The next morning, just after sunrise, there was a great uproar at the front of Hartley Hall. The front door was open and several footmen either escorted or fought Malcolm inside. The servants seemed to want to support the Scotsman, but he cursed and tried his best to shove them away. Simon and Kate rushed from the Blue Parlor, where coffee had been served.
“Malcolm!” Simon exclaimed. “What’s happened? Is it Barnes?”
Malcolm shrugged off the final young footman and strode forward. There was a noticeable limp in his gait. His clothes were covered in blood and mud. He carried his holsters in his hand. Penny came after him with her gigantic rucksack over her shoulder. She was not injured or dirty.
“Malcolm, what happened to you?” Kate still held a letter she had been reading when the tumult began. Then the servants moved aside and she saw Charlotte coming in the door, draped in Malcolm’s greatcoat that trailed behind her like a queen’s mantle. Her feet were bare and her hair a tangled horror. Hogarth brought up the rear, with a comforting hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Charlotte!”
Kate ran forward as if to put herself between the girl and the hunter. She took Charlotte by the shoulders and looked intensely at her. “What happened, dear? Did you change? Are you all right? Imogen told me you were asleep in your room. When did you leave the house?”
“I’m fine, Miss Kate.” Charlotte was smiling as if she was returning from a picnic. “I changed but I remember everything. The wulfsyl works.”
Kate turned to Malcolm. Her voice was growing frantic. “Explain this. Were you tracking her? What happened?”
“Calm yourself,” Malcolm retorted irritably. “She went to London.”
“What!” Kate shouted, now rounding angrily on Charlotte. “You went to London? I told you to say in the house at all times unless I was with you.”
“But I wanted—” the girl began.
“She was with me,” Malcolm interrupted. He tossed his holsters over his shoulder, staring Kate in the eye. “I took her to London with me.”
“You did what?” Kate hissed. “Don’t you know how dangerous that could be?”
“More than anyone,” the Scotsman retorted. “It’s done now. She’s saved my life. We’re back.” He dropped his eyes from Kate’s strong glare and walked toward the stairs.
Simon asked as he passed, “Did you get Barnes?”
Malcolm shook his head. “No. I failed at the church.”
“Did he murder the third woman?”
“Her name was Eleanor.” The Scotsman continued to the stairs and started up, one foot dragging slightly.
Kate stared silently at the retreating Malcolm for a long moment, then she put a hand to Charlotte’s back, and said quietly, “Come, dear. Let’s get you cleaned up and some breakfast in you. You must be exhausted.”
“No,” Charlotte said cheerfully.
Kate smiled and pushed her on. “Up to your room now. I’ll be along.”
The girl skipped past Simon. “Good morning, Mr. Simon.”
“Good morning, Charlotte. Lovely frock.”
“It’s heavy. And smells like Mr. Malcolm.” Charlotte giggled and ran for the stairs, catching up with Malcolm, and the two of them trudged off together.
Kate joined Simon as Hogarth urged the servants to go about their business. She said, “Do you think Malcolm took Charlotte to London with him?”
“No, of course not. I think she followed him there against everyone’s wishes.”
“So he lied for her?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t seem very worried about that.”
“I’m not.” Simon began to twirl the key on its chain. “Oddly enough, I’m rather pleased by it.”
Kate handed him the letter she carried. “Here’s a bit of good news. It came yesterday. Thomas Clover claims to have information for us about the hieroglyphs.”
“Ah. Excellent.” Simon read the simple note requesting Kate to call on Mr. Clover at her convenience, and sending his best wishes to Imogen. “We’ll talk to Malcolm about the killing, then go to London. Fortunately, there’s a portal that appears to open somewhere near Waterloo Bridge so at least we can travel there in an instant. I want to stop at the church to inscribe it to hopefully prevent or delay undead from rising. And we’ll stop by the museum to see Mr. Clover.”
“Barnes requires only one more sacrifice to complete his ritual. And he will summon whatever thing he’s trying to raise in the center of London.”