Chapter 24 #2
Henry lifted a brow, hoping the Director didn’t intend to assign him another case when he wasn’t managing those he had very well.
“Go home and get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
All he could do was blink in surprise. As the suggestion sank in, he couldn’t deny how good it sounded. “If you’re certain—”
“I am. A bit of rest will do you good.”
“Thank you, sir.”
A few minutes later, with Fletcher herding him out the door, Henry departed. He walked slowly, sorting through his thoughts, snippets of the day flashing through his mind. Ideas on how to proceed tomorrow arose. When he looked up, he found himself on Bloomsbury Street.
His feet had known exactly where to take him.
Amelia might not even be home, he reminded himself. The hour was not yet five o’clock. But that didn’t keep him from knocking and hoping for the best.
“Inspector Field.” Fernsby greeted him with a warm smile and opened the door wide. “What a pleasure to see you again, sir, and looking so hearty.”
“Fernsby. I trust the day finds you well.” Henry stepped inside, taking a moment to appreciate the calmness which immediately wrapped around him.
“Indeed it does,” he said, as he reached for Henry’s things, a sign Amelia must be home.
Henry’s heart lightened as anticipation filled him.
“Mrs. Greystone and I spent a pleasurable afternoon at St. Hope’s Charitable School.”
“Oh?” Henry had forgotten about that. “I assume the experiments were met with success?”
“They were.” Fernsby positively beamed, an expression Henry rarely saw on the butler’s usually serious face. “A true delight. Even I learned a few things.” He leaned close as if to impart a secret. “Mrs. Greystone is an intelligent lady, her enthusiasm unmatched.”
Pride filled Henry. “I couldn’t agree more. It must have been an enjoyable afternoon.”
“Indeed.” Fernsby tipped his head toward the stairs. “I’m sure she’ll be happy to tell you more.”
“Thank you.” Henry’s flagging energy returned as he climbed the stairs. How fortuitous he’d stopped by so he could help celebrate her success.
“Henry! How lovely of you to come by.” Amelia rose from the settee, a book on one side of her and Master Leopold curled in a ball on the other.
“Fernsby was just telling me of your afternoon. Sounds as if congratulations are in order.” He walked forward to take her outstretched hands and kissed her on the cheek.
The small gesture of casual affection pleased him more than he could say—and based on the color that filled Amelia’s cheeks, she enjoyed it, too.
“It was good fun,” she said with a laugh. “I do believe the children enjoyed it. In fact, the headmistress has asked me to return.”
“The highest compliment possible.” Her joy seeped into him, settling around his heart. “Tell me everything.”
Amelia did just that, sharing her gratitude for Fernsby’s assistance as well as that of her aunt. Henry gestured toward the sideboard and, at her nod, poured them drinks before returning to her side while his hostess told him more of her afternoon.
Master Leopold hopped down from the settee to wind against his legs, then took his place on the rug before the fire as if aware Henry would want to sit beside Amelia. The feeling of comfort the situation brought, one which had become a joyful routine, was something he treasured.
“Aunt Margaret was in the thick of it,” Amelia continued, “even though she’s rarely done more than look at my laboratory from the doorway. I think she has discovered chemistry is more exciting than she thought.”
“The next thing you know, she’ll be clamoring to join you in the attic,” he teased. “Her and Fernsby both.”
“One never knows.” She paused to take a sip of her sherry. “To see the students’ joy, their excitement as the experiments produced results, was truly special.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’m already thinking of new experiments to conduct, though some of the preparation might be less than exciting.”
“Might be a good lesson when that holds true for much of life. We often need to do the tedious work to achieve our desired results.”
“That’s true, I didn’t think of that. I suppose I want them to keep their enthusiasm for a time.” She bent to pet Master Leopold when he lifted his head to look at her. “Life wears it away fast enough.”
“It does, especially for those children.” Most were orphans who’d already experienced unimaginable difficulties. "How are Agnes and Pudge?"
"Doing so well. Wait until you see them."
“You are helping to turn their lives around, along with the other children.” The world needed more Amelias, as far as he was concerned.
“A wonderful thought, and I will hold it tight. Now, enough about me. You are here earlier than usual.” She studied him for a long moment, lifting a hand to brush his forehead. “You look rather pale. How are you feeling?”
He sighed, appreciating her touch which did much to ease his headache. “It was a long day in many ways.” He shared the latest news about the sanatorium—ending with the denied warrant.
“How unfortunate,” she said with a frown. “Now what?”
“We interview the good doctor to see what she has to say. I want to speak with her at the sanatorium, as well as at her home.”
Amelia’s eyes lit with approval. “Excellent idea. Getting a better sense of her personal life could prove helpful.”
Henry could almost see the wheels turning in that clever brain of hers. Three, two—
“In fact, perhaps I could—” she began.
“You most definitely could not,” he countered with a smile. “While I appreciate your investigative skills, I don’t want you involved any more than you already are with this case.”
She huffed out of breath, clearly disappointed. “It wouldn’t be dangerous. I could speak to her as one woman of science to another.”
“She has already met you, Amelia,” he reminded her gently. “You do not think she would find it odd if you sought her out a second time?”
Her face fell. “Oh, I had not remembered that. But what if I—”
“And rob me of the chance to meet her?” Henry smiled at the woman he loved. “Tomorrow could prove interesting.”
She ran a hand along his arm, worry in her eyes. “Is there any progress on the bombing investigation?”
Henry hesitated about how to answer. Yet once again she was involved, and had an understandable urge to know. “We’ve been told to leave the case for the Special Irish Branch, though I have unofficial approval to look into the matter.”
“Hmmm. I suppose that’s something.”
“We have one lead, so we will see where it takes us.” He didn’t mention the barrels falling at the dock, as it would only worry her, and she clearly did enough of that.
She shot him a concerned look. “I confess I find myself reluctant to leave the house. When I do, I can’t help but look around to see if anything looks out of place.”
Henry reached for her hand and held it tight. “That’s understandable.” Especially as he did the same thing.
Amelia took another sip of her sherry, seeming to need a moment to collect her thoughts. “It frustrates me that, once again, a scientist is using their knowledge for such a purpose. The goal of science should be to improve the world, not cause more destruction and chaos.”
He lifted her hand to press a kiss on the back of it. “And your ideals are one of the many reasons I love you.”
The line of tension between her brows disappeared as she smiled, suggesting his attempt to distract her from such dark thoughts had worked. “Thank you. I admire yours as well.”
While it was important to talk about such things to help sort through them, he didn’t want to dwell on them during their limited time together.
As if of the same mind, as she so often was, Amelia shared more stories from her day and several of them made him laugh, something he appreciated—even if it hurt his side.
“Will you stay for dinner?” she asked at length.
“As much as I would like to, I’m going to return to…to the lodging house.” He couldn’t call it home anymore because that was here with Amelia. “The day’s events have caught up to me and I’m going to turn in early. Make a fresh start come morning.”
Though obviously disappointed, she nodded. “Understandable—though I think Mrs. Appleton has a large slice of cake with your name on it. I shall have her wrap it in beeswax paper. The more you rest, the better—and soon you will feel more like your normal self.”
“You have done a great deal to restore my spirits and ease my lingering aches and pains. For that I am grateful.”
Once again, she brushed a hand along his forehead. “I am eager to help in any way I can. Always.”
Tenderness swelled within him, and he couldn’t resist leaning forward to kiss her. “Thank you.”
They both rose, and Henry bent to bid Master Leopold goodbye. The cat stretched in response, only to settle into a more comfortable position.
“Clearly, he won’t miss me,” Henry jested.
“He just has a reserved way of showing it.” Amelia lifted onto her toes to kiss him. “But I don’t make the same claim.”
Which was wonderful to hear.