“That is why we came,” Fi piped up. “You have been acting strange, Charlie. All your unexplained absences and furtive behavior—don’t think we haven’t noticed. We had to see for ourselves that you are all right.” Twin furrows appeared between her curving auburn brows. “So, um, are you?”
Charlie couldn’t bring herself to be annoyed at the ladies. Or at Devlin for enlisting them. She saw the worry on the Angels’ faces and knew her friends were only acting out of care. In truth, if she suspected any of them was in trouble, she would react similarly.
She cast a glance at Jack, who shrugged as if to say,I’ll follow your lead.
“I am perfectly well,” she began. “In fact, I was about to contact all of you…”
She trailed off because Glory had prowled up to Jack. With her reddish-brown curls bristling, Glory looked like the protective tigress she was. FF II hissed from her shoulders as she braced her hands on her hips.
“Well, sir?” she demanded. “Are you responsible for our friend’s injury?”
To Jack’s credit, he did not seem taken aback by Glory’s enmity.
“No, ma’am,” he said politely.
Livy joined Glory, eyeing him with equal suspicion.
“What hold do you have over Charlie?” she said bluntly. “Are you blackmailing her?”
“Or are you abusing her in some other fashion?” Fi took her place on Glory’s other side, Pippa trailing behind her.
“You should know, sir,” Fi said, chin lifted, “that we are women of the world. We’ve met scoundrels who manipulate women for their own nefarious ends and can spot them from a mile away. We will not let our friend fall prey to some unscrupulous fiend.”
“Christ,” Jack muttered.
“My dears.” Charlie cut in. “I appreciate your concern, but it is unnecessary. May I introduce Jack Granger, an old friend?”
Taking the cue, he issued an elegant leg.
“Ladies,” he murmured. “Lady Fayne has sung your praises, and I am pleased to make your acquaintances at last.”
The Angels looked unmoved by his charm.
“Mr. Granger did not hurt me,” Charlie insisted. “In fact, he has protected me from danger time and again. If it weren’t for him, my injuries would be a great deal worse.”
“If Mr. Granger did not hurt you,” Glory said, drawing her brows together, “then who did?”
“I will explain everything over tea,” she said.
They gathered around the coffee table, and once the cups were distributed, she filled her friends in on the details of the case. To stop the anarchists, she needed their help, and time was running out. Jack made no effort to stop her, and she took this as his tacit agreement with her strategy. She decided to hold back her past with Jack. She wanted to come to a decision about their future before subjecting their relationship to external scrutiny. She also skimmed over the details of Jack’s profession and the group he worked for, saying only that he had been hired to investigate the anarchists and had come to her for help.
The Angels took everything in stride, listening avidly as Charlie explained that she was working with Jack to discover and put an end to whatever plot the First Flame Society was hatching.
“We will help,” Glory volunteered.
She turned to Jack, who occupied the adjacent wingchair. “On behalf of the Angels, sir, I must apologize for the earlier misunderstanding. Based on what Mr. Devlin told us, we assumed the worst.”
“No apology necessary, Mrs. Chen,” Jack said sincerely. “Indeed, I am relieved to know that Lady Fayne has such loyal friends.”
Glory beamed. On her lap, FF II gave atuk-tukof approval.
“It seems to me that the mysterious liquid is the key, and we should begin the investigation there.” Livy’s green eyes were focused on the vial on the coffee table. “And I know someone who can identify it.”
“Who, Your Grace?” Jack asked.
“Harry Kent.”
Charlie suddenly recalled Livy’s family connection.
