Heart of Iron

Twenty-five

A sharp rapping at the door woke her. Lena lifted her head off the warm pillow it rested on—Will’s chest—and blinked sleepily. Despite the two bowls of stew she’d consumed, her stomach rumbled as if she’d been starved for a week.

The muscles beneath her tensed. “Stay here.”

He rolled out of bed, dragging his trousers on. Lena lazily enjoyed the view, tempted to drag her fingernails over his bare buttocks. She’d once thought him too bulky and coarsely built, but she’d been wrong. He was perfect. All sculpted muscle and bronzed skin. Beside him, the blue bloods paled into insignificance with their padded shoulders and pale skin.

One of the buttons on his trousers was missing, no doubt in her enthusiasm last night. He shot her an exasperated look, then crossed to the door. Lena sat up, searching for her nightgown. Her gaze settled on a pile of abandoned white linen near the door. Dragging the sheet around her body, she tucked it between the crevice of her breasts and tried to comb out the snarls in her hair.

The door thundered beneath the weight of someone’s fury.

“I’m comin’,” Will muttered and snatched it open.

Honoria staggered into the room, her face pale and her eyes flashing dark with fury. “You let me in!” she cried. “I’ve had enough. I want to see her! She’s mine too, you kn—” Her gaze lit on Lena and she darted under Will’s outstretched arm with a soft cry. Sliding to her knees, she wrapped her arms around Lena and dragged her close.

“I sent you a message,” Will muttered.

Lena breathed deeply, filling her lungs with her sister’s familiar scent. “I’m all right,” she said as Honoria burst into tears.

Blade sauntered inside with a shrug. “You got five days,” he said to Will. “That’s all I could ’old ’er for.”

Will tried to shut the door but it jerked back in his direction and Charlie slid inside with a cheery smile. It faded when he saw her, turning to a puzzled frown. “Why ain’t you wearin’ any clothes?”

Heat burning in her cheeks, Lena helped Blade collect Honoria. “Give me time to wash up and dress,” she murmured. Snatching up her nightgown, she darted into the washroom.

Barely a minute later, Will followed her inside, a harried look on his face.

“Too much of my family?”

His gaze roamed down her naked body and he reached for the washcloth. “Aye. Need a moment. Let me help you.”

She squealed under her breath as he slid the washcloth between her thighs. “Will!” Dropping her voice, she tugged it out of his fingers. “Don’t you dare!”

Washing swiftly, she dragged her nightgown back over her head. “I don’t suppose you thought to bring anything for me to wear with you?”

“I weren’t plannin’ on keepin’ you dressed.” He tickled her bottom.

Catching his fingers, she glared at him. “You’re in a rare fine mood this morning.”

“Aye.” He nuzzled closer, his breath sliding over her throat. “Help me wash?”

“That’s not going to get us out of here in a hurry,” she whispered.

“I know.” His hands slid over her hips.

Lowering her voice to a bare whisper, she pushed him away. “Not with my family in the next room, thank you. Wash up and get dressed.” Taking her chance, she ducked under his grasping arm and slipped through the door.

Honoria was drying her eyes when she reappeared.

Lena took her hand and led her to the chair. “Sit,” she instructed, pushing on Honoria’s shoulders. It felt odd to be giving orders, when Honoria had always been the one to issue them. Leaning closer, she kissed her sister’s wet cheek. “Cheer up. I’m fine.”

“Truly?”

Dragging one of the blankets around her shoulders to cover her thin nightgown, Lena nodded. “I can’t remember very much of it at all. I do remember your voice though. Thank you for looking after Will.”

Honoria exchanged a glance with Blade. “Not that he allowed much. He virtually kidnapped you.”

Blade poured water into a battered old kettle. “You ’as to let ’er go sometime, luv.”

Honoria’s lips thinned.

“I am all of twenty,” Lena reminded her with a smile.

“You’re still my little sister.”

“And I can beat you in an arm wrestle now.”

The reminder didn’t sit well with Honoria. Lena laughed and settled on the edge of the cot. Will chose that moment to enter, tugging his shirt into place. Water turned his gold-tipped hair darker, spiking his eyelashes together. Her breath caught. So handsome.

“Urgh,” Blade muttered. “Tell me we weren’t that bad?”

It took a moment for Charlie to comprehend. His eyes widened. “That’s why you’re ’ere! You and Will? That’s smashing! When did that ’appen?”

“Charlie, don’t forget your h’s,’” Honoria corrected.

A roll of the eyes. “Yes, ma’am.” He punched Will in the shoulder. “How do you like that, eh? Another man in the family. Thank God it ain’t one o’ them prancing blue bloods from the Echelon. I never thought she’d be sensible enough to choose a decent man.”

“Yes, well,” Lena said, “I don’t believe they’ll be having me back anytime soon.”

Charlie peered at her eyes. “I like them,” he declared.

“Why, thank you.” She laughed, then realized that Blade and Honoria were exchanging another of those long glances that spoke volumes. “Why? What is it?”

“Leo’s visited three times,” Honoria said. “The prince consort wants to know why Will isn’t doing his duty and has requested Lena’s presence. Leo’s trying to placate him.”

“They’re signin’ the treaty tomorrow,” Blade said. “If the Norwegians will come to the party.”

Will eased a possessive hand over her shoulder. “They can’t see Lena. Spreadin’ the loupe’s punishable by death.”

Lena’s hand shot to his. “What do you mean?” She looked from him to Blade. “They won’t hurt Will, will they?”

“Not if I’ve anythin’ to say ’bout it.” Blade sobered. “It’s too late to ’ide. The prince consort already knows. I believe the Lady Astrid told him. She probably thought it didn’t matter much.”

“He wouldn’t dare hurt Will,” she said, finding her feet and dragging the blanket tighter around her. “He can’t risk alienating the Scandinavians until they’ve signed the treaty. Will, your best chance is to make an appearance tomorrow, force his hand. Make him publicly acknowledge me and what has happened when he must keep face with the Scandinavians.”

Will glared down at her. “I ain’t takin’ you into the heart of the Echelon. Not with the Norwegian’s allegiance still in doubt and them pasty-faced maggots swarmin’ round us. Not ’til the treaty’s signed and you’re safe by the law.”

“But they won’t change the law unless the Norwegians sign,” she said softly. “Do you think they will?”

Will’s silence was answer enough. “Astrid and Eric helped us. But they ain’t the ones in power. And I don’t think the Fenrir rules with his heart. I think he knows exactly which way he’s gonna play this and why.”

“Then we need to convince him otherwise,” she said earnestly. “I know you don’t want me in danger. But I’m not about to sit and watch when it’s your head that’s on the line!”

“No.”

“You promised we’d work together—”

“Unless I thought it were dangerous—”

“For you! Not for me.”

“You don’t know that,” Will snapped. “You’ve never been spat at or had women hide their children from you. You’ve never been trapped in a cage, Lena, whilst the blue bloods sneered that that was where you belonged. I tried to tell you. This is a different world and I’m so bloody sorry for that. I’ll try to get them to sign the treaty, but I won’t risk you. Not again. I couldn’t bear to lose you. You know that.”

She took a deep breath. Arguing with him was futile. She had to be rational if she had any chance of winning his approval. “You don’t know the court. You don’t know the dangers to be encountered there. You don’t see them because you don’t play such games yourself, therefore you don’t expect them to be played.” He opened his mouth but she hurried on, determined to finish. “It won’t be knives or fists or fights in dark alleys, Will. It’ll be played with words. You wouldn’t even realize the trouble until you were buried in it. You need me. I know this world. I know how to play the game.”

“I won’t put you in danger.”

“If you fail, then you die,” she replied bluntly. “And there’ll be nobody to protect me. Especially not the law.”

He didn’t like that. “Damn it, Lena—”

“You know I’m right.”

Strain whitened his jaw and his eyes rolled with white. But his shoulders slumped and she knew she had him.

“You don’t leave my side. Not even for a moment. If anyone makes a move against you, I will kill ’em.”

“I believe you,” she said softly. Sensing his distress—to let her do this went against every instinct he owned—she stroked his hand. “Thank you.”

“Well. Never thought I’d see the day.” Blade laughed, then clapped Will on the back. “You know you’re in trouble when you been outmaneuvered by a mere slip of a lass.”

“Don’t you laugh,” Honoria warned. “I think it’s time we dusted off your court clothes and made an appearance. We can help guard Lena.”

Blade winced. “The Echelon’s gonna love that.”

***

Lena scraped the last of the soup out of the bowl and peered inside it mournfully. She’d already eaten half a kidney pie, a plate of stew, two slices of bread, and now the bowl of soup. And she still felt hungry.

The others had taken over Blade’s sitting room at the warren and were arguing about how to convince the Scandinavians to accept the treaty tomorrow. Will glanced over at her with a frown, then looked down at the bowl. “More?”

She shook her head. “I shouldn’t.”

Ignoring her, he took the bowl out of her hands and crossed to the soup tureen on the table. “Gotta keep your strength up.”

“I’ll get plump.”

He shrugged and filled the bowl. “It ain’t likely, but it wouldn’t matter anyway.”

The bowl warmed her hands almost as much as his words warmed her heart. Lena peered down into the broth. All her life she’d been nothing more than a pretty face to most men. Her father’s princess. A piece of froth to the Echelon.

Only Will saw her as something else. Something more.

A knock sounded at the door and Blade swung around sharply as Esme entered. “Sorry,” she murmured with a cheerful smile. “But I’ve a letter for Lena.”

“Lena?” Will straightened.

Lena frowned, accepting the letter. Who would think to find her here? The only one who knew she visited with any great regularity was Leo.

Sliding a thumbnail under the edge of the envelope, she slid it open. It was empty except for a small curl of hair, tied neatly with a ribbon.

Blond hair. Silky fine.

It smelt like Charlie.

Lena froze. “Where did you get this?” she asked hoarsely.

The room stilled as everyone sensed her sudden fear. Esme licked her lips. “There was a man at the door not a few minutes ago. Said he had a letter for you.”

Blade crossed to the windows, twitching aside the curtains. “What did he look like?”

As Esme stammered out a vague response, Will took the tuft of hair from her and sniffed at it. He shot a look toward Charlie, then raised a questioning brow at her.

Lena put the soup aside, her appetite destroyed. She knew exactly what it meant. She hadn’t been performing as expected. Someone wanted her to destroy this treaty and so far she’d made no headway.

“What is it?” Will asked.

Lena shook her head, pushing herself to her feet. Her throat felt thick. It had to be the person from Crowe Tower. If he could get to Charlie here, get so close as to steal a lock of his hair…

She froze, her hands clenching in her skirts. What could she do? Destroy the treaty and she risked Will’s life. But if she didn’t…

“Lena?” A warm hand slid over the small of her back.

They were all looking at her.

“I…I…”

Will would hate her for this. She thought of his smile, only moments earlier, of the gentle way he stroked her back now.

“It’s Charlie’s, isn’t it?” Honoria asked quietly, her eyes locked on the piece of hair. “What’s going on? Lena?”

Tell them and she risked losing Will… But no, that was a selfish thought. Her stomach clenched. Charlie’s life was at risk, and so was Will’s. This had grown beyond her capabilities to solve.

Her shoulders sank. “It’s Charlie’s. It’s…” One glance toward Will, as if she couldn’t help herself. “I couldn’t tell you. Somebody threatened me. They had one of Charlie’s clockwork soldiers that they’d taken from his room. They said that if I didn’t destroy the treaty they’d hurt him.” The words wouldn’t stop now. “I thought if I did what they said it would be all right. But I couldn’t. Not when it meant your freedom…”

Will looked as though she’d struck him. Lena cringed and grabbed his hand. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to do it. I never wanted to…”

He lifted his hand and she flinched. Will froze, then slowly reached out and brushed his fingers under her jaw, tilting her face toward him. “Somebody threatened you?” The words were soft. Dangerous.

Lena trembled. “I told them I didn’t want anything more to do with it.”

His brows drew together. “Lena, I ain’t gonna hurt you.” His fingers tightened on her cheeks. “I’m gonna smash someone else’s head into a wall, but I would never hurt you.”

Relief welled up like a sudden flood. A hot tear leaked down her cheek. “I thought you’d be angry with me—”

“Christ.” He grabbed her roughly, enveloping her against his chest. “No more secrets ’tween us. Promise?”

She nodded, breathing in his familiar scent. Her fingers clenched in his shirt.

“You’re mine,” he murmured. “Foolish plots and all.”

Stroking the sticky hair off her face, he lowered his head and brushed his mouth against hers. Lena kissed him desperately, clinging to his shirt.

Behind them someone cleared their throat. “What, precisely, is going on?” Honoria asked.

They were all four staring at her. Blade examined the situation, his eyes narrowed. “Someone came in here, took one of Charlie’s toys, didn’t they? Took a lock of his hair?”

Charlie clapped a hand to his head, as though searching for the lack.

Will took a deep breath. “Lena? You may as well tell ’em. Blade’ll need to know, if we’re to keep the boy safe.”

Lena slid her hand into his and locked her gaze on Honoria’s. “Promise me you won’t yell.”

Honoria crossed her arms over her chest. “I wouldn’t want to make a promise I might break.”

This was the price of keeping secrets. Lena squared her shoulders and told them everything.

When she’d finished, everyone was looking at her. Honoria’s mouth was a hyphen, but at least she wasn’t screaming.

“Humanists,” Blade muttered. “Like your father?”

Honoria nodded sharply. “I assume this has something to do with the cipher-text Will wanted me to decode?”

Lena breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes. I thought it was only times and dates for them to meet. Information.”

Her hopeful look died when Honoria’s gaze skittered away. “I tried an auto key cipher, but I couldn’t make heads or tails of it,” Honoria said. “So I asked Leo. His colleague, Lord Balfour, has this wonderful machine, based on one of Babbage’s uncompleted designs. It’s an electro-mechanical rotor cipher machine and—”

“The message,” Blade interrupted with a slight smile.

“‘Project Firebird aborted. Suspect sabotage from within, holding off and awaiting orders. Mechanists under hand once more. Await further instructions.’”

“What does it mean?” Lena asked.

Honoria shrugged.

“Firebird,” Will muttered. “The draining factories?”

“But Ros… Mercury claimed they had nothing to do with that.”

“Then she lied,” Will said. “Or someone else is sendin’ these messages from the humanist faction.”

“Bloody politics,” Blade muttered.

Honoria frowned. “What I want to know is why you kept all of this to yourself. Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I told you,” Lena stammered. “I didn’t realize—”

“Not you.” Her gaze speared Will. “You.”

He glanced at Blade, then away. “I thought I could handle it.”

Honoria’s eyes narrowed. She looked between the two men. “What’s going on?”

“Nothin’,” Will muttered.

Blade stared at her, his arms crossed defensively over his chest. “Will didn’t want me comin’ up against the Echelon.”

“But you’ve—”

“I’ve been drinkin’ ’uman blood again,” he said suddenly. “It’s why me CV results ain’t been comin’ down more.”

Honoria’s jaw dropped in surprise. “But…but why? My vaccinated blood was curing you. If we kept going your CV results might almost negate themselves. You might be completely cured. You might be—”

“’Uman,” Blade said softly. He looked like a man facing the tumbrel. “It takes away the threat o’ the virus, luv, but it takes me strength, me speed.” His face screwed up. “It’s enough to know I ain’t facin’ the Fade anymore. I can’t afford to be weaker. The Echelon’d be upon us like a pack o’ rabid dogs. Will were tryin’ to prevent that from ’appenin’.”

Honoria stared at him helplessly, her eyes gleaming with tears. “Why doesn’t anyone tell me these things?” Her hot gaze flashed to Lena. “Am I truly so rabid, so fearful, that you’re all too scared to tell me? I only want what’s best for you. For all of you.”

Blade let out a sharp breath, as if he’d feared worse. “It ain’t that, luv. I didn’t want to disappoint you. You were so set on a cure.”

“I’m not irrational,” she said.

“You’re too rational,” Blade said with a tentative smile. He stroked her fingers and she slowly turned her palm toward him, accepting the touch. Relief flooded his expression.

“Well.” Honoria let out a sharp breath. “Since we’re so set on spilling our secrets today.” She pressed her hand to her midriff and blurted, “I think I’m with child.”

The color drained out of Blade’s face. For a moment he looked as he had three years ago, when he stared the Fade in the face. “Honor?” The whisper was a mix of terror and awe.

Delight swam up inside Lena’s chest. “Are you certain?” she asked, taking her sister by the hands.

“I saw the midwife yesterday,” Honoria replied, her eyes flooding with tears again.

Lena hugged her close, happiness surging through her. “You deserve it,” she whispered. “You’re going to be a wonderful mother.” She couldn’t help a rueful grin. “You’ve had plenty of practice at mothering all of us.”

Esme embraced them both. Over Honoria’s shoulder Lena saw Blade stagger against the armchair. Charlie caught him with a grin. Even Will’s lips curled in a smile.

“Bloody ’ell,” Blade muttered. “That’s…that’s amazin’.”

Then he reached out and dragged Honoria into his arms.

***

The next day Lena took a deep breath and smoothed the aubergine taffeta over her hips. The girl in the mirror looked like a stranger; corseted and bustled, with elegant feathers in her hair and one of the pretty clockwork brooches she’d designed at her breast. The tiny dragonfly’s brass wings fluttered rhythmically and she knew it would draw the focus off her eyes.

Will said they’d change, the coppery ring around her pupils gradually taking over. Lena quite liked them. It was a sign that this pretty girl who stared back at her was no longer powerless. No longer prey.

She smiled and the reflection smiled back at her, teeth slightly bared. Yes. That was better. That was more herself now. She was tired of being afraid, and telling everyone her secrets had taken the last weight off her shoulders. Blade had tightened security on the warren and Charlie was safe and sound now. Nobody would get near him.

All that remained was to bring this treaty to a close.

Her eyes narrowed. She was very much going to enjoy ruining the mysterious assailant’s plans.

“Are you ready?” Leo called, rapping at her opened door. He’d insisted that she accompany him. Not only would it help disguise the rumors about her precise relationship with Will, but the weight of his title would offer further protection. If the mysterious assailant made a move toward her, he’d be waiting. Between he and Blade, they’d both resolved to dig out the traitor.

“You’ve seen Mrs. Wade to the door?”

The first thing she’d insisted upon when she returned to Waverly Place the night before. She’d had enough of being manipulated and betrayed. Mandeville had finished the outer casing of the transformational and picked up the interior this morning, professing his sincere apologies, but she felt it would be a long time before she could trust him again.

“With a reference.” Leo’s dark expression betrayed his curiosity, but he wouldn’t ask. They’d never shared a relationship like that. He’d protected her and guided her through the dangerous waters of the Echelon, but he always held her at a slight distance. Indeed, a distance with which he held the world.

“Thank you,” she murmured, stretching up on her toes to press her lips to his cheek. “For everything you’ve done for me. For taking me in when I didn’t know what to do with my life.”

A slight pause. Then an enigmatic lift of his brow as he drew away, a rash of heat curving across his cheeks. “I believe what you’re saying is good-bye.”

She nodded. “I know where I belong now.”

“With Will.”

“How did you—?”

“Lena,” he said dryly, “there are only so many ways the loupe can be spread. I don’t even want to imagine how you caught it, since you’re my…”

“Your sister,” she prompted.

He took a deep breath. “I can never be your brother. Not in public. You know that. This was all I could ever give you.”

Always so stiff and distant. She smiled mischievously. “You’re going to be an uncle, you know?”

His gaze dropped swiftly to her midriff, then away.

“Not me,” she laughed.

An incredulous expression broke over his oh-so-proper countenance. “Good God. He’s breeding.”

“He is your brother-in-law,” she reminded him. “With any luck their baby will be just like him.”

Horror gave way to a calculated expression. “Yes,” Leo murmured. A smile edged over his lips. “That would be justice.”

He laughed then, the sound of it following them all the way to the carriage.

***

Steam carriages disgorged their occupants onto the cobbled courtyard outside the Ivory Tower. Lena gathered her skirts and looked around for Will. The courtyard was a flurry of color, with bright parasols and elegant hats. At a ball, a debutante seeking a protector was expected to wear white. During the day, the vibrant nature of the Echelon sprang to life.

“Where’s Will?” she mused.

“I don’t see Blade’s carriage,” Leo murmured. “Perhaps they’re not yet here. Traffic in the streets is rather congested.”

Her eye caught a conservative group near the stairs. “The Norwegians.” Snapping open her parasol, she straightened. “I’m going to speak to them whilst we wait.”

“Lena—”

With a blithe smile she turned and stepped into someone. They collided in a tangle of skirts, and Lena grabbed the other woman’s arm before she could help herself.

Green eyes widened and Adele looked away sharply. “Pardon,” she murmured, attempting to move past.

Lena’s fingers tightened. “Don’t. Please, Adele.”

A pained expression crossed her friend’s face. “I can’t,” she whispered. “My father’s on the verge of signing a thrall contract for me with Lord Abagnale.”

“That old brute?”

Adele glanced around. “I can’t be seen with you. You know what they’re like. This is my last chance.”

“Adele, there are whispers he beat his last thrall to death!”

Color faded from Adele’s smooth cheeks. “You don’t think I’m aware of that?” She looked away and Lena’s gaze was drawn to the heavy pearl choker that draped her throat.

“Why are you wearing that?”

Adele shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Tell me.” She reached up, as if to move it, but Adele snatched her fingers and stared at her pleadingly.

“They think I’m anyone’s game now. Colchester found me alone—”

“Colchester?” Lena hissed. “What did he do to you?”

“He said since I liked it so much with Cavendish…I couldn’t stop him. That’s why I need Abagnale. He’s rich and he gives his thralls everything they desire.”

“That’s to make up for the bruises.”

“I don’t care.” Adele’s grip tightened. “If he gives me enough, maybe I can pawn it. Maybe I can get enough money to run away. To America. To New York.”

Lena’s gut clenched. For a thrall to break his or her contract meant execution. “They’ll find you.”

Adele’s shoulders slumped as if hearing the truth had stolen her last hope. “Then I’ll stay with Abagnale for as long as…as I can.”

It wasn’t fair. Lena had found her own sense of freedom, if she could convince the Norwegians to accept the treaty. But Adele hadn’t. And neither had any of the young women fanning themselves in the square, putting on airs as they tried desperately to attract a benefactor.

“Don’t accept him,” she said, tearing her glove off. Grabbing the ruby on her finger, she twisted it off and pressed it into Adele’s hand. “It’s got a concoction inside it that will incapacitate a blue blood. Here. Like this.” She swiftly flicked the tiny thorn out and showed Adele what to do. “It’ll give you a chance to get away if any one of them tries to hurt you again.”

A fierce light flashed through Adele’s eyes. Then faded. “And then what?”

Damn this world. Lena wanted to scream at the injustice of it. “If you need help you can come to me. Or to Leo. Tell him I sent you.” Sudden inspiration hit. A way to protect those like her, who didn’t have any way to fight back. “That’s what I’m going to do,” she whispered. “I’m going to open a house. A place for young women in trouble to come to, where no one can hurt them or force them to submit. A place they can stay as long as they want, until we can find a new life for them.”

Adele stared at her. “And how do they get away?”

“I’m going to start a new fashion,” she declared. “In ruby rings.”

Adele looked down, at the gem sparkling on her finger. “I like it,” she whispered and a tiny hint of hope returned to her expression.

“Adele!” Mrs. Hamilton snagged her by the other arm, shooting Lena a glance she might have given a stranger. “Come. Lord Abagnale wanted to admire your pretty new necklace.”

“Don’t make any decisions,” Lena pleaded. “Not yet.”

Then Adele was swallowed up by the crowd and Lena was left behind, with a new dream smoldering in her heart.

To do such a thing would mean going up against the blue bloods who liked their little game. It also meant surviving the next day. Forcing the prince consort to recognize what Will was doing and hold him to his pledge to change the laws.

Her determined gaze settled on the Norwegians.

They saw her coming, the grizzled old Fenrir’s eye narrowing on her. He’d made little concession to the event, still wearing his stark eye patch and wolf fur pinned over his shoulder. The pair of handsome young men at his side had cast off their own furs and wore matching navy uniforms, buttoned up the left breast, with gold frogging and epaulets. She recognized Eric, with his windswept golden hair and the queue of swarming ladies nearby.

Lena nodded to the Fenrir. “My lord.”

“So you survived,” he growled back.

“Indeed,” Lena replied, ignoring his rudeness.

Turning, she greeted the other members of the party. Lady Astrid wore a slight smile, her pale blond hair gleaming against the silvery ruff of fur over her shoulder.

“Considering how ill I was, I’m quite surprised at the swiftness of recovery. I feel in most excellent health,” Lena said.

“The initial fever is the only danger,” Astrid replied. “Your body’s attempts to repel the virus are what threatens you. Once the fever abates, the virus heals you rapidly.”

“Fast, furious, and rather violently passionate,” Lena mused. “Reminds me of someone I know.”

Astrid smiled. “It will take months yet for your full strength to settle in. You will find your moods erratic and yourself prone to emotional outbursts. You must learn to control these, for fear of hurting someone.”

“Even a woman suffers from such tempers?”

“Especially a woman,” Eric jested.

Astrid turned her quelling gaze on him. “Considering how many times you were dumped in the sea or chained in the cage, you are bold to talk.”

“Play nicely.” Magnus eased a hand on both their arms. His hungry gaze narrowed on someone. “We are being watched.”

The breeze stirred Lena’s skirts as she followed his gaze. The Warhammer watched them from across the courtyard. The Duchess of Casavian conversed with him, but that wasn’t what caught Lena’s attention. On the other side of him, the Duke of Lannister glared at her over a flute of champagne.

Colchester.

She didn’t realize she’d taken a step toward him until Astrid caught her arm. The sudden burning rage she felt almost choked her. He had threatened her, hunted her, and almost killed her. And then he’d tried to do the same to Adele. A shimmering red haze settled in her vision.

“You must breathe. Nice and slow,” Astrid cautioned her. “This is what I warn you of. This fury. This uncontrollable need. You must let it go.”

“I don’t want to.” With the fury coursing through her she felt powerful, invincible. Without it, she was afraid she would feel like she always had—a timid little mouse, scuttling away whilst Colchester stalked her.

“You would not reach him,” Astrid said. “They will cut you down, then turn on us. You know this to be true.”

A heavy hand settled on her shoulder. “Breathe,” the Fenrir commanded. The weight of his hand calmed her. “Breathe in.” As she complied, his hypnotic voice continued. “And as you breathe out, you must let it go.”

Colchester tipped his champagne flute toward her in a mocking salute.

Lena’s fists clenched. “I hate him. I hate him so much.”

“You must let it go,” Magnus commanded. “Breathe, Miss Todd. Here is your hotheaded young man.” He turned her toward the line of carriages. “What will he do if he sees you so upset?”

Will would rip Colchester to pieces. Lena sucked in a deep breath. She couldn’t allow that. “I’m sorry.”

“We understand,” Magnus replied. “More than most.” A brief smile crossed his hard features. “Let it go. Let your anger and your hate go. Let it wash through you. Like the wind. Cleansing you. Bringing you peace.”

Closing her eyes, Lena listened to the soothing timbre of his voice. The muscles in her shoulders relaxed.

“I think you had best take your hand off her,” Eric murmured. “Or risk an international incident.”

The warmth of his touch was gone. Lena opened her eyes to see Will bearing down on them with Blade and Honoria in tow.

He wore a brown leather waistcoat, the brass buttons riveted to the seam, and a gorgeous velvet long coat that at first glance appeared to be black. Only on close inspection did she realize it was so dark a navy as to look like midnight. The wind ruffled his tangled golden-brown hair as he strode across the yard toward her, scattering ladies and blue bloods alike.

Taking the stairs two at a time, he surged to her side. Lena couldn’t stop herself from looking down. Supple leather boots finished just above his knee, with a pair of brass, military-style spurs jangling on the marble tiles.

She couldn’t help herself. She had to touch him, brushing the backs of her fingers against his thigh. “Where did you get those from?”

“The boots? They was Blade’s little gift to me this mornin’.”

“I should have suspected his tastes,” she replied, eyeing the rest of him with appreciation. “The coat too?”

“I consider meself lucky its only velvet,” Will replied. His eyes were warm with heat and unspoken need.

Lena leaned toward him, then forced herself to stop. They had to behave impeccably today. No matter how much she wanted to grab his lapels and yank his face down to kiss her.

Blade guided Honoria up the stairs with a protective hand on the small of her back. Lena eyed the stark leather coat he wore, and the garish red waistcoat. “You’re right.” It could have been worse.

Honoria was all charm, greeting the Fenrir and his group with practiced ease. Ignoring their standoffish looks, Blade added his own greetings.

“This is your master?” Astrid murmured, eyeing Blade with open hostility.

Blade snorted. “When it suits ’im. When it don’t ’e just tells me to shove off.”

“I see,” Magnus murmured. “You’re not of the Echelon.” It wasn’t a question.

“Pasty-faced maggots.” Blade winked at Magnus and scanned the crowd with a slightly predatory air. “Watch ’em all coo and scuttle about now, like I was a cat thrown in with ’em. Let’s just say, me presence weren’t expected.”

Will leaned down toward her and whispered in her ear, “We’ve found the girl as took Charlie’s clockwork soldier and cut off a bit of his hair. It were one of his blood donors. Said as how a fancy lord paid her for it. Never saw his face though.”

Relief flooded through her. “She’s no threat?”

His gaze hardened. “Not anymore. Charlie’s drinkin’ his blood cold from now on and I put the fear of God into her.”

“Better that than dead.”

“Aye.” Taking a deep breath, he turned to the Fenrir. “I’ve an apology to make. I lost me temper the other night. I should never have forced me way into your home or made such demands of you. I’m sorry.”

Magnus stared at him for a long time. “In my homeland, if one of the Fenrisúlfr—this verwulfen that you call us—lost control in such a manner, we would cage him and he would be whipped. It is necessary. To learn to control the berserkergang, the fury. The only time we show leniency is during spring rites, when a warrior chooses his mate. Such times are trying. Our instincts overwhelm what we know we must do.” He nodded slowly. “You have no apology to make. This once, I grant you leniency, for you yourself suffer such spring madness.”

“Once,” Eric repeated. “He means this.”

“I threw you across the room,” Will said, uneasy with the man’s good nature. In his place, Will would have been at his throat.

“I should not have reached for your woman.” Eric shrugged. “All is well. I am not a man to hold a grudge.” Shadows darkened his blue eyes. “And I understand how you feel.”

Horns sounded. Conversation lulled as everyone turned toward the tower entrance, prepared for the signing.

“Time to watch this foolery,” Magnus growled.

Astrid caught Lena’s arm. “Might I have a word, Miss Todd? I should like to speak with you and your man.”

The trio of Norwegians froze.

“Astrid?” Magnus arched a brow.

“Go ahead.” She waved them toward the door. “I will be only a moment.”

***

Circling the colonnade, Astrid stared out over the rail, the wind whipping her blond curls back like a banner. “My uncle is old,” she said suddenly. “A traditionalist. He remembers when we fought the blue bloods and I fear in his heart, he cannot accept this treaty.”

Will leaned back against the rail, crossing his arms over his chest. His heart was pounding. Lena could hear it over the beat of her own.

“Why’re you tellin’ us?” he asked.

“You have a personal stake in this matter,” Astrid replied. “But I appreciate your honesty. You have never once tried to manipulate us. I trust this. I trust you. And I need honest answers right now.”

Inside, the majority of the Echelon had gathered in the Grand Hall, prepared to watch the historic episode. The prince consort and queen had not yet arrived, but the Council of Dukes was gathering. Will needed to work fast, but Lena knew his answer before he mouthed it.

“You’ll have ’em.”

He was too loyal, too honest for this work. It was one of the reasons he would not last long in this world alone. And yet she held her breath as Astrid nodded. If he had tried to play them false, would the churlish Norwegians have ever accepted him?

“Can your prince consort be trusted? Can your Council of Dukes?” Astrid asked.

For this he looked to Lena. “I don’t trust ’em as a whole. But my opinion against ’em’s not wholly rational. Lena knows more.”

Lena considered the question. “The prince consort… No. No, I don’t think so. As for the Council, they oppose him in some matters, but not all. He has several of them in his pocket, but each of them has their own agenda. There are some few you can trust. Leo is one. The Duke of Goethe. Maybe the Duke of Malloryn. And the Duchess of Casavian’s motives are entirely opaque. I don’t know what game she’s playing, if any.”

“The Swedish ambassador intends to accept this treaty. I am trapped in a hard place. If we do not accept, we become caught between two powerful empires. The Swedes have long since wanted to destroy the last of our clans, and with the British on their side, we have no allies. If we do accept, we become the minority in this treaty. To involve us is a gesture, nothing more.” Astrid frowned. “I must find an ally for my people. There are none on the Continent. The Hapsburg Empire leash their verwulfen for their armies, and the French are incited with this newfound Illumination cult. The only place I have to search is here. In London.”

And if not with the Echelon, then who? Lena’s breath caught, her mind taking one of those swift leaps it sometimes did. “You can’t trust them!” she blurted.

Both Will and Astrid gave her a look.

“Trust who?” Astrid asked.

“The humanists.”

Astrid stilled. “Such talk is treason. Especially when I know whose enemy they truly are.”

“I would never betray you to the Echelon.” Lena swallowed. “You can trust me, because I was one of them until very recently. I know they intended to approach your delegations, to make their own deals with them.”

“We have been approached,” Astrid admitted reluctantly.

“They have their own agendas. I was instructed to stop this treaty at all costs. That’s what they truly want. They’re planning a war, Astrid. They have these enormous metal monsters they strap themselves into. Once they have enough of them to threaten even the Echelon, they’ll attack.”

“Will they succeed?” Astrid asked.

“I don’t think so,” Lena replied. “There are factions within the group. One side wishes to wait, to see what the Echelon will do. The others have tried to start a war already. They’re killing each other from within.”

Astrid released her breath. “Then they can offer me nothing. I need help now.” Her fist clenched. “I had hoped…” She shook her head.

Inspiration struck again. Suddenly Lena knew exactly what she had to do. They’d been wrong all along. Magnus might be the one in charge of the Norwegian party, but here was where the power lie.

“You need someone that you can trust.” Lena smiled brilliantly. “And we need you to sign our treaty. What if I could guarantee a way to have your voice heard as equal to the Swedish?”

Astrid’s eyes narrowed curiously. “And how would you perform this miracle?”

“Well,” she admitted. “I shall need a little help.”