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Chapters (40)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Dedication
  4. Map
  5. I
  6. II
  7. III
  8. IV
  9. V
  10. VI
  11. VII
  12. VIII
  13. IX
  14. X
  15. XI
  16. XII
  17. XIII
  18. XIV
  19. XV
  20. XVI
  21. XVII
  22. XVIII
  23. XIX
  24. XX
  25. XXI
  26. XXII
  27. XXIII
  28. XXIV
  29. XXV
  30. XXVI
  31. XXVII
  32. XXVIII
  33. XXIX
  34. XXX
  35. XXXI
  36. XXXII
  37. Seven Years Later
  38. Epilogue
  39. Acknowledgements
  40. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

Immediately Vincent backed down. It summed him up, really, to know that Crillick was in the wrong but not to take a stand against him. I slunk back to the bedroom and blew out the candle, but I couldn’t sleep. There was a sound of banging, sawing not too far away. Who in the neighbourhood would be building at this time of night?

When Vincent came in an hour or two later, I kept my eyes shut and he made no attempt to wake me. I felt him looking me over. Thinking about what Crillick had said to him, no doubt. Part of me wanted to defend myself against Crillick’s innuendos, even if it meant confessing that I’d been eavesdropping, but another part was angry that he’d let himself get conned, that he’d believe Crillick and his lies over everything he knew about me. Here was proof of what I’d always feared: for all his professions of love, when it came down to it, men stuck together if there was a choice to be made.

Vincent lay on the far side of the bed, not touching me. Let him stew. I knew he’d drop hints tomorrow that he was going to meet Henrietta and I was determined not to rise to it.

When Vincent’s breathing lengthened, I rolled over and watched his back. Silly to think I could trust him to get the job done. If I was going to protect the Leopard Lady, I’d have to do it by myself. Lucien Winters would know what Uthathe indodana yami meant.

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XVI

Stalking Crillick

Vincent had already left when I woke the next morning at half past seven, and I was glad of it. We’d only have rowed and I didn’t have time for that.

I had a new plan to find the Leopard Lady – I would follow Crillick and find out where he went to conduct his business in the daytime. Eavesdropping had only backfired, but maybe he would lead me to her if I were careful. Tuesdays were for rehearsals but Barky wouldn’t be too annoyed as long as I was there before lunchtime. That gave me a good three hours to see if Crillick’s movements would offer me any clues to the Leopard Lady’s whereabouts. I filled my pockets with salve and bandages for her. There were no guarantees I would see her today but, if I did, I could tend to her wounds and find a means to help her escape him.