Read Online A Conspiracy of Alchemists: Book One in the Chronicles of Light and Shadow by Liesel Schwarz - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Liesel Schwarz
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me.” She wiped at her face.
Elle frowned. “Who? Who came?”
“Oh, they were like devils, they were. All wrapped up in cloaks.” She eyed Marsh’s carriage cloak. “They came into the house through the front door and grabbed the professor, right where he was in his study. They didn’t even let him put on his coat.” She sniffed and rubbed her eyes.
“My father has been abducted?”
“Constable Pierce only left about an hour ago. A proper case has been opened and everything, but what do the local lads know about such a crime? This is the work of Shadow, I tell you.” She shook her head and set the frying pan down on the kitchen table. “What has the world come to that we’re not even safe in our own beds anymore? That’s what I’d like to know.”
“No!” Elle strode past Mrs. Hinges ,through the kitchen and into the house. She tore up the stairs, flinging open doors on the second floor until she reached the professor’s bedroom. The bed was made. No one had slept in it.
She bounded down the stairs and into her father’s study. It too was empty. The professor’s chair lay on its side and books and papers were scattered across the parquet floor.
Shock enveloped Elle like a wet wool blanket and she sank to her knees. The others found her there a few minutes later.
“Oh, my dear girl. I’m so sorry. I should have watched over him more carefully.” Mrs. Hinges put her arm around Elle.
Marsh spoke. “Mrs. Hinges, Miss Chance is currently in my charge and so it falls to me to assist in these circumstances.” There was quiet authority in his voice.
Mrs. Hinges rubbed her eyes again. “In your charge? But I don’t understand.”
“It’s all a silly misunderstanding. Nothing to be concerned over. Mr. Marsh
was just about to leave,” Elle said.
“On the contrary. I think my stay here has just begun,” Marsh said.
“I said, you are leaving.”
“And I said I am not going anywhere—not until I know what has happened here.”
They glared at one other. Neither blinked.
“Perhaps we should hear what his lordship thinks,” Mrs. Hinges said.
“I don’t really care what he thinks. This is none of his business.”
“Oh, but I think it is,” he said. “And since I so recently find myself in charge of a certain freight ship, currently moored in Croydon,” There was a dangerous edge to his voice.
“Eleanor. Where are your manners?” said Mrs. Hinges, now fully composed. “And if you are going to insist on wearing that terrible shirt, at least make sure that it is tucked in properly.”
Elle suppressed a sigh as she straightened her shirt. Mrs. Hinges was a formidable woman; there was no arguing with her once her mind was made up. And it wouldn’t hurt to have Mr. Marsh where she could keep an eye on him. “Very well, you can stay. But don’t get too comfortable.”
“Oh, I will do my best not to.” Marsh gave her one of his irritating little smiles.
Mrs. Hinges straightened her apron, fished a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed her eyes. “Well, gentlemen, I had better take your coats, then. Perhaps a spot of breakfast is called for. You must be hungry after your long journey. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the guest rooms, where you may wash up. This way, if you please.”
Elle glared at Marsh as he followed Mrs. Hinges from the room. But she had her ship to think of and so she would have to play his strange little game a little longer.
“Don’t worry, little one. I am here to help. I won’t let him take the Water Lily, you have my word on that,” Patrice whispered as he walked past.
“Thank you. You are a gallant and true friend,” Elle said. “It’s good to know that I have someone I can rely on.”
CHAPTER 9
About an hour later, Elle had swapped her flying clothes for a demure gray skirt and white blouse with a brooch at the throat. She had even taken the time to pin her hair up in a rather fetching Gibson Girl knot. Ready to face them as
Elle frowned. “Who? Who came?”
“Oh, they were like devils, they were. All wrapped up in cloaks.” She eyed Marsh’s carriage cloak. “They came into the house through the front door and grabbed the professor, right where he was in his study. They didn’t even let him put on his coat.” She sniffed and rubbed her eyes.
“My father has been abducted?”
“Constable Pierce only left about an hour ago. A proper case has been opened and everything, but what do the local lads know about such a crime? This is the work of Shadow, I tell you.” She shook her head and set the frying pan down on the kitchen table. “What has the world come to that we’re not even safe in our own beds anymore? That’s what I’d like to know.”
“No!” Elle strode past Mrs. Hinges ,through the kitchen and into the house. She tore up the stairs, flinging open doors on the second floor until she reached the professor’s bedroom. The bed was made. No one had slept in it.
She bounded down the stairs and into her father’s study. It too was empty. The professor’s chair lay on its side and books and papers were scattered across the parquet floor.
Shock enveloped Elle like a wet wool blanket and she sank to her knees. The others found her there a few minutes later.
“Oh, my dear girl. I’m so sorry. I should have watched over him more carefully.” Mrs. Hinges put her arm around Elle.
Marsh spoke. “Mrs. Hinges, Miss Chance is currently in my charge and so it falls to me to assist in these circumstances.” There was quiet authority in his voice.
Mrs. Hinges rubbed her eyes again. “In your charge? But I don’t understand.”
“It’s all a silly misunderstanding. Nothing to be concerned over. Mr. Marsh
was just about to leave,” Elle said.
“On the contrary. I think my stay here has just begun,” Marsh said.
“I said, you are leaving.”
“And I said I am not going anywhere—not until I know what has happened here.”
They glared at one other. Neither blinked.
“Perhaps we should hear what his lordship thinks,” Mrs. Hinges said.
“I don’t really care what he thinks. This is none of his business.”
“Oh, but I think it is,” he said. “And since I so recently find myself in charge of a certain freight ship, currently moored in Croydon,” There was a dangerous edge to his voice.
“Eleanor. Where are your manners?” said Mrs. Hinges, now fully composed. “And if you are going to insist on wearing that terrible shirt, at least make sure that it is tucked in properly.”
Elle suppressed a sigh as she straightened her shirt. Mrs. Hinges was a formidable woman; there was no arguing with her once her mind was made up. And it wouldn’t hurt to have Mr. Marsh where she could keep an eye on him. “Very well, you can stay. But don’t get too comfortable.”
“Oh, I will do my best not to.” Marsh gave her one of his irritating little smiles.
Mrs. Hinges straightened her apron, fished a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed her eyes. “Well, gentlemen, I had better take your coats, then. Perhaps a spot of breakfast is called for. You must be hungry after your long journey. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the guest rooms, where you may wash up. This way, if you please.”
Elle glared at Marsh as he followed Mrs. Hinges from the room. But she had her ship to think of and so she would have to play his strange little game a little longer.
“Don’t worry, little one. I am here to help. I won’t let him take the Water Lily, you have my word on that,” Patrice whispered as he walked past.
“Thank you. You are a gallant and true friend,” Elle said. “It’s good to know that I have someone I can rely on.”
CHAPTER 9
About an hour later, Elle had swapped her flying clothes for a demure gray skirt and white blouse with a brooch at the throat. She had even taken the time to pin her hair up in a rather fetching Gibson Girl knot. Ready to face them as
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