He said it with such conviction, as if the vow immediately created the Reclaimer, but Helen was not so sure. Could she really put out of the world any renegade creature or its offspring? Even just imagining such an act brought disquiet to her soul. Yet surely if such duties were sanctified by God, they could not be wrong?
‘The oath, please,’ Pike said, hand outstretched. ‘And the Bible.’
Helen passed both to him, her unease swamped by irritation at the man’s lack of occasion. He might at least acknowledge the solemnity of the moment.
‘We must all sign it,’ Pike said, smoothing the oath across the writing slant.
He passed the pen to Helen. She dipped the nib in the ink, then scratched her name along the bottom of the paper.
‘Allow me,’ Pike said. He picked up the sand pot and sprinkled the fine dust upon her signature, then shook it off. ‘Your turn, Mr Stokes.’
One by one the men signed and sanded their names. Pike studied the completed document. All, it seemed, was to his satisfaction for he said, ‘I understand that Lord Carlston intends to train you in combat.’
‘Yes,’ Helen replied warily.
‘And that your maid, Miss Darby, is to be your Terrene?’
Helen nodded. ‘She is being trained by Mr Quinn, Lord Carlston’s Terrene.’
Pike looked up from his task. ‘I know who Quinn is, Lady Helen. Your maid is not yet bound to your power, is that correct?’
Helen searched his face, but could read nothing in its bland expression. ‘Lord Carlston said she must be fully trained before the binding ritual.’
‘Lord Carlston is right. She must be trained, and then she must be tested by myself and another Reclaimer. A Reclaimer other than Lord Carlston.’
Helen glanced at Mr Stokes. Was that the real reason why Pike had brought him to Brighton, to test her and Darby? If so, it was clearly news to him too. He shifted his feet and clasped his hands behind his back, but made no comment.
Mr Hammond was not so circumspect. ‘That is not how it is done. There is no Terrene test.’
‘It is how it will be done in this case,’ Pike said. ‘There has never been a female Terrene, let alone a female Reclaimer and Terrene partnership trained to fight as well as reclaim. There is doubt that such a pairing could be effective.’
‘Doubt from whom?’ Helen demanded.
‘Myself, and Lord Sidmouth.’
The new Home Secretary did not have any faith in them. Now that was bad news.
‘Darby is a most resolute young woman,’ Helen said firmly. ‘I assure you that we will be as effective as our male counterparts.’
‘That seems highly unlikely, Lady Helen. Two weak elements do not make a strong whole. We would prefer that you have a male Terrene. I am sure you are most intelligent, but you are still a woman and therefore reliant upon emotion rather than logic, and subject to your sensibilities as are all your sex. You cannot be expected to have the same strength, strategic mind or logic competence as a man. A male Terrene would counter that deficit.’
‘I see,’ Helen said through her teeth. She had heard that opinion of women over and over from her uncle; there was no use trying to gainsay it. She glanced at Mr Stokes, but his face was impassive. No help there. She tried another tack. ‘Lord Carlston has no reservation about Darby’s capabilities. Or mine for that matter.’
‘Nevertheless, she will be tested.’
‘What if she fails?’
‘Then we will pair you with a more suitable Terrene and Miss Darby’s status will be reconsidered.’
Reconsidered? Helen frowned: what did that mean? She opened her mouth to ask, but Pike had already turned to address the other Reclaimer.
‘Mr Stokes, I believe you have business elsewhere.’ It was a blatant dismissal.
Mr Stokes paused for a beat, eyes narrowing at Pike’s manner, then said, ‘As you wish, Second Secretary.’ He turned to Helen and made his bow. ‘It was an honour to witness your oath, Lady Helen. Please, give my regards to Lord Carlston.’
He left the room. As soon as the door closed behind him, Mr Pike rose from his seat and walked back to the window.
Mr Hammond cleared his throat. ‘I think the test is unf—’
‘Quiet,’ Pike ordered. His attention was on the street below.
Mr Hammond regarded him from under a resentful brow, but refrained from speaking.
Pike must be watching for Stokes, Helen realised. She focused her hearing and tracked the Reclaimer as he walked down the stairs, retrieved his hat from Garner and departed through the front door. He had almost reached the corner of Marine Parade, and the full extent of Helen’s hearing, before Pike spoke again.
‘Mr Hammond, dismiss the footmen. I do not want our conversation overheard.’
Lud, he had been waiting for Stokes to be out of Reclaimer earshot. What was coming now?
As Mr Hammond obediently dismissed both footmen and closed the door again, Helen watched Pike carefully wrap the Bible back into its linen then fold the oath parchment in two and place it in the writing box. Every movement exact and considered. Perhaps it was his cold precision that sent a chill down her back, or maybe it was the way in which Stokes and Hammond jumped to his command. Certainly, he had the weight of the Home Office behind his orders, but it was more than that. He had an air of menace and ruthless intensity that was entirely his own.
He picked up the letters and placed one in her hands and passed the other to Mr Hammond. ‘Read these, please. They will be destroyed once you have finished.’
Helen sat and turned the packet over, aware of Mr Hammond doing the same. She heard the sharp draw of his breath as he recognised the Royal seal at the back. So she was right to be apprehensive.
A flick of her thumbnail broke the wax on her own packet. She unfolded the paper, finding the signature at the bottom.
In his Name and on behalf of His Majesty,
George PR
The letter was from the Prince Regent. Helen’s eyes flew up to the date. Carlton House, Wednesday, 1st July, 1812.
Three days ago.
Lady Helen,
I have lately been apprised of your astounding abilities and your selfless decision to join the endeavours of that most noble of societies, the Dark Days Club.
So the Prince Regent, like his mother, Queen Charlotte, knew about the Deceivers.
On behalf of my father, I thank you for your devotion to our interests and to the protection of our realm and the British people.
You see before you Mr Ignatious Pike. He stands as the emissary of my wishes via Lord Sidmouth, whom I have newly appointed as Home Secretary. The duties that Mr Pike places upon you have my full endorsement. By following his instruction you may be assured that you are serving your King, his Regent and your country. I shall, of course, never speak of this to you or any other, but I wish you to understand that you have my full admiration and the eternal thanks of a grateful nation. May God go with you.