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Back Cardinal Black Save as PDF
Chapters (44)
  1. Title Page
  2. One: Into the Storm
  3. One
  4. Two
  5. Three
  6. Four
  7. Five
  8. Six
  9. Seven
  10. Two: London Calling
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. Twelve
  16. Thirteen
  17. Fourteen
  18. Fifteen
  19. Three: The Malignant Seven
  20. Sixteen
  21. Seventeen
  22. Eighteen
  23. Nineteen
  24. Twenty
  25. Twenty-One
  26. Twenty-Two
  27. Twenty-Three
  28. Four: Squirrels and Cats
  29. Twenty-Four
  30. Twenty-Five
  31. Twenty-Six
  32. Twenty-Seven
  33. Twenty-Eight
  34. Twenty-Nine
  35. Thirty
  36. Thirty-One
  37. Thirty-Two
  38. Five: Revelation
  39. Thirty-Three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. About the Author

Matthew nodded, but to his relief Berry didn’t pull her hand away. “This is something I must do,” he said, with ample force in his voice and in his expression. “The professor has told me that in the next few days we’ll be taking a coach from here to London and arranging the travel plans.” He did not say that Fell had admitted he owned a townhouse in the city but they were all to be staying at an inn, as Fell did not wish that address to be known. He did not say either that Fell’s first choice of a suitable inn was the Mayfair Arms, but upon Matthew’s explanation of objection the choice had turned to the Emerald, which was equally grand. “A ship to take you home and a ship to take us to Italy. Venice, in fact,” Matthew said. “Now … you can get mad and pout, or throw something, or whatever you’d like … but I’m getting you out of harm’s way and that’s that.”

“Harm’s way? Does that mean you’re going into the way of harm?”

“I made a vow.” Matthew glanced quickly at Di Petri, who was oblivious to everything and everyone else as he ate his grilled whitefish, and thought about how that particular vow had become tainted by circumstance. This one he had to carry through. He struck on a straw of redemption. “Hudson won’t let anything happen to me.”

“Who’s going to keep anything from happening to him, and then to you?”

“It’s settled,” Matthew said.

Again, she just stared at him but still she didn’t pull her hand away. “Oh Matthew,” she said softly, “I love you so much. I have for such a long time. And I know what you went through to get the book … Dr. Firebaugh told me as much as I think he could … but … I’m frightened for you. I’m always frightened for you.”

“This last thing, and then I’m home to stay. All right?”

“No,” she said. “No no no!” And then she took a long breath and her eyes shone and she said as she knew she must, “Perhaps.” Then: “If it has to be, but I hate the thought. Matthew, you’re such a good man. You’re too good for your own good.”

“Maybe I used to be. Now I’m not so sure. But think on this: we’ll likely have a week or so in London to enjoy being together. The professor’s not going to put chains on us, as there’s no need for any further imprisonment. We’ll dine out and take in the sights. I happen to know we’ll be staying at a very exclusive inn. So that’s something to look forward to and be happy about, isn’t it?”