Read Online Viridis - A Steampunk Romance by Calista Taylor - Free Book Online

time her
heart skipped with joy. “Seth, you can’t—”
    “I can, and I did. I’m not abandoning the Cause, but
you’re right, there are other ways to help. I’ve already spoken to
them about a few things we could attempt here in London.”
    He tilted her chin up towards him and lowered his
lips to hers. She let herself indulge in the kiss for only a moment
before she took a step back. If she didn’t put some space between
them, she’d be in danger of losing herself in the moment, in the
promise of a future together.
    She turned towards the fire, running her hands up
and down her arms to try and get warm. “You spent the day with
Moore and Clarke? What did they have to say for themselves? I
cannot imagine they were very happy.”
    “No, they weren’t, but I made it clear that the
choice was not theirs to make and if they pushed me on the subject,
then I’d quit all together and go my own way. I can still help
those in need without playing into their plans.” Seth came up
behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her to
him. His solid warmth was comforting, and yet it sent a pulse of
panic rushing through her veins. “I won’t leave you again, Phoebe.
At the very least, it’s the one thing I can promise you.”
    “Can you truly promise that, Seth? Because I don’t
know if I can believe it.” She spun in his arms to face him, to
look into his eyes and find the truth. “I know Clark and Moore.
They’re ruthless in getting what they want if they feel they can
justify it for the Cause. Things have gotten worse since you’ve
been gone, and if revolution breaks out, I worry what they’ll ask
of you.”
    With her hands in his, he brought each to his lips.
“Phoebe, I never should have left. I know that now. But I need you
to trust me. A year without you made one thing clear. You’re the
most important thing in my life and I’ll not make the same
mistakes. Not even a revolution can make me break my promise to
you.”
    She started to look away, but he cupped her face
gently in his hands, holding her gaze with his. “Seth…”
    “I’m sorry I hurt you, Phoebe, but I need you to
believe me. Can you do that?”
    Taking a deep breath, she tried to ignore the
quickening of her heart and the twisting in her gut. “I don’t know.
This is all happening so fast. It’s as if we’re back to where we
were before you left, and I cannot do that. I need more time.”
    “If time is what you need, my love, then I’ll be
here waiting for you. I have every intention of staying in London.”
His face then lit up with a smile. “And I think I have a way to
prove it to you. Would you mind accompanying me to my home?”
    Her mind raced through the possibilities. What could
possibly offer such proof? With her curiosity piqued, she nodded.
“Very well, then. Let’s go.”
     
     

Chapter Nine
     
    The second show of the night had just gotten
underway, but Gabriel was anxious for things to wind down. Each
night was busier than the one before. However, even with the
constant bustle, his mind was not with the customers present here
this night, but rather on the one they would not see again.
Niles.
    Gabriel knew Niles had been involved in things
better left alone, but he had never thought him to be in such grave
danger. Though they were both involved in the Cause, Gabriel could
not help but wonder whether it contributed to his death or if it
was a matter of Niles’s other involvements. His guilt weighed
heavily as his mind questioned what he could have possibly done
different to stop Niles’s death. Gabriel knew he’d not be able to
rest until he found out what happened.
    “Lord Hughes.��
    Gabriel turned to find Lord Victor Hawthorne
approaching. “Lord Hawthorne. How may I be of assistance?”
    “I was wondering if I could have a word with you in
private.” Victor, always quite serious, looked even more so this
evening with his brow furrowed and his mouth downturned. With such
a grimace, Gabriel