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Authors: Cindy Spencer Pape
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importantly, he genuinely seemed to care for Nell. Therefore, Tom needed to find the boy as quickly as possible and get the hell away from Nell and her fiancé.
He slipped out of the room, finished dressing and made his way downstairs. Victor and Connor, also early risers, shared the breakfast table, while Victor’s butler and former first mate, Barnaby Hatch, hastily stood at Tom’s approach.
Tom waved his hand. “Sit down, Mr. Hatch. You’re not going to offend me.”
“Actually, Barnaby has some news that may interest you.” Victor glared at Hatch. “It seems we’ve some missing children here in Blackwell Village, too, only nobody bothered to mention it to me until now.”
Hatch swallowed a chunk of kidney pie. “I didn’t know until last night. One of the footmen was down at the tavern and heard about it. Seems a couple lads went missing last week. Parents thought they’d just gone off on a lark, which they’ve apparently done before. Only this time they haven’t come back.”
Victor turned back to Tom. “We’ve already sent men down to the village to help with the search. I don’t see any likelihood that it’s related to your missing boy, but it is a coincidence.”
“And those are always suspect.” Connor scratched his chin. “Seems like there’s a tie to the issue in London, as well. Children missing. If this is a pattern that runs across the whole of England, there’s something very, very big going on. Merrick may be right to suspect our Alchemist has resurfaced. Children seem to be his favorite guinea pigs. Victor, do you know if either of your missing boys had any supernatural talent?”
Victor looked over at Hatch. “Nothing I know about. Barnaby?”
Hatch scowled. “Maybe the one. He’s one of the transplanted African lads. Wicked good with animals. Would swear he talks to them and understands when they talk back. Planned to bring him on as a stable boy in a year or two if he was interested. Always see him watching horses with stars in his eyes. The other is the blacksmith’s son. Doesn’t say much, but he’s big. Wouldn’t’ve been taken without a fight, for all he’s just twelve or so.”
Three years earlier, a slave ship bound for America had been wrecked off Black Heath. The villagers had adopted the refugees, integrating them into the community with surprising ease. Some of that was the villagers following the lead of their lord and lady, who’d hired several to work at the Heath, but more of it may have had to do with a mutual hatred for the smugglers. Either way, Blackwell had grown unusually integrated for a rural English village.
“Well, we’d intended to leave immediately for London, but since Wink’s upstairs, perhaps she and Melody can work their analytical engine magick from here, and over the telephone with headquarters. Then maybe we can stay at least for today.” Tom worked over the possibilities. Running to London seemed foolish when so many of his resources were already at Black Heath. “That way, I can help you look for your missing youngsters.”
“Thanks, I’d appreciate that.” Victor finished his coffee and stood. “Connor, you with us?”
“Hell, yes.” Connor’s bright blue eyes lit up as he leaped from his seat. “Work, instead of sitting around chit-chatting all day and supervising children’s games? Do you have to ask?” He clapped his brother-in-law on the shoulder. Their camaraderie left Tom feeling awkward. He and Connor had been best mates all through university and ever since. Now though, Tom, with only a sort-of wife, was the odd man out. It was mean and petty, but he couldn’t help feeling a stab of envy toward the others and their deliriously happy marriages and children.
“Should we invite Braithwaite?” Victor asked Tom as they made their way upstairs for coats and riding boots.
“A mathematics teacher? I don’t think so.” Yes, Nell had mentioned that the other man was a former soldier, but Tom would rather not
He slipped out of the room, finished dressing and made his way downstairs. Victor and Connor, also early risers, shared the breakfast table, while Victor’s butler and former first mate, Barnaby Hatch, hastily stood at Tom’s approach.
Tom waved his hand. “Sit down, Mr. Hatch. You’re not going to offend me.”
“Actually, Barnaby has some news that may interest you.” Victor glared at Hatch. “It seems we’ve some missing children here in Blackwell Village, too, only nobody bothered to mention it to me until now.”
Hatch swallowed a chunk of kidney pie. “I didn’t know until last night. One of the footmen was down at the tavern and heard about it. Seems a couple lads went missing last week. Parents thought they’d just gone off on a lark, which they’ve apparently done before. Only this time they haven’t come back.”
Victor turned back to Tom. “We’ve already sent men down to the village to help with the search. I don’t see any likelihood that it’s related to your missing boy, but it is a coincidence.”
“And those are always suspect.” Connor scratched his chin. “Seems like there’s a tie to the issue in London, as well. Children missing. If this is a pattern that runs across the whole of England, there’s something very, very big going on. Merrick may be right to suspect our Alchemist has resurfaced. Children seem to be his favorite guinea pigs. Victor, do you know if either of your missing boys had any supernatural talent?”
Victor looked over at Hatch. “Nothing I know about. Barnaby?”
Hatch scowled. “Maybe the one. He’s one of the transplanted African lads. Wicked good with animals. Would swear he talks to them and understands when they talk back. Planned to bring him on as a stable boy in a year or two if he was interested. Always see him watching horses with stars in his eyes. The other is the blacksmith’s son. Doesn’t say much, but he’s big. Wouldn’t’ve been taken without a fight, for all he’s just twelve or so.”
Three years earlier, a slave ship bound for America had been wrecked off Black Heath. The villagers had adopted the refugees, integrating them into the community with surprising ease. Some of that was the villagers following the lead of their lord and lady, who’d hired several to work at the Heath, but more of it may have had to do with a mutual hatred for the smugglers. Either way, Blackwell had grown unusually integrated for a rural English village.
“Well, we’d intended to leave immediately for London, but since Wink’s upstairs, perhaps she and Melody can work their analytical engine magick from here, and over the telephone with headquarters. Then maybe we can stay at least for today.” Tom worked over the possibilities. Running to London seemed foolish when so many of his resources were already at Black Heath. “That way, I can help you look for your missing youngsters.”
“Thanks, I’d appreciate that.” Victor finished his coffee and stood. “Connor, you with us?”
“Hell, yes.” Connor’s bright blue eyes lit up as he leaped from his seat. “Work, instead of sitting around chit-chatting all day and supervising children’s games? Do you have to ask?” He clapped his brother-in-law on the shoulder. Their camaraderie left Tom feeling awkward. He and Connor had been best mates all through university and ever since. Now though, Tom, with only a sort-of wife, was the odd man out. It was mean and petty, but he couldn’t help feeling a stab of envy toward the others and their deliriously happy marriages and children.
“Should we invite Braithwaite?” Victor asked Tom as they made their way upstairs for coats and riding boots.
“A mathematics teacher? I don’t think so.” Yes, Nell had mentioned that the other man was a former soldier, but Tom would rather not
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