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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“ I t is good of you to come and to represent the Hidden Realm’s interest in the situation, brother,” Lillian Stewart told him.

Her hands worked the linen of her humble navy blue nursing habit, with a hood covering most of her hair and shadowing her face.

“Though I must confess to astonishment in finding you here. If I might inquire, what motivates your visit?”

“Honor,” Albion replied, swinging his hands behind his back and clasping them tightly, carefully interlacing his fingers so as not to cause inadvertent damage from his claws. It wouldn’t do to allow his sister-in-law to witness any hint of the shockingly unsteady state of his nerves.

“That our homeland has been unresponsive to the war and Rostin’s unwarranted cruelty to this land is of deep concern to my brother, His Grace,” he added. “Hence, I am tasked with bringing attention to this horrendous situation. I hope you might be so kind as to escort me around this place.”

Albion gave his usual amiable smile while inwardly giving thanks to all that was right in the world that he had made it and that Lillian Stewart appeared unharmed.

For now.

Waiting for the sailboat that carried him to Calais, he kept his top hat low and tapped his walking stick rhythmically along the dock’s wooden planks to the tune of a melody from Mozart he found particularly jolly.

Unfortunately, it did not have the desired effect.

The humans destined for the same packet provided him with a wide berth and hardly bothered to disguise their gasps and stares.

He had a sense of what his brother and his father must have endured when they first arrived in England, when the sight of orcs was still a curiosity or, worse, viewed as a threat.

While humans in the city might have grown accustomed to his looks, the same did not hold for those in points beyond London.

It was enough to strike fear in Albion, not that he would be attacked or taunted, but prevented from getting to Lillian, particularly as he had not the protection of the Prince Regent as he had hoped.

If anything, Prinny likely detested him.

Even the slightest deviation from his appointed schedule was dangerous.He thought again of Duncan’s grousing over his plans. You can help a great deal from these shores. From the safety of London.

But how could he possibly trust this mission to anyone else?

Edward Langley was attending to Jacques. Per his instructions, Edward would see that the boy understood he was to pretend to be taken with a sudden bout of the grippe, one so terrible, it required the ministrations of the Sisters of Benevolence.

Albion could not hide, nor could he wait for Duncan’s journalist accompaniment, as previously planned.

At present, all he could do was misdirect.

No doubt Rostin had received word of an orc outside the gates of Chamberly and re-designated some portion of his brutish occupational force to keep watch over him.

Even if he was there only as the foolish Albion Higgins, calling on his sister-in-law as though she had merely repaired to an adjoining townhouse in London rather than an occupied city-state abroad.

At present, he needed to whisper a quick message to Lillian that no one else would hear.

Given what he now witnessed, however, he found it exceedingly difficult to focus.

Before him, in the spacious church hall converted into a makeshift hospital, Lillian and the sisters tended to people of all ages, casualties of the aggression against Chamberly, who filled every camp bed in the room. Bandaged eyes, heads, and torsos.

“It is rather stuffy in this area, as we are constantly in fear of miasma,” Lillian told him as they moved into a section kept separate from the others by a thin curtain, ragged at the edges, hanging from iron lops on a rod.

She pushed the curtain aside so they could see the cots therein.

“We are running low on opium. The sisters use belladonna in its place, but it is hardly the same.”

“I should say not,” Albion murmured, trying to hide the violent roiling in his stomach.

The victims here suffered from injured limbs, rotting from infections that Albion imagined would soon lead to gruesome amputations.

“We have medicines in the Hidden Realm that assist with pain management. I will speak to my brother about how they can get here the fastest way possible.”

“That would be a blessing indeed.”

Albion had thought that would be the most horrific part of his tour.

However, when he saw the children, he changed his mind.

Some of them were injured, but most of them were there because of the spindly limbs, the ribs showing underneath their threadbare clothes, and the pot bellies that indicated malnutrition.

Chamberly was starving.

Overwhelmed, Albion drew a handkerchief to his mouth to hide his shock.

He thought of the flowers blooming alongside the elegant thoroughfares of Mayfair and his neighborhood in Brunswick.

The finely dressed inhabitants went about their quotidian affairs, unfettered by the pain and suffering across the Channel.

There may have been few carriageways in the Hidden Realm and the residences at a greater distance apart, but nature remained pristine and undisturbed.

Here in Chamberly, trees and plants had been victims of the war, the same as the poor, unfortunate people around him.

His rescues from Chamberly could not address the scope of the problem.

Edward Langley was going to fetch the Comtesse’s son, which was a noble enough deed.

However, they required the political force of other nations to improve this situation.

They needed to do something more significant, as Diana wanted to accomplish via the English Parliament.

“It is a vile sight.” Lillian worried the folds of her habit. Daisy made a similar gesture often enough. “And yet I am grateful to have attention drawn to it. I understand there are correspondents here as well.”

“I shall call them in just a moment,” Albion said. “As I said, I asked them to hold back while I took the first tour.”

“You did not wish for them to see your reaction? That is most understandable.”

“It is that, I suppose. But there is more.” He lowered his voice. “I would like to speak with you privately about this matter. Is there a spot where we might be alone? In the sight of the sisters, but not in hearing range.”

“Why?”

His voice grew solemn, giving Daisy’s sister a glimpse of who he was.

“You are in peril,” he whispered. “Please allow me to help.”

Diana held her breath as the Duke of Barrington stepped over the threshold into his mother’s parlor. Although immense, Duncan Higgins was not as tall as his younger brother. Still, he exuded a presence every bit as powerful.

The Dowager Duchess was seated on an armchair, and Iris sat next to Diana on the Chesterfield.

Soon enough, they’d both likely wish Diana Stewart’s mere existence had never come to their attention.

The Orcan woman never seemed to like her.

By the time Diana had confessed everything, disdain would grow into hatred. It was the price she must pay.

In any case, Albion’s mother had accepted a kiss on the cheek by way of a greeting, which required Diana to stand on tiptoes even in her low-heeled slippers before the Dowager took a seat, her back perfectly erect.

Duncan remained standing but leaned against the mantel of the hearth.

Diana would have seen much of Albion in his brother if not for his glower.

Meanwhile, the Dowager retained a pleasant look that was more intimidating than Duncan’s scowl.

This family had welcomed her into their home and gathered as soon as she summoned them.

They waited for her to speak, occasionally glancing at her gown from the evening before, which was in a rather unfortunate state.

Diana touched the sparkling Orcan sapphire at the base of her throat, Albie’s wedding gift.

She had done nothing to deserve it. Nothing to deserve him.

She could never hope to atone for her betrayal of the Phantom. But she could at least act now to try to save her husband.

The words didn’t come as clearly as Diana had hoped.

She struggled with the whole sad tale, praying they understood what she was trying to say.

After an overview of her conversation with Albion before he left, she concluded: “So I wish to learn how much you know about Albie’s business in Newhaven, as well as any that might involve the situation in Chamberly. ”

“I fear I do not understand what you are trying to tell us, Daisy,” the Dowager said. “It was rather hard to follow.”

“She only needs a moment to gather herself,” Iris declared. She turned to Diana. In a more natural voice, hinting at her time in London’s East End, Iris added: “Take your time, love. This lot is not going anywhere. They want to hear what you’ve to say, just like me.”

Diana closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, she met her mother-in-law’s gaze.

“My husband is the Benevolent Phantom and has journeyed to Chamberly.”

Iris gave an audible gasp. Duncan, previously unflappable, paced before his mother’s marble hearth.

“Outrageous,” he muttered. And then louder. “Have you any proof? How did you conclude that Albion and the Phantom are one and the same?”

“She needn’t provide proof,” the Dowager said, her gaze never leaving Diana’s. “Your brother is the Benevolent Phantom.”

“Mother! You knew and kept such a thing from me?”

The Dowager rearranged her shawl and nodded.

“But how can he make these trips to Chamberly without detection?” Iris asked. At the same time, Duncan emitted a gruff: “It is inconceivable that he would engage in such a reckless endeavor and not tell me. I might have helped him.”

“You would have done no such thing,” his mother said. “You would never approve of what you just labeled recklessness. You would have tried to talk him out of it. Albion understood as much and did not want his work to come between the two of you.”

“He didn’t tell me either,” Diana said, feeling sorry for the giant orc standing before his mother.

Both of them seemed far less intimidating now.

“I know not why. Perhaps he was trying to protect me. He might have been protecting you as well. Anyway, we can interrogate Albion once he is safely back in London. Right now, our only priority is to find him.”

“Your concern is appropriate and appreciated,” the Dowager said.

“But I am given to understand that Albie is engaging in helping this Alliance of the Benevolent Phantom from afar. His chief contribution is funding from his trust. After all, what could he accomplish? He can hardly sneak around undetected.”

“Her Grace makes sense,” Iris said.

“I know what I saw on the note. Leaving at daybreak. Why would Albie communicate such a thing to his compatriots were he not planning to go to Chamberly himself? He told me he had sudden business in Newhaven. Perhaps he plans to leave from there. Departing from Dover would call more attention to himself. It is a busier port, is it not?”

“Regardless, we can’t assume Albion intended to go himself,” Iris said. “If he directs the group’s affairs from afar, maybe Newhaven plays into it.”

A flicker of hope ignited in Diana’s heart.

Maybe she had overreacted and misunderstood the communication.

The Dowager Duchess and Iris were making fair points.

If either of them believed Albion to be in danger, they would have immediately helped her.

The missive from Reginald may have been due only to overexcitement.

Except that Duncan Higgins pressed his lips together as the rest of his form remained still.

“Duncan?” his mother said. “Do you know something about Albie’s current whereabouts?”

“Albion planned to go to Chamberly,” he replied quietly.

“Under the guise of a diplomatic trip on behalf of the Hidden Realm. To be accompanied by correspondents who might remind readers of the horrific conditions there. He asked for my help in the matter. All the ancient gods take me. I granted that help. But he has now left before I had the chance to gather that group.”

The Dowager clasped her elegant green hands before her chest, Orcan jewels sparkling on her rings. “I knew nothing of this.”

“As he meant it to be. You know his identity, and I know his whereabouts. Neither of us was privy to both elements. Undoubtedly, Albion wanted to protect us.” He turned to Diana, his somber exterior infused with sympathy. “To protect you.”

Diana looked down at her cuticles, shame washing over her once more.

“How could he possibly be of use to anyone in Chamberly?” Iris said. “He does realize he’s not a human, doesn’t he? Even if he gets along in Society easily enough.”

“You are underestimating your brother-in-law,” Duncan told her.

“I’m underestimating nothing but only stating a fact.”

“He does not make it his custom to go to Chamberly himself,” the Dowager noted. “Something compelled him.”

Diana’s heart fell. She had urged him. She had induced him to go.

“He is in danger,” Diana said. “I must travel there myself. This entire debacle is all my fault. I only wanted to see if you had any information to assist me in this mission. And besides that.” She hesitated before fixing her eyes on the Dowager.

“I owe you an explanation and allow you the honor of ordering me out of your sight and never speaking to me again.”

After learning of this terrible betrayal on her part, they would hate her. The orcs and Iris alike. Much as she wanted to, she didn’t dare look away. That would be cowardly. If she had any hope of winning the respect of Albion’s family, she had to face their disdain.Diana braced herself.

“Sir Reginald Addington enlisted me to help find the identity of the Phantom. I agreed. You see, he threatened my sister’s life.”

She was confident Albie’s mother would tell her to leave and never return. Instead, there was only silence until the Dowager broke it at last.

“You wear Orcan fashion,” she said, gesturing toward the now-wilted gown. “You are styling yourself as a Lady of the Hidden Realm, then? A true representative of the Higgins family?”

Diana grasped the brilliant Orcan sapphire Albie had gifted her, thinking how that moment between them seemed so long ago. Her mind was playing queer tricks like that, lack of sleep, lack of food, and abundant worry disrupting her equilibrium. But she knew exactly what to tell her mother-in-law.

“Not Higgins, your grace. Hooradech mak Teer.”

The Dowager’s clever eyes widened before she looked up at her son and gave a simple nod.

“We are family,” Duncan said in a low voice. “All of us, Daisy. And together, we will bring my brother home.”