Viridis - A Steampunk Romance

by Calista Taylor

  Gavin threw his head back and laughed. “And how were ye planning on doing that, love? Cause I tell ye, I willna be standing still while ye go and fetch a knife and a stepstool.”

  Seth slipped an arm around her waist to pull her away, but she gained some satisfaction from landing a kick to Gavin’s bare knee before she was pulled out of reach.

  “Bleeding hell, lass. I thought it might do ye some good to vent a bit of anger, but I didna ken ye’d be trying to break my leg.”

  “Hmph! Serves you right.” Phoebe stood there, indignant, with Seth’s arm still secure around her waist. He turned her towards him and away from Gavin.

  “Phoebe, my love,” he couldn’t quite conceal his smile, “I will not make promises I cannot keep, for circumstances may at some point dictate that I come in contact with the man. And though I cannot speak for my dearest of friends,” he tilted his head in Gavin’s direction, “I do promise ye, the man will not meet a horrible end at my hand.”

  Phoebe glared at him suspiciously. Seth’s promise had more holes in it than a sieve.

  “Aye, and I’ll promise ye the same, love.” Gavin took a step forward, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Now gives us a kiss,” he pointed to his cheek, “and I’ll forgive ye for nearly taking off me kneecap.”

  Chapter Seventy Seven

  With William gone and Gabriel resting, Phoebe slipped up to her laboratory to get another batch of Viridis distilled. She had just added the oils and started the distillation when Samuel knocked on the door.

  “Pardon me, Mum. There’s someone here to see ye, though if ye’re busy I can tell them ye’re not receiving guests at the moment. ‘Tis Lilly, Mum. Anne’s sister.”

  Phoebe pulled off her brass goggles and smiled at him. “No, of course not. Please show her to the sitting room, and I’ll be down momentarily. Have Martha bring us up a tray with tea and cakes, if you would, and also let Anne know her sister is here. I’m sure she’d like to see her.”

  “Yes, Mum.” With a nod, he spun on his heels and walked out the door.

  After making sure everything was running properly, Phoebe headed to the sitting room where she found Lilly pacing the floor. “Mum!” she cried, wringing her hands and on the verge of tears. “Is Gabriel all right?”

  “He’s doing much better. He’ll be excited that you’ve come, though I’m afraid he’s asleep at the moment.” Phoebe took a seat across from Lilly, and tried to give her a comforting smile.

  “I’m so sorry to hear ‘bout his injury, Mum. I just heard when I went over to Viridis. ‘Tis ‘orrible. There must be some madman going about. And yer brother no less— a kinder man ye’d have a hard time finding.”

  “Thank you, Lilly. It’s looking as though he’ll make a full recovery.” Trying to lighten her mood, Phoebe changed the subject. “I do not know if you’ve spoken to your sister recently, but she recently joined our household here. Just yesterday, as a matter of fact.”

  Lilly shook her head no, sending her red curls bouncing. Phoebe thought it must be wonderful to have such lovely hair.

  “I’m afraid I have not seen ‘er in a few days time. I thought perhaps she’d spent the night at the shelter when she didna come home. I do hope she’ll work out for ye, Mum. She’s a hard worker.”

  “Mrs. Farthing has only had good things to say about her.” Just then Anne came wheeling in the teacart, casting a nervous glance between Phoebe and her sister. “Thank you, Anne. Lilly’s come to pay Gabriel a visit, but I thought, afterwards, if you’d like, you can take your luncheon together.”

  “Yes, Mum.” Anne pinned her sister with a look Phoebe didn’t quite understand, her small body stiff.

  “Is everything all right, Anne?” Phoebe had only wanted to make the girls feel comfortable in her home, especially with Anne working here and Lilly over at Viridis. And yet Anne seemed unaccountably upset.

  Lilly spoke up. “Pardon me, Mum. I don’t suppose I could speak to my sister for just a moment out in the hall?”

  “Of course. Please.” Phoebe gestured towards the door, confused by the strange exchange between the two sisters.

  Though they had moved outside the room and into the hall, Phoebe could still see them from where she sat, and could not help but hear parts of their exchange. Anne’s face had gone red with a fury that surprised Phoebe.

  “What is the matter, Anne?” Lilly shifted so her back was now to Phoebe, so she could not see what was happening.

  “…need to leave… not have ye…”

  “…offer is a good… I’m accepting it.” It was clear the sisters were arguing, but the rest of the conversation was too muddled to understand. Finally, Lilly’s hands went defiantly to her hips. “We’re done, here, aye?” And with that, she spun around and came back into the room, her face flushed so red that her freckles were nearly invisible.

  “I’m awful sorry ‘bout that, Mum,” she said, taking her seat. “Anne’s a good girl, but sometimes she gets these ideas in her head and there’s no ridding her of them. Stubborn is what that girl is, if ye’ll pardon my saying so.”

  Phoebe went to the teacart and poured them each a cup, handing Lilly hers. “Here, this will help calm your nerves a bit.” Phoebe took her seat. “Lilly, I do not mean to interfere in your affairs, but if there is a problem with Anne being here or with you coming to see Gabriel, I do hope you’ll let me know.”

  “No, no. ’Tis nothing like that.” Lilly took a deep breath while she fidgeted with her skirt. “I do want to thank ye, though. For everything. Ye’ve always been good to me and my own, and I’m right sorry ‘bout ye having to see Anne like that. I don’t know where she gets her odd ideas from.”

  “No worries, dear. We all have our little idiosyncrasies. Would you like—” A deafening crack exploded from upstairs, and Phoebe jumped from her chair, her heart racing.

  “Upstairs!” Lilly said, and together the women ran for the door.

  Another shot split the air as they hit the stairs running, holding their gowns high above their ankles so as not to trip. As they came into the upstairs hallway, they ran into Seth and Gavin.

  “Get back downstairs!” Seth shouted at them.

  She struggled to get past Seth. “Gabriel! G—” but her brother’s name was torn from her lips by the thundering sound of Gavin crashing down the bedroom door.

  Phoebe watched in horror as Gavin rushed through the door, dirk in hand, ducking so as not to get his head blown off, with Seth following right behind him. The fuse gun cracked yet again, sending them scrambling for cover. She could see her brother through the doorway, blood gushing from his chest.

  Screams tore from her throat as she lunged forward, desperate to save her brother, but Samuel grabbed her and held fast. She struggled against him, watching as the scene unfolded before her in slow motion.

  Anne stood in the center of the room, eyes wild, holding the fuse gun in her wavering hands and turning on Seth. There was a flash and a thundering boom, just before Seth cried out and the shot hit him in the arm. Phoebe screamed and broke loose, running into the room just as Gavin vaulted over the bed, grabbing Anne and burying his dirk to the hilt.

  Phoebe stepped into Gabriel’s room and felt her world tilt out from under her. There was blood everywhere she looked, the blood of those she loved.

  Lilly screamed in despair as she threw herself on the floor next to her sister. She pressed her hand against the wound in Anne’s chest, but the blood poured through her fingers, drenching Anne’s clothing. Anne’s face grew pale, and she looked far smaller and younger than her years.

  Phoebe rushed to Gabriel’s side and took his hand in hers. She whispered frantically to him that everything would be all right, but even as she uttered the words, she knew that they were just a lie. Blood bubbled over her brother’s lips, trickling over the pale skin of his cheeks.

  Seth and Gavin both came to his bedside, but there was little to be done. Phoebe cradled Gabriel’s head in her lap, just like she had when he’d been just a
young lad weeping in her arms after their mother’s death.

  He looked up at her, struggling with the words. “I love you, Phoebe. ”

  “And I you, my love. Always.” She lowered her lips to his forehead, and the light went from his eyes.

  Chapter Seventy Eight

  William stood in the middle of the sitting room, stunned by what had happened. None of the evidence had pointed to Anne, yet he could not help but blame himself for not figuring it all out.

  He walked to where Phoebe sat, crouching before her. “Lady Hughes, I’m so terribly sorry for your loss. I wish there were something…” He sighed, feeling defeated. “I’m sorry.”

  She turned a tear-stained face on him, and said, “Why did she do it? Did she say?” Tears welled up in her eyes, and Seth reached out and put a hand on her shoulder.

  William took a seat across from Phoebe, not sure how to approach the matter. He did not know if Phoebe was aware of the nature of her brother’s relationship to Niles. Deciding the poor girl had enough to deal with, he said, “Mr. Elliott, if I could speak to you in private?”

  Phoebe looked at him furious. “No. If this has to do with Gabriel, than you need to tell me. I need to know why.”

  William looked at Seth in question, but he said, “She has a right to know, Inspector.”

  William resigned himself to the difficult task. “Very well. Before Anne slipped into unconsciousness, she did confess to not only the previous attack on Gabriel, but also to murdering Lord Hawthorne.”

  Phoebe looked stunned. “I don’t understand.”

  “You see Niles had asked Lilly to marry him, but Anne got suspicious as to why a young man of family would want to marry someone as poor as Lilly with no name or prospects. She followed Niles and found out the reason he wanted to marry her.” William stopped there, knowing how difficult the next part would be.

  “Inspector, I want the truth.”

  William nodded, knowing it was unavoidable. “She found that Niles needed a wife to act as a guise for his relations with other men.” William paused to give her a chance to take it in, not sure if she would make the connection to her brother.

  Phoebe managed a rueful smile, despite the tears still streaming down her face. “Is that what’s been worrying you, Inspector? I can tell you it made no difference. It did not change the man my brother was, did not change the goodness of his heart or his soul.” She choked back a sob, but managed to pull herself together enough to continue. “Tell me the rest.”

  William let out a weary sigh but continued on. “It turns out Lilly also knew about his inclinations, though it did not matter to her. Anne, however, thought Lilly was being taken advantage of, since she’d be marrying someone who would not only be unfaithful, but, in her opinion, would be sinning, the acts not natural.”

  Phoebe swore under her breath, her anger lashing out. “Sin! How can loving someone be sinful? Of all the ridiculous things. Can it not be enough that two people love each other?”

  William nodded in sympathy. “When Anne was unable to persuade Lilly, she decided she’d keep them apart at all costs. Lilly hadn’t any idea of her sister’s role, and indeed did not suspect her. To be honest, I do not think they spent very much time together, what with Lilly working nights at Viridis, and Anne working days at the shelter.”

  Phoebe shook her head. “So she killed Niles and then tried to kill Gabriel because of their relationship?”

  William shrugged. “I do not believe that to be the case. Her motive was always to protect Lilly. She did not attack Gabriel until he made Lilly a similar offer, one she was going to accept. Though Niles was dead, your brother knew there may come a time when he would pursue another relationship. It would be difficult to find someone as willing and understanding as Lilly.”.

  A fresh wave of tears fell, as she shook her head. “The conversation… it all makes sense now. I could have stopped her!” Seth looked over at Gavin and he stepped forward, gently pulling Phoebe to her feet with an arm around her shoulder. This time, she did not resist, and was escorted out of the room.

  “I am sorry, Mr. Elliott. I wish there was more I could do— more I could have done before this tragedy occurred.” William had never before been so affected by a case.

  Seth sighed, his hand absent-mindedly going to his bandaged arm. “What has happened to Anne?”

  “She’s been taken to the infirmary, though I will say, her prognosis is not good. She lost a lot of blood; the knife wound was deep and hit vital areas.”

  “I guess her judgment is in the hands of the gods, then.”

  Chapter Seventy Nine

  It had been three weeks since they’d buried Gabriel, and Lilly had buried Anne, her death coming only a day after the attack. And now Phoebe would say goodbye to another friend, though on a more temporary basis. She could not keep back her tears, as she stood there with Gavin’s arms around her.

  “I will miss you something terrible. Promise me you won’t be gone long and that you’ll stay safe.” Phoebe looked up at Gavin, the wind tugging free her hair from its pinnings as they stood on the aerodock. He reached down and brushed the curls from her eyes, then cupping her cheek in his hand, bent his head to hers and kissed her, just a brush of the lips.

  “Be well, my love. I willna be but twice a fortnight.” Gavin let her go with a final look, then turned to Seth pulling him in his arms for a hearty embrace.

  “Take care, aye?” Gavin took a step back, and though there were no more words spoken, there was plenty being said between the two of them.

  “Aye, and you. Stay safe and we’ll see you when you return.” Seth took a step back, to stand at Phoebe’s side. Together they watched as Gavin gave them a final wave in farewell, and then climbed aboard the airship.

  Phoebe’s spirits were low as they rode back to Seth’s house. If it had not been for Seth and Gavin, she did not know how she would have coped—if at all.

  Back in the drawing room of Seth’s home, he pulled her close and frowned a bit, his empty hand brushing her cheek. “You worry me, my love. What can I do to bring your smile back? I miss it something awful.” His arms went around her waist and she leaned into him, her head on his chest as he held her tight.

  She looked up at him. He had aged in the last month, new lines around his eyes and mouth. He’d been through a lot— they both had. Still, she managed a smile to keep him from worrying. “I do love you something terrible, Seth Elliot.”

  “Phoebe, have you given it any more thought?”

  He had been so patient with her since Gabriel’s death and the incident with Victor. Only once had he broached the subject of marriage, and then only to let her know he still wanted her to be his wife.

  Her stomach clenched at the sight of him, her hand drifting over the curve of her belly to try and soothe her nerves. Looking into eyes that still made her heart trip over itself, she reached up and touched his face, taking comfort in the familiar feel of his stubbled cheek. The memories of their times together came flooding back, the good drowning out the bad, until all she could remember was the love they had for each other.

  “I could not love you more, Seth Elliott. Will you have me?”

  “Aye, that I will.” Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out his mother’s ring, slipped it onto her finger, and then kissed her like he never had before.

  “I do love you so, Phoebe.”

  “And I you.”

  Chapter Eighty

  He waited until all the lights in the house were out, his Lordship having already retired some hours since. The weather was mild enough that he did not mind the wait in the garden, his mind busy with the task at hand. It had been some time since he’d put his skills to use, not having the need in recent times, but he was not worried. It was second nature.

  He picked the lock to the servant’s entrance with ease, then slipped past the doorway and into the shadows. Having watched the home for the last week, he knew which bedroom he needed, slipping up the back stairwell. Wi
th everyone turned in for the night, he reached his destination will little difficulty.

  The door was not locked, and even if it had been, it would pose little problem. Careful to open the door only enough to allow him passage, he closed it behind him and made his way quietly to his Lordship’s bedside.

  He took a deep breath to steal his nerves and mark the moment of his revenge. For revenge he would have. Even if he were caught, it would not matter as long as he completed the task he set out to do. For he would make sure the bastard paid for what he did to Lady Phoebe, and pay he would with his life.

  It was done in a matter of seconds, his neck sliced open while he still slept. Pity his death was a quick one when he should have suffered, and that he died without knowing the reason for it.

  He wiped his knife clean on the covers, her honor restored. “For you, my dear Lady.” With his mission complete and his vengeance taken, Samuel slipped back into the shadows and off into the night.

  THE END

  Author’s Note: I do hope you enjoyed Viridis. Reviews, as always, are greatly appreciated. For more of Phoebe, Seth and Gavin’s adventures, please read on for a sample of Devil on a Sparrow’s Wing, Book Two in the Viridis Series.

  Devil on a Sparrow’s Wing

  Book 2 in the Viridis Series

  Chapter One

  Edinburgh, May 1866

  Phoebe stood there at the helm of Gavin’s airship, arms crossed and her temper up, as Seth argued with her.

  “It could be dangerous and I’d rather not have to worry about ye. I cannot concentrate on the matter at hand if I’m distracted by trying to keep ye safe. Gavin,” he turned to his friend for support, “can ye not talk some sense into her?”