Page 50 of A Game of Scandal

“Thank—” I started to say, but a furious hammering on the door stopped me short.

The door flew open, almost off its hinges, and Maud tumbled in.

“Something going on in Whitechapel,” she said breathlessly, taking in my presence with no sign of surprise. “I was watching that empty warehouse Laing bought and there’s finally been some activity. Men delivering boxes. One of ’em was open and I saw a distillation bottle like Win has. It’s gone quiet now, but I don’t know how long that will last. If you want to have a look, it had better be tonight.”

Sylla was already pulling on a pair of dark gloves. Izzy had lifted a ring from a hook on the wall that held a set of lock picks, then tucked it away into her pocket.

“Should have worn my breeches,” she muttered.

“There’s a change of clothes for you in the store cupboard,” Mrs Finch told her. “We have time to wait if you hurry.”

Izzy left the room without another word.

“You should take me with you,” I blurted.

“Felicity,” Mrs Finch said gently.

“I take it you haven’t got time to reach Winnie?” I asked.

Maud shook her head. “It would take too long to sneak her out at this time of night.”

“And Maud saw a distillation bottle,” I pointed out, feeling my determination harden. “I’m not Win, but if there’s scientific equipment in there, I’ll at least be able to make a guess at what it means.”

The words hung in the air for a moment. Mrs Finch nodded. “Felicity is right,” she said to the others.

Izzy hurried back into the room, dressed in boy’s clothes.

“Felicity is coming with us.” Sylla spoke the words flatly, clearly anticipating – as I had done – that Izzy would protest.

Izzy’s eyes flickered to me, and then she nodded. “Good,” she replied, and I had the sudden urge to throw my arms around her, despite the whole life-or-death situation. All four of them hummed with energy, and it was clear that they were relieved to have something tangible to do. I understood; I felt the same.

“Well, ladies.” Mrs Finch’s eyes gleamed. “Shall we go?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“There are only two guards,” Maud said, once we were all in the carriage, pulling a notepad and pen from her pocket. She drew a rough plan of the area and marked where the sentries would be on guard. “Unfortunately they look like they know what they’re doing.”

“Anyone you recognize?” Izzy asked.

Maud shook her head. “Never seen them before.”

“We’ll need to incapacitate this one nearer the front at least,” Sylla said, tapping the paper. “That way Izzy can get past and pick the lock on the side door here. Any chance we’ll be able to pull a distraction on the other?”

Maud tipped her head to one side, considering. “A bit of flirtation might work. If not, I’ll … help him into unconsciousness.” She winked at me.

“We can’t risk running a distraction with the man closest to the front,” Sylla said, her brisk tones those of a commander utterly focused on her plans. “Not with Izzy so exposed. He needs to be taken out at once. As quietly as possible.”

“I can handle that,” Mrs Finch said calmly. “Maud, make sure you empty the man’s pockets. Better if we can make it look like they were the target of a simple robbery.”

Maud nodded in agreement as Mrs Finch continued.

“I’ve told Sara to stop here,” she said, referencing the silent woman in a dark coat who drove the carriage we currently occupied. She gestured on the plan to a short, dead-end road one building over from the warehouse that we were focused on. “You three get into position here. Once I have my man incapacitated, I’ll signal, then stand guard. Izzy can pick the lock, and Sylla and Felicity will enter the building with her.”

Izzy turned to me, her face serious. “You must follow every instruction you are given,” she said. “This is no game, Felicity, it could be dangerous. If Sylla or I tell you to go, then you start running and you don’t look back. Do you understand?”

I nodded, swallowing hard against the sudden knot of fear rising in my throat. I wondered if the four other women were as calm as they looked.

“If you don’t hear from us in fifteen minutes, assume we’ve been compromised,” Sylla said to Mrs Finch.