by Sahara Kelly
“Well, that’s strange, isn’t it?”
“’Tis right strange if you ask me.” Well launched now, the man needed little further encouragement. “Why would you need to go put furriners in caves when you got plenty of able-bodied men right above yer?”
“Good question.” Pierce assumed his I’m-thinking-that-one-over look.
“You ask me?” He lowered his voice. “They got summat goin’ on that they don’t want nobody to know about.”
“Gosh.”
“I heard summat about those strange things people take in Lunnon. You know. Drugs.”
“Oh my. Anyone ever investigate? Call in the authorities or anything?” Pierce drank some more beer and waited.
“Nah.” The innkeeper shook his head. “Can’t rightly say any of this is more’n gossip. But it’s true what they say.”
“What do they say?”
“Where there’s smoke…”
“There’s fire.” Pierce nodded.
“Or at least somethin’ burning…” He looked knowing. “I hear tell they smoke somethin’ strange from furrin parts up in Lunnon. Makes a man do terrible things. Women too.” A strangely intrigued expression crossed his face. “Haven’t found out what yet, but I’m workin’ on it.”
“Right.” Pierce finished his beer and pushed a couple more shillings across the bar. “Well I wish you the best of luck with that. Thanks for the beer.”
The shillings disappeared. “You take care now, lad. Storm’ll come in later, I’m thinking.”
“Good to know.” Pierce nodded and left the pub, a few shillings lighter but quite a bit heavier when it came to information.
Most of which confirmed their suppositions. The workers were segregated. The straightforward building above ground was done by locals. All perfectly innocent. The rest of the business, cargo shipments and so on, took place beneath. In the caves.
The picture they’d all haphazardly assembled was coming together on a much firmer footing. He really hoped Minnie had been able to plant the little device on one of the women if she’d found them. Because if she had, they would be able to monitor developments much more accurately.
He had a sense it was coming to a head. That the freighter’s engines were preparing for departure and that those empty crates in the cave were waiting for something. Or someone. Several someones.
He was turning it over in his mind as he retraced his steps down the road toward his rendezvous with Minnie. He wondered if she’d managed to plant his device on one of the women. Or even if she’d found the women. She was quite resourceful, so he guessed she’d at least have something in the way of useful information even if she hadn’t located the girls themselves.
He reached the crossroad to find it empty. No Minnie.
Thinking she’d been delayed, he walked down to the quay, only to come up empty-handed once again. No Minnie.
A woman leaned out of a nearby window to vigorously shake a blanket, and Pierce called to her. “Excuse me, ma’am.”
She looked down. “Yes?”
“Did you see a tall lady earlier? Black jacket and a sort of pinkish skirt?”
The woman leaned on the sill and tilted her head to one side with a small frown. Then she blinked at him. “Might that have been about an hour ago or so?”
“Probably yes. She would have been on that boat.” He pointed to Minnie’s carriage, bobbing on the boat as it rose and fell with the chop.
“Oh her. Yes, I did see her. Lovely boat that is. Nicely done…all that shiny brass.”
“Did you see where she went? I was supposed to meet her.”
The woman frowned down at him. “Well, that’s odd, young man.”
“Why odd?”
“Because if she was meetin’ you, why’d she get on a boat with some other women and a couple of men?”
Pierce’s heart stopped dead, only to resume its beat with the force of a thunderstorm.
For God’s sake…they’d got Minnie.
“Where is she?” Felicia’s fingers twitched nervously against the shoulder of his jacket as both she and Dusk leaned closely over his shoulder.
He was sitting in his laboratory at his console, waiting for his device to activate, praying Minnie still had it and that it would show where she was and that she was in one piece.
The ride home in the whimsy had been agonizingly slow, and several times Pierce wished he could get out and push the damn thing into a faster rate of speed. But he bit down on his panic, knowing that now wasn’t the right time. He needed a clear head and a focused brain to deal with this disaster and he’d have neither if it was filled with visions of Minnie on that freighter shipping out to parts unknown.
Or worse, lying still and cold in the bottom of a rowboat.
No, he would not let that happen, and neither would she if there was any way at all to prevent it.
“Can you see her yet?” Dusk’s breath whiffled past Pierce’s ear.
“Please. Back up a little.” He ground out the words through clenched teeth. “I want to see her as much as you two do. But I also need to breathe.”
“Sorry.” Felicia stepped back—about six inches.
Pierce couldn’t blame her. She was holding herself together as well as any of them, but he could only imagine her frustration. Not only was she terrified for Minnie, but she could only vaguely make out what the men could see clearly.
He put his hand over hers where it still rested on his shoulder. “Any second now…” He waited and then, “There. There she is.”
Two tiny pulsating points of light twinkled greenly on the display in front of them.
“Oh thank God.” Felicia let out a sob.
“This is her?” Dusk pointed. “It’s moving slowly.”
“Yes, that’s her. Or at least that’s the device I gave her. I’m hoping she still has it on her and didn’t manage to put it in one of the other women’s bags. Or at least that they’re all together.”
“She’s on a boat?”
Pierce nodded. “Looks like it, Felicia. The one I planted last night is here, on the edge of the water. Minnie’s is way over here, moving slowly. Perhaps they’re waiting for something.”
“The tender from the freighter?”
“Maybe.” Pierce thought about that. “Or darkness. I don’t know. If they intend to crate the girls, darkness wouldn’t matter. If they plan on transporting them without hiding them, then darkness would be their safest bet.”
The coastline was glowing, as was the freighter. There were no other ships registering on his system, and for the first time Pierce realized he was putting his faith into something that was untested.
What was an experiment had become a vital part of saving lives. His palms started to sweat as he moved the lever to scan the area. What if it failed?
“Easy, Pierce.” Dusk’s hand thudded down on his other shoulder. “It’s working fine. We know Minnie will be all right and we’ll get to her before she sets one foot on that damn ship. The other women too.”
Pierce swallowed. “Yes. I’m sure of it. At least I think I’m sure of it.” He shifted in the chair. “Dusk…not only am I going to have to trust this equipment—I’m going to have to use the Black Fish.”
“Oh.” Dusk stared at him, expression as blank on his face as it was on the mask.
“What’s the Black Fish?” Felicia darted looks between the two men, obviously trying to read their voices and frowning.
Dusk turned to her as Pierce took one last look at the console.
“It’s an experimental boat, Felicia. One Pierce has been working on for almost a year. Nobody knows about it and I don’t think he’s even told anyone except me that he’s built it.”
“Now we need it.” Pierce stood as the other two moved aside. “And I pray to God it works.”
The other man nodded, saying nothing. There was nothing to be said.
“Best thing is for you to stay here.” He pulled the chair out and pointed at it, silently asking Dusk to
man the console. “Felicia, you’ve got the best ear around. There’s a small telegraph device on the Fish. I’m going to ask you to act as go-between. When Dusk sees something I need to know, you’re going to have to send that information to me.”
“Oh.” She lifted a hand to her throat. “Heavens, Pierce. What if I make a mull of it?”
“You won’t. You don’t need the vision of an eagle for this. You need the ears of a hawk. You have ’em, my dear. We need ’em.” He brushed her cheek with his fingertips encouragingly. “The words will have to be short and simple. Quick information.”
Dusk reached around her and pulled her to his side in a reassuring hug. “She can handle it, Pierce. When will you leave?”
Pierce glanced out of the high window. “Soon, I’m thinking. It’s not dark, but I daren’t wait around in case they decide to move Minnie early. I can see those clouds rolling in—the innkeeper was right about the weather.”
The clouds were solid and low, the kind that told of rain, rain and then—for a bit of variety—more rain. It wouldn’t storm, and might not even raise more than a light chop. But the visibility would be damned awful.
Which was just what Pierce was hoping for.
“It’s going to take me an hour or so to warm up the Fish and her innards. I’ll go down now. When I’m ready, I’ll send you a signal, all right?”
He was taking off his jacket as he spoke, ready to run to his room, quickly change into clothing more appropriate for a maiden voyage in the Black Fish, and also grab a weapon. The Fish was unique. But sometimes an old-fashioned gun did the job just as well as any new invention.
And this was Minnie. Pierce wasn’t about to take any chances whatsoever.
“And here’s the unit.”
Dusk took Felicia’s hand and placed it firmly on the telegraph key. It moved a tiny bit as she touched it. She wasn’t totally blind, of course. This was probably unnecessary. But Dusk knew that this was not the time to risk anything to chance or make any unwarranted assumptions.
“Feel it?”
She nodded, sighing with relief. “Yes. I can feel it. Not unlike the ones I’ve used before. Perhaps a more delicate touch, but if you keep the words simple, Dusk, I think I’ll be able to handle it. Or at least get the point across to Pierce. Even if it’s misspelled.”
He smiled then, and took her in his arms once more. He didn’t seem to be able to keep his hands off her today. Perhaps it was the tension and the uncertainty. Perhaps it was because he’d realized it could have been Felicia missing instead of Minnie.
Whatever it was, he just didn’t feel right unless some part of him was touching some part of her.
They both jumped as Pierce’s boots clattered past the laboratory.
“There he goes.” Dusk led her back to the console. “The Black Fish is in the cave below the Pluggit. So he’ll need some time to make ready to sail.”
Felicia gnawed on her lip as she hugged Dusk’s arm. “I can’t help but worry. Do you think Minnie’s all right?”
He shrugged, knowing she’d sense the movement. “I don’t know. Trying to guess would be futile. So I keep remembering that Miss Minnie is one very resourceful woman who can, I’m sure, handle herself well in an emergency.”
Felicia took a breath and then nodded. “Yes, she is. And smart too. But sometimes she smarts herself right into trouble.”
Dusk gave a short bark of laughter. “Goodness. Outspoken, is she? I’d never have guessed.”
“Go ahead and laugh, but I worry that she’ll let her quick mouth say something out of turn and make these people angry, Dusk.”
He hugged her. “We can’t control what she says or what she does, my dear. We can only do what we can to get her back.”
“I know.” Felicia buried her face in his chest for a few moments, nuzzling into him like a lost kitten. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to be strong, but I’m screaming inside.”
He held her tightly, a feeling of possessiveness sweeping from his head to his toes. He wanted to hold her like this forever. He wanted to protect her, to keep her safe, to tuck her away where only he could see her and touch her.
“Ahh, Felicia.” He stroked his hand up and down her spine, offering what comfort he could.
“Dusk?” She wriggled and slipped her arms around his body beneath his jacket.
“Yes?”
“I’m a fool.”
“You are?”
“Yes.” She snuffled against him, closing her eyes and resting her head comfortably on his breastbone. “I can hear your heart.”
“Ah.” He paused. “That doesn’t make you a fool.”
“I know.” She squeezed him. “What makes me a fool is that I’ve held back from believing either of us had one.”
“One what?”
“A heart.”
“Oh.” He frowned. He was getting muddled. “Can you clarify that for me?”
“Probably not, since I’m not sure it makes sense to me either. But what I’m trying to say is that being here with you, like this, well…I’m happier now than I thought I’d ever be again. I never imagined I’d find warmth and such pleasure in a man’s arms. That’s why I’m a fool. And if it wasn’t for Minnie being lost…”
Dusk tightened his grip in turn. “Felicia, you know I have feelings for you. Strong ones. And you know I’m scarred. But you also know I don’t have to hide who I am when I’m with you. At first it was because I knew you couldn’t see me clearly. That you wouldn’t get that horrified look on your face when you saw mine.”
“Oh, Dusk…” She reached for him.
“Wait, let me finish.” He stayed her hand. “I quickly found out that I had feelings for you that were nothing to do with what you could or couldn’t see. They leapt to attention when you walked into the room. I want to talk to you, to hold you, to touch you and I found out that kissing you is exquisite torture.”
“It is?”
“Yes.” He sighed. “Do you know you make a slight noise in your throat when I kiss you?”
“I do?”
“You do. It drives me mad. I want to hear it again and again.”
“I have wants too. Wants I pushed away. Far away. And I’ve learned that no matter how far you push them away, meeting the right man lets them all rush right back.” She stroked her palms up and down his back. “And you’re the right man, Dusk. You treated me like a woman first and a cripple second. You didn’t cater to my lack of sight or anything like that. You simply accepted me for what I am. Both you and Pierce.”
“Of course.”
“And now here we are, both ready to help, and I get to do my part. You can’t even begin to imagine what that means—that you’ll let me share, contribute what I can.”
He rested his chin on her head and smiled again at how perfectly they fit. Her slow stroke of his spine was doing things to his loins. Nice things that he’d like to pursue, but regretfully now wasn’t the time.
“Felicia. Ah, Felicia.” He sighed. “I want you. I want you in my bed. I want to make love with you, share it all, hold nothing back. I want my mouth all over you and your hands all over me. There. I’ve said it. I’m half-mad from wanting you and perhaps, just maybe, there’s something inside you wanting me back?”
She stilled in his embrace for a few long moments and then pulled her arms away from him, leaving him panicked as he lowered his gaze and tried to read her expression.
Then a strange little smile curved her lips and she put her hands back against his chest. “You know something, Dusk?”
“What?” His heart was almost leaping from his rib cage.
“I’m thinking…” Her hands began to slide down, down, until they reached his waist. And then they went lower. “I’m thinking I’d like to make love with you too.” She caressed the front of his trousers where he could feel himself growing hard, lengthening, pressing out and away from his body as she stroked.
“Ahh.” It was more of a groan than he’d intended, but what was a man to do whe
n a lovely woman was fondling him through his trousers?
“I’d like to be naked with you. I know you won’t worry that I’m not a young and beautiful woman anymore. I know that we’re both experienced. That we’ve had others beneath us in bed. And that knowledge, those experiences? We will use all of them and maybe invent some of our own.”
Dusk cleared his throat of the lump of lust that had suddenly materialized there and almost choked him. “Yes. I’m certainly in favor of that idea.” He was hard, solid and eager for more than just a touch.
“But not now.” She regretfully let him go with a little pat.
He bit back a sob and manfully squared his shoulders. “No, not now. But later tonight. If Pierce can get Minnie home safe and we can end this thing, then tonight. You and me. Together.” He slipped his hands down her back and firmly grasped her bottom. “Naked.”
Her groan of pleasure was answer enough.
And then the telegraph chattered out Pierce’s signal. It was time to get to work and rescue Miss Minnie.
Minnie managed to keep her emotions in check during the trip from Yarmouth to the Godolphin caves, even though the old sailor indeed carried a gun. It hadn’t made it any easier when the three other men on the boat produced their own weapons as soon as they cleared the harbor. For one of the few times in her life, Minnie realized she was so scared her hands were trembling.
They could have been from India or any one of the surrounding countries. They certainly weren’t English and she couldn’t understand their language at all.
Not that she needed to. Apparently they were from a culture where women were slightly above dogs in the overall scheme of things, and not by much. A grunt and a shove pushed the women to a bench. A threatening motion with a rifle kept them there.
Damp from the rain, which had set in soon after they boarded, and irritated at her stupidity, Minnie seethed quietly. She took a look at her companions, wondering if any of them might be as furious as she was.
Sadly, they looked bedraggled and bored. One was clearly more nervous than the others, but once away from the crowds of Yarmouth, they left off any pretense of being other than what they were.