Choosing to stick to Kendrick’s side, she followed him to the next door.She’d wanted to question him about his search method numerous times, though not in front of his men.
Why hadn’t he headed straight for the stairs Mr.Croft had mentioned?Why weren’t they looking into the secret tunnel and chamber where Mr.Croft claimed he’d encountered Melroy?
Surely that was a concrete lead while this…
Searching here felt like a waste of precious time.
Kendrick opened the door and stepped inside the room, taking one of the oil lamps with him.A Runner named Lewis gestured for Gabriella to precede him.Not wanting to be left behind in the darkness, she stepped forward, her gaze immediately drawn to the parts of the room Kendrick lit while moving about with the lamp.
“This is no storage room,” he said, confirming what she had already noticed.
The space contained an operating table, a small cabinet, and a secondary table on which supplies were still on display.Kendrick held the lamp over it to better evaluate the various items.There weren’t many; just a jar, a measuring cup, and some rope.Not exactly medical in nature but enough to send chills down Gabriella’s spine.
“An odd collection of items,” Lewis muttered.
Kendrick set down the oil lamp, picked up the jar, and sniffed it.
“Unlike us, it looks like you may have found something.”The comment was made by Jackson, who’d entered the room with the rest of the Runners.
“The smell of laudanum is undeniable, but there’s something else I can’t make out.”Kendrick offered Gabriella the jar.“What do you think?”
His choosing to defer to her in this instance didn’t just catch her by surprise, it filled her with an almost unreasonable amount of pleasure.Honestly, having him turn to her for help should not make her feel quite so special, and yet it did.
She curled her fingers around the glass container, her fingers briefly brushing his as she took it.Her stomach instantly tightened, her face heating so much, she appreciated the dim lighting since it would prevent the others from seeing her blush.
A silly reaction to have, but she supposed it must be the result of being put on the spot.It surely had nothing to do with the aggravating chief constable’s fleeting touch.
She took a deep breath and prayed that no one could hear the thunderous beat of her heart as she raised the jar to her nose.A slow inhalation provided the answer Kendrick was seeking.“I’m detecting a hint of cannabis, perhaps some wolfsbane too.”
“Both of which Wentworth mentioned in his journal,” Kendrick said.
Gabriella dropped her gaze to the rope before sliding it toward the table.Bile rose in her throat.“Does that mean we’ve found the place where the murders took place?”
“Possibly.”Kendrick, showing no hint of queasiness whatsoever, told his Runners, “I want this room sealed.No one comes in here unless they’re working for Bow Street.Jackson, please make sure the task is properly handled.”
Jackson responded with a succinct, “Yes, sir.”
“We’ll need to study the findings we’ve made in greater detail,” Kendrick added, “which means we’ll have to return with additional light.But since we’re here, I’d also like to search the area Mr.Croft mentioned.Lewis, you’ll join me together with Anderson.Miss Hastings, you’re free to decide which team you’d rather be on.Jackson’s will probably have you back above ground much sooner.”
Gabriella stiffened in response to his comment and what it implied.Despite her best effort to hide her discomfort, he’d still managed to pick up on it and she hated that.It made her look like the typically feeble female who lacked the spine required to match a man’s courage.
For some annoying reason, it infuriated her even more thatheshould be the one to suspect her of being afraid.Determined to prove him wrong, she crossed her arms and raised her chin.“I’ll come with you.”
He angled his head.Although the light from his oil lamp did not reach his eyes, leaving most of his face cast in shadow, she knew from his stance that he was assessing her.“Are you sure?”
She straightened her spine.“Very.”
“I’ll not be able to sacrifice one of my men should you require an escort later.”
“Then it’s a good thing I shan’t be needing an escort.”The words sounded harsher than she’d intended, but lord have mercy, the man had a way of provoking her with his insinuations.
“Good,” he muttered before he swung away from her and strode for the door.“Let’s go then.”
Gabriella gulped a breath and went in pursuit of the bothersome pest.Whatever physical responses she’d had toward him thus far obviously was caused by severe dislike of his person.Did that mean she didn’t admire his character?Of course not.As a chief constable, he deserved her respect but as a man, she dearly wanted to strangle him.
Every time he made her believe she’d misjudged him and that there was cause for her to like him, he undid it in the next instant.It was insufferable.Hewas insufferable.And the idea of having him think her a wilting flower was simply not to be borne.
So incensed was she by the comment he’d made, not merely in her presence alone but in front of five others, she barely registered the descent into the subterranean tunnel until she was following Kendrick through it.
