Once Upon a Forbidden Desire, page 26
SITTING IN THE PARLOR READING the latest Gothic romance, Lady Aurora McQuestern heard a soft knock on the front door. Their housekeeper was in the kitchen with the cook. Aurora went to the foyer and opened the door.
There was a small black box on the step. Looking down the drive, she saw a person in a heavy tweed overcoat and bowler hat disappear through the gate and into the street.
It was likely the tickets for the poetry recitation next week.
She opened the box.
No tickets.
Inside instead was a card and a dark velvet ring box. Inside the velvet box was a bronze ring. A dragon form encircled the shank, a small orb in its head. It was heavy yet still had a beauty in its graceful curves.
The card had only a few words on it. Go north to the Eramosa mines. It was unsigned.
When Aurora touched the ring, a whisper echoed through her head. She couldn’t make it out. Not exactly. Something like “find me,” or maybe “help me.” The plea skittered on her skin, a tendril curling down from her head to her toes. She shivered.
She paused for a moment, then walked down the front stairs, around the side of the house, toward the back garden.
Clink.
Putter-putter-putt.
Clank.
“Leandra!” Aurora called. Her sister was working in the garage on the horseless carriage.
No answer. Just more sputtering.
Aurora crunched down the gravel drive, stopping outside the open doors of the carriage house.
“Leandra!”
As the clanging stopped, a young woman’s head emerged from behind a carriage. Bespectacled and begrimed, Aurora’s sister Leandra turned off the steam-powered machine.
Aurora waved. “Someone dropped off a mysterious package on our doorstep.” She held the smooth and soft ring box in her hands.
“What is it?” Leandra pulled off her newsboy cap and swiped an arm across her forehead, spreading engine grease around her face. Aurora tried not to get too close.
“A card and a ring.”
Leandra wiped off her hands and approached Aurora, who held out the ring. Taking the piece of jewelry from Aurora, she peered at it. “Tarnation! Is that a black agate marble?” She pulled down her magnifier, inspected the sphere placed at the top of the setting, and nodded. “I thought Seekers were supposed to find lost items, not have them delivered to their door. Can you sense anything from it?” She handed it back to Aurora, who cleaned it on a nearby rag.
“The ring showed me an image of underground tunnels. It’s pulling my Seeker senses to the northern town of Eramosa. The note says to go to the mines there.” Aurora’s heart raced at the proclamation. Another real case! Her business as a lady detective was starting to take off.
Leandra put a hand on her hip. “I’ve always wanted to visit the silver mines.”
“Someone needs our help. That’s all I can see.”
“Aren’t you bricky? I’m impressed,” Leandra said. “Talia will be happy. She’s been talking for months about the poor conditions for mine workers. Just think of her picketing in front of the caverns, dodging the mud in her pink boots.”
“Talia’s coming, but I’m leaving our baby sister at home this time,” Aurora said.
“She’s not a baby anymore.” Leandra raised an eyebrow.
Aurora sighed. “I’ll find a way to mollify her.”
Leandra nodded and undid the snaps on her dirty coveralls. She stepped out, revealing short trousers and a waistcoat over a men’s shirt. “The carriage will be ready in the morning.” Her sister’s latest design was more compact and efficient than other carriages in Yorktown, but she spent most of her time tinkering with the engine to keep it running.
Aurora thanked her and left the garage. If they were traveling, then she had a million things to arrange. First she had to talk to the baby-who-wasn’t-a-baby-anymore, Zellandine. Their parents had named them “from A to Z.” Aurora first, then Leandra, Talia third, and finally Zellandine. Aurora had thought it was hokey, but after their parents died, she missed their quirky sense of humor as much as their smiles and affection.
Walking through the back entrance into the large, red-brick Gothic Revival house, she gave her shawl to the housekeeper. She passed through the spacious kitchen to the large central hall and hurried up the three-story staircase, trailing her hand along the smoothly polished banister.
Eleven-year-old Zellandine was in the attic playroom. The petite girl sat at a small table, goggles dangling around her neck, cutting out paper dolls. Snippets of paper surrounded her. Aurora was happy to find her youngest sister doing regular, child-like activities instead of playing with her funerary dolls or making memento mori wreaths and black carnation corsages.
“Darling,” said Aurora, kissing her head.
“Do you know Flores La Due, the cowgirl? She does rope tricks at the Western Stampede,” Zellandine said.
“Mmm-hmm.”
“I’m making her a gun so she can do shooting tricks, too.”
Aurora sat in a small chair beside her sister and settled her skirts. “I’m going on a case with our sisters. We’ll be gone a few days.”
“What are you seeking this time?” Zellandine asked.
“Not sure yet. Something’s buried in a mine, maybe. Or perhaps a railway tycoon is on the rampage!” She tickled her sister until she dissolved into a fit of giggles.
“Why won’t you take me? I’m your revolveress protector.”
“I need you to stay and keep up with your lessons. You can’t be a cowgirl or a pistol shooter until you pass your exams.”
“Then I can come with you?” There were shadows under Zellandine’s eyes.
“Yes, my dear. Then you can protect us.” Aurora hugged the slight form.
“It’s lonely when you’re gone,” the girl sniffed, her face buried in Aurora’s shoulder. Aurora’s heart ached. Her baby sister had grown up so fast when their parents died four years ago.
Aurora allowed herself to close her eyes for a moment. She laced her hands behind her sister’s back and squeezed them together. Once. Twice. Thrice. Then took a deep breath.
“I’ll miss you, too.” She cleared her throat. “Do you know where your copy of Legends and Myths of the Lakes is? I’d like to check on something.”
“Yes! I’ll bring the book to your room.” Zellandine ran off, thundering down the stairs.
That’ll keep her distracted for a few minutes while I pack. Aurora went down the wood staircase to the second story. She entered her own room at the back of the hallway and pulled out her trunk from under the blue floral four-poster bed. Opening a large oak wardrobe, she sorted through several overskirts and jackets in deep jewel tones. The weather in Eramosa would be cooler than in Yorktown—especially at night. And if they went into the mines, she would need sturdy, serviceable clothes. Maybe they should bring some of Leandra’s coveralls.
The second-youngest sister, Talia, burst into Aurora’s room. Large crocodile tears rolling down her rosy cheeks, she slammed the door behind her. Aurora jumped. Talia took up more than one person’s space, even in their large house.
“Please tell Leandra she simply cannot borrow my gray cape. It is my favorite!” Talia announced, flouncing her glossy black curls and pursing her bow lips into a pretty pout.
“You have dozens of capes, cloaks, and shawls. Can’t you pack another one?” Aurora massaged her temples.
“But it’s my second-best!” her sister wailed, placing a hand just so on her forehead. Aurora thought about pointing out that Talia hadn’t worn the shawl in months, but she knew it wouldn’t help.
“Would you like to borrow my paisley shawl?” Aurora pulled it out of her wardrobe and passed it to her sister.
Talia immediately stopped crying and arranged her hair and clothes. Crisis averted. “I’ll give my cape to Leandra.” She put Aurora’s shawl on her shoulders and spun around. “I will be the belle of the ball! Wait, do they have balls in—where are we going?”
“Eramosa. I don’t know, but you can make the social rounds to help our cover.”
“Will you be a lady reporter, out for a story about the sights? Or an up-and-coming modiste? How about a fortune-teller?” her sister asked.
“Lady reporter, maybe?” Aurora added a leather satchel, pens, and notepaper to her trunk.
“Do we have to bring Leandra? I know she’s older, but I’m so much more useful than she is.”
Aurora forced herself to take a deep breath. “If you continue to quarrel, then I will leave both of you at home and go by myself. Or maybe I’ll take the youngest instead?” Why couldn’t her sisters make matters easy and do as she said?
Giving her a doe-eyed look, Talia apologized and rushed off to finish packing.
Aurora tapped her chin. Had she forgotten anything? They wouldn’t be gone long, but she didn’t want to come back to any problems. Zellandine would be fine at home with her governess and the housekeeper. As Aurora went to squeeze her hands together, she took out the dragon ring instead.
When she had first opened the box, Aurora had felt something strange. A whisper or image—she couldn’t place it. It had piqued her interest. She had to investigate.
She ran her finger along the ring’s circular form—an ouroboros, tail in its mouth, its length winding around the shaft of the ring. The black orb on its head was beautiful, the white stripes twisting and turning through the obsidian stone. It reminded her of the picture in their family’s book of a great lake serpent that could breathe fire. Or maybe it was the legend of Blessed Marguerite and the Wyrm.
What if they met an actual dragon on their enterprise? She chuckled to herself. Her adventure was likely to be more mundane. Perhaps she’d encounter a greedy industrialist or a corrupt mayor instead.
She turned the ring over in her hand. The orb looked like the misty marbles she used to play with as a child. Peering closer, she saw a tiny catch at the base of the black sphere. Pushing the catch activated a small spring that popped the orb up on a hinge.
Aurora looked closely and touched the base with a finger pad. Was something else there?
She felt a light prick. And whoosh—
The floor rushed toward her. And she was falling down, down, down.
Into a deep cave—hot and humid. Two dots of red fire glowing from the far side of the space. Smoke and heat suffocating her.
“Ssssssave me,” a deep voice whispered, the susurration drawing her closer. “Help me.” The plea was hard to ignore.
He entwined his coils around her consciousness. She drifted away softly, the voice and presence lulling her to sleep. Drowsiness overtook her, and she saw no more.
“AURORA? WAKE UP!”
She was lying on the floor in her bedroom. What had happened?
Her sisters stood above her. Sensible and efficient Leandra helped her to the bed. Aurora sat, rubbing her face.
“How long was I out?” Her head felt fuzzy. There was a buzzing in her ears.
“Can’t say,” grunted Leandra, touching her forehead.
Talia’s eyes were red. “I only left you an hour ago. Zellandine came in a half hour later to bring you a book and found you unconscious on the floor. We’ve been trying to wake you up ever since.”
Aurora felt a wave of dizziness pass over her. After a moment, her head began clearing. Leandra checked her pulse.
“I helped!” said the youngest sister, looking pale. She climbed into Aurora’s lap.
Aurora swallowed the lump in her throat and hugged Zellandine. The baby of the family shouldn’t have to worry about her sister. She should be happy, playing games with other children, climbing trees and dunking her friends’ pigtails in inkwells.
Talia crowded in and patted Zellandine on the head. “Yes, my dear. You found the smelling salts. And brought Leandra her healthometer thingies.”
“My tonsillograph and kymograph, you mean,” Leandra muttered, poking and prodding Aurora.
Aurora pushed her hands away. “I’m fine. Stop fussing.” Or she would be fine soon enough.
“Aurora, you didn’t stir the whole time. I’m exhausted!” Talia exclaimed, flopping down on the bed. The noise and movement made Aurora’s skull ache more. Mother always said Talia should be a stage actress.
Still nestled in her lap, Zellandine pulled Aurora’s hand from her head. “Are you all right?” she asked, eyes shining.
Aurora’s heart skipped a beat as she held her youngest sister’s petite palm and fingers. “I’m fine, my dear. Just a vision.”
She felt a little floaty still. It would pass soon enough.
Zellandine snuggled closer, clutching her arms. “What did you see?”
“A dragon.”
They had to find him. His need to be helped had been overwhelming. How to do this, she wasn’t sure. She only knew it had to be her.
She was the one who would find and rescue him.
THE EARLY MORNING air had lost its chill. Leandra started the motor on the horseless carriage and motioned their driver Eddie to take her place. Small and wiry like Leandra, he was the only one, save herself, Leandra allowed to operate her vehicle.
Aurora checked her pocket watch. Stalking to the front entrance of the house, she shouted, “Talia! We must go.” Sometimes Aurora wondered if Talia would ever grow up.
Aurora put her hat on the seat of the carriage. Tugging her waistcoat in a straight line with her split skirt, she looked at Leandra. She was relieved her sister had acquiesced to wearing long trousers and a hunting jacket for the drive. Although Aurora wanted her family to express themselves, they had learned that it was safer not to call undue attention to themselves when they were on the road. They already raised enough suspicion traveling on their own, with only a young driver accompanying them.
Talia flounced out of the front door with three trunks and two hatboxes.
“Where are we going to put those? Always heaping butter upon bacon, you are!” Leandra said.
“We have room for one trunk and one hatbox,” Aurora said. They went through this every time. When would Talia learn?
Talia protested but eventually wrapped three shawls around her shoulders and chose a trunk and hatbox. The older two, Aurora and Leandra, secured the items to the front boot.
When Talia joined them inside the carriage, she arranged her voluminous skirts and sighed. “Just once, I would like to have a case at the beach. Or maybe at a luxury hotel?”
Aurora felt a sharp pang. If only Father and Mother hadn’t died. “Perhaps we can take a holiday after this adventure.” She squeezed her hands together—once, twice, thrice. Deep breath.
When they were settled, Eddie put the carriage in gear. With a jolt, they were moving. Leandra took out her notebook and mechanical pen from the chatelaine bag clipped to her belt. “Supplies. Transportation. Accommodation. What about a plan?”
“The dragon’s underground. Captive in the mines somewhere.”
“This case is extreme, even for you,” Leandra said.
“I can find lockets and gems. I’ve even found lost puppies and archeological artifacts. Surely a dragon is no different?”
Talia looked up from playing with her sash. “Surely you are jesting.”
It was a much larger Lost Item than usual, Aurora had to concede. “In my vision, I saw the dragon calling for me. He is being forced to assist with a mining operation north of the town—I think. It was fuzzy.”
“Do you trust your sight?” Leandra asked.
“It felt very real.” Aurora shivered, still feeling the effects of the vision.
“Dragons are wily creatures,” Leandra said. “He might be luring you into a trap.”
“He’s in trouble. What else can we do?” Aurora asked.
“We do what we always do. Craft a plan. Abandon plan. Make it up as we go along,” Leandra said cheerfully.
Aurora could always rely on her sisters, even if they were a handful. They would help her solve this mystery.
Talia piped up. “I have a lead. My friend Joshua knows the Bonhommes, who know the Eramosa Trebeks.”
Leandra held her pen and looked at her sister expectantly.
“Local businessman Royce Lindwarm is hosting a ball tonight. He owns several mines in the area.”
Aurora’s heart skipped a beat. “Maybe we can talk to Lindwarm at the ball. We could disguise ourselves and sneak inside!” Her mind raced as she began plotting their incursion.
“No need.” Talia smiled. “I wangled us an invitation.”
“Oh, we could do that, too.” Aurora’s shoulders sagged a bit.
“We can go dancing! I’ll wear my suit.” Leandra clapped her hands.
“Maybe we will find you a beau at the ball, Aurora,” Talia said.
“No, I—” She squeezed her hands together—once, twice, thrice. She’d had a chance before her parents died. But he had run off with her best friend.
“Aurora’s too busy being Little Mama to get a suitor for herself. She has to make good marriages for the rest of us,” Leandra said. “Well, not for me—if you and Zellandine end up with decent matches, Talia.”
Talia smoothed her curls. “Then I’ll have to marry a wealthy man and look after all of you.”
As her sisters continued to argue, Aurora retreated to her own thoughts. She had to take care of her sisters. Even though that meant giving up on her own chance for love.
She would do it all again for them. Sometimes, she felt a twinge of regret for what could have been. Adventures as a lady detective were rewarding, yet it would be nice to have someone of her own to come home to.
She took a deep breath and pushed away her thoughts. She needed to keep her eyes on the path in front of her.
Leandra scowled at Talia. “You can use your empathic abilities to push a rich man to propose. But don’t you want to find love—a soulmate?”
“With my looks and grace, I don’t need to force someone to fall in love with me! Besides, my husband will have oodles of money and he will adore me,” replied Talia. “Shower me with gifts and let me march with the suffragists and fae activists. I’ll have everything I want.”
