Hessians and Hellhounds by Tilly Wallace

Author:Tilly Wallace [Wallace, Tilly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ribbonwood Press

14

Later that morning, the family gathered in the dining room for breakfast. A sombre mood hung over them after the previous night’s discovery. Hannah tackled the issue of who might have owned the shoe and wracked her brain to identify the tallest among the women Afflicted who might wear such a size.

“‘The Afflicted cannot escape God’s judgement.’” Wycliff read the headline aloud and then tossed the scandal sheet to the table with a snort. “Another inflammatory piece from Nash to add fuel to the unrest.”

“How does he know it was one of the Afflicted? Seraphina discerned it from the bone, but we said nothing anyone could have overheard last night.” Sir Hugh stared at the paper from under bushy eyebrows.

Hannah picked it up. “This was written by the same man who wrote the articles exposing the work of Unwin and Alder. He is a reporter who does not rely on facts, but who crafts his own version of the truth.” She glanced across the table to Wycliff, who ground his teeth. She suspected her husband planned an unpleasant interview for Mr Nash. Truth be told, she did not want Wycliff to temper his behaviour with the person who wrote such horrid things about the victims of the blue fire. “I shall refrain from attending when you speak to him. I think this matter is best discussed between the two of you.”

Hannah read the article and then passed the paper to her mother.

After reading the article that detailed how the Afflicted were akin to demons polluting the London air, Seraphina waved a hand and the newspaper rose into the air before scrunching itself into a tight ball. Then with a pop, it exploded, distributing tiny specks of paper that hung in the air like dandelion fluff.

“Temper, Sera,” Sir Hugh muttered as he picked a sliver of paper off his toast.

“He has written a load of utter rubbish that will provoke more fear in the general population and turn them against us. Nobles cannot afford to ignore the opinion of the people. Look what happened in France when the aristocrats did that.” Seraphina drew her hands through the air and gathered up the dots of paper before directing them to an empty fruit bowl.

“Which is no doubt the reporter’s intention. Or certainly that of whoever pays him to write such nonsense,” Wycliff said.

“Perhaps I shall accompany Wycliff when he talks to the man,” Seraphina mused. “I am sure between the two of us we can extract the truth of the matter.” The dots of paper burst into a pure white flame and when it extinguished itself, only a black smear stained the porcelain bowl.

“We must not descend to the same tactics as whoever moves against us.” Hannah glared from her mother to her husband. Never did she think these two would become accomplices.

“All this nonsense talk of Cerberus claiming escaped souls to send to Hell…honestly. Mark my words, this is nothing otherworldly. There is a very mortal hand at work.” Seraphina bristled, the linen undulating over her body as she contained her rage.

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