Howls and Hallows: A Steampunk Fairy Tale (Steampunk Red Riding Hood Book 5)

by Melanie Karsak

  “Of course. Let me ask the driver to come around,” Emma said.

  “Someone will need to take down Agent Harper’s cases. She’s returning to London,” I added.

  “It’s no trouble. I can get them,” Harper protested.

  “No, Agent. We’ll see to it. Lady Charlotte is still abed, but Lord Cabell is up early. Will you be leaving soon too, Agent Louvel?”

  “No, I’ll stay on for the ball.”

  “Ah, yes. The ball,” she said, raising and lowering her eyebrows in amusement. “I did fuss with your gown a bit. It’s all ready for you. But I didn’t see your mask.”

  “Mask?” I asked.

  Emma nodded. “It’s a masked ball. Didn’t you know?”

  “No, I did not.”

  “How quaint,” Harper commented under her breath as she fussed with her cases.

  “Don’t worry, Agent. I’ll find something for you. Now, let me see about the carriage,” Emma said then turned and headed back downstairs.

  “You know,” I said, turning to Harper, “you could probably drop the boy to the Templars then catch an agency transport back to the manor in time for the ball.”

  “I could, but I don’t want to. Lord Cabell is a nice man but no. And Lady Charlotte disgusts me.”

  “You tell me.”

  Harper nodded. “So, Agent Hunter’s godmother then?”

  “So it seems.”

  “Are you ready?”

  “Well, I suppose I had to meet his family at some point, but I—”

  “No, no, are you ready?”

  “For?”

  “Don’t be daft, Clem. You know where all this is headed.”

  “I…” Was she right? No, surely not yet. I couldn’t even conceive of a proposal without knowing what had happened to Lionheart.

  “Don’t rush anything,” Harper said. “You have a lot to think through.”

  “Yes.”

  “Just trust your instincts.”

  “Even if they have strange ideas?”

  “Have your strange ideas ever failed you before?”

  “Not that I can think of.”

  “Then I think you have your answer.”

  There was a knock on the door.

  “Footman, Agents. I’m here for Agent Harper’s bags,” a boy called.

  “I’m ready. Let’s go,” Harper told me. With that, we headed downstairs.

  Just as we reached the main foyer, Lord Cabell appeared.

  “Agent Harper. Frances just informed me that you’re leaving. I’m so very sorry to hear it. Can’t you stay for the ball?” he asked, looking genuinely disappointed. For a moment, I felt sorry for him. But just for a moment.

  “I’m sorry. I’m needed in London. I’ll be taking an airship back this morning.”

  He nodded. “I’m told you’re headed into the village now. I’m sorry that Charlotte isn’t here to see you off. I know she’s so very grateful for your and Agent Louvel’s work.”

  I wondered how she’d feel if she knew we were about to take custody of her son.

  “Please send her my thanks for your hospitality,” Harper said. “And thank you, Lord Cabell.”

  “It was my pleasure. You’ll have to come to see us again under more hospitable circumstances.”

  Mister Frances appeared at the door, motioning to indicate that the driver was ready.

  “Agent Louvel, Edwin tells me you’ll be staying on. Very good. Lady Chadwick, his godmother, should be arriving soon. You’ll adore her. All the guests will start floating in today in anticipation of the merriment.”

  I tried to conjure up an image of Lady Chadwick. All I could come up with was a cleaned up version of the Dís, which didn’t seem quite right. But the thought did make me smile.

  “I’ll be back soon,” I said then motioned to Harper that we really needed to get the hell out of there.

  Harper waved farewell to Lord Cabell then we headed outside to the carriage. Harper and I slipped into the back. Once we settled in and the driver took off, we sighed simultaneously, then laughed that we did so.

  “I’m relishing my escape. But you…”

  “I’m sighing in anticipation of Lady Chadwick staring at my eye like she was looking at a cyclops.”

  Harper laughed loudly. “Sorry, but that was funny. You’ll be fine.”

  “Well, it is a masked ball, so at least I’ll have that going for me.”

  “Clemeny,” Harper said, shaking her head.

  The carriage moved quickly across the fenlands toward the nearby town. I glanced out at the endless stretch of wetlands covered in mist. The leaves on what few trees there were had changed color from dull orange to listless brown.

  I sighed, feeling jealous of Harper’s escape.

  The carriage arrived at the village a short while later. Harper instructed the driver to take us to the airship tower. When we arrived, I spotted an aging airship tethered overhead. Sitting on a bench at the base of the tower was Afwyn the elemental, and the lycan boy, both of whom were eating ice cream cones.

  “Well, that’s something you don’t see every day,” Harper whispered.

  “I’m just jealous they didn’t buy one for me.”

  “It’s eight o’clock in the morning. Are you sure about the boy? He looks like a cherub not a lycan.”

  “Just wait until moonrise.”

  Harper took her bags from the driver, and we cautiously approached the pair. The boy, who was concentrating on his ice cream, barely gave us a passing glance. Afwyn rose, dropped what was left of the treat into the trash receptacle nearby—to my great sadness—and moved to greet us. “Agent Louvel,” she said, nodding to me. “And “Agent Harper?”

  Harper nodded.

  “I’m Afwyn.”

  “My Lady,” Harper said, inclining her head to the elemental.

  “I hope it won’t be a problem, Afwyn, but Agent Harper will journey with Jericho to London. I need to stay on at the manor a bit longer,” I said. “I’ll rejoin them in the city in a couple of days.”

  Afwyn eyed Harper closely.

  “Agent Harper is more than capable.”

  Afwyn turned, tilting her head as if she were listening to something, then nodded. “Very well. But you’ll check on the boy, Agent Louvel? I have your word?”

  “Yes. You have my promise. I will keep an eye on him. Always.”

  Harper looked at me out of the corner of her eye.

  “Very well,” Afwyn said then turned to Jericho. “This is Agent Harper,” she told the boy, motioning to Harper. “She will take you to London. Agent Louvel will come to see you in a few days.”

  The boy eyed Harper then me. “Fine,” he said then went back to eating.

  “It’s time to go now,” Afwyn told him.

  “I want to finish my ice cream,” he replied.

  “I’m sorry. It’s time to go. The captain is waiting, and you can’t take the ice cream on the airship,” she said then reached out for what was left of the ice cream cone.

  To my surprise, he paused mid-lick and let out a low growl. For a moment, his eyes flashed red.

  “Jericho,” Afwyn whispered. “Manners.”

  “Ah,” Harper muttered. “There it is.”

  “Told you,” I whispered.

  “Jericho, is that your name?” Harper said, approaching the child who looked suspiciously at her out of the corner of his eye. “I’m Elaine. I’ll be flying with you to London. Do you like toffee? I have toffee in my bag. Surely the captain won’t mind a bit of candy. Shall we go up and have a look at the airship? They’re fun to ride on. Ever been on one before?”

  The boy paused mid-lick and studied Harper. “How much toffee do you have?”

  Harper smiled. “A whole bag.”

  “Never offered me any,” I complained lightly.

  “Well, aren’t you glad I have them now?” she shot back, giving me a look, then turned her attention back to the boy. “Shall we go up and have some?”

  “Can I have the
whole bag?”

  An alpha in the making.

  “Of course. But first, I think you must make your goodbyes.”

  Reluctantly, the boy rose and tossed his ice cream in the trash. He then turned and looked at Afwyn. “I’ll see you soon, right?”

  “Maybe not so soon, but you will see me again.”

  The boy wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tight. “Love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you too,” Afwyn replied. I heard her choke back her heartbreak.

  Jericho let go of Afwyn and turned to Harper. “Can I have a piece of toffee now?”

  “Once we get on the airship, I’ll give you the bag.”

  “All right,” the boy said then headed toward the platform. He paused and looked back at Afwyn. His eyes lingered on her for a long moment. He to her then headed to the platform.

  “Be safe,” I called to Harper.

  She waved to me then followed behind the lycan.

  A few moments later, the lift rose, taking Harper and Jericho to the airship.

  I turned and looked at Afwyn. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded, but my mooneye could see she was fading. It appeared as if she was phasing in and out. She held on tight to her hooked staff.

  “I’ll keep my word,” I whispered.

  Afwyn set her hand on my arm. “I know,” she said. She gave me a squeeze then, moving slowly, she turned and walked away from me. Her path took her in the direction of the sunrise. I winced as I watched her go. For a few moments, I could see her clearly, but then she seemed to dissolve into the sunlight and was gone.

  Sighing, I headed back to the carriage. The driver, who’d been reading a novel, set the book down when I returned.

  “Back to the manor, Agent?” he asked.

  “Yes. But I need to pick up something first,” I said, grinning as I pulled out my coin purse. “Care for ice cream?”

  Chapter 23: Odd is as Odd does

  The carriage driver and I rode back to Cabell Manor eating ice cream, chatting about the weather, and gossiping about how much all the servants at Cabell Manor disliked Lady Charlotte’s All Hallows Ball. Apparently, given the family curse, most of the servants thought her playing around with the occult would bring them all bad luck.

  “Haunted place, anyway,” the driver said. “I’ve only been here a year. Aside from Mister Frances, Missus Carroll, and a couple of the maids, most of the staff has been here less time than me.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Lady Charlotte is very odd and difficult to please, and Lord Cabell—who seems like a decent enough chap—is never here. I heard his Lordship say he’s planning to go to India. I’ve started to look around for a new position myself.”

  “Not keen to go to India with him?”

  The man laughed. “No, Agent. I’m not. But until I find something… Well, I’m glad you and your partner came. We were all a bit nervous at first, but Mister Aaron said you and Miss Harper were nice ladies. And it was quiet on the fen last night.”

  “So it was. And so it should remain.”

  “As long as Lady Charlotte doesn’t conjure some devil into our midst. You know, she employs a fortuneteller to come for the ball. She told all the servants we could visit the woman if we wanted. Like hell I will.”

  “Don’t you believe in the occult, Mister Wallace?” I asked the driver.

  “I do. Which is why I don’t like any of this. The rich have odd tastes.”

  He had no idea.

  “Just because someone is odd, it doesn’t necessarily make them bad,” I said, reassuring the man. Of course, in Lady Charlotte’s case, he was absolutely right.

  “That’s true. It just makes them crave ice cream for breakfast,” the driver said with a laugh.

  “Hey, you’re eating too!”

  “I couldn’t resist. They had pistachio, and you were buying.”

  “Nothing odd about saying yes to free ice cream,” I said with a good-natured chuckle, which he joined.

  “Speaking of odd,” Mister Wallace said as we drove up the drive toward the manor. Carriages, servants, horses, and even a few steam cars packed the front of the house. “Oh, joy. Lady Chadwick is here.”

  “Where?”

  “Inside, I reckon. That’s her driver.”

  “Don’t you like her?”

  “Ever met her?”

  I shook my head.

  “Well,” he said, eyeing me over. “You’ll see for yourself. Nothing pleases that woman. You might want to—” He pointed to my cheek. “You’ve got a bit of chocolate there.”

  “Approached the ice cream with too much passion, I guess.”

  He chuckled.

  I wiped the back of my hand across my cheek. “Why don’t you take the carriage around back. I’ll go up the servant’s stairwell.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am totally, completely sure,” I said, eyeing the well-dressed lords and ladies milling about in front of the house.

  Hell’s bells. I should have gone back to London with Harper.

  I sneaked up the back stairwell to my room to find that Emma had laid out my green dress. Quickly shimmying out of my clothes, I pulled the gown on only to realize the hem had been repaired and, by some miracle, the burn stain on the arm was far less noticeable. When I saw Emma again, I’d have to thank her.

  Struggling with the laces, I had nearly finished dressing when there was a knock on the door.

  Pulling myself together, I went to the door to find Edwin there.

  “Here you are. I was confused when they sent me to this part of the house looking for you. Is this where Lady Charlotte roomed you and Harper?” he asked, frowning at the small space with its double beds.

  “Cozy, isn’t it?”

  Edwin frowned. “I’m sorry, Clemeny. I should have come out with you from the start. Victoria is having some trouble in the far reaches of the empire. I was scheduled to attend a meeting and couldn’t miss it.”

  “What kind of trouble?”

  “Well, I’m not quite sure yet. We’re assembling a team to investigate.”

  “Where?”

  “India.”

  “Isn’t Lord Cabell also headed to India?”

  “So he is. I was going to ask Harper if she wanted to go.”

  I laughed. “Good luck.”

  Edwin chuckled. “You’re right,” he said then eyed the room once more. “I should have the maids move you.”

  “It’s nothing. And it's just for one more night.”

  Edwin sighed. “They’re meeting in the parlor before luncheon. Will you come down?”

  I smoothed down the front of my dress, suddenly feeling incredibly awkward. I could handle a nest of vampires, a pack pit fight, or even some Viking werewolves, but parlor pleasantries?

  Edwin eyed me over. “The back of your dress… Your top lace appears undone. Didn’t you have a lady’s maid to help?”

  I laughed. “There was a girl, but I’m sure she’s busy with the real ladies.”

  “Please, allow me,” Edwin said, turning me gently around.

  Moving carefully, Edwin redid the laces on my back.

  “You’ll tell me if it’s too tight. I confess, I can’t tell where you begin and the gown ends.”

  I chuckled. “As long as I can still breathe, all will be well.”

  “I’m sorry to ask you to endure this. My godmother is all the family I have left here now. I want you to meet, but she is rather traditional. I have told her about you, but that doesn’t mean she’ll be…”

  Kind. Accepting. Polite. “I understand.”

  “Thank you for your patience.”

  I smiled. Edwin meant the world to me. I wanted him to be happy, but part of me wondered if I was doing the right thing. Was it right for me to meet his family? After all, it wasn’t as if we were engaged. We were just…close. I cared for Edwin, I really did, I just wasn’t sure where any of this was heading.

  Or where I even wanted it
to go.

  Things had felt clear before.

  Now…

  I closed my eyes. Once more, an image of Lionheart passed through my mind. Dammit, nothing was clear anymore.

  “I think you’re all in, m’lady,” Edwin said with a laugh.

  “Thank you,” I replied. I exhaled deeply then turned to face Edwin who was smiling sweetly at me, the expression evoking his dimples.

  Moving carefully, he reached out and touched my chin.

  “What?” I whispered.

  “Just… I liked helping you with your dress.”

  My stomach tied into a knot. “I liked your help.”

  Edwin offered his arm to me. “Shall we?”

  “May the gods help me,” I said, my mind going to the five gods—literally—I had met on the moor. Well, they were as good as any.

  Afwyn, help me through this day.

  Outside my window, a loon called.

  Chapter 24: Clemeny in the Parlor with Lady Chadwick

  We entered the busy room to find it swimming with posh lords and ladies. Edwin caught Lord Cabell’s eye. Lord Cabell lifted his drink to welcome us then turned to the group of men surrounding him, laughing and talking all the while.

  Edison Cabell was a good man. One day in the future, I think Edison Cabell could meet his nephew. Maybe.

  Lady Charlotte, on the other hand, was sitting on the opposite side of the room, a group of well-dressed ladies surrounding her. She was speaking in a low tone. She paused, and the cluster of women looked over their shoulders at me.

  Something inside me hardened, and I had to fight off the urge to out Lady Charlotte’s secret then and there. But the other part of me, Felice Louvel’s granddaughter, felt embarrassed. Stupid, really. I didn’t care about this kind of thing. I had more important issues to take care of than worrying about my hair or the latest fashion, but still. The delicate, younger version of me got rosy-cheeked when all the fancy ladies looked down their noses at me. The truth was, in that room, I felt small.

  “Is it too early to drink?” I whispered to Edwin.

  “It isn’t the custom for ladies to imbibe at this time. At lunch, there will be wine. I say, Clem, are you all right? Your face is red. Did I pull the laces too tight?”