who gave me the obsidian blade I always carry.” Allie squeezed his arm. “Don’t worry, I left him back in Egypt, doubt I’ll run into him in England.” She bit the inside of her mouth, to still the laughter wanting to burst forth at his worried expression.

“How talented a guard was he?” Jared asked of his unknown rival.

Allie told an embellished story of Hakim’s talents as they walked.

Jared pulled his watch from his vest. “Two pm,” he said as he replaced the ornate timepiece. They strolled out of the green canopy and the glasshouses came into view. Enormous and ornate with soaring glass panels, they housed the tropical plants.

Allie noted the count sitting in the sunshine on a white painted bench seat, watching their approach. He wore a camel coloured frock coat, matching pale top hat and a crystal topper on his cane that sparkled in the afternoon sun. He rose and inclined his head to Jared and Allie.

“A lovely, peaceful place to discuss business, is this not?” He gestured to the lush surroundings, before placing a kiss on Allie’s outstretched hand.

Duncan and Zeb stayed several paces behind. They halted, out of earshot and out of reach.

Jared cast a glance in their direction. “We bought the package, for visual verification.”

Gregor passed his attention to Zeb before nodding. “He looks exactly like his father. Very well. You are certain no one knows you have him?”

“Le Foy is overlord and no amateur.” Allie defended her father’s professional reputation. “He would not violate your agreement.”
Or would he
? Fractured pieces of conversations danced in her mind. “Lithgow’s school has finished for the holiday, he will not be missed until the new term starts in two weeks’ time.”

Gregor scanned her open face before reaching his decision. “Payment will be made to Le Foy as he instructed. I will have the package collected this afternoon.” He picked up Allie’s hand and tucked it under his arm.

“Our instructions are to deliver him.” Jared halted their progress.

“No.” A cold light entered the older man’s eyes. “I will have my men collect him.”

Allie squeezed her fingers on his arm and drew his attention. “We have our instructions. Le Foy was most adamant that we deliver the boy. I believe he wishes to know if you still hold the older Lithgow and what you have been up to.” She gave him a wink. “I am his eyes on this matter.” She waited to see if he would fall in line with their plan.

“Whisperers, always wanting to know more than they should, prying where they are not invited.” He puffed out air. “Very well, but there will be little for you to sing about, my nightingale.” He pulled a small silver pocket book from within his waistcoat and used the tiny pencil to scribble a note. He tore off the sheet and handed it to Jared. “I expect to see you tomorrow morning, now leave me to stroll with my young friend.” He waved his hand to dismiss Jared.