Ink, Iron, and Glass (Ink, Iron, and Glass #1)(63)

“Well,” Rosalinda said, “the only part of which I’m certain is that we don’t have all the information yet.”

Leo’s mouth twisted into a rueful grin—it was such a very Rosalinda sort of thing to say. An axiom of spycraft for every occasion. As if uncertainty could be a comfort now. Oh good, his father and brother were only probably in possession of a scribed weapon—a dangerous perversion of pure science, and the embodiment of everything the Order stood against.

Lord, how could he tell Porzia about this? Concealing the assassination attempt from the Order was already putting enough strain on Porzia’s loyalties. Leo honestly couldn’t guess whether or not she’d agree to withhold this news as well.

“Is there anything you can do?” Leo asked tentatively. “You have connections.…”

Rosalinda huffed, frustrated. “The Carbonari can’t get involved in pazzerellone affairs without an express invitation from the Order. You know that, Leo. I’ve already bent the rules dangerously far just providing you with information.”

“Of course. I know.” The Carbonari were already in open rebellion against two governments—the Papal States and the Two Sicilies—and they could not afford to make enemies here in Sardinia. Especially not powerful pazzerellone enemies.

Rosalinda said, “Ricciotti is not as clever as he thinks he is. You will find him—but I can’t help you with whatever you’re planning to do then.” Her hands, pressed against the stone, were tense.

“This is why you kept training me, even after the fire. It was all to prepare me for this.” Leo ducked his head, avoiding her gaze. “Wasn’t it?”

Rosalinda took his chin in her hand, lifting it up; Leo wouldn’t have let anyone else touch him like that, but this was Rosalinda. She appraised him with those stern eyes of hers. “I could have made a fine agent out of you, Leo, perhaps the finest I ever trained for the Carbonari. But you’re right—it wasn’t them I’ve been training you for.”

“I would have, you know.” His voice came thin and hoarse. “I would have fought for you.”

“You have your own battles to fight now.” She moved her hand to the back of his neck and drew him into a fierce embrace.

Leo froze, bewildered by her sudden tenderness. Rosalinda had never been prone to fits of maternal nurturing the way Gia was, and though he knew she cared about him as a teacher cares for a pupil, he’d never imagined she felt a parental sort of affection.

Rosalinda pulled back to look him in the eye, holding his face in her calloused hands. “You can defeat them. You’re stronger and faster than your father and Aris both.”

Leo stared at her. Her eyes were hard as a hawk’s, and what wrinkles she had spoke more of determination than worry or joy. Could it be that this unsentimental woman loved him, when his own father had not found him worthy of love?

“Stronger and faster, but not smarter,” he whispered.

Rosalinda harrumphed. “Smart enough, dear boy,” she said. “Smart enough.”

*

Alek lowered himself stiffly onto the stone bench in the gardens behind the Order’s headquarters, and he waited. The sky was turning pale, but the sun had yet to crest the horizon. From within a nearby shrub, a songbird whistled a melancholy tune.

He pulled the folded telegram out of the pocket of his waistcoat, smoothed the creases as best he could, and read the words again. No, he had not mistaken Elsa’s meaning—she was asking permission to proceed with Jumi’s rescue.

“This isn’t like you,” Gia said, settling onto the bench beside him. “Clandestine meetings at dawn.”

“I need a favor.”

Gia looked at him steadily. “You want me to go back to Casa della Pazzia.”

“I have no obligations waiting for me in Pisa—it would look suspicious if I leave.”

“So instead of running off to collude with Jumi’s daughter, you want me to go in your place,” she said. “The Order is divided on the matter of how to deal with Garibaldi’s return. Filippo needs my support here.”

“Please, Gia. I know this is a lot to ask, but Jumi is like a daughter to me,” he said. “What would you do if Porzia were in her place?”

Gia pursed her lips at him. “That’s a low blow, old friend. And what am I to do with the girl? I thought you wanted her safe.”

He dropped his chin to his chest. “Elsa was never going to leave this alone, I should have known that. And I never thought…” He paused, the unbelievable situation momentarily robbing him of words. “These pazzerellones don’t care about rescuing Jumi. Some of them actually believe she’s working with Garibaldi.”

“I received a telegram, too—from Porzia, asking for help. Not in so many words of course, but…” Her voice trailed off and she frowned thoughtfully for a minute. “Do you think it’s wise to encourage them? They’re hardly more than children. What would you have me do?”

“Tell them the truth,” said Alek. “Tell them not to wait for help from the Order, because there is none coming. Tell them to save Jumi.”

“This is madness. They’re too young to face such dangers.”

“You’ll be there to guide them, at least. We were just as reckless in our youth, and for lesser reasons.”