“Thank you, Charlie.” Glory was beaming. “I plan to continue my work as an Angel during my pregnancy?—”
“Little tigress, we talked about this,” her husband said under his breath.
“ButI did promise to take extra care,” she amended. “This morning, when Mr. Chen was taking my pulse, he noticed a slight disturbance. It’s probably nothing, but to err on the side of caution, I should rest a day or two.”
“Possibly three.” Chen’s tone was dry. “If you can remain still that long.”
Glory rolled her eyes. “Being still isn’t that hard.”
“For you it is.” His mouth tipped up, as if he were recalling something satisfying. “Luckily, you have me to guide you.”
Whatever the private memory was, it turned Glory’s cheeks apple-red.
“I am sure I will be fine by tomorrow—” she began.
“Do not worry about it. I will ask Livy.” Charlie patted Glory’s hand. “Get some rest, dear.”
Jack met his subordinates in their usual spot. Given a recent haul from the Smithfield market, the back room of Mr. Campbell’s shop was filled with carcasses awaiting preparation. Sawdust covered the floor, soaking up but not hiding the dark stains of butchery.
Delaney, a redhead today wearing a washer woman’s garb, issued her usual refrain.
“We really cannot find a better place to meet?”
Jack took a drink of the butcher’s tea. “It’s not that bad.”
“The animal corpses or the tea?” Delaney wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know how you can stomach Campbell’s brew.”
“Let’s get this over with.” Laurent swatted flies with a handkerchief. “You called the meeting,mon ami. What have you got for us?”
Jack explained the situation at Brompton’s.
“The First Flame and a match manufactory, eh?” Laurent scratched his head. “Bit on the nose, as the English say.”
“Or they’re thumbing their noses at us,” Delaney grumbled. “The bastards think they’re untouchable.”
“They are if we cannot get evidence of wrongdoing.” Jack shoved his hands in his pockets. “Lady Fayne is infiltrating the manufactory as a worker.”
Calderone let out a low whistle.
Laurent quirked a brow. “You’re letting her go in?”
“My permission was inconsequential,” Jack said wryly. “I trust her, however. She knows what she’s doing.”
“Primus isn’t going to like this,” Delaney predicted darkly. “After Hastings, he wanted you to shake her loose. He was not pleased when she absconded with the clue. Got an earful about it, didn’t I. As if I had anything to do with it.”
“I am not shaking Charlotte loose,” Jack stated. “We are getting married again.”
Which reminded him: he needed to find time to stop at Rundell, Bridge & Co. to commission a ring for Lottie. The jewelers catered to the upper crust and had fashioned the Imperial State Crown worn by Her Majesty the Queen at her coronation. He hoped they could get the order done quickly because he wanted to propose to Lottie the moment this mission was over.
Delaney crossed her arms over her chest. “I want to be a fly on the wall when you tell Primus.”
“My private life is none of Primus’s business. In fact…” Jack hesitated before giving voice to the decision that had been forming in his head. “In fact, after this case, I am out. For good.”
The other spies stared at him. Even though Jack could not say they were close, they were the nearest thing to family he had. He felt a tug akin to loss that he was closing this chapter of his life. But he was ready, more than ready, to move on.
To start a new life with Lottie, unfettered by secrets.
Well, there was still one. He told himself that what happened with Judith had no bearing on his marriage and his future. He might work up the courage to tell Lottie about it one day…or maybe he wouldn’t. Either way, he wasn’t lying to her. He was just keeping his disgrace where it ought to be. Dead and buried.
