Charlie abandoned her watch and dashed for the stairs.
By the time she made it outside, she saw Jack several yards ahead of her. He was pursuing Isadora through the field of waiting carriages that stood between the back of the Crystal Palace and a nearby pond. Coachmen, grooms, and servants milled about. Isadora used the horde and conveyances to her advantage, ducking in and out of sight. Jack ran into the next aisle, and Charlie followed.
As Jack was faster, the distance between them widened. Charlie lost sight of Isadora, but Jack broke into a sprint. Then she saw what he did: Isadora leaping into the driver’s seat of a carriage. The passenger compartment was filled with crates, more strapped on top and to the back. And Isadora’s alternate plan became clear.
With that amount of explosive material, she could take out the entire building.
Isadora steered the carriage into the aisle, heading straight for the Crystal Palace. Panic gripped Charlie as she yanked out her pistol. She raised it, her arms shaking with indecision. If she shot at Isadora, and the carriage crashed into the others, the explosion would result in significant fatalities. But if Isadora managed to drive the carriage into the exhibition…
At that instant, Jack turned, his gaze meeting Charlie’s. Her panic turned to horror when she realized what he meant to do. He mouthed the words,I love you.
Then he ran toward the oncoming carriage.
There was no choice but to gain control of the carriage.
Any other option would lead to a heavy death toll, and Jack could not let that happen.
You can do this. Jump into the driver’s seat and grab the reins. Also, don’t die, or Lottie will never forgive you.
The rush of battle cleared his head as he neared the accelerating vehicle. He saw the malicious glee on Isadora’s face as she prepared to mow him down. At the last moment, he swerved and jumped, grabbing onto the side of the carriage and pulling himself into the driver’s seat.
Isabella yowled with rage as he fought for the reins. They tussled, Jack yanking fiercely to prevent the horses from running into a group of footmen playing dice. The carriage slowed as he and Isadora continued to grapple, and he almost had the upper hand when Isadora suddenly let go. He saw the blade flash in her hand; it was too late to dodge.
He angled away as best he could, bracing for the strike.
Isadora screamed.
Lancaster had jumped into the driver’s seat on her other side, grabbing her wrist and disarming her with a ruthless twist. The three of them jostled against one another as the horses, realizing no one was in control, neighed wildly and started to gallop.
Jack had to use one hand to grip the side of the perch, and his remaining grip on the reins was slipping.
“Sir,” he shouted. “I can’t hold on?—”
“Then let go.” In the throes of wrestling with Isadora, Primus met Jack’s gaze. “A man must take responsibility for his actions.”
Then Primus gave Isadora a shove that catapulted Jack from the perch.
Jack hit the ground hard. As he rolled, his body was a pulsating mass of pain. He fought the swamping darkness. A rumble went through his body, a deafening blast making his head pound even more. Was that the smell of burning…brimstone?
Was this death? Had he died and gone to hell?
“Jack. Jack, my darling. Don’t you dare die on me?—”
Lottie? His goddess. If she was here, he couldn’t be in hell.
He forced his eyes open and saw his beloved’s anxious face above him. He glimpsed the Angels, keeping the crowd at bay.
“Not dead,” he croaked.
“Yet,” she said in a suffocated voice. “I may murder you for risking your neck like that.”
It came back in a rush. He tried to sit up.
“Don’t move, darling. You may have broken?—”
Lottie’s warning came too late as fresh pain erupted through him, and the world spun.
He fell back, panting. “Wh-hat happened?”
