***
Night saturated the country sky like indigo ink, darkening Gabriel’s spirits. For the past hour, he, Strathaven, and Marius had been canvassing the quiet streets of Camden Town, a village just north of London. He’d stopped through this bucolic hamlet several times before on his way to Hampstead or Highgate and had thought it rather quaint. Never in a million years had he imagined that he’d be here on a desperate search for his son and Thea. That somewhere in this sleepy town a treacherous spymaster was hiding, preparing for the final game.
“There’s another tavern up ahead,” Strathaven said. “The Bedford Arms. We can ask if anyone there has seen Thea and Freddy.”
They approached the bustling building. To the side of the tavern was an arched entryway with a painted sign above reading, “Tea Gardens.” The raucousness of the crowd beneath the strings of lights indicated that beverages significantly more fortifying than tea were being served.
“You two take the gardens,” Gabriel said. “I’ll inquire inside.”
He entered through a door that badly needed oil on its hinges. Patrons were elbow-to-elbow at the rough trench tables. He honed in on the barkeep behind the scarred counter, a beefy ginger-haired man pouring out tankards as fast as the harried-looking barmaids could scoop them up onto their trays. Gabriel approached and laid down a quid.
The barkeep didn’t lift his eyes from his task. “What’ll it be, sir?”
“I’m looking for two people. A woman and a young boy,” Gabriel said.
“Can’t say I’ve seen any boys in here.”
Hope dwindled, yet Gabriel tried again. “The woman, she’s pretty. Thick golden-brown hair, slender, with delicate features.”
“Gor, I’d have noticed a female like that.” This time, the barkeep raised his head to give Gabriel a man-to-man wink. “But, sorry, guv, I haven’t seen her.”
Fear and desperation gripped Gabriel. His temples throbbed, the creaking door and jovial crowd a dull roar in his ears.Where are you, princess? If you’re here somewhere, send me a sign—
“Guv, this boy you mentioned… could he look a might young for his age?”
Gabriel’s attention snapped back to the barkeep. “Yes. He’s slight.”
“Tow-headed? Bran-faced?”
“You’ve seen him?” Gabriel demanded.
The barkeep pointed over his shoulder. “Standing behind you, guv.”
Gabriel spun around. Couldn’t believe his eyes.
There, standing on the threshold, was Freddy. He was pale and disheveled, dirt smearing one cheek and a rip at the elbow of his jacket. But he looked otherwise unharmed.
“Papa?” he said in a quivering voice.
“Frederick.” He was over in three strides, his arms enfolding the boy, holding the small, trembling body close. “How did you get here? Where’s Thea?”
The boy gave a sudden sob. Pulled back.
“We have to go back for her, Papa. Now,” he blurted.
Ice coated Gabriel’s gut. “Where is she?”
“Back at the house where they took us. The bad man, Davenport. She told me to pretend to have a fit and helped me escape through a hole, but she couldn’t get free because of the chains. They still have her, Papa!”
“Slow down, son. Take a breath.” Gabriel took hold of his boy’s shoulders. “Now tell me where this house is.”
“I don’t know the address.”
Frost spread into Gabriel’s blood.
“But I think I can find it again.” Exhaling, Freddy reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial. Eyes wide, he said, “I left a trail with the invisible ink. If we follow it, it will lead us back to Thea.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
