“That victory will do me no good from the grave.” He lowered Kate into the dark hole and followed after her.
Kate was on her hands and knees in a tunnel that was only about three feet high. She couldn’t make out much in the darkness, barely even Simon’s form, but she could hear the sound of shuffling just ahead. She hurried to catch up, afraid to lose them in case the tunnel system was vast. The floor was rough under her hands with sharp stones and debris digging into the soft skin of her palms. Her hair brushed the roof, bringing dirt down around her.
Suddenly she bumped into Simon’s feet and let out a soft exclamation.
“Is Malcolm with you?” he asked.
“I think so.”
“I’m here,” the Scotsman growled.
“We’re turning left,” Simon whispered. “Stay close.”
A few minutes later, she could no longer be sure of their direction as they had veered sharply a few times. Gradually her vision lightened and the walls around her came into view. She wished they hadn’t. There were tiny animal bones everywhere. Had the child been eating them or had they just perished in this horrible tunnel? Spiders and beetles crawled over her hands. She tried not to think about them on her clothes and in her hair. She shuddered but kept going, following Simon.
Suddenly he stopped and his frame went upright. His legs disappeared. She hurried forward in case he needed help. When her head popped out into the air, she was surrounded by a grass lawn. Simon reached down and helped her out. Malcolm came up soon after.
Kate saw the towering structure of Bedlam close behind her. They were in one of the other airing grounds. However, it was empty and quiet.
“Child, why would you want to help us?” Simon asked the girl.
She shrugged, almost coyly, but then brightened. “You seem nice. Nicer than everyone in there. They’re mean and horrible. And it’s getting worse. Gretta has brought in all the little packs from around London and shoved us all in here so she can keep an eye on them.”
“Why don’t you leave them?”
“I can’t. They’ll know.”
“They’ll know you helped us.”
She smiled. “No they won’t. My scent is all over this place. I come here all the time to be alone.”
“What’s your name?” Simon asked.
“Charlotte.” She pointed at the high wall. “Can you get over that?”
He nodded. “Yes, we can. Thank you for your help, Charlotte.”
The girl blushed under Simon’s sweet, handsome gaze and she rocked back and forth as if she were at a party. She turned to peer at Kate and seemed distraught. “Your beautiful dress is a mess.”
Kate laughed. “Luckily I have others.”
“I did too once.” Excitement sparked in the girl’s eyes and she sighed wistfully.
Malcolm strode between them, heading for the wall. “Stop jabbering and come on.”
The child stuck out her tongue at the brusque hunter. “You’re welcome.”
Kate touched Charlotte on the shoulder, then hugged her. “Thank you. Please be careful.” And then Kate stared up at Simon, remembering what they had done to the wulfsyl. Her heart sank. She shook her head at Simon, whose lips were in a grim line. She looked back at the girl. “Don’t take the wulfsyl.”
The girl looked surprised. “Why?”
“Just don’t. It’s our secret, all right?”
“Bloody hell!” cursed Malcolm, separating the two of them. “What do you think you are doing?”
“Saving her life.” Kate was steadfast.
Malcolm snarled at her, then regarded the child, whose large brown eyes lifted to him. “The wulfsyl is fine, lass. It’s delicious. Have as much as you want.”
The girl stared hard at him for a moment, then looked at Kate. “I think I’ll not.”
Simon was already atop the wall and had bent the spikes on the cheval de frise back. He reached a hand down to Kate, who shook her head, afraid of what Malcolm might do. She waited until Malcolm spun on his heel and clambered up the wall with Simon’s help. Then the two men reached down for Kate. She rose beside them.
She turned to wave farewell, but the girl was already gone. Kate’s stomach knotted at what she had done. The thought of murdering the child who had so innocently helped them, no matter what the girl truly was, seemed too cruel. She couldn’t face the judgment for such an act.
They dropped to the ground on George’s Street.
“What’s done is done, Kate,” Simon told her as they ran toward the next street over. “We need to get back to Hartley Hall. Dr. White saw us. I suspect your home is about to have visitors.”
Malcolm veered away. Simon stopped and stared after him.
“You’re not abandoning us, are you?” Kate asked.
“I bloody well should after that fiasco,” Malcolm spat, but he shook his head, making his queue dance in the moonlight. “I’m going to fetch more ordnance. I’ve had Penny Carter working up some special devices. We’re going to need all of it before this is over.”
“You’ll meet us at Hartley Hall then?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t be late,” Simon instructed.