The Watchmaker's Daughter (Glass and Steele #1)(71)

"Matthew." I didn't know why I said his name. If I'd planned on asking or saying something, it immediately flew from my mind when he drew me closer.

"Yes?" he murmured.

His small finger hooked mine. We stood as close as my skirts would allow, his face only inches above me. He looked exhausted, and yet he was still so handsome. His illness didn't lessen that.

"You should go inside to rest," I said, stepping back.

He didn't let go of my finger. "India—"

"She's right," Cyclops called down from the driver's seat. "Go inside, Matt. Rest."

Matt turned his frosty glare onto his friend but let me go. As Cyclops drove the carriage off, I headed up the steps. Willie opened the door, but the hope in her eyes soon vanished.

"You look awful," she said. "You should rest."

"I know," he snapped.

Willie's chin wobbled.

Matt sighed and drew her into a hug. He kissed her forehead. "Sorry. I'm going up now."

"I'll leave some supper on your desk," she said, as he headed to the staircase with plodding footsteps.

Duke and Miss Glass emerged from the dining room. Embroidery thread looped around Duke’s hands and connected to the spool Miss Glass held. At my raised brows, he said, "Tangles," with a shrug.

Someone knocked on the door, and Willie opened it. A grizzly looking man in a brown coat and skewed mustard colored tie stood on the stoop. No less than five police constables, dressed in their distinctive blue uniform and helmet, squeezed onto the porch behind him.

"Is Mr. Matthew Glass here?" demanded the man in front.

"Who's asking?" Willie said, hands on hips.

"Detective Inspector Nunce, Scotland Yard."

"There's no one here by—"

"I'm Matthew Glass," Matt said, placing a hand on Willie's shoulder.

She shoved him away. "Matt! You know why they're here."

"Willie, it's all right."

Nunce stepped inside without being invited. His constables followed him like a tail. "Mr. Glass, you're under arrest."

"No!" Willie cried.

One of the constables caught Matt's wrist, but he pulled free.

"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded.

"You're under arrest on suspicion of being the American outlaw known as the Dark Rider." Nunce jerked his head and two constables grabbed Matt, one taking each arm.

"There's been a mistake," Matt said, his voice calm. "I'm not an outlaw."

"Let him go!" Willie lunged at one of the constables holding Matt, only to be caught from behind by another. "Get off me!" She kicked and lashed out, but couldn't reach the man behind her. His arm locked around her waist and he dragged her out of the way. Her screeching grew louder.

"You're under arrest too," Nunce told her.

"What for?" she shouted.

"For being a member of the Dark Rider's posse."

"You're a damned idiot fool!"

"Let her go," Duke said, stepping forward. He tried to separate his hands, but only managed to get himself more tangled in the thread. "God damn it!" he shouted, resorting to brute strength and still failing.

Miss Glass dropped the spool and came to stand by me. "Stop this at once," she said with haughty crispness. "There's been a mistake. This gentleman is my nephew, and the nephew of Lord Rycroft. Release him at once."

Nunce touched his hat brim. "I cannot, ma'am. He's the Dark Rider."

"Who or what is the Dark Rider?"

"American outlaw. Don't you read the papers?"

She bristled. "Of course not. I've no interest in idle gossip."

Nunce signaled for another of his men to grab Duke. "Take him, too. He sounds American." He sized me up.

"She's English," Matt said. "A friend of my aunt's. I hardly know her."

Nunce grunted but didn't order anyone to arrest me. One of the constables took hold of Duke's arm, but Duke jerked away. The constable tackled him, and with his hands still tied, Duke couldn't defend himself. They both crashed to the floor.

"That was uncalled for," Matt growled.

Nunce merely shrugged.

"Duke!" Willie screamed. "Duke, are you hurt?"

Miss Glass's fingers gripped my arm. I closed my hand over hers, hoping to reassure her somewhat. I don't think it helped. She could most likely feel my body shaking through the connection.

"Contact Commissioner Munro," Matt instructed Nunce, struggling to pull free of the two constables who held him. "He'll set you straight."

Nunce snorted. "That's what they all say."

Willie stomped on the toe of the bobby holding her and managed to pull free. She ran to Duke, who was struggling to sit up on the floor, but was caught again by the long-limbed youth in uniform. She smashed her fist into his cheek, drawing blood, before he grasped her hands and twisted them behind her.

"You're hurting me!" she cried.

Matt lurched to his left, using his superior weight and height to force the constable on that side to stumble. The one on his other side also lost his balance, and Matt was able to pull free of them both.