Sheffield made a face but didn’t argue. “Yes, but it would have felt supremely satisfying to punch him in the nose.”
“What a bloodthirsty fellow you have become.” Wrexford stamped out the lingering flames licking up from the spilled lamp oil.
“Speaking of bloodthirsty . . .” Sheffield gazed up at the lathe. “We were extraordinarily lucky that those canisters fell when they did. In another instant—”
“In another instant, you might have been lying dead.” He took a moment to choke down a spurt of raw fear. “What the devil were you thinking?”
Sheffield shrugged. “That only a craven coward runs and leaves a friend in mortal peril.”
Unable to summon a retort, Wrexford changed the subject. Looking up, he studied the top of the lathe. “It defies reason to imagine that the canisters fell at exactly the right moment,” he muttered. “I thought I saw a flutter of movement.”
“A guardian angel?” Sheffield pursed his lips. “Who?”
“Haven’t a clue,” answered Wrexford. He had been asking himself the same question and couldn’t begin to conjure up a logical answer.
“Ye heavens, do you think that the Weasels could have followed us?”
The earl froze for an instant as a chill took hold of his heart. But then he recalled the plans for the night. “No, Raven and Hawk accompanied Charlotte. And despite their ungodly cleverness, even they can’t manage to be in two places at once.”
An odd sound rumbled in Sheffield’s throat. “That’s assuming they are actually human, and not two afreets who used their sorcery to slip free from the pages ofThe Arabian Nights.”
“Whatever black magic is swirling through the night,” responded Wrexford, “let us take our leave of it and return home.”
CHAPTER 22
“Good heavens.” Charlotte winced in sympathy on seeing Sheffield’s face as he limped into the earl’s workroom and gingerly lowered himself into one of the armchairs. The nicks and bruises had his features looking distinctly lopsided. “Are you sure you should be up and about?”
Despite arriving home just a few hours before dawn, Wrexford had insisted on summoning both Sheffield and Cordelia first thing in the morning once he had heard about Peregrine’s discovery.
Sheffield blew out a martyred sigh. “You’re right, Ishouldstill be sleeping, but Wrex apparently thinks otherwise.” He eyed the empty tea table. “I hope you are serving breakfast.”
“McClellan will be here shortly with shirred eggs and toast,” she answered. Noting the deep shadows beneath his eyes, she added, “And plenty of coffee.”
“Excellent,” called Cordelia from just outside the doorway. She had already unfastened her cloak and shrugged it off as she entered. Catching sight of Sheffield, she went very still. “What happened to you?”
“We’re about to explain that,” said Charlotte. “As well as inform the two of you about another critical discovery.”
Sheffield looked surprised on spotting the three boys sitting cross-legged on the carpet, half in shadow by the storage cabinets. “In front of the Weasels?”
“I’m not a Weasel,” pointed out Peregrine.
“You’re an honorary one,” countered Sheffield. “We all know you are capable of creating just as much havoc as they do.”
That seemed to please Peregrine greatly.
“Yes, in front of the Weasels,” answered Wrexford, as he came into the room from the adjoining library, a stack of books in his arms. “It was they who found the clue that has finally made all the pieces of the puzzle fit together.”
“Actually, it was Peregrine who figured it out all by himself,” said Raven.
“That must mean he deservesallthe ginger biscuits,” announced McClellan as she and one of the parlor maids brought in breakfast trays.
“Oiy, he does.” Hawk gave Peregrine an admiring grin. “He’s really clever and observant, especially with mechanical devices.”
“I might have brought an extra plate of biscuits for you and your brother,” responded McClellan, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Loyalty is just as deserving as cleverness.”
“Perhaps more,” murmured Charlotte. Despite the many challenges and threats that still lay ahead, she felt her heart swell as she looked around at her family and dear friends.
“Indeed,” agreed Cordelia, darting a glance at Sheffield through her lashes. “I daresay that is why we’re here.”
