As I go to the stairs and head upward, I feel no better when I reach the top and see all the men gathered around those rooms. I’m hoping one of them gets in my way, but they step aside to allow me passage. When I arrive at the end of the hall, I disappear myself into my room, and the first thing I do, after I enter, is throw the bolt.
But it feels like I’ve locked myself in, rather than made sure no one gets to me.
I go over and sit on the bed. My hands want something to do, but as the felt skirt settles itself with a bend at my knees like a kink in a branch, there isn’t anything to smooth. Glancing down, I see that I messed up the do-up with the blouse, and as I yank the buttons out of their stitched holes, I think of all the things I’ve wished I could try again—
Knock. Knock.
Knock.
My head lifts. And then I rush for the door and unbolt it. “Merc, what happ—”
It’s not him.
I instantly focus on the diamond that is centered on that cravat.
Behind Thale, the corridor has gone absolutely still and quiet. Neither the working women nor their patrons are saying a word, and their bodies are frozen in what I’m guessing were the positions they were in when the big man himself made his appearance.
I step back and indicate the way inside.
Taking off his top hat, Thale enters wordlessly, and I shut the door.
“You left this behind,” he says roughly as he focuses on the floor.
From out of the interior of his fine jacket, he takes a silk handkerchief embroidered with golden thread.
“That’s not mine.”
“Then perhaps you’d like it.”
“You didn’t need a pretext to come up here.”
Putting it back into his pocket, he walks around, checking the shutters, and the corner where there’s evidence of an old leak at the ceiling. He leans into the water closet.
“You need more oil in your lamp. I shall see to that.”
I just wait. Soon enough, he turns to me.
“Which maid,” he says gruffly as his eyes remain at my feet.
My exhale of relief is audible. “The one the cook is beating.”
“That hardly narrows it.”
Flattening my mouth, I pray that the death is happening, right now. “She has a twin who works in the stables.”
Thale nods once. “I know her. Consider it done.”
I take a step forward, focusing on his face as if I am staring down the barrel of a pistol I know how to use. “Just so we’re clear, I will know whether you live up to your side of things. And there will be remedies if you do not.”
Now he frowns, even as he continues to stare at the floor. “My word is bond, no matter what you think of me.”
I hope this is true, because I know I’m lying. I can’t do anything about it if he fails to uphold his vow, but the bluff is the only leverage I have.
Fates, I don’t even know if the girl still lives.
“And now you need to tell me,” he says quietly. “You showed me a lot, but I need the one piece you kept to yourself.”
Opening my mouth, I realize I’m condemning yet another man to death—and yet my words are smooth on my tongue. “The bearded man. The one who sits next to you.” Now I’m frowning. “I don’t understand the weapon, though.”
