The Curious Case Of The Clockwork Menace by Bec McMaster Page B

frightfully pale.
“Perhaps you’ll allow me to see you home. You look like you could
do with a rest?”
    Perry’s
muscles locked tight, anticipation flaring. It would be the perfect
opportunity to follow up on Lovecraft’s scent alone.
    “ That’s quite generous, Reed,” Rommell broke in, “but I do
believe you have work to see to. I’ll escort Eliza home in my
carriage.” He pasted on a smile and stepped toward the actress.
“Come, my dear.”
    “ Thank you,” Miss Radcliffe looked between the men. “But I
don’t believe I should leave, not just yet. We have a show to
perform in a few hours.” Sucking in a shuddery breath, she stepped
away from Rommell. “I feel utterly safe with the Nighthawk’s here.
I’m certain they’ll find the culprit - and whatever has happened to
poor Nelly.”
    Rommell
harrumphed under his breath, but he patted her gloved hand. “Such
bravery, my dear. Don’t you let any of this bother you. I’ll summon
some of my guards to the theatre to ensure your safety, and tonight
shall be another triumph.”
    With that he
was gone. Miss Radcliffe gave them both a weak smile. “I should
begin to get dressed. If you’ll excuse me?”
    Perry watched
her go. It was interesting that she recovered so quickly. Most
young ladies would have suffered a fainting fit.
    Or was that
simply suspicion flavouring her thoughts?
    Garrett let
out a frustrated sigh, as most of the acting troupe broke away to
prepare themselves for the play, led by Miss Radcliffe’s example.
It left them alone together.
    “ You believe me, don’t you?” Perry said into the softening
darkness of the stage. “I know what a threat looks
like.”
    Garrett raked
a hand through his coppery hair. He stared out over the empty
theatre. “Perhaps you misconstrued Lovecraft’s intentions. It
happens.”
    Not to me . She felt numb though, all
hollow inside. Garrett didn’t believe her. And why should he? She
had no proof. Nothing to say that the poor creature had benevolent
intentions other than her intuition, which Rommell had summarily
dismissed.
    That made her
burn with fury. Years of working cases, and men were still looking
down their noses at her. “Perhaps you shouldn’t believe everything
Rommell says,” she snapped. “Considering that he lied about Nelly
being his mistress.”
    Garrett caught
her arm as she turned to go. “What?”
    “ According to Miss Radcliffe, Nelly had a beau who might have been named Nick, or something similar,
and that she refused Rommell’s suit. Unless she’s lying, I’m going
to assume, with my feminine intuition, that Rommell is therefore a suspect. I
could be wrong. Maybe I should rely on
your superior instincts as a man?”
    “ Don’t take that tone with me,” he warned. “I’m not the one
that doesn’t trust your instincts.”
    “ Truly?” She looked up at him. “Because it feels like you
did.”
    They stared at
each other.
    “ I know,” he said carefully, “that I wasn’t there when you
encountered the creature before.”
    “ His name is Lovecraft.”
    “ Fine, Lovecraft.” A hint of snarl coated his words. “But I
saw what happened today. I saw that thing come straight at us. It
threatened Miss Radcliffe, then turned on Millington and Rommell, Perry. It
had murder in its eyes and you know it.”
    “ Rommell inspires such thoughts in several of us, then. I’m
having trouble keeping my knives sheathed whenever he opens his
mouth.”
    “ Rommell is of the Echelon. He could cause trouble for us very
easily.”
    “ You don’t think I know that? How foolish do you consider
me?”
    “ I’m just saying... perhaps you should let me handle him? Your
emotions are involved, and while I don’t like the man, I can
restrain my temper around him. As for Lovecraft, don’t
underestimate him.” He stared her in the eyes. “Promise me you’ll
watch your back tonight, when we mount this search.”
    “ You’re going to bring in more Nighthawks?”
    He gave a
clipped