CHAPTER 23
On returning to their inner circle, Wrexford lost no time in explaining the assignments he wished them to undertake.
Cordelia hurried away to Hedley’s laboratory at the Royal Institution, while Sheffield set out to find Maudslay.
As for Charlotte, she headed upstairs to her pens and watercolors after asking McClellan to ensure that the boys were not late to their fencing lesson.
As Tyler retreated to the laboratory to analyze the chemical sample brought back from the consortium’s secret lair, Wrexford leaned back in his chair, savoring a moment of quiet solitude in which to clear his thoughts before writing to Griffin and assembling his collection of evidence to pass on to the authorities—
A tentative knock on the adjoining library door was followed by a soft hail. “Wrex?”
“Come in, lad.” He felt a pinch of guilt as Raven approached, realizing how little time he had spent with the boys of late. Death shouldn’t overshadow Life, and yet he had allowed it to cast a pall over his family.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but . . .” The boy swallowed hard, then let his gaze slide away.
“But what?” he encouraged. “I would hope that you’re not afraid to speak to me about anything.” Unlike Hawk, Raven was wary about revealing his feelings.
Raven’s mouth quivered for an instant. “D-Do you remember when we first met—you know, when the name Weasels wasn’t meant very nicely—and you told Hawk and me about your brother?”
“Yes, I remember,” said Wrexford softly. “M’lady didn’t like it. She thought that mentioning the fact that my brother had been killed would frighten the two of you.”
“Ha!” Raven blinked. “As if we didn’t know about the Grim Reaper and his blade.”
Uncertain of where the boy was headed, he said nothing, waiting for him to take the lead.
“Then, when Hawk got snatched by that smarmy villain from the Royal Institution, you p-promised me that you wouldn’t let anything happen to him. And you didn’t.”
Wrexford nodded, still mystified.
Raven swallowed hard. “So when you had us pick an official name for the legal documents that m’lady needed to make us her wards, I chose T-Thomas in honor of your b-b-brother . . .”
His voice cracked, forcing him to draw a ragged breath before he could continue. “I just want to know if you think we have enough evidence to make sure that muckworm Taviot will swing for his sins.”
“Yes,” answered Wrexford. “I believe we have enough to ensure that he is punished for his crimes.” He took a moment to compose his thoughts. “As for hanging, that is a decision for a judge to make.”
“But don’t you want to see Taviot suffer? Won’t that bring you some measure of satisfaction?”
“Vengeance doesn’t soothe the soul, lad.” Wrexford reached out to touch Raven’s shoulder—and then pulled him into a fierce hug. “It’s forces like love and family which bring the light that helps banish the darkness.”
His arms tightened. “That you carry Thomas’s name forward with the same spirit of steadfast honor and integrity that he possessed is a source of true joy and comfort to me,” he said. “My brother would be very proud of you.”
“W-Would he?”
“Without question.” Wrexford smiled. “Thomas would have loved your curiosity, your courage, and your compassion for others.”
He ruffled Raven’s hair. “As I said, justice will soon be done, and that should satisfy both of us. Indeed, by tomorrow, this should all be over.”
“Deo volente,” said the boy.
The aphorism—God willing—surprised a chuckle from Wrexford. Charlotte, a scholar of Latin in her youth, had clearly been tutoring the boy in the ancient language.
“Nemo est supra legem,” he replied. Nobody is above the law.
Wrexford hesitated, then opened his desk drawer and took out a small silver picture case. He put it down on the blotter and clicked it open to reveal the miniature painting.
Raven leaned in to study the three faces.
“That is Thomas in the middle. To his right is Neville Greeley, and to his left is their friend Harry Baldwin, who lost his life at the Battle of Talavera.”
“Thomas looks like you,” observed Raven without lifting his gaze.
“No, he doesn’t—he’s smiling,” said Wrexford, unable to keep his voice from catching in his throat.
That drew a laugh from Raven.
“Everyone loved Thomas’s sunny smile,” added the earl.
“It’s a nice smile,” said the boy after subjecting the portrait to further scrutiny. “But I like your scowls better. They’re more interesting.”
Raven moved closer, and Wrexford felt the warmth of the boy’s closeness loosen the knot in his chest.
“Hawk smiles more than me. I dunno why—I guess it’s just my nature. But m’lady says that it’s not the smiles and scowls that are important. It’s what lies in your heart that matters.”
“M’lady is not only profoundly wise,” he replied. “She is also profoundly compassionate and sees the best in us despite our flaws.”
“She says the same about you.” Raven ventured a shy grin. “I guess we’re all lucky that we found each other.”
“Indeed we are, lad.” He pulled the boy into another hug, feeling himself blessed beyond words. Though Raven wasn’t always comfortable with physical closeness, he made no move to pull away.
It was McClellan’s call that drew them apart.
“Raven! Stop lollygagging! You mustn’t be late for your fencing lesson. Harry Angelo is doing you boys a great honor. He’s not to be kept waiting.”
Raven was about to fly away when he noticed a crumpled scrap of cloth wedged between the books stacked on the corner of the desk.
“What’s that?” he asked, eyeing the bits of gold and red embroidery threaded on the dark wool.
“A piece of my assailant’s coat collar that tore off when I grabbed at him last night.”
“May I have a look?”
“You’re welcome to take it. I’ve examined it and can’t see that it will be of any help in identifying the culprit.” Wrexford shrugged. “Not that it matters. Griffin will see that all the underlings are also apprehended and made to pay for whatever transgressions they have committed.”
McClellan called again.
“Now go! You need to get ready for your lesson.” He carefully closed the miniature portrait’s case and put it away. “And I need to plot out the last moves for bringing a black-hearted killer to justice.”