Charlotte’s head turned to Simon and she slowly returned his warm smile.
“He’s quite the charmer,” Kate told Charlotte in a light whisper.
“He is also very handsome,” the youngster admitted in kind.
“That’s the laudanum talking I’m sure,” muttered Malcolm from the back.
Charlotte once again became apprehensive, trying not to look toward the dark shadow against the wall. “I’ll be good, I promise. I’ll try as hard as I can not to change. I’m not a bad girl.”
Kate took her small hand in hers. “We know you’ll be good.”
Malcolm stepped out of the shadows and stared hard at Charlotte. “How did you avoid me in London? How many of you are left?”
The girl shrank back, almost burying herself in the blanket.
Simon said, “Easy, Malcolm. She did help us by attacking her own kind at Bedlam.”
“Yes, and they should’ve killed it for what it did,” Malcolm replied.
Charlotte whimpered and caught her trembling lower lip in her teeth. “There weren’t many of us left, and we ran away from Bedlam when Gretta and Dr. White disappeared. We didn’t have a leader and we didn’t have wulfsyl. We were afraid.”
Kate eased herself down onto the edge of the bed and held the girl. “She’s been nothing but truthful, Malcolm. Give her a chance to explain.” She wiped a tear off Charlotte’s cheek. “What about your parents, dear?”
The tangled head shook again. “There’s no one.”
Malcolm snapped, “It isn’t some unfortunate waif. And it isn’t a little doll to be played with. That is a murdering beast. It’s deceiving you until you drop your guard.”
“I’m not a killer!” Charlotte shrieked. She shrank back immediately, her eyes becoming frightfully large again. She was trembling. “Please don’t hurt me.”
Kate’s voice never once broke in its even tone. “We won’t harm you, Charlotte.”
The girl shifted in the bed and the clang of the chain on her ankle made her start with a cry. She laid a small hand on the heavy iron shackle around her ankle and tugged. “Do I have to wear this chain like an animal?”
Malcolm said, “You are an animal.”
Charlotte’s trembling turned to horrific shaking. “Please … help … me! I don’t … want to … kill!” The last word devolved into a mangled snarl. The child screamed and flung herself back.
“It’s changing,” shouted Malcolm, pushing past Simon with pistol drawn. “Get out of the way!”
Kate stood fast, blocking him. “She needs help!”
“I’m going to help her,” the Scotsman snarled. “I’m going to put her out of her misery.”
Charlotte’s grip tightened on the chain and her face twisted in sudden panic. Her muscles locked in a rictus. Long canines began to emerge from her once-pretty smile. Fingernails thickened from flat into curved talons, and they sank easily into the linen and the mattress beneath. She screamed in pain.
“Out now!” Simon slapped Malcolm’s pistol aside as Kate leaned toward Charlotte, desperate to calm the frightened girl. He took Kate’s shoulder and pulled her away. Simon nearly carried her out into the stone corridor even as she continued reaching toward the girl who lay quaking on the bed. Malcolm slammed the door shut. They heard the sound of terrible thrashing and howls from inside.
Malcolm shook his head. “I’d say the laudanum was a failure.”
Simon gestured up the short hallway leading to the stairs. “That chain should hold her. And I’ve warded this door to be sure. Let’s get some air.”
They all emerged from the staircase into the library and Simon opened wide the French windows. The sun was climbing in the sky and bright light streamed in. The fresh air felt like heaven as they took deep breaths. Simon poured wine for them all, trying to remove the tinge of worry from his face, but he was sure he failed miserably.
“She’s just a child,” Kate murmured. “We have to be able to help her. She has no one else. We can’t leave her to nature. I won’t have the world be that cruel.”
“Your sentiments do you credit,” Simon said. “But you must realize, everything we know about her kind tells us that in her heart she is a beast. Not a child. She would kill any of us simply because that is all she can do.”
Malcolm nodded in vigorous agreement.
“I’m going to try.” Kate looked intently at both Malcolm and Simon. “Neither of you need to help if you don’t wish to. But I will make wulfsyl. I can help her.”
Simon drained his glass of wine and set it down with an accepting shrug.
Kate was excited and eager, but then suddenly seemed depressed and gave a weary laugh. “Well, in all this excitement, I almost forgot about Imogen. Excuse me.” She touched Simon’s shoulder with gratitude as she went out.
When the door shut, Malcolm started talking immediately, “Do you seriously intend to let her keep that beast?”
“How do you think I have the power to let or prevent her doing anything?”