softly, “but we’ll keep a watch, all the same.”
The sound of a clanging bell sent us to the window to see the police and a fire crew arriving. “I hope no one was hurt,” I said.
“I should go out to check the damage and see if anyone needs help,” he said, still staring out the window. Then he turned to me. “Thank you for being so calm in the crisis tonight. That helped the children remain calm.” He stared at me for a long moment more before saying, “Olive’s probably wondering if she’ll get that story.”
“Maybe she’s already fallen asleep.”
“Olive? Not likely.” Before I could leave, he took my hand. “Again, thank you. I believe I made a very good decision in hiring you, Miss Newton.”
As I went to Olive’s room, two things occurred to me: he’d called me by my Christian name during the crisis, apparently entirely unconsciously, and he hadn’t been wearing his eyeglasses, even while having his shotgun at the ready, in spite of his claim that he was practically blind without them.
Now I knew for certain that Lord Henry’s absentminded scientist persona was nothing more than an act. Did that mean he really was the bandit, after all?
IN WHICH I REASSESS MANY THINGS
Olive fell asleep five pages into her story, but there was little sleep for me that night. I returned to my room to finish writing my article, but it was nearly impossible to concentrate with so many conflicting thoughts swirling around in my brain. Alec, who had acted so devoted to me, who had kissed me so ardently, had callously disregarded the possible consequences of my spying for the rebels. Lizzie and Colin, who’d seemed such true friends, had staged that deception. I still wasn’t sure whether the rebels had lied to me about not expecting violence at the picnic. And now I was certain that Lord Henry was the masked bandit I’d encountered on the train.
But what should I do about my discovery? If I knew he was the leader of the Masked Bandits, wasn’t it the duty of a good citizen to report him to the police? Criminal or not, I knew he was a good man. He was generous and kind, and he was spending his own youth caring for his brother’s children. There had to be some reason for his secret life of crime. I reassured myself with the fact that the Masked Bandits apparently only stole from the government. Perhaps they were like Robin Hood, stealing for a worthy cause rather than for greed. I couldn’t turn him in until I knew what he was really doing and why.
Then I had to wonder why I was so willing to justify Lord Henry’s deception while I felt so betrayed by Lizzie’s scheme. Both pretended to be something they weren’t in order to achieve some goal. Lord Henry was living a lie, hiding his activities from everyone, while Lizzie had only lied to the general. She had admitted what she was doing to me, and it seemed to be a one-time-only event. Still, it felt different and I didn’t understand why.
If I was honest with myself, I wasn’t blameless either. I hadn’t let either Lord Henry or the Mechanics know that I had magical abilities that implied I was the result of an illegal liaison. I was working among the Mechanics while being something I knew they hated. Perhaps I had been too harsh on them.
The next morning, I arrived in the breakfast room as breakfast was being set out to find Lord Henry already there, seated at the table with his head bent over the newspaper. I held my breath and hovered in the doorway for a moment, tempted to turn back and wait until later to eat. I didn’t know what to think of him anymore. Shockingly, it wasn’t his criminal activities that first came to mind, but rather the recollection of his hand on my waist, with only my nightgown between us. I unconsciously moved my own hand up to my waist at the memory.
But this morning I was armored in my layers of undergarments, corset, and woolen dress, and my hair was safely knotted at the back of my head. He was fully dressed as well, and his spectacles were back in their accustomed position, making it easier for me to pretend that he was exactly what he appeared to be instead of so much more.
“Good morning, Lord Henry,” I said as I forced myself to enter