Cinderella Six Feet Under(89)

Penrose drew up his lapel to cover his face and darted around the bear—which was still chomping and tearing the air—and tried the cupboard doors. They didn’t give, and so Penrose rammed his shoulder against them two, three, four times. Wood splintered, and the doors opened. Penrose reached in and rummaged around.

His back was to the footman automaton. The footman had somehow turned around on its wheels so it was just behind Penrose, holding its champagne bottle high.

Ophelia screamed. It came out like a rasp.

The bottle came down with a sickening crunch on Penrose’s skull. He collapsed.

Ophelia staggered forward, away from that sickly puffing smoke, around the clawing, snapping bear. But she reeled too close to the bear and its claws sliced into her shoulder. Pain sang out like a soprano. “Get off, you monster!” she yelled. She shoved the bear over and it crashed to the floor. She crouched down beside the professor.

He was half upright already, blinking and coughing, with some kind of parcel clasped against his chest. He gave her a crooked smile. “I sincerely regret unveiling this lot,” he said.

“The stomacher. You’ve found it!” Ophelia said. The smoke was dissipating. She could think more clearly now.

“Put that down,” someone said behind her, “or I shall shoot.”

Penrose sprang to his feet. Ophelia twisted around.

A slim form was silhouetted in the workshop doorway: legs bowed, back hunched, a large revolver aimed at Penrose.

The figure prowled closer. The hand holding the gun shook a little.

“Colifichet,” Ophelia whispered.

“Don’t be foolish, Colifichet,” Penrose called. “Put the gun aside.”

“I am quite aware, Lord Harrington, that you are accustomed to giving orders. But the Revolution has come and gone in France, and I need not do as you say. And, in point of fact, you must do what I say.” Colifichet adjusted his grip on the gun. “The police are already on their way. Pierre told me you would be here, you see. He is a loyal lad. Now just put that parcel aside like a good boy—oui?—and no one will be shot.”

Penrose looked at Colifichet. He looked down at the parcel in his hands and tore off the paper.

“Stop!” Colifichet cried.

“What in hell?” Penrose muttered. He held up, not a diamond stomacher, but a white, rectangular piece of cloth. One of the diapers from the clothesline in the courtyard. Penrose threw it aside.

“Fitting, given your childish meddling, non?” Colifichet said. “I shall shoot the girl, first, mmn?” He took aim.

Penrose lunged in front of Ophelia.

BANG.

Ophelia screamed. Penrose was sprawled facedown on the floor.

“Professor!” Ophelia cried.

Penrose rose to his knees, but something dark was streaming down his cheek. He reached inside his jacket. He stood.

“Pardonnez-moi,” Colifichet said. “I had meant to get the girl—who is she, anyway?” He aimed again.

Penrose aimed the revolver he’d drawn from his jacket. “Put it down, Colifichet.”

“I told you that I do not take orders fr—”

In four long strides Penrose had crossed the room and collared Colifichet with one hand. With his other hand, he pressed his revolver to Colifichet’s temple. He shoved him against a workbench. Table legs screeched and tools clattered to the floor. “Where is the marquise’s daughter, Colifichet?”

“You will not get away with this, you—”

“Where is she?” Penrose twisted his collar.

Colifichet choked for air.

Ophelia’s mouth hung open. She had never seen or heard Penrose like this.

“I told you,” Colifichet said, “I do not know of the gi—”

“And the stomacher?”

“The police will—”

“The stomacher.” Penrose pressed the pistol barrel deeper into Colifichet’s temple.

“I know not! I know not! I only came here tonight because Pierre said you meant to break in and steal my work.”

“Why would I wish to steal your work?” Penrose growled. “Toys and trinkets are not to my taste.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Miss Flax. Go, by way of the courtyard.”

“But I—”

“Go!”

Ophelia decided it was best, for once, not to argue with the professor. Some fellows transformed into frogs, but he had somehow transformed into a beast.