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The ship made good time, with arrival in Southampton forecasted for Thursday night.

Wesley had given Sebastian more trap shooting lessons on the deck and self-defense lessons in the men’s gymnasium.

They’d gone swimming several times in the inside pool and practiced the English dances he’d need to know for Lord Thornton’s hunt ball, even if that led to more bickering about the purpose of the ball.

They sent messages back and forth with Arthur, who confirmed Jade’s marconigram had arrived but it was only two words: no news.

Given it was in Morse code, the brevity was understandable, but it didn’t tell them much.

And they hadn’t seen Lady Nora or her mysterious doctor companion again.

“Are they hiding from us?” Wesley said, after lunch on Wednesday, as they stood by the windows in the drawing room.

The weather had turned colder, enough that Sebastian was bringing his overcoat even to the indoor rooms of the ship.

“Or are they following us around the ship with some kind of magic, like invisibility?”

“Rory would have seen them, though,” Sebastian said.

“Not necessarily,” Wesley said. “Brodigan couldn’t scry those pills. Maybe one of the two of them is blocking his magic.”

“I have been thinking,” Sebastian said, more quietly. “About Hyde. We took a lot of precautions. Getting him out of his asylum would have been difficult.” He frowned. “But a doctor could have made it happen.”

That was an excellent point. Wesley pursed his lips. “I say we search again. They could be hiding in their staterooms, having staff bring their meals, but surely at some point they’re going to want fresh air.”

They wandered through every part of first class, eventually ending up in the verandah.

It was markedly more chilled than it had been even that morning, enough that even Wesley was feeling it.

There was a layer of frost on the large garden windows, and no one was out on the promenade.

“A front must have come in from the north,” Wesley observed. “Is this Brodigan’s fault?”

“I don’t think so.” Sebastian pulled his overcoat closed. “But I also don’t think the ship’s heaters have caught up.” He sighed. “I guess we can see if Lady Nora or her friend are at dinner.”

But as they were heading toward the grand staircase, Wesley caught a flash of movement at the end of A-deck’s hall. “There.”

A tall man with a dark beard and a bowler hat pulled low was standing outside one of the staterooms. He was leaning on his walking stick as he opened the door and disappeared into the room.

“That’s the doctor,” Wesley said. “Come on.”

They hurried down the hall to the door. “What should we—” Sebastian started.

Wesley knocked on the door. Hard. “Dr. Wright?” he called, in a loud voice.

“I suppose this works,” Sebastian said weakly.

Other passengers were looking their way. “It’s the Viscount Fine,” Wesley said, still loud, knocking again. “May I have a word?”

There was a sound from behind the door. And then, finally, it opened perhaps eight inches.

“May I help you, Lord Fine?” Dr. Wright said, his tone as chilled as the weather. He was still wearing his hat, pulled so low it hid his hair. His beard seemed even thicker up close, his glasses even larger than Rory’s.

“Dr. Wright, finally,” Wesley said, in his best entitled-arsehole voice. “I simply must speak with you. Lady Nora said you’re a doctor of nerves?”

“I’m not taking new patients at this time.”

“Wait—you think I want to speak with you about myself ?” Wesley said, with real affront. “I haven’t had nerves a day in my life.”

Behind the glasses, blue eyes narrowed. “Your attitude is exactly why my patients struggle.” Dr. Wright began closing the door.

“Wait,” Sebastian said. “We wanted to talk to you about a patient you may have treated—”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you. Good day, gentlemen.” Dr. Wright firmly shut the door.

Wesley and Sebastian looked at each other. “I don’t think he wants to talk to us,” Sebastian said.

“We were just summarily told to fuck off, yes.” Wesley turned and began to knock on the door again. “Dr. Wright?”

The door cracked open again. “Gentlemen,” Dr. Wright started, “I’ve already told you—”

Wesley shouldered past him and strode right into the room.

“Lord Fine,” Dr. Wright sputtered. “This is most irregular—”

“Were you the one who gave the seasickness pills to Lady Nora?” Wesley was already scanning the room.

It had a similar layout to his own: a small space with a sink, a desk, and a single bed.

There was a trunk on the floor and a large leather bag on the writing desk.

“They were exactly what I needed; have you got any more?”

“What?” Dr. Wright said blankly. “I didn’t give her any pills—”

“You must forgive Lord Fine, he’s been ill,” Sebastian said, behind Wesley. “He’s not quite himself; I think he may have a fever. Do you have aspirin?”

“Obviously, in my medical bag.” Dr. Wright’s voice was quite sharp. “But you should call the ship’s doctor—”

“I’m sure I won’t stand for that.” Wesley strode forward to the desk and opened the leather bag. Inside was an assortment of medical supplies, gauze and scissors, headache powders and tonics, American brands one would find on the shelves of American pharmacies.

He grabbed the aspirin and a handful of other things out of the bag. “Thank you, Doctor,” he said, tucking the items in his jacket pocket as he crossed back across the room. “Don Sebastian, I wish to return to my stateroom.”

“I’ll take him to the ship’s doctor,” he heard Sebastian promise. “Right now. Thank you for your patience, Dr. Wright.”

“Just go,” Dr. Wright said, sounding dark and disgruntled.

They strode into the hall, and Dr. Wright all but slammed the door behind them.

“That was bold,” Sebastian said to Wesley, in an admiring tone.

“He hardly left us much choice,” Wesley said. “He was quite curt for a doctor, did you notice? You’ll likely think me insufferably entitled, but I don’t expect the Harley Street lot to address me in that tone.”

“Do you usually barge in and raid their medical bags?”

Wesley’s lips twitched. “Fair enough. I’ll say again that something about him feels familiar, although I’ll be damned if I can think where I might have seen him.

” He held out what he’d grabbed from Dr. Wright’s bag—aspirin, gauze, and a bottle of vitamin tonic.

“Come on. Let’s see if Brodigan can scry anything from these. ”

* * *

Wesley and Sebastian skipped the first-class dinner, instead joining Arthur and Rory in the second-class dining hall. Wesley gave Rory the items, and they kept guard while he scried, running his hands over each item in turn.

But it was as before.

“Nothing.” Rory opened his eyes, looking frustrated. “I mean, not nothing nothing. I can see them leave the factory. I can see the pharmacist put them out on a shelf. But I can’t see who bought them.”

Wesley leaned in. “Can you tell anything about the pharmacy where they were purchased?”

“I’d bet New York, or close by, maybe even recently.” Rory held up the tonic. “This was displayed in the front window. There was a tree outside with leaves in fall colors.”

“Is it Dr. Wright that’s blocking Rory’s magic, then?” Arthur said, frowning.

“He said he hadn’t given Lady Nora any pills,” Sebastian said. “He could be lying, of course, but…”

“But his confusion did seem genuine,” Wesley agreed. “Perhaps he’s being used, whether by the Duke of Valemount or the niece.”

“Lady Nora said she’d be at the ball on Friday, yes?” Arthur said. “It still sounds like you’ll need to investigate there.”

Wesley heard Sebastian’s sigh.

After making plans to meet in the terminal building the next day after Arthur and Rory finished with customs, they parted ways. Wesley and Sebastian quietly stole down the second-class promenade and used the same staff staircase to sneak back to first class and D-deck.

But as they came up the grand stairs to C-deck, there, in the small lobby area under the chandelier, was Dr. Wright, sitting in one of the wingback chairs. He had a book in his hands and his walking stick set on his lap, and he was staring straight at them with a very flat look.

“Don Sebastian, wasn’t it?” He closed the book. “And Lord Fine, of course. How’s your fever ?”

Wesley had the distinct sense he and Sebastian had just been called liars.

Wesley cleared his throat. “Still feeling a bit ill, actually,” he said easily. “Don Sebastian was kind enough to accompany me to get some broth.”

“Mmm,” Dr. Wright said noncommittally. He still wore his hat and glasses, and with his thick beard it was nearly impossible to read his true expression in the dim lighting of the landing. “Well, I’m sure you’re headed to your rooms now for your rest. Don’t let me keep you.”

He opened his book, sitting back in his chair with an air of someone settling in. Wesley and Sebastian exchanged a look and began to make their way down the hall. “Why is he reading there ?” Sebastian said under his breath, as they walked. “Why not the drawing room, or the lounge?”

“He has a perfect view of C-deck’s halls from that spot,” Wesley said, just as quietly. “Was he watching for us? Did he decide that if we’re going to barge into his room, he’s going to watch us back?”

They were at the door to Wesley’s stateroom now. Sebastian glanced over his shoulder. “He’s still there. You better go into your own room alone. But lock your door and don’t let anyone in, Wes.”

Wesley wanted to argue. But there was still a possibility that the doctor was an unknowing accomplice, to either the duke or Lady Nora, and all he would see was two men sharing a very small room, with a single bed, very late.

Wesley would be bringing Sebastian as his guest to at least the Beckley Hunt Ball; probably best to avoid the chance of rumors spreading.