1901 The Society File: Book 3 of The Paranormal Research and Rescue Institute Series

by Lora Edwards

  Delphine sat back and sighed. “All right, you have thought of everything.”

  “Not my first rodeo, as the Americans say,” Flynn told her. “You will do fine, Delphine,” he said reassuringly.

  Teagan just sat back, rubbing her stomach and smiling at the two of them. They made such a good couple, Flynn understanding and patient, Delphine sunny and lively.

  “Good luck you two,” Teagan told them as they stood to leave.

  “Next up, Mrs. Bloom and costumes.” Flynn gave a grand bow and held his arm out to Delphine. “Mrs. Kirk, can I escort you to the costume department?”

  Delphine giggled. “Yes, I would be delighted, Mr. Kirk.” She took his arm and they waved at Teagan before they strode out of the library and down to the costume department. Mrs. Bloom had sent word that she had their period clothing ready and wanted to do fittings before the jump. No matter the period, Mrs. Bloom’s clothing always fit perfectly. Delphine suspected the fittings were a ruse for Mrs. Bloom to be able to see them in the clothing she designed.

  “All right Delphine dear, we have a few different types of ensembles for you. We have a walking suit, morning dresses, and a few pieces of evening wear. I modeled your gowns after ones designed by the House of Worth. It was all the rage in that era, and having a Worth dress—or in this case, an exact replica—will mark you as affluent and someone to know.” Mrs. Bloom held up a garment bag. “Here are two gowns I would like you to try on. The first is a simple walking dress, the second is a ball gown. Also, here is a spell for your hair—it will not do for you to have blue hair, as beautiful as it is,” Mrs. Bloom said kindly, handing her an envelope. Delphine peeked inside and saw a piece of parchment with the word Callipum in script. She smiled and slipped the envelope into the pocket of her slacks.

  She took the bag and walked behind the screen Mrs. Bloom had there for that purpose. Mrs. Bloom followed and helped her with the underthings. First she pulled out a pale lavender walking dress, pulled it over her head, and walked out for Mrs. Bloom’s approval.

  “Here, let me do up the back to make sure it fits properly.” The older woman hustled over and tied the back of the garment. “You look wonderful,” she said, turning Delphine to be able to look at herself in the mirror.

  Delphine gasped. The dress was even more beautiful than she’d realized before she put it on. It was simple but the color was perfect for her skin tone, and the fabric had a bit of a sheen to it. Delphine moved around a bit and smiled at Mrs. Bloom. “This is beautiful. I cannot wait to wear it.” She hugged the older woman, who just chuckled.

  “It is nice to have one’s work appreciated. Now go on and try on the ball gown.” Mrs. Bloom undid the laces of the walking dress and Delphine walked back behind the screen, reluctantly taking off the lavender dress before she opened the other bag.

  Opening it a bit wider, Delphine took the dress out and just stared. It was one of the most beautiful creations she had ever seen. Due to the weather on the Siren isle, they tended to wear light airy dresses in colors of the sea. This dress was heavy, but it was magnificent.

  The color was of roses drenched in cream and the satin whispered as Delphine pulled it over her head then walked out to Mrs. Bloom.

  “It’s perfect,” Mrs. Bloom said breathlessly as Delphine stepped out from behind the screen. She hurried over and tied the back up, leading Delphine to the dais in the middle of the room. The garment fit her perfectly, and in it she looked like a regal lady heading to a ball to dance the night away with a handsome prince.

  Mrs. Bloom kneeled down and slipped small satin slippers the same color as the dress onto Delphine’s feet.

  “I have something special to go with this dress, and I think it will suit you perfectly.” Mrs. Bloom reached into the pocket of her dress and brought out a velvet case. She flipped it open for Delphine to look inside, and Delphine felt as if her eyes were going to pop out of her head.

  There, nestled in blue velvet, was a necklace, a gorgeous showpiece. Silver filigree shaped like leaves and vines surrounded rubies the size of quarters. Little diamonds winked in the light among the fine lines of the platinum metal.

  “Mrs. Bloom, I can’t wear this—it must be worth a fortune,” Delphine whispered, reaching out to touch the necklace and then pulling her hand back at the last minute.

  “I gave it to her, Delphine. It has been in my family for generations, and I want you to have it.” Delphine turned at the sound of Flynn’s voice and looked at the sober expression on his face.

  He looked dashing in his evening wear with his hair slicked back in the style of the early 1900s.

  “Flynn, I couldn’t. This is too much.” Her eyes strayed to the necklace again.

  Flynn chuckled, coming up and taking the box from Mrs. Bloom. He lifted the jewels from their resting place in the velvet and undid the ruby clasp. He draped the necklace around her neck and looked at her in the mirror. “You are to be my wife, and my wife will have only the best,” he said in his fake Boston accent.

  Delphine gently placed her hand over the necklace as if to ensure it was still there. She turned to Flynn and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “It would be my honor to be your wife,” she said solemnly. “Even if it is only for the mission,” she added.

  “One day when the time is right, it won’t be just for a mission, but for a lifetime.” He stared back into her eyes, showing her with his gaze the solemn promise it was meant to be.

  A sniffle brought them out of their trance and they both looked over at Mrs. Bloom, who was wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

  “You two will make a beautiful couple. Delphine, I hope when you are ready, you will do me the honor of having me make your wedding gown,” she said through her tears.

  “Of course, Mrs. Bloom. I wouldn’t dream of wearing any creation that hadn’t been made by your hands.” Delphine hugged the short round woman.

  “Now don’t be wrinkling that dress. It fits you perfectly so you can take it off now, and I will have it sent through with the rest of your wardrobe.” She was all business now. Flynn unhooked the necklace and returned it to the box, handing it to Mrs. Bloom as Delphine once again went behind the screen to take off the gown and put her modern clothes back on.

  She stood there, just for a moment, and caught her breath.

  It was really happening: she was going on missions, she had Flynn and Esme, and this was her life now. She held that bit of happiness close to her heart as she slipped out of the dress, placing it and the undergarments back in the bag. Quickly dressing in her modern clothes, Delphine carried everything out to Mrs. Bloom.

  “I am delighted to see you and Flynn are a couple. He deserves happiness, as do you, my dear, and you will make a fine pair.” Mrs. Bloom put her hand to Delphine’s cheek and smiled into her eyes. “Okay, off with you now. I have much work to do and little time to get it done before you jump tomorrow. Enjoy your evening and give that baby a snuggle for me.”

  “I will, and thank you for everything Mrs. Bloom.”

  “Pish posh dear, it is my calling.” Mrs. Bloom made a shooing gesture and Delphine laughed as she walked out of wardrobe.

  “Mrs. Sanderson, this smells fantastic.” Delphine leaned over the simmering pot on the stove and took a deep breath. The smells coming from the kitchen were mouthwatering, and she didn’t know if she could wait for Flynn to get there before she dug in.

  “It will be ready in a few minutes. Just putting the finishing touches on while we wait for Flynn. It looks as if things are going well between the two of you,” Mrs. Sanderson commented as she stirred the sauce in the pan.

  “It’s like I found the other half of me. It was just comfortable from the day we met. He puts me at ease, and I feel like I can talk to him about anything. I feel as if I found home.”

  “It was that way for me when I found my mister. I have always thought it was better that way, a comfortable sort of love without all the drama and angst so many couples go through as they find their way togethe
r.”

  Delphine chuckled. “Flynn and I, we are not much for drama. There is passion there, which is essential, but we fit together like two halves of a whole, and that feels good. It is as if I have been looking for that all my life.”

  Both ladies turned at the sound of the front door opening.

  “Go greet your man. I will plate this and meet you in the dining room.”

  Delphine went into the living room to find Flynn lifting a sleepy Esme out of her pack ’n play where she had been napping.

  “Look who’s awake. Good afternoon, sunshine. Are you ready for some dinner?” He cooed to the little girl, who grinned sleepily and rested her head on his broad shoulder.

  Delphine leaned against the doorjamb and just smiled at them.

  Flynn looked up from the baby and smiled back. “Hello there gorgeous. I am a lucky man getting to have dinner with two such spectacular ladies.”

  Delphine rolled her eyes at his effusive praise. “Dinner is ready. Bring the baby in and we will eat.”

  Flynn’s stomach grumbled and he smiled sheepishly. “It smells fantastic in here.” They made their way to the dining area, where the table was set for a romantic dinner for two with long slim tapered candles lit in their silver candlesticks, heavy cut crystal glasses already filled with ruby red wine, and a meal fit for a restaurant on beautiful plates.

  “Mrs. Sanderson, this looks amazing.” Delphine sat at the table as Flynn put Esme in her high chair in front of her own meal. Esme squealed in delight at the finger foods Mrs. Sanderson had placed there for her and began shoving pieces of fruit into her mouth.

  “Kid’s got the right idea.” Flynn smiled at Delphine as he picked up his fork and knife and dug in.

  Delphine did the same, cutting off a piece and slipping it between her lips. Flavor exploded in her mouth, causing her to groan. With the acidic bite of tomatoes, the unique flavors of basil and eggplant, and the creamy polenta, it was the best eggplant parmesan she had ever tasted.

  The family made quick work of the meal with Mrs. Sanderson looking on as they devoured her creations. There was nothing a brownie liked more than watching people enjoy the fruits of their labor.

  “I am going to miss these dinners while we are gone,” Flynn said wistfully.

  “No one cooks quite like Mrs. Sanderson.” Delphine nodded, smiling as the older woman blushed in pride.

  “Oh stop. I will be taking my leave now. You be careful on your jump and I will have a hardy meal planned for when you return.” She kissed the top of Esme’s head before she hustled out of the room.

  Chapter 19

  Delphine rolled over, looked at Flynn asleep beside her, and smiled. It was the day of her first full mission for the institute, and she couldn’t wait to get started. Slipping out of bed, she stopped in the alcove to look at Esme, who was sleeping peacefully. Delphine felt a bit of a twinge in her heart at the thought of leaving the girl. She knew Bran and Teagan would take good care of her, but it would be difficult to not be able to see her for however long it took to stop the society.

  Running a hand over the sleeping child’s hair, Delphine left the room in search of coffee. Teagan and Ovidia were die-hard tea fans, but once Delphine had discovered coffee, that had been it for her. Brewing her first cup, she took it into her ocean room, sitting on the sand and listening to the soothing rhythm of the waves. After this mission, she would travel home with Esme, as her father was anxious to meet his new granddaughter. Delphine smiled to herself at the thought. Her father had been understanding and welcoming of the idea of Delphine adopting the orphaned child, and he was impatient to see her and begin to establish a relationship with her.

  Delphine knew she was lucky to have grown up with a father who was open to others’ beliefs and who would accept a child who was half Siren and half mermaid. Many other leaders of other clans would not, but the people of the Siren isle would, and Esme would have a warm welcome there.

  “Thinking long thoughts,” Flynn asked as he sat down in the sand next to her with his own cup of coffee.

  “Esme still sleeping?”

  Flynn held up the baby monitor. “Yep. She was snoring away when I got up. I am going to miss her while we are gone.”

  Delphine leaned over and laid her head on his shoulder. “I am too, but Bran and Teagan will take good care of her and we will be back before she knows it.”

  “This parenting thing is harder than I thought it would be. It is hard to know what is the best thing all the time.”

  “Are you having second thoughts?” Delphine sat up so she could look into his face.

  “No, not at all. It is just different than what I expected, but I wouldn’t give her up for anything. She means the world to me.”

  Delphine nodded her agreement and laid her head back on his shoulder as they sat in silence, listening to the waves on the shore.

  Delphine wiped away a tear as she donned the lavender walking dress. Teagan had assured her that they would take great care of Esme, and she loved the nanny they had hired, a water sprite who had recently come to the institute with her husband. She and Esme played in the water and Esme loved the woman, frequently showing Delphine images of them laughing together in the ocean.

  Delphine had taken one last look at the little girl happily playing with a toy while Bran bounced her on his lap. She would be fine, Delphine knew that, but it didn’t make the leaving any easier.

  Walking back around the screen, she put her sadness away. She needed to concentrate on the mission at hand, needed to stop the society and avenge Esme’s parents and all the other supernaturals whose lives had been affected by their evil deeds.

  “She will be fine, Delphine,” Flynn said when she walked up to him, noticing the red around her eyes.

  “I know, but it is hard to leave her.” She took his hand, giving him a watery smile.

  He squeezed it and then turned to the window in the library, the stained glass that allowed them to travel through time. “I already have it set to our destination. Are you ready to kick some society butt,” Flynn asked in his cultured Bostonian accent.

  Delphine giggled. “You bet I am.”

  Chapter 20

  Together they stepped through the mirror. Delphine felt the familiar warm water sensation, and when she opened her eyes, they stood in a small anteroom. She looked back one more time at the glass while it reflected the library of the institute. She hoped things went well and they were able to do their duty then get back to Esme soon.

  “Hello, you must be Delphine and Flynn. I am Stuart, a member of the institute here in 1901. We welcome your help and expertise on fighting this newest threat to our existence.” He said the last part with a wry smile and a twinkle in his eye. “Follow me and I will show you out to the coach awaiting you. It will take you straight to the Draconus townhouse, located in the most fashionable part of London. The staff there are all members of the institute, so you are free to talk and be your modern selves there.”

  “Thank you, Stuart, for setting up the carriage. That was very kind of you,” Delphine told the man. He was some kind of elf, or maybe a fae, handsome with smooth creamy skin and glowing violet eyes. His ears came to a delicate point at the top and he was elegantly dressed.

  He led them through a dizzying array of hallways. Delphine glimpsed people hard at work as they walked past, some in libraries much like the one at their institute, some in what looked like laboratories. Passing one, they heard a large explosion and a white-haired man emerged from the room, his hair standing up and soot covering his face. He wore large goggles to protect his eyes and thick leather gloves on his hands.

  “Another failed experiment Dr. Haven?”

  Dr. Haven just grinned. “No, Stuart, my man, a success! I think I have managed to perfect my exploding potion, just didn’t get out of the way fast enough. Who might these engaging-looking people be,” Dr. Haven asked, his eyes sparkling through his goggles.

  “This is Delphine and Flynn from Armand’s institute.
They are here to help with the society.”

  “Right, right. Nasty piece of business, that. Say, I may have some things that will help you. Step into my lab for a moment and I will load you up.” Dr. Haven turned around and went back into the room he’d just emerged from from.

  Stuart sighed as he led them inside. “It’s best to indulge him, and he may even have something that will actually help you.”

  “Interesting that humans could cause this much havoc, though from what I have heard, they had some help from one of our own.” Dr Haven continued to mutter to himself as he rooted around in a series of large cupboards arranged across the wall of his laboratory.

  Delphine took the chance to look around while the doctor continued to rummage.

  The room wasn’t large but was packed with wooden tables laden with mysterious items. There were large cast iron pots bubbling with unidentifiable liquids and beakers whose contents were all colors of the rainbow, bubbling and hissing strangely. Delphine stooped down to peer into one and the color inside changed to a deep red as it began to bubble furiously. She quickly stepped back and the liquid inside calmed, the color fading to the faint pink it had been before.

  Delphine glanced at Flynn, who shrugged. She was careful to not get too close to any more of the bubbling beakers after that.

  “Ahhh here it is,” the old man finally pronounced, producing several stoppered bottles in different colors with labels made of parchment. A phrase was scrawled in ink on each one.

  “You are fighting humans, yes, but not ones that are defenseless. We supernaturals become cocky and believe those without power are weak and will be overcome easily. What I have learned of these society members is that they are intelligent, quick-witted, and armed with potions and elixirs made by someone of the blood. Hubris will get you killed. These are antidotes to some of the more lethal potions. I was brought to the scene of the carnage after you affected the rescue, and I have studied the dead and ascertained what was used on them. “You”—he pointed at Delphine—“received one of my healing draughts just a few days ago. It was foolish of you to expend your newfound healing powers in such a way, as you could have doomed yourself to an existence of being neither here nor there, floating in the ether as your body strived to replace the energy you had depleted. Be careful—we cannot heal all, and that is the great burden that comes with the healing power.”