The Watchmaker's Daughter (Glass and Steele #1)(84)

But there was no one to train me. And with magic being such a deep secret, we were unlikely to find a magician in the newspaper advertisements. Even worse, we were unlikely to find Chronos himself.

"Perhaps if we discuss this development with the guild—"

"No." He slammed the glass down on the table. "No, India, you are not to mention magic to them. You saw their faces. They already dislike you. This will make it worse for you. Besides, from what Dr. Parsons told me, the authorities are the most fearful of magicians. We don't have guilds in America, but there are committees and other groups that govern trades and crafts. He claimed magicians are not welcome. They're reviled, in fact. You must keep your magic a secret, India. Understand?"

I nodded. "Since Abercrombie and the other members were fearful of me, they must have suspected I possessed magic," I said. "But how? Did they sense it, do you think?"

"Perhaps. Or did they know your father was magic, even though he didn't use it? Perhaps they learned as much when he was dying, since you said it wasn't until around that time that they became fearful of you."

"A little before, when he tried to get them to admit me to the guild," I said, absently. "But Father wasn't a magician. I would have known, or suspected. He was never anything but normal."

He refilled my glass from the decanter on the sideboard and handed it to me. "I'm sure there's a logical explanation."

I sighed. "I suppose there must be." I drank in silence, feeling his intense gaze on me but not daring to meet it. My cheeks were warm enough. "Tell me what you said to Abercrombie to get him to cease accusing me of theft. He claimed you threatened him."

"It was hardly a threat. I merely explained that I work for the police on two continents and am a personal friend to Commissioner Munro. As such, Munro is more likely to believe my account of events over his."

"That's it? There were no threats made to his person?"

"I may have used language and a tone of voice that seems to scare some people easily."

"Ah yes, that voice. I've heard it." I smiled. "Thank you, Matt. I appreciate it."

He waved a hand. "It's nothing."

It didn't feel like nothing, but I let the matter rest. "Do the others know that I tried to fix your watch?"

He nodded. "They've been urging me to ask you." He fished in his inside jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. "There's another reason I called you in here."

"Oh?"

"This arrived for you while you were out. I wanted to give it to you in private."

It was a telegram, all the way from America. "It says that Dorchester is indeed Patrick McTierney." I read on and gasped. "The reward will be sent to me at this address in gold bullion!" I bit my lip but couldn't stop my smile. I re-read the telegram then looked up at Matt. He smiled. "I am to get the reward?"

"Of course."

"But…he was here because of you."

"You caught him."

"It's your job, and you have all these people to support."

"India, I'm a man of independent means. My father saw to that. He worked hard after he escaped his family here, and built a property empire that spans the globe. I don't need the reward money." His eyes sparkled as he perched on the table next to me. "So what will you do with it?"

"I don't know. How much is two thousand dollars in English money?"

"About four hundred pounds."

"Four hundred!" I downed the rest of my brandy in one gulp.

Matt took the glass off me. "Steady, India, or I'll have to carry you to your room."

I hardly heard him. Four hundred pounds was more than my father earned in a year. Was it enough to buy my own shop and equipment? Was it enough to buy out Eddie?

Perhaps, but I still couldn't be a shopkeeper. The guild would never grant me a license. I could buy myself a small house and rent out a spare room to lodgers. The possibilities were endless and rather exciting. Even better, I didn't have to make a decision yet. For now, I would remain as Miss Glass's companion and live at Park Street.

"Matt, do you know a man of business here in London who can help me invest the gold for the time being?"

"My father's lawyer will know someone."

"Nothing risky. I don't want to lose it."

"Then perhaps a bank vault for now, until such time as you need it." He lifted his glass in salute. "Congratulations, India, you are now a woman of independent means. You deserve it."

Warmth spread through me at his crooked smile. The brandy must be taking effect.

"Matt!" Duke shouted from just outside the door. "Matt, you in here?" He pushed open the door and grunted. "Good. Go and stop your hare-brained cousin from ruining her life."

Matt glanced at me and sighed. He set his glass down and pushed off from the table. "What's she doing now?"

"Going to meet Lord Travers to try and win back her locket."

"How?" Matt asked. "She hasn't got anything left to gamble with."

"She's wearing a dress."

"Hell." Matt stormed out of the library, leaving me wondering how Willie wearing a dress was a problem.