Page 78 of Disturbing the Dead
“Who Mallory was,” Isla says gently. “Before her accident. That is immaterial in the current context.”
“It is hardly—” Mrs. Wallace softens her voice. “I am sorry, Mrs. Ballantyne, I did not mean to speak to you that way.”
Isla’s faint eye roll suggests Mrs. Wallace’s show of deference is for my benefit. While I know how much Mrs. Wallace adores Isla and Gray, it’s with the adoration—and occasional exasperation—of an aunt who dotes on her younger relatives but sees the need to nudge them now and then, to keep them on the path.
“Yes, yes,” Isla says. “You may speak freely here, Mrs. Wallace. Duncan and I have no concerns that Mallory will do anything untoward at the market nor use the visit for anything but the intended purpose, which is to represent herself as a young woman with an item to trade and possibly hoping to pave the way for future enterprise.”
“What are you taking to trade? It cannot be some bauble, however valuable.”
“A Hand of Glory. That’s—”
“If you are hoping to pass off a mere severed limb as a true Hand of Glory, they will see through that ruse in an instant, and you will damage Queen Mab’s reputation.”
“It’s an actual Hand of Glory. I can show it to you, if you like. It’s downstairs.”
I have, for once, rendered the indomitable Mrs. Wallace speechless.
“Downstairs?” she says.
“Duncan found it,” Isla says, “and bought it for Mallory as a gift.”
Mrs. Wallace assimilates this. Then her gaze hardens. “If Dr. Gray bought you this item as a gift—and I cannot believe I am saying that—and you are traipsing off to the underground market to give away something he purchased at great expense—”
Isla cuts in. “Duncan is aware of what we are doing, and he agrees with Mallory using the hand to gain entry in hopes of furthering the case.” Isla meets the housekeeper’s gaze. “If you believe you know who Mallory is meeting, then you know we would not attempt to misuse her in any way. We would not dare.”
Mrs. Wallace looks from me to Isla. Then she says, “I will accompany Cat—Mallory.”
She’s making a concession here, calling me Mallory, but Isla shakes her head.
“If someone else could go, I would,” Isla says. “Or Duncan.”
“No disrespect, ma’am, but that would be, frankly, ridiculous. Your brother’s growing reputation makes it impossible for him to disguise himself in a place that is expecting disguises. And you are a proper lady, unable to act as anything but a proper lady.”
Isla’s expression makes Mrs. Wallace’s grim countenance soften in a near smile. “That is not an insult, Mrs. Ballantyne.”
“It most certainly is, and one I will rectify at another time, with Mallory’s training.”
“Aye, something tells me Miss Mallory would be an excellent teacher for such things.”
“And that,” I say, “I will take as a compliment.”
“You cannot go, Mrs. Wallace,” Isla says. “Our contact was clear on that. Only Mallory may accompany her.”
“I know Queen Mab. I have not seen her in several years, but she will take me. I had oft thought of asking her to take me to the market, but by the time I was in a position to do so, I was no longer engaged in work that would benefit from such a visit.”
“That work being… in the circus?” I prompt.
“I will accompany you to the meeting point,” Mrs. Wallace says, ignoring my question, as expected. “If Queen Mab does not wish to take me further, I will not argue the matter. That is settled. On to dressing Miss Mallory appropriately.”
“Fairy wings?” I say. “Please tell me I get to wear fairy wings.”
Mrs. Wallace looks at me. Then she gives a slow smile. And with that smile, I know I’m in trouble.
TWENTY-FIVE
“I am not wearing this in public,” I say as I stand in front of Isla’s full-length mirror.
Behind me, Gray’s lips twitch. “I think you look ador—”
