The Iron Duke 1 by Meljean Brook
Author:Meljean Brook [Brook, Meljean]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Merchants, London (England), Fiction, Romance, Women Sleuths, Romance & Sagas, Fiction - Romance, American Science Fiction And Fantasy, Steampunk, Heroes, Love Stories, Contemporary, Fantasy Fiction, Zombies, Conspiracies, American Light Romantic Fiction, Romance - Paranormal, Women Detectives, Mystery & Detective, Paranormal, General, Paranormal Romance Stories
ISBN: 9780425236673
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Published: 2010-10-05T07:00:00+00:00
The countess of Rockingham couldn’t shed tears. But she could still cry, and when devastated, she wept silently. And when Mina and her father sat with her in the front parlor, and told her of the Terror, she cried quietly into her hands until Mina’s throat felt as if it had been shredded by razors.
After a long time, her mother lifted her head. “But you say that he is still on the ship?”
Her father nodded. “Yes.”
“For certain?”
Blast. Mina couldn’t lie to her. And though she’d have tried, her mother read her face before a word passed her lips. Determination firmed the countess’s mouth.
“I’ll repair the butler, then. It will fetch enough.” She looked to her husband. “You and Henry will travel to—”
“No, Mother.” Mina shook her head. “Henry and I will.”
But Mina knew that wouldn’t be what happened. She just had to admit it to herself.
Her mother’s face crumpled. “And shall I lose you all?”
Mina couldn’t answer that, but she was saved from responding by a knock at the front door. They all waited quietly, listening to Sally’s voice and the rumble of a stranger’s. A few moments later, the maid came to the parlor carrying a thick envelope.
“A messenger has come from the Duke of Anglesey, milord. I’ve asked him to wait for a response.”
With a creased brow, her father took the envelope. He looked inside and blinked very slowly, as if expecting the contents to disappear after the fall of his eyelids. Swallowing hard, he extracted a small note.
“It’s from the Earl of Scarsdale. Payment for the butler,” he said. “With apologies.”
Mina closed her eyes. No. It was so that she’d have no reason to stay. She’d told them she couldn’t live on entertainment . . . and any amount of money that could make her father blink like that would have to far exceed the salary she’d lose while traveling.
Surprise spread over her mother’s face, and almost immediately gave way to dread and fear. “Should I write a letter to Henry, then?”
And shall I lose you all?
“No.” Mina stood. “I saved the duke’s life today. I believe . . . I believe he will let me accompany him, if I make the request, and help me search for Andrew.”
Her mother and father looked to each other. She saw their indecision, their hope, their fear.
“He would protect me from any danger,” Mina said. “I know that he would.”
And beyond England’s shores, he probably could. She believed that—and her parents would, too.
Her father studied her face. “Do you want to go?”
“I want to find Andrew,” she said. “More than anything in the world, I want to see him safe.”
He nodded, and looked to her mother. She was weeping again, but this time, she made noise. Not just terrified now. Hopeful.
“I’ll write the messenger a note,” Mina said.
And Mina did, quickly, for she only needed to write two words. Then she went upstairs to pack.
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