The Faithful Siren by Farmer Merry

Author:Farmer, Merry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Thaddeus kept a tight hold on Imogen’s hand as they wound their way through the initial passage. As soon as they passed through the door, he felt around for the lamp and matches that were always waiting there, and lit the lamp. Imogen drew in a breath at the sight of the plain, tight walls and grabbed his hand again.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered, replacing the matches and continuing on, holding the lamp aloft. “I know where this passage leads.” He paused before glancing sideways at her and saying, “You look stunningly beautiful in that gown.”

She let out a sudden, nervous laugh. “I am not certain now is the time for compliments, but thank you.” She glanced back the way they’d come.

A smile split Thaddeus’s face, born of the confidence he felt, now that they were well on their way to safety. “Your father and Lord Cunningham are far behind us,” he said. “You’ve no need to worry about them anymore.”

“Are you certain?” she asked, swaying closer to him as they turned a corner and continued on. The sound of conversation from a house they passed by must have frightened her, but the passage had no access to that house.

“I thought you trusted me, love,” Thaddeus teased her.

She let out a breath, letting her shoulders drop a bit. “I do. I truly do.”

They continued on in silence. The passageway was extensive and used for a variety of purposes. It had several side paths and formed a vast network under Mayfair. Thaddeus was convinced it must have originally been built by smugglers or conspirators, considering which houses it connected, but he was grateful they’d built it.

After about ten minutes of walking, they reached a doorway that stood open to a large, clean cellar. Imogen hesitated slightly as Thaddeus led her into the cellar, but the moment she spotted his sister-in-law, Lady Caro, she let out a surprised yelp and rushed to her.

“Have you been helping us this whole time?” Imogen asked, throwing herself into Caro’s arms.

“We’ve all been helping you.” Rufus stepped into the cellar from the hall with a smile. “And we’d like to continue to help you, if you’d care to come out of this dank cellar and up to where we have tea prepared.”

Thaddeus crossed the cellar to shake his brother’s hand. “Thank you for everything,” he said, thumping his back.

“You’re not completely out of the woods yet,” Rufus said as they headed through the downstairs hall and up to the ground floor of Caro’s school.

Imogen glanced around with wide eyes, laughing as soon as she realized where they’d ended up. They were both mobbed by a dozen young ladies, the pupils of the school, all of whom seemed to be talking and asking questions at once as they escorted Imogen and Thaddeus into the large hall that served as a dining room and auditorium when needed.

“Enough questions,” Caro told the young ladies, gesturing for them to return to their seats at the room’s two, long tables, where it appeared breakfast was in the process of being served.

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