Read Online The Janus Affair: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel by Pip Ballantine, Tee Morris - Free Book Online Page A

river, but that was what Eliza needed. The smells of river life, unpleasant but familiar, distracted her from the pit of anger in her chest. The catcalls of the port workers and drivers were only to be expected, but Lord have mercy on any man who thought to lay hands on Eliza D. Braun this afternoon.
    “It must be quite different where you come from,” the New Zealander offered. “I mean, I find it strange enough, but London must be even more of a shock.”
    Ihita shrugged. “There are just as many people in Delhi, and men are the same the world over.”
    “Unfortunately, that is very much the truth.”
    Eliza’s tone made her friend jerk her head around. “I thought you and Books had come to a satisfactory arrangement?”
    “Me too, but today we hit a little bump in the rails. In fact I think we are near to careening off them.”
    Ihita slipped her arm into the crook of Eliza’s and gave her a gentle squeeze. “If you don’t mind me saying so, I think you are a little hard on our studious Agent Books. He is a good man, and he is only looking out for you and your position in the Ministry.”
    It wasn’t what Eliza wanted to hear, but it made her curious. “How do you know what Books is like?”
    She gave a little shrug and stated, “We’ve enjoyed one another’s company over lunch a couple of times.”
    “Really?” Eliza gave a light chuckle. “I remember my first social night with him. I do hope you had more success in conversations with him than I did.”
    “Oh, he was quite delightful.” Ihita thought for a moment and nodded. “A bit shy, at first. Later on, though, it can be hard to get a word in, depending on the subject at hand.” She considered Eliza for a moment, her smile turning sly, and then added, “You’d never guess it but he has a bit of a taste for saag. In return for my own recipe, he loaned me a novel of his. The Time Machine . It’s quite wonderful.”
    She looked at Eliza with such innocence that the New Zealander could not possibly snap at her, so for a long moment she said nothing at all.
    Ihita tilted her head at this oddity, wondering no doubt what was wrong with the other woman. “He takes his job very seriously,” she said softly as a goad.
    Eliza cleared her throat. “That’s as may be—but he should also remember we have sworn an oath to protect the citizens of the Empire. That is more important than any silly bureaucracy. Far more important than any political nonsense.”
    “Political?” Ihita asked. “Whatever do you mean?”
    She opened her mouth, wanting to confide in her Indian friend about Wellington’s objection to her claims against Agent Campbell. Her instincts though, gave her pause. Sharing her revelations of what Campbell was doing could place Ihita in an awkward position within the Ministry’s ranks.
    “Another time, Ihita,” she finally replied, “perhaps over a dinner at my apartments.”
    Eliza quietly cursed her sudden moment of reason. This was Wellington’s influence, and she didn’t care for it—not one jot.
    Their silence lingered as they turned left, the ports changing to shops that supplied services to the workers who could be found there. Many a gambling den, disorderly house, or pub was located here—but also the best sandwich shop this side of the Thames. Eliza was grateful that Albert Southward’s business was so close to the Ministry, and sometimes she wondered if that was not altogether by chance.
    They had to pass the eel-jelly stand to get there—but that still did not put the women off. Watching Londoners slurp down with real relish something that looked like it had been sneezed out of their noses was another oddness that Eliza had not quite gotten used to. The smell alone convinced her that everyone in line was completely mad.
    “And they call what we eat in my country strange,” Ihita whispered behind her hand.
    They were both still chuckling by the time they reached Albert’s sandwich establishment. The crowd at the