Night School: Resistance (Night School 4)

It looked like he intended to say more but Lucinda made an impatient gesture.

‘Enough, Nathaniel. Surely you haven’t arranged this elaborate parley solely so you could apologise to my granddaughter for the unforgivable act of gravely injuring her?’

He turned back to her, his smile almost nostalgic. ‘Oh, Lucinda. I have missed sparring with you. Despite everything.’ Before she could reply, he continued quickly. ‘So, we are here to do business. Such unfortunate circumstances. Such bad business indeed.’

Suddenly Allie’s nervousness heightened. This didn’t feel right. His demeanour was out of character; the location felt odd and vulnerable.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Something was wrong.

She glanced around at the dark heathland. They should be keeping an eye out. Anyone could be hiding in the dark.

She nudged Carter. When he looked at her, very subtly she tilted her head at the heath that sprawled out behind them in the protective shield of darkness.

Getting the message, he took a careful step back to get a better view of the land behind them. And whoever might be hiding there.

Allie was comforted by the thought that somewhere nearby Nicole and Zoe were hiding. They might be watching them now.

‘Have you brought my prize?’ Nathaniel said.

He seemed to have forgotten about her for now – all of his attention was focused on Lucinda.

‘If by “prize” you mean “Jerry Cole”, then yes,’ Lucinda said. ‘He’s nearby. And you can have him as soon as you agree to our conditions.’

Nathaniel rocked back on his heels, warm brown eyes betraying nothing but curiosity. His tone was challenging. Even playful.

‘And what might those be? Come on, Lucinda. Surprise me.’

Her grandmother’s hesitation was only fractional but Allie recognised it. She was finding Nathaniel’s behaviour confusing as well. He was almost … jovial.

‘Nathaniel,’ Lucinda stepped closer to him, ‘let’s end this. Let’s find a compromise. A way to go forward without destroying the organisation. If you want me to step down from the Orion leadership, I will. We both know I’m finished there anyway. If you want someone else to take over Cimmeria, fine. Isabelle and I will compromise on that, too.’

Allie heard Carter’s breath catch, and she stared at Lucinda in disbelief.

None of this had been mentioned before.

This was what we came here for? For Lucinda to give Nathaniel everything?

She wanted to argue, but she’d promised not to interfere. She’d promised to trust her.

So she bit her tongue and waited.

Nathaniel widened his eyes in apparent surprise. ‘Why, Lucinda, how magnanimous! I’m swept away by your generosity. Are you saying you would be happy for me to take over the leadership of Orion and to pick the new leader of Night School? Because if you are, then at last we are getting somewhere.’

Lucinda’s smile was lupine. ‘Now, Nathaniel, you know you can’t take over Orion. Whatever you’ve been promised by your friends on the board, if I step down, you know they won’t really give it to you. A promise isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. The Rules are inviolable and, technically, you’re not even a member at this time. But there are many existing, long-term members whom I’d be happy to support.’

Nathaniel’s gaze narrowed. ‘Oh, I have no doubt there are people you would support. I know about your pathetic puppets. The handful who still cling to the hope that you’ll come back from your defeats and give them all power once again.’

He took a step back, as if he couldn’t bear to be so near her.

‘How disappointing. I must say, I so hoped you were serious this time. That further unpleasantness could be avoided. Instead I see we’re right where we started. Playing games as you try desperately not to lose control of the organisation.’ He shook his head sadly. ‘This is beneath you, Lucinda. You, more than anyone, should know how to let go.’

Lucinda didn’t react to this. Instead she stood tall, unflinching. She looked, Allie thought, quite magnificent, with London at her feet. Her thin raincoat fluttered like a cape as she shrugged.

‘You cannot have Jerry Cole, Nathaniel, if you do not compromise. And I know how much he means to you.’

Nathaniel barked a delighted laugh. ‘You figured out who he is, then? Or who he was, at any rate.’

Lucinda inclined her head.

Looking back and forth between them, Allie frowned. Neither she nor Isabelle had said anything about determining Jerry’s true identity.

When did that happen?

‘Gerald Barlow-Smith.’ Lucinda pronounced the name with precision. ‘Your manager when you first came to my offices. He was your mentor. He was fired for stealing.’

‘He was wrongly terminated,’ Nathaniel said. ‘By you. Because of a personal disagreement he had with one of your assistants.’