Viridis - A Steampunk Romance (10 page)

The curses that crossed her lips would have had even
a dockhand blushing. She fought to get herself free, as Seth took a
step back and out of her reach to catch his breath and admire his
handiwork.

Her naked body stretched out before him, her skin
and muscles pulled taut, her arms feeling like they might wrench
free from her shoulders as she strained against her constraints.
Though she knew she should not struggle, panic threatened to
overtake her. Her attempts to free herself managed only to tighten
her bindings.

A fine dew broke out across her skin, and the room
suddenly felt stifling hot as she paused to catch her breath, now
resorting to threats. “I swear to you, Seth, your days are
numbered.”

The corner of his lips turned up in just a hint of a
smile. “I do not doubt it, my love.” Ignoring her swears and
curses, he took his time getting undressed, infuriating her
further.

Finally, he stood before her naked and magnificent,
his eyes dark and serious. “Phoebe, do you trust me?”

She was stunned into silence. Tied naked to his
bedpost, a discussion on trust was not what she’d been expecting.
He repeated his question once more. “Do you trust me? If you do
not, then you need only say so, and I’ll cut you down. You’ll be
free to go.”

She cursed him once again, not for tying her up, but
rather for making her decide. She was torn. The way to freedom was
an easy road. If she did not trust him, she need do nothing more
than say so. But she had never in her life taken the easy road, and
doubted she would start now.

“Damn you, Seth.” She once again bucked against her
restraints.

He moved closer, nuzzling her cheek. “Do you,
Phoebe? Do you trust me?” His words were just a whisper on her
skin.

She could not help but lean into him, his scent
making her dizzy with want. Her answer came out with a breath she
didn’t know she’d been holding. “Yes.”

She wondered how she could possibly love someone
this much, wondered how her heart could withstand the sheer aching
that it caused. He covered her face with sweet kisses, each barely
a brush of the lips, finally finding her mouth as he gently took
what she had to offer.

He looped an arm around her waist to support her
weight, as his other hand skimmed over her skin, pausing
momentarily to tease her nipples erect. Her heart raced with his
every touch, and she strained against her binds, not to get free,
but to get closer. As his kisses deepened, so did her need,
heightened by the torturously slow pace he set. Every now and
again, he would pause to ask her, “Do you trust me, my love?”
waiting each time for her answer before continuing his slow
exploration of her body.

When she thought she could take no more, he lifted
her up and wrapped her legs around his waist as he loosened his
belt from the post. She kissed him with unbridled passion, wrapping
her still-bound arms around his neck, pulling him in close. Taking
great care, he lowered her to the bed, lying by her side, finally
loosening the belt from her wrists. He gently rubbed them before he
brought each to his lips, the blood rushing back through her limbs
with a tingle.

Kissing her once again, he shifted on top of her,
his own need held barely in check, his entire body taught in his
restraint. Desperate to complete their union, her legs wrapped
around him to pull him close. Yet he resisted, pausing one final
time, to ask her his question. “Do you trust me, my love?” And when
she said yes, he thrust into her, her trust in him complete.

***

Phoebe sat down by the fire in Seth’s room, lacing
up her boots, as her head and heart swam in a sea of emotions. She
still was not quite sure she could stand on her own two feet
without her legs giving way, her head still dizzy from their
coupling.

She felt a heat crawl up her face as she thought of
it, but despite all that occurred, she felt a certain contentment.
Though he got her to surrender to him, her surrender had not been
one of weakness, but rather one of strength. Only by trusting in
him completely was she able to let go of her anger, and finally
become whole again.

Seth came around to crouch in front of her. Taking
her hands gently in his, he brought each to his lips, his eyes cast
in shadow.

When he spoke, his voice was barely a whisper, her
hands still in his. “Can you forgive me, Phoebe?” He finally looked
up into her eyes, waiting for her answer.

“I’ve already forgiven you for leaving, Seth. I know
you did what you thought was right. The Cause hadn’t left you much
choice.”

He looked away, shaking his head. “But can you
forgive me this?” He raised her hands, turning them so she could
see the red welts encircling her wrists. “I know not what came over
me. You must believe me when I say, I meant you no harm.”

“There’s nothing to forgive.” She ran her hand down
his face, the feel of his stubble pleasantly rough, a hint of a
smile upon her lips as she hoped to erase some of his worry. “You
did what you thought was necessary, and it worked. I trust you
completely— not only with my person but with your promise to stay
in London.”

Then before he could say anything more, she gave him
a quick kiss. “You’re an honorable man, Seth Elliott. No one could
say otherwise. Now, do your plans for the day include accompanying
me to find Lilly or am I going out alone?”

Chapter Thirteen

Seth and Phoebe spent the entire day searching for
Lilly with no luck at all. He left her at home for the evening,
with plans to meet her later at Viridis. He had received a request
from Moore and Clarke to meet with them, and though he knew not
what they wanted, it would be a good opportunity to ensure they
knew exactly where he stood regarding the Cause.

Holed up in a pub with the two men, he was already
having a difficult time keeping his anger in check as they tried
his patience. “I have my own work to contend with, and will make my
contribution to the Cause only as I see fit.” He had discussed his
terms no more than a week ago, and already Moore and Clarke were
trying their best to pull him back in. “I do what I can for the
Cause, and the Cause only. Do not involve me in your manipulations.
I want no part of it. I thought I made myself clear.”

Clarke held his hands up in protest. “Aye, lad, that
ye did and fair enough. Few would’ve made the sacrifices you’ve
made, and ‘tis much appreciated. But we would not be asking ye if
it weren’t important like, ye see. And ‘tis really not much that
we’re asking, aye? Gavin’s yer friend and will be more likely to
listen to ye.”

When Seth spoke, it was through gritted teeth.
“Gavin has no ties to the Cause or to England for that matter. Why
would he involve himself? He’s no fool, aye?”

“I would think concern for you and Lady Hughes would
be enough motivation to lend a hand. After all, if the Cause fails,
the authorities may question your involvement. Revolution is a
dangerous business, and your safety can only be guaranteed with our
success.” Moore leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “We only
ask that you explain the situation and tell him what a significant
difference the weapons will make. I am sure you can make him see
reason. You will let us know, won’t you?”

Seth stood, pushing his chair back and grabbing his
hat. “That remains to be seen.”

Chapter Fourteen

William sat before his supervisor, Chief Inspector
James Murdock, ready to explain his findings on the Hawthorne case.
A week had passed since the night they had found Lord Hawthorne’s
body, however, he now had what he believed to be an important clue.
A break-in at Lord Hawthorne’s living quarters, not long after
William himself had been there, only served to affirm his suspicion
that the portable information module may have had something to do
with the murder. Unfortunately, no one had seen or heard anything
of the break-in, the event occurring during the depths of
night
.

William sat forward in his chair. “Nothing in his
files at work indicated anything out of the ordinary. I’ve
questioned his family, his coworkers, his friends, and none know of
anyone who would wish him harm.”

“Surely, it must be a matter of a robbery gone bad.
Was he not found in one of the less desirable neighborhoods?”
Murdock flipped though the report, finding what he looking for.
“Here it is. You said he’d met with someone at Viridis?”

“Yes, that appears to be the case, however we still
do not know the name of the man he met with. It appears that no one
at Viridis had seen the man before, and when his friends and
coworkers were questioned, they also knew of no one matching the
description. However, if robbery was the motive, it is not a case
of a chance encounter since his home was also a target days
later.”

“Well surely there must be something. A man of his
class ends up dead and we’re looking like incompetents. Damn it,
Thomas, do you have nothing? You’re just lucky the family want this
dealt with quietly, and would rather it just be forgotten. Having
their son murdered in some dark alley on his way back from a drug
den, is not the type of attention a family of title wants. Either
you figure this out quickly and quietly, or you let it be and move
on to other things.”

William nearly laughed at the thought of Viridis
being a drug den of any sort, but he’d be damned if he would let
the case go without exploring every clue offered him. “There is a
woman who works at Viridis. It appears he may have had relations
with the girl. Unfortunately, she has vanished, no trace of her to
be had, but we’re still looking. In addition, there’s this. I
believe it is what was being sought, when the break in occurred.”
William reached into his case and pulled out the portable
information module he had found in Niles’s quarters, carefully
unwrapping it from the cloth he used to protect it.

“Dear god, where on earth did you find that?”
Murdock asked. His complexion paled, an unusual departure from its
normal ruddiness.

“I came across it when going through Lord
Hawthorne’s living quarters. It looks like something Special
Services would put together, but they are not exactly willing to
just hand out that sort of information. Tried to call in a few
favors, but even that did not work out.” William sat there looking
at his superior, wondering. The man had barely taken his eyes off
the smooth brass surface of the module. And though the etching on
the case surface was beautifully done, William suspected it was not
the reason for Murdock’s undivided attention. Finally, he said, “I
do not suppose you would know anything about it, Sir?”

Murdock’s eyes snapped up, crimson flushing his
cheeks once again. “Find who murdered Hawthorne, or let it rest,”
he snapped. “Now get back to work, Thomas.”

With the module tucked securely under his arm,
William hailed a coach to Viridis. He needed to speak with Seth
Elliot, and he had a feeling Phoebe would know where to find him.
It was clear there was a fondness and affection between them, one
he was sure had garnered its share of talk in the parlor rooms of
society.

Quite frankly he admired Phoebe all the more for not
playing their games. If she wasted her time taking society’s
opinions into consideration, it’s doubtful she’d have managed to do
even half the good she’d already accomplished.

He found Phoebe at the front of the club, seeing to
her customers and being seen. Being the proprietress and inventor
of the herbal had boosted her popularity to that of celebrity, her
natural charisma charming those around her.

Though the first show of the evening had yet to
start, there were plenty of patrons enjoying their evening meal.
All around him, London’s elite laughed and dined, having shed their
stiff and proper demeanors for a more relaxed state—one brought on
by the Viridis, no doubt. Ladies sat closer to their gentlemen, and
the gentlemen allowed their arms to linger over the shoulders of
their companions, leaning in close to share secrets only couples
could share— displays one would never see in public anywhere else.
In another few hours, William suspected there wouldn’t be an empty
table to be had, and not for the first time, he envied Phoebe her
business sense.

Phoebe greeted him with a genuine smile and a
welcome, but he could see the tension around her eyes and mouth as
she escorted him to an empty table, taking a seat across from
him.

“Is it Lilly? Have you found her?”

“I wish I had news for you, but I have not been able
to find her, though my constable is still looking. I did speak to
her sister, Anne. She has not seen her since Lord Hawthorne’s
murder, though it appears Lilly took what moneys they had saved,
and has likely fled or gone into hiding.”

Phoebe’s forehead lined with worry. “Her poor sister
must be beside herself. I only wish there were something I could do
to help.”

“There may very well be. I’m afraid I must once
again ask for your help. In fact, it is truly Mr. Elliott with whom
I wish to speak, and was hoping you might aid me in my quest. Oddly
enough I’ve had little luck finding his residence.”

A sly smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Ah,
yes. I’m afraid Mr. Elliott prefers to keep his home and workroom a
bit of a secret. Not that I can really blame him, when you take
into consideration his tinkerings. If you do not mind waiting, I
believe he’ll be here soon enough.” She stood, and then said, “In
the mean time, I do hope you’ll accept my offer of food and drink.
I’ll send Seth to your table as soon he arrives.”

“Thank you.”

Chapter Fifteen

With the front of the house now full, Phoebe
wandered into The Sanctorum to make sure all was well with her best
customers. She mingled for a while, taking the time to chat with a
coy smile and kind words.