Rebel Magisters (Rebel Mechanics #2)(22)

Her eyes glittered, and she blinked rapidly. “I’d like that, Verity, and I mean that sincerely.”

Alec joined us then, apparently not sensing that he’d interrupted a meaningful moment. “We’ll be in touch to let you and the magisters know what we decide, and to find out what they can do,” he said.

“I may not be in a position to communicate for a while,” I said, my tone crisp and frosty.

“That sounds ominous.”

“It isn’t. My duties are merely taking me elsewhere. The governor is taking the children on a trip, and he’s bringing me along to keep up with their studies. I know we’re going to Boston and to Charleston, in the Carolinas.”

“At the risk of sounding like I’m using you again, that sounds like a good opportunity for espionage or reporting. You’ll try, won’t you?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll collect all the intelligence I can, but I will have to be careful about any newspaper accounts I write. If Liberty Jones happens to report from all the places I visit, people may figure out who she really is.”

“I’m sure you can compose dispatches in such a way as to hide your identity.”

“And perhaps someone in New York could momentarily assume Liberty’s mantle in your absence,” Lizzie suggested. “If Liberty is reporting in New York, she can’t possibly be traveling with the governor.”

“Excellent idea!” I said. “Is there any way for me to send information from my travels, or must I wait to share it upon my return?”

“We have people throughout the colonies, and you know how to recognize them,” Alec said.

“I’m not sure how much opportunity I’ll have, as I’ll be under the governor’s eye.”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something, and your Lord Henry will help you get away.” He still said Henry’s name as though he found it distasteful. I didn’t try to argue with him because I couldn’t tell if it was jealousy about me or irritation that the Mechanics and the magisters hadn’t been able to come to terms in the way he’d hoped.

“We may be able to get someone in contact with you,” Lizzie said. “Definitely in Boston, as we have family there.”

“I’ll be on the lookout for allies as I travel.”

“Have a safe and pleasant journey,” Lizzie said.

“Thank you. Now, I think the others are ready to go, so we’ll need a guide out of here.”

Lizzie signaled to her brother. “Do you need to leave from this part of the city, or would you like to go uptown?” she asked while we waited for Colin to finish dancing.

“I’d better ask them,” I said, nodding toward Henry. He and the others joined us, and I relayed the question to them.

“I don’t think we’ve given anyone any reason to be watching us,” Henry said, “but it’s probably safest if we return home from approximately the same part of the city as we went to. You never know when a cab driver might have noticed his passengers.”

“We’re probably less conspicuous like this here than we would be uptown,” Philip added with a gesture at his clothes.

“True,” Lizzie said, nodding. “And even if someone does spot you as a magister, it’s not unusual for your sort of young men to come slumming down here. There’s precious little nightlife that would attract magisters near our other stations.”

Colin finally came off the dance floor, red-faced and sweating. “You signaled, dearest sister?”

“If you’re quite through making a spectacle of yourself, our guests are ready to leave. Would you mind escorting them back? Or are you having too much fun?”

“I can do it. Not a problem.”

“Should we perhaps escort our young lady companions back to their home?” Philip asked.

“I don’t think you’re being watched that closely,” Lizzie said. “Besides, it wouldn’t be that odd for us to stay out later on our own. We do it all the time.”

Philip did an admirable job of keeping his disappointment from showing. “Then convey my regards to the lovely Miss Emma,” he said.

Colin put on his hat and switched on the lamp in the hatband. “If you’ll follow me.” After a final farewell to Lizzie and Alec, we headed into the tunnels with Colin.

I’d learned my way through the underground passages well enough to get from some entrances to the station, but I wasn’t familiar with the route Colin used. I was fairly certain he was deliberately trying to keep the magisters disoriented. I tried counting my steps and noticing turns, but it did no good. I was hopelessly lost. As a result, I was surprised when Colin opened a door and we arrived in the theater’s basement.

“Do you think you can find your own way from here?” he asked. “The doors upstairs will lock behind you when you leave.”

“I’m sure we’ll manage,” Geoffrey said.

“Well, then, a good evening to you, gentlemen and Verity.” He vanished back into the darkness, the door closing with a clang behind him.

“So, Verity, you know the way out?” Henry said.

“Yes, the stairs are through here.” I led them down the corridor toward the stairs. We were halfway up when I thought I heard something above. I froze and gestured for the others to stop.