“I didn’t know that Colette’s offspring would grow up to be a monster.” Lancaster shook his head. “But when we came to London, and I met Isadora Rigby, there was something…well, familiar about her. Something about the way she looked at me, as if she knew me. Something I couldn’t put a finger on.”
“Perhaps you didn’t want to know,” Jack shot back.
“Perhaps you are right.” For the first time, Lancaster’s age showed, and he looked weary. “Even though I had no reason to, nothing but an instinct to go on, I investigated her background. The more I looked, the less there was to find. I knew only that she was French, born in the same year that my child with Colette would have been. That wasn’t enough, Granger, to pin her as a notorious criminal.”
“Maybe not, but it was more than enough to share with us,” Jack said flatly. “Your team. The people you ought to have trusted and protected.”
“I have my regrets?—”
“It is too late now. After this, I am done. We all are.”
Turning, Jack walked away.
People swarmed the exhibition, eager to see what was inside the glass structure that had been tantalizing them for months.Oohsandaahswere a refrain as they wandered through the sweeping hall of delights. They examined curious and precious objects, stopping to peer up at the giant trees, which had seemed ordinary in the park but had a magical presence inside this astounding glass box.
Everywhere, people of all classes saw wonders.
Everywhere, Charlie saw danger.
She was posted on the second-floor balcony, across from Prometheus. It gave her a bird’s-eye view of the dais and crowd below. The Angels and Jack’s colleagues were circulating amongst the visitors, subtly and effectively monitoring the area. Pippa and Cullen had brought whistles that made a distinctive bird-like sound; if anyone spotted trouble, they would blow the whistle, so to speak.
Policemen were posted along a perimeter around the dais and elm, yet they had to be careful. Given clashes with authorities in the past, crowds were generally not fond of law enforcement; one wrong move, even in this celebration of civilization and progress, could turn the happy visitors into a mob. Which was exactly what the First Flame would want.
Charlie saw Jack circling Prometheus along with Maria. Thanks to Master Chen, who’d bound his ribs and applied a healing salve to his wounds, Jack was moving well. In fact, despite his recent ordeal, he appeared his usual virile, outsized self.
Because he is a survivor. A warrior. My hero.
His gaze met hers, and his lips curved in a smile that was only for her.
A buzz came over the crowd, signaling the arrival of the royal family. Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by their eldest children, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, came down the aisle of red carpet leading to the dais. A coterie of guards proceeded and followed them. As the family advanced, regally waving and nodding to the adoring hordes, Charlie saw Hawksmoor and his fellow agents moving alongside them in the crowd.
At that instant, her gaze snagged on a familiar figure farther up ahead. A tall man with thinning fair hair…when he turned his head, she saw his face clearly beneath the brim of his hat.Karlsson.She blew her whistle, the sound loud enough to draw the attention of her team but fading into the cacophony for everyone else. She caught the Angels’ gazes, pointing at the target. Livy, who was closest, scampered through the crowd toward Karlsson, as nimble as the ratcatcher she was supposed to be.
Charlie’s heart thumped as the royal couple continued down the aisle. In a few feet, the Queen would directly pass by Karlsson—did he intend to mount an attack? If he used the vile potion, he could set the carpet on fire, endangering the lives of everyone packed into the building. She gnawed on her lip as he reached for something in his pocket.
Livy dodged through the crowd, closing the gap between her and Karlsson. Luckily, Her Majesty stopped to exchange greetings with a child, and Livy passed her, reaching Karlsson with moments to spare. With a deftness that did her training proud, Livy pretended to run into the bounder, tripping him in the process. He went down with a shout, and she landed atop him. Hopping up, she took off again, squeezing through the throng.
Karlsson rose, his furious expression turning into one of comic surprise when he reached into his pocket and found it empty. He swung his head in Livy’s direction, stalking after her, shoving startled people—including women and children—aside. He was intercepted by a pair of policemen. They dragged him off to the cheers of the crowd who had no tolerance for uncouth behavior.
One down.
Charlie continued scanning the path toward the dais. An unsavory-looking fellow caught her attention, especially when he bent to reach for something. As she was about to sound the alarm again, he straightened, a little girl in his arms. He hoisted her onto his shoulders, beaming with fatherly pride at her delight. Charlie looked beyond them…and saw Pippa whisper something to Glory. An instant later, the pair was on the move.
It took Charlie a moment to recognize whom Pippa had spotted. Ellsworth Rigby had transformed himself into a pearl-wearing matron in a plaid dress. He stood near the end of the carpet, as close to the dais as the public was allowed to be. He clutched a beaded reticule as if his life depended upon it. Pippa approached him with a flirtatious swagger, and he looked taken aback, but he retained a tight grip on his bag. Behind him, Glory set FF II loose from her pocket. The ferret made a beeline for Rigby, darting beneath his skirts.
Whatever FF II did caused Rigby to emit a yelp so high-pitched it sounded convincingly female. The reticule flew from his hands, and Charlie’s breath lodged as the dangerous cargo went flying. If there was a vial inside that bag and it broke… Glory sprinted after it, her lightnesskung fua thing to behold. She leapt into the air, twisting elegantly, catching the reticule’s strings in her fingers. She landed easily and, catching Charlie’s gaze, gave a thumbs-up.
Charlie let out a breath as a struggling Ellsworth was led away. There were two other incidents around the dais, the would-be perpetrators foiled by Fiona, Hawker, and Mrs. Peabody. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert finally arrived at the dais, mounting the steps, their guards forming a protective barrier. Even so, unease slithered through Charlie. The royal family was literally and figuratively on the world’s stage: there was no better time for Isadora Rigby to send her message of destruction.
Where is she?
The ceremony began. Prince Albert read the Report of the Royal Commissioners to the Queen, thebaldacchinoswaying overhead. The crowd quieted, their attention rapt upon their reigning family. Jack, who’d been roving around Prometheus, suddenly halted. Reading his rigid body posture, Charlie followed the line of his gaze.
A grey-haired lady wearing a lavender hat and promenade dress had slipped through the policemen’s perimeter. Since she was bent over, using a cane to shuffle along, they had probably assumed she was harmless. She carried a knitting bag and approached Prometheus. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Jack was already running over, Chen and Cullen doing the same from different directions. Charlie blew the whistle…but it was too late.
Reaching inside the bag, the old lady pulled out a fistful of glass vials and threw them at the base of the tree. The glass shattered, liquid splashing the trunk. Instantly, flames roared to life. Jack, Chen, and Cullen arrived a second later with bags ofTessa’s Friend. They threw the powder at the tree, extinguishing some of the rising flames. They were joined by the Angels and Jack’s colleagues, whose contribution of powder put out the rest.
All of this happened in mere moments. Riveted by the ceremony, the audience seemed to take no notice of the near calamity. The team was preoccupied with putting out the fire and did not immediately give chase to Isadora Rigby, who made a run toward the nearest exit.
