Читать книгу Deception - A.S. Fenichel - Страница 7

Gripping the chair arms to keep herself seated, Lillian fought an urge to leave and never set foot inside Castle Brendaligh again.

It had been a demoralizing battle and they had lost, but they had lived. They had done all they could, but still the demon master had ascended into man’s world.

“You failed and we are all likely to die because of it. I hold every person at this table responsible for the state of England. You have ruined us.” Lord Clayton’s voice grated on Lillian’s nerves.

Accounts of the battle were clear. Nearly everyone in the room had risked their lives trying to disrupt the ascension, not to mention keep the earl’s daughter, Belinda, from becoming a demon sacrifice. Making such a show of ferocious reprimands insulted their brave and selfless efforts. If not for the fact that he was her best friend’s father, she might have indulged her desire to pull a sai blade from her boot and slice his throat.

As if Lord Clayton, the Earl of Shafton, needed to attract more attention, he waved his hands. “You had one mission, to keep the master from entering our world. All you had to do was kill one demon, but you failed. You should all be shot for treason. Treason!”

His bright red face gave her hope his heart might fail and save her the trouble of killing him.

Other hunters at the table murmured, but no one spoke out.

“Everyone in this room is to blame. You had the perfect opportunity to end this mess. Now the master is free of his realm and living in ours. It’s only a matter of time before he is strong enough to destroy everything we hold dear. When your families are killed mercilessly, will you sit here so unrepentant about failing in your duty?”

“Father, really.” Belinda Thurston rolled her eyes.

Lillian missed Reece’s steadying presence. Reece might have even been able to stop his lordship’s tirade with a few quick-witted remarks. Her partner had nearly died, and now lay upstairs recovering from demon poisoning.

“Don’t you roll your eyes at me, Belinda. You are equally to blame. You were with the master for days and made no attempt to destroy him.”

Gabriel, Belinda’s husband, bristled. It was of course a ridiculous statement. The Earl of Tullering was not used to public abuse of his family. “Just a minute, my lord. You are out of order. Belinda was in no position to defeat the demon master. The information she gathered will be very helpful in our eventual victory.”

Shafton pointed a fat finger. “I do not want to hear about information that will take years to decipher. You, Tullering, are by far the most culpable. You and that woman”—he pointed at Lillian—“made a conscious choice not to destroy the master.”

Lillian reached toward her boot and let the hard steel of her sai blade handle bring her comfort. One second and Shafton’s head could be rolling down the long table and land in Drake Cullum’s lap.

Besides Shafton, Drake and his assistant, Dorian Lambert, were the only ones present who had not been at the battle. Their leader, Drake, had attended to assign new orders to the hunters.

Shafton said, “You could have destroyed the beast as it rose and was weakened. I know you had the opportunity, but you chose to save yourself. It was selfish and stupid.”

Lillian could kill him and no one would be able to stop her. Of course, there were always consequences when dealing with men in power. She’d lose her home within The Company. Yet another arrogant earl would not take her from her rightful place. She was in control. It was nothing like her youth and the titled man who’d ruined her life.

Belinda said, “They saved my life, Father.”

“It was the wrong choice, Belinda. You might have cost us our one chance to stop this.” Shafton narrowed his eyes on Lillian.

Lillian said, “I can imagine your pleasure if we had allowed your only child to become the master’s sacrifice. Perhaps we should have stood by and watched until the master, with his full power rose, from the depths of hell and destroyed us all. As it is, Reece Foxjohn is still recovering from battle and the rest of us might have been sucked into the demon’s realm. But by all means, my lord, go on and tell us how you know we willfully failed on our mission. I do not recall your life being in danger that day at Fatum Manor. You were safely tucked away in your castle while the rest of us faced death or worse.”

“You are out of order, Dellacourt.” Shafton said her name as if it were a curse.

Lillian wasn’t sure when she had stood up, but clutching the leather wrapped steel, she rounded the table toward the earl. “If you have something you want to say about my abilities, my lord, I suggest you do so. I will be happy to display them for you, and we can evaluate them together.”

“Miss Dellacourt.” A warning came from the other end of the table.

“You were not there. You cannot know if we could have destroyed the master. As far as I’m concerned, we made the only choice possible under the circumstances. Maybe if your intelligence had supplied us with the location of the gateway before the master had grown so powerful, we might have been able to seal him in.”

“How dare you imply that I failed in some way? You who completely disregard orders at will.”

She had only ever hated one man the way she despised Shafton, and he too was an earl. At least that one was dead. Steeling her nerves, she slid the sai blade through the pocket cut in her skirt. “You speak of orders that were selfish and almost succeeded in getting your own family killed.”

“You have no right to question me or my motives.” To his credit, he faced her and stared her in the eye.

“I have every right when you point your fat finger at me.”

“Who do you think you are? I know where you come from Lillian Dellacourt. I know what you are.”

Drake Cullum pounded the table. “Shafton, that will do.” The demon hunters’ leader stood rigid, narrow-eyed. He was formidable when he was calm, but enraging him was never a good idea. He was furious now.

Had she gone too far? The idea she might have overstepped her bounds with Cullum was enough to make her relax the grip on her blade. Lillian turned and stormed from the dining room.

Shafton yelled something about not having dismissed her from the meeting.

Once in the hallway, she pulled her second blade and turned to go back in and finish what she’d started. It would be nothing to remove his pompous head from his shoulders.

Cullum stood in the doorway. He smiled at her and closed the door, barring her reentry.

Had she ever seen him smile before? No instance came to mind. She stomped toward the front entrance. She’d leave the damn castle, get her carriage, and ride like the devil back to London. Yet the one person in the world she could really talk to was a resident of Brendaligh. Holding her full skirts with both hands, she sprinted up the curved grand staircase.

Brendaligh, the Earl of Shafton’s Scottish holding, boasted fine marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and expensive draping. To the casual observer, the entry looked like any other wealthy man’s country home, but upon closer inspection, they would find the bedchambers rather bare and the ballroom fitted for mock combat sessions. Instead of fancy draperies, shields and weapons hung on the walls. He’d converted the estate from its former grandeur into a school for demon hunter training. Of course, in Lillian’s opinion, it was also the earl’s way of shirking his responsibilities to his family.

His wife and daughter had never been to the Scottish castle until Belinda’s life was in jeopardy, and she descended on her father unannounced to verify his part in the demons’ desire to capture and kill her. Before that, the earl had hidden his knowledge of any hunting activity and made excuses to remain in Scotland.

At the top of the stairs, she turned right, then entered a small salon, set up as a kind of hospital. A strange little demon’s poison had turned a strapping man into the withered soul sitting in a wingback chair near the window.

Her heart tightened painfully. It took willpower not to clutch her chest.

Reece Foxjohn had been her constant companion for the last five years. His handsome face showed strain where there had always been joy. His bright blue eyes had dimmed.

Elizabeth Smyth picked up the untouched food tray from the table beside Reece, whispered something to him, and turned toward the door. Slimmer from her hunter training, she looked up and smiled. “Miss Lillian, I’m so happy to see you.”

Reece turned sad eyes toward Lillian.

She put on her best grin for his sake. She wanted to detect his joy at seeing her, but nothing in his expression indicated he was happy she’d come. He returned his attention to whatever was outside the window.

“It’s good to see you, Lizzy. You should just call me Lillian. No need for formality here.”

“Thank you, Lillian.” Lizzy blushed, but her brown eyes were sharp and direct.

“How are your studies going?”

“Very well. I’ve never enjoyed anything more in my life. I know there will be danger, but it is still better than scrubbing pots.” She’d been a scullery maid in a wealthy home before the hunters rescued her from a ritual sacrifice in London.

“I’m glad your finding your time here well spent.”

“Oh yes, Miss—um, Lillian.” She appeared far fitter than when she’d joined the demon hunters, her waist small, even beneath her voluminous dress.

Lillian wanted to learn more about Elizabeth Smyth. “You’ll get used to it. It takes time to shuck the old ways. Then you’ll have to learn when to act the part again. It won’t be easy going into society once you get used to the equality of our little group.”

Lizzy glanced away, then back. “I imagine it will be another challenge, which I had not counted on.”

“I’m sure you will be up to it. How is your patient doing?”

Lizzy studied the floor. “He’s not my patient. Dr. Barns has that privilege. Whatever poisoned him left him very weak. His shoulder has healed and he is getting stronger, but he still refuses to eat much. He’s been leached several times, and the leeches die from the poison in his blood. I think that must mean they are successfully drawing it out, and he is getting better.”

“I hope you’re right.” Lillian kept her voice low so Reece couldn’t hear the doubt in her tone.

“He is so much better than when he first came from Edinburgh. He is a strong man, a fact he seems to have forgotten. Once he remembers, his recovery will go quickly.”

“I can see you are the perfect person to nurse him.”

“It is the least I can do. If not for you and Reece, I might not be here today. I would have died on that altar, and who knows what plans the master had for my soul.”

“You owe us nothing, but I’m glad you are here to help with his recovery. I don’t know how you find the time while training to become a hunter.”

Lizzy glanced at the clock on the mantle. “Oh my, speaking of time, I must get his tray down to the kitchen and get to my combat class. If you’ll excuse me?”

“Of course.”

She turned to leave, but stopped. “I almost forgot to tell you. Mei Lin asked me to give you her regrets that she is not here to see you.”

“I heard she has already been sent on her first assignment.” The strong willed Oriental girl had been a hellion when Lillian found her. It was impressive that after only a few months training she was ready for assignment.

“Yes. She is remarkable.”

“Do you know where they sent her?”

“I’m afraid not. I’m not even sure Mei knew where she was headed.”

Lillian didn’t like the sound of that, but there was little she could do. Drake Cullum knew what he was doing. “She will do well, no matter where she has gone. You had better get to class.”

After a bob, Lizzy scurried out of the room.

“Hello, Reece.” She sat across from him on a small settee.

Dark wood wainscoting and rich draperies darkened the room. Three beds had been set up, but at the moment, only Reece occupied the space. Other wounded hunters had been treated here rather than carting them all the way to London.

Hunched in a dark blue robe, Reese stared outside. Fog rolled in and a light drizzle added to the gloom. “How are you, Lilly?”

“I came to complain and bristle about the meeting I’ve just walked out of, but I can see you are not in the mood for my foul temper.”

He turned his head, and a hint of a smile lit his face. “I always love to see that fiery temper of yours, my sweet. Nothing gives me more pleasure.”

“Lies. Many things give you far more pleasure. In fact, I’m surprised that lovely young woman who just carted your uneaten tray out of here is not under your spell. There was a time when a girl like Lizzy would have brought a smile to your face.”

He frowned and the glint went out of his eyes. “She is a sweet thing, but that time has passed.”

“She looked at you as if you were the sun and the moon. Why don’t you court her?”

His stare returned to the window. “Those days have passed, Lilly. I am not the same man anymore. Lizzy deserves a man who can take care of her.”

“I think she is well on her way to taking care of herself and you as well.”

He shrugged. “Then a man who will fight alongside her.”

“You will fight again, my dearest.”

He shook his head. His malaise was worse than expected. The short, hairy pravus demon had damaged him more than sword or fist injuries ever had.

The hunters had first encountered the harmless looking demons at the Fatum Manor battle. Pravus climbed walls and ceilings like spiders on a web, and had almost cost Reece his life.

She shivered against the memory of that terrible night. She should have come sooner. Perhaps she should have brought Reece to The Company sponsored hospital in London to recover. She’d thought the castle comforts offered a better place to regain his strength. All the youthful recruits should have bolstered his spirits. “I spoke to Dr. Barns not a week ago, and she told me you were recovering nicely from your injuries. Why don’t we go and watch the students practice their combat training? It will cheer you.”

Dr. Emily Barns made the long trek once a month if there was a need. It was time The Company invested in a second doctor. Lillian had a feeling the wounded would be increasing in the short term.

His chest lifted as he sighed deeply. “I would rather not. Tell me why you were in such a fit of temper when you came in here?”

She paced the carpet. “I nearly cut the head off of our host in the meeting downstairs. I imagined his bulbous crown rolling down the table and landing in Cullum’s lap. He is insufferable, going on and on about how we have jeopardized all of England because we chose to save Belinda. The fact that he didn’t provide us with enough information to destroy, or even trap, the master never entered into his tirade.”

“Do you think that could be why he’s going overboard with blaming us? Is he covering up his failure?”

Lillian saw fear behind the earl’s bluster, fear that needed an explanation. “I think it’s more than that, Reece. He’s hiding something. We saved his daughter’s life, and he is completely ungrateful for our effort. In fact, he accused Belinda of negligence for not singlehandedly killing the master while she was imprisoned in the Fatum dungeon.”

“He did not.” Reece’s voice rose, and he scowled.

“I know he is hiding something, and I intend to find out what it is.”

Reece’s attention returned to the window. “Would not your time be better spent finding the master and destroying him?”

Lillian knelt in front of Reece’s chair and took his hands.

He looked down at her with tired eyes.

“I know that seems like the thing to do, but if I find him, how do I kill him? I don’t even know if it’s possible to kill the master. Is he even alive? Does he bleed? In my belly, I know whatever Shafton is hiding is a clue to how to win this war.”

“Wouldn’t he be eager to tell us something that might help us defeat these demons?”

“I don’t know. He is a proud man, too proud. Look at how he endangered Belinda to keep his secrets. I don’t trust him.”

Reece kissed her forehead. “You have the best instincts of anyone I’ve ever seen, my sweet. If you are sure discovery of Shafton’s deception will better our cause, then I support your quest. I only wish I had the strength to accompany you.”

“Thank you.” If Reece supported her, she could go hunting information with a clear conscience. Her gut told her she was on the right track. The earl’s anger was out of proportion with the facts, and there had to be a reason for it. She hugged Reece.

His arms came around her, and he patted her back.

She longed for his strength but settled for the light comfort.

“You are my dearest friend, Lilly. Never doubt I am on your side.”

She pulled away and looked him in the eye. “It’s not that I doubt you. I’m unsure of this path because it’s not in line with headquarters’ orders. I was told to stay here and wait for a partner to be assigned to me. I’ve never disobeyed reasonable orders before, Reece. What if Cullum tosses me from the demon hunters? Where would I go?”

A man cleared his throat behind her.

Startled, she turned.

Belinda and Gabriel stood inside the doorway.

Embarrassed, Lillian rose brushed out her skirts and pulled her shoulders back.

Gabriel closed the door behind them and ushered his lovely wife forward. A bump preceded Belinda’s normally athletic figure, evidencing the coming of the couple’s first child.

“We did not mean to eavesdrop, but since we overheard the last of your concerns, I have something to add.” Gabriel Thurston had been a soldier in the king’s army and fought bravely in France. He’d survived capture and imprisonment only to come home to London and find Belinda, his fiancée, altered from the sweet girl he’d left behind. The earl had taken a leap of faith to join them on a hunt and afterward join The Company.

How any depth of feeling survived the madness of a hunter’s daily life was beyond explanation. Demons brought nothing but death and mayhem with them, yet they had found beauty in the midst of disaster.

Lillian straightened her spine. “Say your piece, my lord.”

“My name is Gabriel, as you well know, Lillian, since you have called me by that name on many occasions.” He flashed a crooked smile. “I speak for my wife and myself when I say, should the demon hunters ever be foolish enough to dismiss you, you shall always have a place with us. I could not work for an organization that showed you disrespect after all you have given to this cause.”

Her vision clouded and her throat clogged. “Perhaps you should know what I’m about to do before you make such a blanket statement.”

Belinda stepped in front of Lillian. A smile lit her eyes, and she brushed blond hair back from her forehead. “It makes no difference to us, Lilly. We are confident whatever mission you choose will always be for the cause of good. If you need our help, you have only to ask and we are at your service. I would be dead now, or worse, living in the hell of the demon realm if you had not risked your life to help save me.”

Lillian took her hands. “I appreciate the thought very much, Belinda, but you might not feel that way if you knew.”

Gabriel said, “You underestimate our powers of deduction if you think we cannot recognize Shafton has something to do with whatever you intend.”

“He’s your family. I do not want to put more strain on your relationship with your father, Belinda. You have just become reacquainted.” Even though they were not her blood, they were the only family she knew. She didn’t want to lose them, but some things were more important than what she wanted.

A deep frown marred Belinda’s pretty face. “My father overreacted in the dining room. Everyone at the table saw it. I hope my father is not so foolish as to harm the hunters or England, but my relationship with him is tentative at best. We shall stand behind you no matter the outcome.”

Tears spilled and she dashed them away. “It means the world to me to hear you say that. Still, you should stay clear of this. It will be better for everyone.”

“Are you certain you will be all right working alone? Belinda is not up to a mission, but I could accompany you.” Gabriel’s training as a soldier made his offer tempting. He struck an imposing figure and could get into places she would have trouble.

If her instincts were off, the fallout could be catastrophic. She wouldn’t risk her friends. “I honestly believe it better if you were not involved. The family connection will only complicate things. I am not going after demons, only information. I will be fine.”

* * * *

Dorian Lambert stretched his legs in front of him in the guise of relaxation while Drake Cullum, his employer, circled the large desk and sat behind it.

“I’m curious, Dorian, what did you think of the little gathering in the dining room?” Drake leaned his elbows on Shafton’s desk and peered over his steepled fingers. There was never any doubt within the demon hunters company about who was in charge. If anyone doubted Cullum’s authority, he had no problem setting the issue straight. A hardness ingrained in Cullum brooked no argument.

Dorian had been Drake’s right hand man for over two years, and Dorian remained wary of the man. “Is there a particular aspect of the meeting you would care for me to analyze?”

Drake’s eyes narrowed before he leaned back in the chair. “I was speaking of the confrontation between our host and Miss Dellacourt. Did you note anything in particular about the exchange?”

Luckily, she worked in London and he in Edinburgh, so their paths rarely crossed and Dorian could keep his wits about him. “The earl seemed a bit overzealous with his reprimands regarding the ascension of the master. Anyone who has read the report knows the hunters did all they could under the circumstances. He had a good fight coming. He’s lucky every hunter did not draw a weapon right there in the dining room.”

Drake chuckled, and then, as if he had never laughed, his expression intense but unreadable. “I believe his lordship was closer than you might think to finding himself on the receiving end of a very interesting set of blades.”

“Indeed?”

“And what do you think of Miss Lillian Dellacourt?”

Besides his heart pounding harder, tightness in his groin caused Dorian to adjust his seat. He fought the urge to fidget and crossed his arms over his chest. Never show weakness. “She is magnificent.” Damn. Why had he said that? “The name is likely a fake as she looks completely English to me. Her temper is something to keep an eye on. Was there some other aspect of her personality you wanted evaluated, sir?”

“She is magnificent.”

Dorian kept his expression stoic and neutral. Was the head of The Company also pining away for Lillian? He struggled to keep his seat and not draw a weapon or jump across the desk and strangle Cullum. “Sir?”

“If you had ever seen her fight, she is something to behold.”

“Are you planning to pursue Miss Dellacourt in a romantic fashion, sir?” Why had he asked his boss such a forward question? He was done for.

“No. Of course not. My interest is strictly business.” Another fleeting grin replaced his stoic expression.

The tightness in Dorian’s chest eased. “And is there some reason we are discussing the notably splendid lady?”

“The thing I have always admired about you, Lambert, is in spite of your title and upbringing among those who patter around an issue, you always get directly to the point.”

“I shall take that as a compliment, sir.”

“As it was intended.” Cullum, on the other hand, liked to play games. He enjoyed making the people under his command figure things out for themselves.

Dorian had still not decided if this was an effective tool or some kind of sick torture.

“The lady is going to venture out on her own.”

“Is she?” His gut clenched. Was she leaving The Company and where would she go?

“She won’t be able to leave the matter of Shafton’s overreaction alone. She’ll want answers.”

“She’s going to disobey your order to stay here until you find her a suitable partner?”

“I would bet my life on it.” Cullum casually inspected his fingernails. Curious that a hunter’s disobedience should not cause him distress.

“You want me to stop her.”

He loosed a short burst of amusement. “I’m not sure you could, though I should like to see that match.”

Dorian didn’t know whether to be amused or offended. “I’m not without skills, sir.”

“True, but we shall not test them against another hunter. Those skills are better served fighting the enemy. There will be plenty of demons to destroy before this is over, and perhaps your skills are wasted in The Company office.”

“Are you displeased with my work?”

“No. You are an excellent strategist and assistant. I have no complaints.”

Curiosity wiggled inside Dorian. “My orders, sir?”

“Follow her. If she discovers something of interest, bring the information to me. Perhaps keep her out of trouble, though I may be asking too tall an order, even for you.”

He had never seen Lillian in battle, but he had read the reports. Subduing her was not likely within his capabilities and following her—“She’s a hunter. She’ll know within a few miles that she’s being tracked.”

“Then you had better introduce yourself before one of those interesting blades of hers finds its way to your throat.”

“Why not just order her to accept me as her partner and assign her to a fact finding mission?”

“I could do that, but I do not wish to push her away from her instincts. They are flawless. Also, I’m not ready to completely release you from your duties as my assistant.”

“You are worried about my loyalties, sir?”

“Not to the cause. Never that. It will be for the best at this time if you continue to work for me directly as opposed to becoming Lillian Dellacourt’s hunting partner.”

“As you wish. Will that be all, sir?” Dorian stood.

“Yes. You likely have some packing to do. I imagine she will be leaving before first light.”

“Is there anything else I should know?”

“No. I trust you will do what is necessary for the betterment of The Company and England.”

“Of course, sir.” Dorian walked out of the study and rushed up the steps to his chamber. He had much to do, and he needed to speak to his brother before he left the castle.