Quicksilver - Amanda Quick [106]
“Yes.”
“I remember bits and pieces now. I think.”
“You can explain later. We need to get out of here.”
“I’ll not quarrel with that plan.”
Mrs. Crofton sat up, still noticeably groggy. With Virginia’s help, she managed to scramble awkwardly out of the glass coffin. But it became clear at once that she could not stand. Virginia tried to steady her. Together they staggered a few feet.
“Can’t,” Mrs. Crofton whispered. “You must go on without me. Hurry. Before they come for you.”
“I’m not leaving you in this place.” Virginia got her to the bench and lowered her down onto it. “But I will be able to locate the door more quickly if you wait here.”
Mrs. Crofton groaned, folded her arms on her knees and lowered her head.
Virginia rushed through the room, ignoring the pull of the artifacts.
A draft whispered beneath one of the mirrored panels.
“I found it,” Virginia said.
Mrs. Crofton looked up, brightening a little.
“There must be a concealed lever, but I don’t have time to search for it,” Virginia said. “I will have to shatter the mirror to reveal the doorknob.”
She went back across the room and picked up a heavy glass statue of a cat. Frissons of energy crackled through her. She paid no attention.
The mirrored panel swung open just as Virginia started toward it with the statue.
For a heartbeat she dared to hope that Owen would enter the room, coming to the rescue as he had the night he found her in the Hollister mansion.
But of course it was not Owen who walked into the mirrored chamber. One did not get that sort of good luck twice, Virginia thought.
A woman stood in the opening. She was tall, with a face that would have been quite pretty, had her eyes not been so ice-cold. Her dark hair was swept up into an artful chignon. Her elegant silver-grayand-black gown was trimmed with glittering black glass beads. Strands of black glass gems sparkled at her throat and wrists. Obsidian earrings dangled from her ears. She gripped a pistol in one hand.
Virginia recognized her in spite of the fine clothes and expensive jewelry.
“Mrs. Hollister’s paid companion,” Virginia said. “I congratulate you on your wardrobe. It is certainly of a much finer quality than it was the last time we met.”
“Good evening, Miss Dean. Allow me to introduce myself properly this time. I am Alcina Norgate. You are, of course, acquainted with my brother, Jasper.”
Jasper Welch bustled into the room. He had a pocket watch in one hand. “It is nearly midnight. Time to ignite my Great Engine.”
Alcina smiled at Virginia. “I’m afraid Jasper requires a contribution from you in order to complete his project. His grand experiment ought to have been concluded by now, but things did not go as planned that evening at the Hollister mansion. We have taken pains to ensure that this time matters will turn out quite differently.”
“Quite differently, indeed,” Welch said. He snapped the pocket watch closed. Reaching into another pocket, he produced a set of iron wrist manacles. “Only one set, I’m afraid. We didn’t plan on two of you being present for the final phase of the experiment. But there’s no reason you and your housekeeper can’t share these.”
THIRTY-NINE
Gilmore Leybrook was in his library, going over the latest financial reports for the Institute, when he sensed the ominous currents of energy. They rolled through the room like the waves of a dark, cold sea. Alarmed, he surged to his feet. He was suddenly sweating profusely. His heart beat too fast. Instinctively he looked around, searching for the source of the deadly danger that had invaded the room.
At first he saw nothing, but before he could assure himself that his imagination had overreacted, Owen Sweetwater came through the doorway, the wings of his long black coat flaring around him.
Gilmore stared at him, unable to breathe. He had never been so frightened in his life.
“I need an address, Leybrook,” Sweetwater said. “You will provide it to me.”
Anger surged through Gilmore, momentarily offsetting the raw terror that was roiling his guts. “Now, see here, I don’t know who you