Secrets 03 - Shattered Secrets

by Lana Williams

  “This is the best night ever,” Amelia whispered to Moira.

  Moira smiled at her, wishing Lucas was there to share it with them.

  *

  Lucas surveyed the crowded theater from the rear where he stood, shaking his head in amazement. None of them had anticipated an audience this large. People had already been seated before they’d arrived. He, Weston and Ashbury had taken up different posts around the back of the theater. They planned to monitor the audience as they entered the theater, but the entrance was wide and the crowd too numerous to allow a good look at each person, especially with the lights so dim.

  The problem was Lucas wasn’t certain who he was looking for. A cloaked figure with a limp? An old man with a cane? Or had the professor sent one of his associates to attend? In that case, they had no chance of recognizing anyone. The description of a tall, thin man in a bowler hat described twenty of the men here.

  As usual, being with so many people in one place overwhelmed him. He had the same symptoms he’d had on the streets near the dock, a slight headache and queasiness. The one advantage to the dim light was that the auras were not as visible. Unless he concentrated carefully, they all appeared a dull gray.

  He wondered how his friends were doing. Weston seemed the most likely person to recognize the professor since he was the only one who’d actually spoken to him. The encounter had ended with Weston being shot. Lucas could only hope nothing similar occurred tonight. The professor had always told them violence was a last resort. Yet now he was developing a weapon that would produce massive destruction. What changes had occurred in the professor’s mind that would sway his personal beliefs so dramatically?

  As the demonstration progressed, he realized it was more a form of entertainment than a display of science, but Lucas had to give the doctor credit. He imparted some knowledge to the audience and also gave them a thrill.

  The theater brightened when the doctor turned the ceiling into shimmering stars with his light prism. Lucas’s attention was fully caught by three members of the crowd seated toward the front. Surely it wasn’t who he thought it was. He edged closer, drawing as near as he could and realized with a start it was indeed Moira, Amelia, and Addie.

  There was no room for him to sit beside them as every seat in the theater was filled. Nor could he stand in the aisle to try and gain their attention. Not without the crowd complaining because he blocked their view.

  He pushed back the anger that struck. Why had Moira not kept him informed of her plans? Not that he’d actually given her the opportunity. As anger swiftly faded, guilt took its place. In his effort to protect himself from getting further involved with Moira and the twins, he’d potentially put them in danger.

  Now, rather than wishing the professor would make an appearance, Lucas hoped he wouldn’t. He searched the theater for Weston and Ashbury, wanting to warn them of Moira and the girls’ presence. But with the lights so dim and the number of people standing because there weren’t enough seats, he couldn’t see them.

  He considered the situation more closely. Moira, Amelia, and Addie were in the center of the theater. They would be among the last to leave. Most of the crowd would have dispersed by the time they were able to make their exit. He would wait here for them and see them safely home. From this vantage point, he could keep watch over them and ensure their safety.

  The show continued until Lucas feared it would never end.

  Finally the doctor gave a big finale, evidenced by the long drum roll preceding the spectacular light show. It appeared more like a fireworks demonstration he’d seen in Brazil than a scientific demonstration. But the crowd cheered and clapped as the lights showered the ceiling in an array of patterns and colors. The doctor took a bow and exited the stage as the curtain closed.

  The lights in the theater were turned up once again, both a curse and a blessing to Lucas. Now he could better see Moira and the girls, but people’s auras were far more visible. His gaze caught on the dark ones, studying them to see if they appeared ill. He had never been able to decide if it was good or not if they did. An illness was less preventable than an accident, but as Weston had pointed out earlier, if it was a person’s time to die, it was their time.

  A young girl who walked up the aisle beside her father carried a very dark aura. She was near the twin’s age and ill, judging by her pale, gaunt cheeks. But she glanced up and gave her father the sweetest smile. Lucas looked away for a moment in dismay. Did her father know how ill she was? Would he want to know that death knocked on her door, or would he prefer to live one day at a time, none the wiser?

  Lucas understood the two sides of that coin. He had yet to decide what his preference would’ve been under normal circumstances. But his choice had already been taken away.

  How he wished he could make a difference for this little girl like he and Weston had with that man earlier today. The pair passed, holding hands and smiling at each other. Obviously they’d enjoyed the performance. What more could Lucas have wanted had he been in the father’s place other than to spend time in his daughter’s company?

  His attention returned to his own family, for that’s what they were, whether he wanted to admit so or not. He couldn’t see them as the people surrounding them had risen, preparing to depart. He shifted back and forth, trying to find them again. They couldn’t have gotten far.

  Another dark aura caught his attention. When he looked closer, his heart stopped.

  Moira.

  Frantic, he tried to press through the exiting crowd to reach her, but it was like swimming against the tide. The glimpses he caught of her showed her standing, holding on to the girls’ hands. Many people were around her, but no one who looked like the professor. What could be wrong?

  One of the men near her was tall with a bowler hat. Something about the way he leaned forward, his shoulders stiff, and standing far too close to Moira, made Lucas believe he must be the reason for her dark aura. Lucas bobbed and weaved, trying to push through the crowd while keeping an eye on her and the girls. His heart felt as though it would punch through his chest. He quelled his panic, grasping for the cold resolve he needed to reach Moira before her dark aura became a reality.

  *

  “Do not turn around. I have a gun.”

  The voice in Moira’s ear startled her.

  “I need ye and those girls to walk with me up onto the stage behind the curtain.”

  Her breath hitched as she felt the barrel of the gun in her back. Addie heard his order and turned to look at him then back to Moira, eyes wide with fear. Amelia, who was ahead of Addie, didn’t yet realize they were in danger.

  Moira glanced toward the people around her, hoping to catch someone’s attention. Their maid had become separated from them in the crowd.

  “Don’t even think about it,” the man muttered from directly over her shoulder. “Move, nice and slow.”

  There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Again Moira looked at the people nearby, wondering if she dared to call for help but the feel of the gun in her back stopped her.

  She glanced over her shoulder at him, only to have him shove the gun into her harder, causing her to flinch. “What is it you want?” she asked.

  “I need ye to walk with me to the rear of the stage. Once we reach the back entrance, I’ll let ye and the little girls go.”

  Moira didn’t believe him for a moment. This had to have something to do with the professor. He must want to use them to reach Lucas. Yet what choice did she have when he pointed that gun at her? It was concealed by his cloak, so no one around her noticed anything untoward.

  Why on earth hadn’t she asked Lucas to join them tonight? She should’ve insisted on it. Her stubbornness, her worry that she didn’t become overly dependent on him, had put the girls in danger.

  She drew a deep breath, determined to keep her wits about her. She couldn’t let her fear take over. The girls needed her.

  Before they could approach the stage, they needed to exit the row where the
ir seats were. Her best hope was to catch someone’s attention once they reached the aisle. The gun pointing at her decided which direction she’d take.

  “Come along, girls. Time to go.”

  Amelia must’ve heard something odd in Moira’s voice for she looked up at her and caught sight of the man far too close to them. Worry flared in her eyes.

  “It’s all right. We’re going to leave now.” Moira glanced down at each of them, still holding their hands tight. “All right?”

  She hoped her expression prepared them to be ready if they had the opportunity to escape. Both girls nodded and she squeezed their hands, praying they understood.

  The people in front of her eased into the aisle. Moira caught the gaze of a nice looking gentleman and braced herself to take action, hoping he would help in some way.

  The man with the gun hopped over the seats between them so he was now directly behind them as they reached the aisle.

  “I don’t need ye. I just need those girls. Get out of the way.” The man grabbed her elbow and tugged her to the side, but Moira managed to keep her balance.

  The girls shared a frightened look but neither panicked. Moira gritted her teeth, allowing fear to fuel her anger. She put their hands together so they’d hold on to each other, then leaned down and whispered, “Run.”

  The girls darted ahead, quickly moving out of sight. Moira lifted her skirt to kick the man behind her on the shin.

  “Ow!”

  She elbowed him in the stomach, driving her shoulder into him to force him off balance. Then she ran, too.

  “I say, what on earth?” The nice man ahead of her glanced at her as she pushed by. Then he caught sight of the gun the man held. “Are you threatening that woman?”

  Moira didn’t pause to hear more. She hurried forward, fear gripping her throat when she couldn’t find Amelia or Addie. She weaved through the people in the aisle but halted abruptly when she came up against a solid mass. When she looked up, a sob caught in her throat. “Lucas!”

  “Are you all right?” He looked all about her, taking in her hat and shoulders before he once again looked into her eyes.

  “Fine. The girls?”

  “Weston has them.” He glanced over his shoulder and Moira searched until she saw the lord had them both. “I’ll be back.”

  “No, he has a gun.” Moira’s heart wrenched as Lucas bolted toward the stage.

  The man who’d been threatening them was now on stage but couldn’t find the opening of the curtains. He pawed at the heavy red velvet until at last he managed to find the opening and disappear. Lucas and Ashbury were directly behind him.

  Moira heard someone yelling and objects falling. She said a quick prayer when no gunshot sounded. She hurried toward Weston and the girls, both of whom were sniffling.

  “Thank you,” she told the lord then bent down and gathered both girls into her arms. “All is well now.”

  “London is a terrible place. I knew it,” Amelia said as she wiped away her tears.

  “Where is Uncle Lucas?” Addie asked.

  “He’ll return soon.” She looked up at Weston, hoping for confirmation.

  “Indeed he will. You three have been incredibly brave. Let us find your carriage and I will see you home. I’m certain your uncle and Lord Ashbury will be along shortly.”

  Moira wasn’t fooled. She saw the worry in his eyes. But she continued to murmur assurances to the girls as they made their way to the carriage.

  *

  The back of the stage was dim, filled with crates stacked high and odd structures, apparently for productions of plays and the like. The shadows and props offered too many places to hide. Lucas was well aware the man he chased had a gun and he had no intention of becoming a target. He moved forward slowly, noting Ashbury did the same on the other end of the stage.

  “What are you blokes doing back here?” A man holding the small spectrograph asked. “Show’s over.”

  “Did you see a man pass through here a moment ago? He wore a bowler hat.”

  “No, can’t say as I did.”

  A door slammed from somewhere in the back.

  “That must be him,” Ashbury called out. “He’s escaping.”

  Lucas rushed forward, winding his way through the narrow aisles between props while searching for the man in case he’d set a trap.

  Ashbury reached the door and threw it open, glancing up and down the alley it led to.

  “See anything?” Lucas asked as he reached him.

  The alley was mostly deserted as far as he could tell, but darkness had fallen and no streetlights lit the area.

  “That was Vincent Simmons. Blast him!” Ashbury shook his head. “He has more lives than a cat.”

  “Let us have a closer look just in case.”

  They eased down the steps, stopping to watch and listen for any sign of movement.

  “Which way?” Lucas asked.

  “Toward the street. Chances are he’ll try to lose himself amongst the people still exiting the theater.”

  The street was crowded and the darkness blended the people into one shifting mass. Lucas’s vision wasn’t as good with one eye, especially in the dark. He had limited peripheral vision and difficulty judging distances. But he looked more for movement—someone running or pushing through the crowd.

  Nothing.

  “He could be anywhere by now,” Ashbury said as he continued to search the street. “Simmons is very good at disappearing.”

  Rage stole Lucas’s breath. Especially when there was no place to direct it. To be so close to catching the man who not only threatened Moira and his nieces but had murdered his brother made Lucas furious.

  “I’m sorry.” Ashbury shook his head as he caught the look on Lucas’s face. “If we could’ve stopped him and the professor sooner, your brother—”

  “No need for apologies. You and Weston have done everything you can. We must keep trying. He’s bold, that’s for certain. And that kind of bravado will eventually allow him to be caught.”

  “True. But don’t underestimate Simmons or the professor. If only we knew better what the hell they were up to.”

  “Let us check on Moira and the girls.”

  “I see them just ahead. Weston is assisting them into the carriage.”

  “Uncle Lucas!” Addie and Amelia stepped forward to hug him when they saw him.

  “Are you all right?” Lucas couldn’t help but stare at Moira as he held the girls. More than simple relief filled him when he saw that not even a trace of her dark aura remained. Addie and Amelia appeared fine as well.

  “We were so scared,” Amelia admitted from where she had her face buried in the curve of his neck.

  “Lord Weston says Aunt Moira hit him and kicked him. Did you see her?” Addie asked.

  “Indeed, I did.” He smiled at Moira. “I had no idea she was so resourceful.”

  To his surprise, tears filled Moira’s eyes and she blinked rapidly to clear them. He longed to draw her into his arms and hold her tight. “No sign of him?” she asked.

  “No,” Ashbury said. “Unfortunately not.”

  “Let us get all of you home,” Lucas said. He was grateful he could say those words as they were all safe.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The sick feeling in the pit of Lucas’s stomach did not improve as the carriage made its way home. He had nearly lost Moira and his nieces. He tried to hide his dark mood from the girls who sat on his and Moira’s laps in the cramped space. Luckily Ashbury and Weston distracted them.

  “Have you been to the toy store yet?” Weston asked.

  “No. You mean there is an entire store that only sells toys?” Addie seemed astounded at the thought.

  “We’ll have to venture there later this week,” Weston added. “Surely you’re tired of museums by now.”

  Ashbury laughed. “You are a terrible influence.”

  The banter swirled around him. All he wanted to do was gather Moira into his arms and hold her tight to reas
sure himself that she was well, that the terrible promise of her dark aura hadn’t come to pass.

  This was exactly what he’d feared since he’d allowed Moira and the girls into his world—that he’d glance up to find them at death’s door. His head pounded at the vivid image he’d seen. Moira had tricked death, escaping without harm, but what about the next time? His stomach lurched at the thought. While it had been terrifying to see, what if he hadn’t been there tonight? If he hadn’t helped to chase away Simmons from making another attempt— He ran his hand over his face to stop the direction of his thoughts. The carriage hit a rut, sending Moira’s leg bumping against his. He’d never felt anything so wonderful in his life. Her presence pulled him back from the brink of the dark hole that beckoned.

  Moira said nothing. Absolutely nothing. As the carriage rumbled along, her silence worried him more than anything. She had every right to be angry at the danger he’d put her in by not being more involved with her schedule or sharing his own. He had to rectify that.

  At last they drew to a halt in front of their home and everyone alighted. Ashbury and Weston came inside as well and they all gathered in the drawing room.

  “I’ll take the girls up to bed,” Moira said.

  “Let them stay with us a little longer. Perhaps doing so can chase away any bad dreams they may have.” Lucas raised his brow, hoping she’d agree. He wasn’t ready to allow any of them out of his sight quite yet.

  “Very well,” she relented.

  Amelia and Addie settled on a settee, happy to be included, content to sit and listen for a few minutes, each sharing what they’d liked best about the demonstration.

  Ashbury poured all of the adults some brandy. Even Moira. When he handed hers to her, she hesitated.

  “Trust me,” Ashbury said. “It will do you good.”

  “Very well.” With a glance at Lucas, Moira drained the glass, coughing only a bit.

  “Well done,” Weston cheered and followed suit.