Timekeeper (Timekeeper #1)(40)

Danny’s hands curled into fists on his knees. He imagined trapping the pity against his palms, crushing it like Aetas had crushed his own beating heart.

“No, sir, it’s nothing like that. I’ve actually enjoyed my time there. The people know me now, and the town is—”

“You don’t have to pretend. I know it’s been a strain on you.”

“But it hasn’t. I’ve—”

“I don’t want to exhaust you so soon after your return to work. I’ve heard that this town is not the best fit for you.”

Danny’s stomach hardened into a cold, heavy ball. He licked dry lips and tried again. “Who’s been saying that?” He thought about Brandon and how he’d looked at Danny like he had come to England directly from the planet Neptune. He thought about Daphne’s look of suspicion as he’d slipped out of Tom’s office.

“I would rather not reveal identities, but it’s an opinion I trust, and I want to make sure you’re well. Enfield is too difficult for you. I’m reassigning it to someone else.”

“Someone else?” The room grew hot and close. Danny smelled smoke. It burned his eyes and wove into the fibers of his shirt, a smell he couldn’t get rid of no matter how many times he washed it. He tasted copper on his tongue, rich and thick, cloying like blood.

He imagined the destruction that Colton Tower would face if he didn’t return, his threat of finding another mechanic turning the spirit toward grief, just like Maldon.

Colton, pulling apart his clockwork.

Enfield, Stopped.

“Daniel? Daniel!”

He must have fainted, because he awoke on the floor a moment later. His cheek was pressed to the maroon carpet that smelled of musk and canvas. His heart pounded, and he pushed a hand against his chest as if to prevent it from bursting out of his body.

“Sir, you can’t do that,” he croaked. “He’ll be upset.”

The Lead knelt beside him. “You’re not talking sense. Come on, up you get.”

Danny raised himself up and rubbed a hand over his numb face. “Please, listen to me. I … I like Enfield. I really do. I didn’t think I would, but—”

The Lead shook his head. “No, I see now that this was not the right assignment for you. I’ll find someone else to go up next time. You rest at home for a bit, take your mind off things. Take a holiday.”

“Sir, please—”

“I’ve had my say, Daniel. Your father would have wanted the same.”

You don’t know what my father would have wanted.

Danny was ushered to an empty sitting room and ordered to lie down on the couch. Tea and biscuits were brought in, but he didn’t touch the tray. At least, not at first; he couldn’t avoid the tea for long, and drinking it helped steady his shaken nerves.

Standing at the window, he looked at Big Ben through the rain. He couldn’t let this happen, even if the Fates themselves had woven this turn of events. No matter where his thread ended up, he would spin it in his favor.





You don’t look happy at all,” Cassie complained, fiddling with the buttons of her dress. “I don’t want to be seen with a dismal Jimmy. At least try to smile, Dan.”

“Hark who’s talking,” he mumbled. “You look ready for your own execution.”

They stood beside his auto, which was parked on the street alongside a dozen others. The moonlight shone against the auto’s black paint—paint that was scraped and chipped, with a large scuff on the passenger-side door. A lantern over their heads flickered, its indecisive light showering them with flashes of sodium yellow glare.

Although Danny had no desire to attend a social, Cassie had reminded him numerous times of the promise he had made her. His mother had even taken the mothballs from his suit and smartened it up. It still smelled like dust and the sour odor of old things. The collar and cuffs were tight, and the fabric of the trousers rasped uncomfortably against his legs.

Cassie was also dressed for the occasion. Her dark blue bodice had a high collar and gleaming black buttons down the front, and flared out over her hips above a ruffled skirt. Her hair had been coiled behind her head, her rough brown work gloves replaced with dainty white ones. It was so strange to see her without her usual coveralls or a braid that Danny couldn’t help but stare.

“What?” she snapped. She unpinned her grandmother’s rose brooch and fumbled to re-adjust it. “Do I look silly?”

“No,” he said honestly, reaching out to help her. “You look nice.” He glanced at the back of her skirt, where he knew she wore a bustle to make her dress flare out. “Your bum looks big, though.”

Though he was teasing, she smacked him hard on the arm anyway, as if she’d been waiting for an excuse. A pair of girls walked past and hid their giggles behind white fans. Cassie’s face turned pink.

“I don’t want to be here long,” Danny said. “You have your escape plan ready?”

Cassie shifted on her feet. “Yes.”

“Then let’s get this over with.” He held out his arm, and she took it.

It wasn’t just the social. Danny didn’t even want to be in London. He wished he were on his way to Enfield to see Colton. But now a visit there would be suspicious, and he needed to toe the mark until he was deemed fit for the Maldon assignment.