The Heartless City (35 page)

Slowly, as if he’d stepped inside a dream, Elliot raised his head, and there―at the foot of the Grand Staircase, with a gun in his hand―was Cam. As soon as he saw Elliot, he dropped the pistol, leapt over his father’s body, and rushed straight into his arms. Relief, regret―but more than anything, love―consumed them both, and Elliot clutched him back with all the strength he had left in his body.

“El, I’m sorry,” Cam cried.

“No, don’t be―”

“No, listen to me.” He stepped back and looked into his eyes, gripping the sleeves of his coat. “This morning I abandoned the two people I love most in this world.”

“You had no choice, and you couldn’t have known what he’d do.”

“I should have known. And I should have listened to you, because you were right about everything. I don’t deserve you, El―your love, your acceptance―”

“Cam, shut up!” Elliot shook his head and laughed, nearly drunk with joy and relief. “You saved my life―all our lives. Give yourself a break.”

For once, Cam was too stunned to speak, and Elliot touched his arm.
“Aller à Andrew
,” he said, smiling. “Go to him. He wants to see you.”

Cam flushed and stared down at his feet. “How do you know?”

“Because I can feel it myself, remember?” Elliot quirked up an eyebrow, and when he saw it, Cam spit with laughter.

“Christ, you’re smug now,” he said with a sigh. “This power is going to make you bloody impossible to live with.”

Elliot smiled again. “
Je t’aime
.”
I love you.

“Well, who doesn’t?” Cam grinned, let out a breath, and then hurried over to Andrew, and once he was gone, Elliot’s gaze fell on Iris across the room. She beamed at him, and he felt the force of her love from where he stood, so he crossed the floor and swept her into his arms, sharing his own.

lliot held Iris’s hand as they climbed over the pebbles and cobbles of Brighton’s rocky shore. The air smelled of salt and fish, and the setting sun had spread a blanket of gold out over the beach. Elliot’s heart had been racing since the ocean first came into view, and now that they were nearing the water’s edge, he thought it might burst. Iris’s excitement only amplified the feeling, but just as he had every moment he possibly could for the last two months, he kept his fingers entwined with hers, clasping her hand even tighter.

The quarantine had been officially lifted the day before, but they hadn’t had the chance to get away until today. Even though the Hyde menace was now considered eradicated, a few people were still trickling in to Frank and Virginia’s clinics, which Elliot and Iris had been helping to oversee. Today, however, they’d finally boarded a train at the newly opened King’s Cross, and in less than an hour, arrived at the nearest seaside city.

“Is it like you remembered?” Andrew called to Iris over the crashing waves. He and Cam were walking beside them, holding hands as well. The beach was out on the edge of Brighton―more rocky, but also deserted―which made them feel safe enough to behave as they would at the palace.

“It’s even better,” Iris said, smiling. “Everything is.”

“So, this is the English Channel, then?” Philomena asked. She and Jennie had been strolling arm in arm behind them, but now Philomena was hurrying up to the front, dragging Jennie along. Elliot let out a breath of relief as Philomena shot past him; at least for the moment, her joy had caused her grief for Albert to wane.

“What do you know?” Cam asked Andrew. “Miss Blackwell has a basic, working knowledge of geography.”

Philomena only paused long enough to stick her tongue out at him. “What I meant,” she said, “is France is on the other side. There’s only a stretch of water between us and a different country.”

Elliot looked out over the sea, now just a few meters away. He and Iris had talked about going to Paris for him to study art and her ornithology, but both of them wanted to stay and help their parents a while longer. Cam and Andrew would also remain in London for the time being, at least until the government had fully transitioned back. Only Philomena had definite plans to move away; she and Jennie were sailing for New York in a couple of weeks. They’d grown quite close in the last few months, especially after Albert’s death, and though Philomena’s parents had promised to cut her off if she left, she remained determined to pursue her dreams on the stage. Together, she and Jennie could find work and support themselves, at least until Philomena became an international star, which Elliot had no doubt she would eventually be.

Finally, the six of them reached the edge of the rocky shore. The sea stretched out before them, blue and endless as the sky, its salty spray filling their lungs as the waves lapped at their feet. They stood in silence, and then, softly, Jennie began to cry. Philomena wrapped her arms around her, resting her head on her shoulder, and Andrew did the same to Cam, who reached up and touched his cheek. Iris squeezed Elliot’s hand and leaned closer.

“Are you all right?” she whispered. “I mean, with everyone’s feelings right now. Is it too much?”

Elliot sighed and closed his eyes as love and hope washed over his heart like the waves along the beach.

“No,” he said, opening his eyes. “It’s not too much.”

I first have to thank my agent, Jen Linnan, not only for taking a chance on me in the first place, but for understanding me (and my writing) on pretty much a soul mate level. Next, all of the people on my team at Curiosity Quills, who have not only made my dream come true, but made me a better writer – especially my editor, Claudia Carozza, and my acquiring editor, Vicki Keire. I am so happy to be a part of the CQ family.

To my incredibly supportive family: My parents, Vicki and Scott Price, for always reading my work and never judging me for it (at least not out loud). My sister, Megan Coberly, who has always been my number one reader, cheerleader, and friend, and my brother, David “the raptor” Price, who always provides the enthusiasm (and expletives) I need.

I also have to thank my amazing beta readers, most of whom are former students and/or fabulous writers themselves. Nancy Horner for understanding me without ever even meeting me and giving me the strength and confidence to journey on, Grant Urban for being there for me as a person and a writer, Kaitlin Hicks for her hilarious, stream-of-consciousness responses, Alyssa Marr for her French tutoring, and Kylie Groom, Jordan Lolar, Kaycee Kellogg, and Nicole Cummings for their indispensable fangirling.

Thanks to my former professor and constant mentor, Darcy Zabel, for being the first person – other than my mother – to tell me I could be a writer and help me pursue it. To my uncle and fellow author, James Bryan Smith (or Uncle Jimmy), for always making time for me and supporting me as well. To Dr. Marv Hinten for appreciating my passion for justice and introducing me to Victorian/Edwardian England. To Dean Hall for helping me get to a place where I was strong enough to finally tackle a novel. To Darham Rogers for his crucial historical knowledge, Xan Mattek for unknowingly providing inspiration, and Scott Newland for blowing my mind with his awesome facts about zoos.

And finally, to my husband, Matt Berthot, who is not only the love of my life and the best father in the world, but also the biggest supporter of my writing and my dreams. I couldn’t have written this book if not for his constant love and encouragement, and also if not for his help in taking care of the next person I have to thank: My oldest son, Maximus, for showing me more love than I have ever known before. And lastly, to my youngest son, Leonardo, who – at the time of this writing – has yet to join us out in the world, but whom I already love with every fiber of my being. I want both of you to know as you grow up that you can achieve your dreams; all you need to do is trust your heart and never give up.