Rebel Magisters (Rebel Mechanics #2)(4)

Before she could run off with her treasure, Henry cleared his throat. She stopped, her eyes widening in horror. “Oh! Miss Newton, I’m so sorry I forgot to thank you. Thank you so much. You are so kind.” She opened the bag and held it toward me. “Would you like one?”

“No, thank you, Olive. But it was very polite of you to offer, and you are quite welcome for the treat.”

She ran off, shouting, “Rollo! Miss Newton brought us candy!”

“I’m afraid some refresher lessons in deportment are in order,” I said.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Henry said. “I don’t expect you to purchase treats for the children.”

“I went into the candy shop to distract my follower,” I said. “It’s one that has no rebel ties that I know of, so I knew it wouldn’t be suspicious, and if I went into the shop, I had to purchase something. You give me more than enough money for these errands.”

“I couldn’t possibly pay you what these errands are worth to me. But this is the last one.”

“You know that won’t stop my actions for the cause,” I said, perhaps a bit too defiantly, considering he was my employer.

“Yes, but then it’s not on my head if something awful happens to you.”

“I know what I’m doing, and I know full well the danger I face.”

“You didn’t at first. I should never have sent you on those errands without warning you.”

“I already knew—or guessed.”

“But I didn’t know that, which means I sent a girl unknowingly into danger on my behalf.”

It was an argument we’d had a few times since all our secrets had come out. I’d suspected he was the leader of the Masked Bandits, but had learned it for certain at the same time he’d learned I was spying for the Rebel Mechanics. Later, he’d learned I wrote for the unauthorized rebel newspaper under the name Liberty Jones. As he’d joked, the foundation of our friendship was the fact that we had enough information to utterly destroy each other.

It was only later that evening at dinner that I realized I’d forgotten to tell him about my possible sighting of Colin, but since I wasn’t sure I’d actually seen Colin, I decided I didn’t need to tell him, and I didn’t get an opportunity to speak privately with him after dinner.

The following day was more routine for me: Olive and I walked Rollo to school, then spent the morning doing lessons. In the afternoon, Flora joined us for some supervised reading mandated by Henry, who wasn’t content with letting his oldest niece be little more than a pretty face. Olive and I retrieved Rollo from school, and after going over his homework with him, I got a free hour while the children had art and music lessons.

As I usually did, I headed into the park across the street. It was a fine, crisp autumn day, and I reveled in my momentary freedom. My job was so much easier and more pleasant than those worked by most of the other members of my network, and I got to live in a mansion, but there were times when working with the children strained my patience. I knew I was a good teacher, and I was qualified, but it wasn’t quite the profession I would have chosen if I’d had any options.

Not that I had any intention of leaving. I loved the children and felt like a part of the family. And then there was Henry…

I was lost in thought, musing over my employer and his unique temperament, his lovely blue eyes, and the way he was so different when he was alone with me, when I heard a familiar voice call out in a hiss just above a whisper, “Verity!”

I whirled and saw a man lurking under a tree a few feet from the footpath. He wore a somber dark suit and a bowler hat, but I recognized Alec Emfinger, the man who’d recruited me into the Rebel Mechanics under the guise of a suitor.

So, the rebels really were back in town. But why?





Chapter Two


In Which

I Am Asked

and Ask a Favor




So many emotions surged through me that I wasn’t sure which one to express. I was glad to see him, even if just to know he was safe. But I also remembered my anger at him for letting me act like a lovesick schoolgirl when he was merely reeling me in to his cause. And I was curious as to what he was doing back in the city after he’d made such a narrow escape, thanks to Henry and me.

I decided it was best not to express anything at all, especially while we were in public. That required me to steady my breathing and release the fists I’d formed. “Why, Mr. Emfinger, what a surprise to see you here,” I said, acting like he was any acquaintance I’d happened to encounter in the park. “I didn’t realize you were back in the city.”

He moved closer to me and said in a voice too low for passersby to make out his words, “It’s the machines and the group they wanted. They hardly notice the individuals.”

“So you’ve come back? I thought I saw Colin yesterday.”

He smiled. “Yes, and he’s rather put out that you snubbed him.”

“I was in a situation in which I thought it best not to draw attention to him—or to myself.”

He raised an eyebrow and smiled. “So he gathered. Otherwise, you know him. He’d have made a scene.”

I couldn’t help but smile in response at the mental image, but then I remembered what I’d asked. “You didn’t answer my question about being back in town.”