“You won’t … kill me,” she spat out. “And I can’t tell you anything.”
The homunculus crouched on the cold stone floor, one eye staring dully at her and the other stalk focused intently on Dr. White. It played a rubbery finger along Kate’s arm.
“On the contrary,” the doctor stated. “You will tell me all I wish to know.”
Kate’s heart pounded in her chest as he lifted a syringe with a long thick needle.
Nick wavered in his saddle, one foot flailing, having lost a stirrup again. He reined to a halt. Simon pulled his steed up sharply, his mount bouncing a bit after being given its head for a decent stretch of open ground. Simon’s color was pallid and he clenched his teeth in pain, but he said nothing. The rolling downs of Surrey spread out around them, broken only by trees gathered along streams. The cold night wind ruffled the horses’ manes and pushed the grass. The shrinking moon was barely bright enough to light their way.
A thunder of hooves followed them and another group of horses drew close. Malcolm was in the lead, riding a black mare, sitting a horse like a centaur, his hair flying out behind him. His horse carried heavy saddlebags and Penny bounced on the horse’s rump behind Malcolm, clutching the Scotsman’s waist for her life. Hogarth brought up the rear, a silent, fearsome presence. A lively night ride in an early frost was not the best tonic for a group of people so injured, but they had no time. Thankfully, Kate’s elixir vitae had worked miracles in a short time.
Nick held the reins tight on his snorting mount. “Take it easy, Simon. We’re not at our best.”
“You’ll need to be when we reach Bedlam.”
“But I don’t see why we couldn’t have taken my spinebreaker,” groused Penny, stretching her aching back. “This horse is intolerable.”
Malcolm was quick to answer. “Too noticeable. Besides, I’ve been a passenger in that infernal machine. Now it’s your turn.”
“We’re running out of time.” Simon gave his mount his head again. Nick’s colorful curse filled the space he had just left, but they all whipped their mounts into a gallop after him.
The pace he set was so furious, it took them less than three hours to reach the city. It was just past one o’clock in the morning when the spires of London loomed in the starlight ahead. A curse fell from Simon’s lips as he maneuvered around a broken-down flower cart. The owner raised a fist and shouted something after his horse bumped into the cart in its excitement, displacing more of his wares.
“Steady.” Nick kept his voice even to keep from fueling his friend’s fire. “Gretta took Kate for a reason. She won’t harm her till she gets what she wants. We’ll be in time.”
Simon and Nick rode side by side, fighting the flow around them. Nick turned in the saddle to ensure Malcolm and Hogarth were still in sight. Simon’s impatient actions agitated his horse, which continued to prance and toss his head at being kept in check. The grand majesty of Lambeth Palace appeared before them. They turned right onto Church Street and slowly fought through the thinning masses, the very people they were trying to protect but who now stood in the way. As they continued up the widening thoroughfare, Malcolm and Hogarth broke free from their entanglements and trotted up behind. Finally the road opened up and Simon reined his horse to a stop across the street from Bedlam sprawling behind its wall.
Simon stared through the forbidding wrought-iron gates at the grey structure. His face contorted with fury. He spurred his horse forward toward the gates. Nick raced after and grabbed the mount’s bridle.
“Simon!”
The horse pulled up sharply, its ears flat against its head. Nick was in danger of being bitten by the horse or receiving a right cross from the rider.
“Let go! Don’t try to stop me, Nick!”
“Think, Simon!”
“I am thinking! Of what they must be doing to …” Simon couldn’t finish his sentence. His hand went to his chest, touching the bandolier beneath his coat.
Nick pulled the horse’s head back to him. “We’re going in, just not through the front door. Come with me.” He wheeled his own horse roughly in the opposite direction.
Chapter Twenty-seven