by Geonn Cannon
Ivy had remained silent for the entire speech, but she lifted her hand now. “No offense taken if anyone is wondering what the hell I’m doing here. Considering the qualifications to get in the room... I’m a spy.”
“And assassin,” Strode murmured, glaring at her from the side of his eye.
Ivy nodded toward him. “That, too.”
“You’re a private investigator,” Dorothy said, “and you have the extraordinary power of invisibility. There are enemies like the Weeks brothers or Emmeline Potter who would choose to join forces with the darkness. They would sacrifice the world for a taste of a dark power. We need to know who those people are, what they’re planning, and where they can be found. You would be one of the most important members of our group.”
“I don’t work for free.”
“We’d keep you on retainer. I’m sure everyone contributing a bit every month would make your prices bearable.”
The Keepings looked at one another and silently considered. Dubourne had leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, forefingers steepled in front of his face. Strode began to pace. Cora had already agreed to the proposal and was watching the others to see who would join in.
Cecil Dubourne broke the stalemate. “I’m just getting started with this profession. My father left me a lot, but it would be a huge help to have something like this group to watch out for me. I’m definitely willing to join.”
Leonard Keeping said, “Lady Boone, you’ve never steered us wrong before. And with your recent track history, we’d be fools not to be in your corner. You have our support.”
Strode waved his hand dismissively. “You’ll clean this place up before we have any meetings here, right?”
Dorothy smiled. “I don’t know... it kind of has a cozy, lived-in feel.” He glared at her. “But for you, I suppose we could have a maid come in.”
“Fine.”
Ivy shrugged. “And I’m here as long as I’m getting paid.”
Dorothy grinned. “Fantastic. Thank you all. I have a feeling that we’re going to do great things together.” She went to the bar and picked up one of the glasses Agnes had filled. She lifted it to the room. “Welcome to the charter members of the Mnemosyne Society.”
“Nema-sin-ee?” Strode said. “Whazzat?”
“Greek personification of memory,” Trafalgar said.
Strode snorted and shook his head. “I’m never going to remember that...”
Dorothy grinned at Trafalgar, who gave her a nod of approval. It had taken over a year of work, cajoling everybody one at a time just to get them into this room. The job was done, and now they had the framework for a group that she believed could take a stand to protect the world against the growing wave of darkness. She knew there were still rough patches ahead, and she knew their disparate personalities might cause friction, but they could deal with that when the time came.
For now, the most difficult part was over. Now the real work could begin.
Trafalgar and Boone will return
in
TRAFALGAR & BOONE
AND
THE BOOKS OF BREATHING
About the Author
Geonn Cannon has been writing since 2000 and is the author of over 30 novels, including GCLS Award winning titles "Gemini" and "Dogs of War," and "The Virtuous Feats of the Indomitable Miss Trafalgar & the Erudite Lady Boone," which was named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2015. He's also written an official Stargate SG-1 novel, along with two short stories in Stargate anthologies. He lives in Oklahoma.