Heart Burn (8 page)

"Indeed," he said, nodding. "I see what you mean. Poor Mrs. Myer. It's no wonder she's odd."

I exchanged smirks with Miss Moreau sitting across from me.

"Now that George is enlightened, please go on, Miss Smith," Mrs. Beaufort said.

I told them how Everett Myer had ordered his wife out of the room and how he'd been curious as to why none of us had been affected. "Samuel and Jack are immune, but I was succumbing to his voice until Jack poked me. We told Mr. Myer that Samuel was like him, although he'd already guessed. His wife had too."

"She did seem very curious about him," Jack said, frowning into his wine glass. "It was as if she could tell just by looking into his eyes what he was. She wasn't afraid, though. What do you think, Hannah?"

"You're right, she wasn't afraid of Samuel. Perhaps disturbed by him, even a little angry. It grew worse when Samuel tried to charm her with a few smiles and compliments."

Sylvia laughed. "Do you mean the charmer failed to charm a lady? How I'm going to tease him about that."

"He was most put out by it. I've never seen him so out of sorts. He wasn't at all like himself."

Jack nodded. "He told me later that Mrs. Myer unsettled him. She seemed to know instantly what he was capable of and disturbed by it."

"I can see why," Mrs. Beaufort said. "With a husband who hypnotizes her without warning, perhaps she expected Samuel to do the same."

"She was used to it, you mean," Mr. Beaufort said. "That's why she wasn't afraid. She was used to being hypnotized, yet doesn't like it, naturally."

"How awful for her," Miss Moreau said quietly. "The poor woman."

We ate in silence for a few moments, the weight of Mrs. Myer's situation dampening further conversation until Mr. Beaufort spoke.

"Did Myer offer any suggestions as to which Society member may have summoned the demon?" he asked.

"None," Jack said. He told them everything Myer had claimed, and there the conversation ended.

Mr. Beaufort rang for the servants to clear away our main course dishes and bring in the next. As jelly and blancmange were served, Mrs. Beaufort declared that she would invite the Myers to the ball.

"Are you mad?" her sister-in-law said. "After all we've heard tonight?"

Mrs. Beaufort smiled mischievously as she sliced into her jelly. "Not mad, merely intrigued. Besides, I'm sure Mr. Langley and Miss Smith would find it useful to study the man further."

"Not to mention Samuel," I added.

"This way, we can all help. What do you think, Jacob?"

"I think you've got a penchant for causing trouble." He raised his glass to his wife and winked at her. "If you think the Myers ought to come to the ball, then who am I to disagree?"

***

The journey home to Frakingham was long and tiring, partly because of my illness, and partly because we argued with Samuel much of the way.

"I'm going to return to London," he declared before we'd even left the city behind. "Myer wishes to study me and I him."

"What!" Jack exploded. "Are you mad?"

Samuel crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows. Jack swore.

"Language," Sylvia scolded. "There are ladies present."

"You can't live with Myer," Jack said. "He's a disreputable cur with no concern for his own wife! Bloody hell, Gladstone, I thought you better than that."

"Have you quite finished?" Samuel huffed. "For one thing, I'm not going to live with him. I'll rent rooms nearby. Secondly, I may be able to talk some sense into him and make him see that he can't go hypnotizing his wife whenever she disagrees with him. Thirdly, I'll never get this chance again. He and I both believe there are no others of our kind. I have to study him to understand more about this talent, and he wishes to study me. I would expect you, of all people, to see my point, Jack."

"I do see your point, I just don't agree with it. You were perfectly content to live at Frakingham until you met Myer. He didn't hypnotize you, did he?"

Samuel rolled his eyes. "Hannah, talk some sense into this obstinate fool who thinks I should be at August Langley's beck and call."

"I don't think that," Jack said before I could answer. "This has nothing to do with August and everything to do with your reckless willingness to allow someone of dubious character to poke around inside your mind."

Samuel smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Ah, so you're worried about me. Nice to know you care, Langley."

"Shut it, Gladstone, I can't stand the sight of you."

We all knew that wasn't true, not anymore. Samuel laughed and slapped Jack's shoulder. Jack grunted and appealed to me for help.

"Jack
is
worried about you, Samuel," I said. "As am I."

"And me," Sylvia piped up. "I don't think Myer should be trusted."

"I'm very aware of his capabilities." Samuel skimmed his hand over his blond hair, ruffling it. "I am also aware that he can't hypnotize me. I'll be safe."

I don't think he quite understood our concerns. Myer's morals were questionable. Samuel's had been once too, although it seemed he'd left that behind him. But what if Myer led Samuel back down that path? Was Samuel strong enough to resist?

He leaned across the gap between us and touched my hand. "Have faith, Hannah," he murmured. "I've changed." It would seem he did understand after all.

"We trust you," I said. "Don't we, Jack?"

Jack grunted again, which may have been agreement or not.

"You can't tell me what to do, Langley," Samuel said. "Nor can August. I'm free to come and go from Frakingham as I please."

"But you
belong
at Frakingham," Sylvia whined.

"Why? Because I should be at Freak House with the other freaks?"

"You're not as freakish as these two," she pointed out. Her sigh echoed around the cabin. "Samuel, when will you come home again?"

Home. Frakingham
was
home, and not just to Jack and Sylvia anymore, but to me and, I'd thought, Samuel too. Of all of us, however, he had fewer ties to the estate. He had a family somewhere and could return to University College to finish his studies or to Dr. Werner's practice if he wished. It pained me to admit it, but he didn't need Freak House or us.

He looked down at his hands in his lap and shrugged. "I have to do this."

We tried several more times to talk him out of it, sometimes in subtle ways, and other times more obviously. But he was determined to go, and we hadn't changed his mind by the time we reached the large iron gates of Frakingham. He declared he would return to London with us for the ball and remain there for an indeterminate length of time.

"I'll tell Langley now," he said, grim-faced. "Wish me luck."

Sylvia pouted. "I will not." She climbed out of the coach and stormed off toward the front steps. I followed her, but could not keep up. She bent her head against the strong wind and, not looking where she was going, barreled into Tommy coming to greet us.

"Steady, Miss Langley," he said, catching her by the elbows. He did not let her go immediately, but held her. He smiled and it was clear to anyone who looked that he was happy to see her. "Are you all right?"

She wrenched herself free. "No, I am not. Watch where you're going, Tommy! Honestly," she muttered, striding away. "What is wrong with the men in this house?"

"Sylvia?" said August Langley, appearing in the doorway. Bollard stood behind him, not meeting anyone's gaze. I'd not seen them arrive. "Is something wrong?" Langley glanced past his niece to me. The raw concern in his eyes alarmed me, but it vanished just as quickly. He focused on Sylvia as she approached him.

"Samuel's leaving!" she cried, taking her uncle's hand. "Tell him he can't go."

"Thank you, Sylvia," Samuel ground out, joining us on the steps. "I'm returning to London for a while, sir. I'm going to study Myer, and he me."

Langley stilled. "Are you mad?"

Samuel smirked. "Are you sure you're not related to Jack after all? You're sounding very much alike lately."

Langley clasped the arms of his wheelchair, turning his knuckles white. "Inside. Now."

Bollard wheeled him backward. Samuel took my arm while Jack remained behind to help Tommy with the luggage. I knew they'd want to exchange news. It's what they always did after a lengthy separation.

We followed Langley and Sylvia into the drawing room. The wheels of the chair rolled over the uncarpeted floor like an ominous rumble of distant thunder. "Go to your room and rest, Hannah," he ordered me before I'd even set foot in the drawing room.

"I'll stay here if you don't mind."

"I do mind. Go. You too, Sylvia."

I was about to protest when Sylvia grabbed my hand and steered me away. She pulled me to the end of the corridor where I finally resisted. I slipped my hand free of hers.

"What do you make of that?" I said.

"He's furious," she whispered.

"Whatever for? Samuel's a free man. He can do as he pleases. I don't like the way your uncle thinks he can dictate to everyone."

"It's his house."

"Yes, but he's so…vehement. Why?"

"I don't know, and it's best not to ask."

I glanced over my shoulder in the direction I'd come from. "I don't plan on asking. I'm going to eavesdrop."

"Hannah! You can't."

She went to take my hand again, but I evaded her. "Don't stop me, Sylvia. You wouldn't want me to become angry?"

Her eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head. One point to me. It would have taken a lot more to get me mad and spit fire from my fingers, but I wasn't going to tell her that. I felt a little guilty for tricking her, but not overmuch. She gave me no other option.

I tiptoed down the corridor and listened at the dining room door. Langley was speaking.

"You cannot go." His voice was calmer, but no less commanding.

"Why not?" Samuel asked.

"I forbid it."

"That didn't answer my question. Why?"

"Isn't it obvious? Hannah needs you."

I straightened. Me? What did I have to do with the matter?

It would seem Samuel was equally baffled. There was a moment's silence before he said, "Hannah has Jack to take care of her."

"I don't
want
Jack to take care of her," Langley said. "They cannot be together."

"It's a little late for that."

"It's never too late. I may have been busy, but I know what they've been doing. Bollard has kept me informed. I'll be putting an end to their rendezvous in the lake now that they're back. I should have done it earlier."

"I…I don't think that's a good idea. They have strong wills of their own. How will you stop them, for one thing?"

"Simple. I'll give them no choice. I'll tell them I'll put an end to looking for Hannah's cure."

CHAPTER 5

My stomach heaved and bile rose to my throat. I pressed back against the wall, near the open door.
Breathe, Hannah.
I tried to comprehend what I'd heard. Tried to understand how Langley could be so cruel.

I failed.

I thought he'd changed. I thought he
wanted
to cure me, that he considered me part of his family now. Recent signs had pointed to him caring.

I was wrong.

He cared nothing for me. Nothing at all. Only his own reputation, and what he thought was best for Jack. And I was
not
best for him.

"You must see that it's necessary," Langley was saying. "I need you to take Jack's place."

"No." Samuel sounded like he was speaking with a tightly clenched jaw. "I do not see that it's necessary, and I will not take Jack's place in Hannah's heart. Good lord, don't you see that I can't? No one can. It's too late, Langley. Much too late."

Sylvia appeared by my side. I hadn't seen her approach. She took my arm and walked with me down the corridor. It wasn't until we were almost to my room that she spoke.

"You've had a turn," she said. "Lie down."

"No. I don't need to." But I let her take me inside and sit me on the bed.

"There," she soothed. "Do you want me to tell Jack you're here?"

I shook my head. "You're right. I do need to rest."

She left me alone, and I lay on my back on the bed. The tears soon followed, trickling past my ears onto the pillow. Why was Langley being so cruel to us? Why couldn't he see that Jack made me happy, and I him? I know he wanted Jack to do better, but why couldn't he see we
belonged
together?

Why would he force me to choose between the person I loved and a cure to save my life?

***

It was dark when I awoke. It would seem I'd needed the rest after all. I sat up, but giddiness forced me to lie down again. My stomach still felt unsettled, my limbs leaden and achy.

I lay there and listened to my own breathing. The ever-present heat within me swirled but didn't surge. I was definitely hotter than before.

How much longer did I have left?

Had Tate already died?

I tried not to think about it, or what Langley had said to Samuel, but it was no use. It was
all
I could think about. Had Samuel told Jack?

My stomach eventually settled then growled from hunger. I got up slowly and lit the lamp beside the bed. Six o'clock according to the clock on the mantelpiece. I frowned, not quite believing it was that early. We'd arrived home late in the afternoon, at dusk. I peeked through the curtains and was surprised to see the glow in the east. Dawn. It was six AM not PM. I'd slept all night.

One of the maids must have brought in a basin of fresh water. I undressed and washed. Slivers of cold water slipped across my skin, easing the aches and heat a little. It was bliss, but all too temporary. I dried off and dressed in a light day dress before heading out the door.

I stopped in my tracks. Jack sat slumped in a chair in the corridor. His eyes opened, and he stood when he saw me. "Hannah! You're awake." Enough light filtered through the window at the end of the corridor for me to see that his hair stuck out and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone. He wore no tie or waistcoat either. The stubble on his jaw made him look older, rougher. If I'd met him in a dark London alley, I wouldn't have thought him a gentleman.