The Spiritglass Charade (Stoker & Holmes 2)

“No. Not at all.”

“I see you haven’t given up consorting with that questionable young man,” Grayling said. “Dylan Eckhert? An American and a likely thief.”

I glanced at up him but held my tongue. Grayling knew Dylan as an intruder who’d attempted to break into the British Museum, and clearly remembered my part in releasing him from prison. He didn’t know, of course, that Dylan was an American from the twenty-first century. “The charges against him were dropped.”

“Aye, they were.” His response was so bland as to imply his disappointment with that occurrence.

We’d reached the main entrance to the building, and I was prepared to walk outside and be on my way. “Thank you for your time, Inspector Grayling. And for the use of your coat.”

He looked down at me and all at once I was reminded of that moment two nights ago, when his powerful hands pulled away my corset. Considering the fact that it was an extremely well-constructed garment, with slender leather thongs threaded through metal grommets stitched firmly into the boned satin, it must have taken great strength to rip it apart. My face heated and I was aware of a strange, rolling pitch in my lower belly.

“Miss Holmes.” His voice carried an odd note. “I—er . . . what you did, chasing that thief, I thought was quite—heroic. Foolish, you understand, but heroic nonetheless.”

I blinked, stunned and yet piqued at the same time. Before I could respond, he gave a brief bow. “Good day, Miss Holmes. Do attempt to keep yourself from any other foolish situations.”

Then he spun on his heel and walked away.

Miss Stoker

An Unexpected Arrival

After speaking with Miss Ashton in her bedchamber, Mina went home. She claimed she needed to knit, of all things. I couldn’t imagine anything more unlikely than cognoggin Mina Holmes making a sweater . . . except for Mina Holmes staking a vampire. I snickered, envisioning her lecturing the UnDead to death.

In Mina’s absence, I was charged with watching over Miss Ashton. “I don’t want her out of your sight,” my partner ordered.

The only problem was I’d promised Florence I’d go shopping with her today.

She’d greeted me when I left in the morning. “The Opening Night Ball is on Sunday. That’s only three days! And as much as I prefer to have custom-made gowns, you’re going to have to settle for a ready-made ensemble, I fear, unless we get very lucky with Madame today.”

I hadn’t much choice but to agree to accompany Florence on the long-awaited shopping trip. But, as much as Mina Holmes might think otherwise, I’m not a fool. I was fully aware of the danger Miss Ashton was in, and that she couldn’t be left unguarded.

Thus, as soon as I mentioned Willa Ashton’s young, single cousin Herrell, with whom I’d walked through Vauxhall, Florence was delighted to include Miss Ashton in our excursion. So, I invited Willa to come shopping with us—and the girl agreed enthusiastically, despite her aunt’s insistence she stay in bed.

Willa looked slightly better than she had earlier this morning but still had dark circles under her eyes. However, she was stylishly dressed, her hair coiffed and cream gloves spotless. She sparkled with excitement at the prospect of a day out.

We spent a pleasant afternoon shopping. Willa seemed to have forgotten her worries, and she and Florence got on well together. It was after six-thirty when we arrived back at the Ashton home, and Willa was kind enough to invite Florence and me in for a small supper.

Aunt Geraldine, who joined our meal, was perfectly lovely and charming. She regaled us with stories about her youth spent on the Continent, including summers in Rome and Greece and a short term of study at university in Paris. The clock was striking seven forty-five by the time we finished our meal. Mr. Herrell Ashton, however, made no appearance.

Mina wasn’t due to arrive until eight-thirty. I couldn’t think of any further reason to delay returning home with Florence, and it was close enough to her arrival that I thought Willa would be safe if I left my post. I also hoped that if I kept my sister-in-law away from home late enough into the evening, she’d get ready for bed upon our return and I’d be able to sneak back out.

I was going hunting tonight.

However, I delayed as long as possible, even though Florence was making signals behind Willa’s back for me to hurry. There was always the chance that the eligible Mr. Ashton might appear, which would delight my sister-in-law and could keep us there for another fifteen minutes to ensure Willa’s safety. But that didn’t happen.

We were standing on the front porch making plans for another shopping trip when a delivery carriage drove up behind my own vehicle and parked. I hardly noticed the tall delivery man as he carried his parcel to the servants’ entrance at the rear of the house, for I was scanning the street in hopes of another carriage appearing. Namely that of Mina Holmes.

All at once a carriage came barreling around the corner. As it trundled down the street, passing the delivery wagon and my carriage, I heard a loud boom.

Something light and sparkling erupted in the air, and smoke billowed. Willa shrieked, Florence gasped, and I spun, looking around. An accident? Not blooming likely.

I dashed off the front porch, watching for anything that could be considered a threat. People came rushing out of nearby houses. The carriage had disappeared down the street, but a bulky item sat in the middle of the road, left behind by the speeding vehicle. Middy leapt from his seat in my carriage, and I joined him in the middle of the road. The large item was smoldering and looked like a bundle of clothing.

“Stand back! It might explode,” I ordered.

But neighbors gathered in the yard and street. Middy and I, as well as one of the Ashton footmen, approached the bundle. The footman had brought a pitchfork, and I held my breath as he poked the dark object.

Nothing happened. He poked it again, using the pitchfork to open what appeared to be nothing more than a wad of cloaks and blankets.

It continued to smolder, and though I looked around, I neither saw nor felt evidence of a threat. No vampiric chill. No villainous figure lurking in the shadows. This would be just the sort of thing Pix would do to attract my attention. Hadn’t he done so just last week in order to climb into my carriage?

But I wasn’t taking any chances. The gawkers eased away, and I turned to Willa. “Let’s go back inside for a moment.”

The delivery carriage pulled out from behind my vehicle, and Middy waved as he took his place back in the driver’s seat. Meanwhile, the helpful groom had poked the dark wad into a flat mass that smelled like smoke but no longer flamed.