CHAPTER 33

I blinked at Alec in shock, unable at first to find my tongue. "Have you—"

He shook his head before I could finish the question. "Ardmore knows me, remember. I couldn't risk showing myself."

I'd momentarily forgotten Alec's history with Ardmore. How he'd questioned Alec's decision to flee Brussels when his position as a staff officer in the German Army had been compromised, rather than brazen it out. Never mind that Alec had been embedded with the Germans for over six years—since before the war—and never lost his nerve. Never mind that several of our intelligence sources had indicated he was about to be apprehended and almost certainly face torture and death. It was why I'd gone into Belgium after him to guide him back to relative safety in the neutral Netherlands.

Fortunately, the other officers in Alec's debriefing hadn't questioned his decision or his bravery. But then again, those officers also hadn't been mentioned in a confidential German Army report like Ardmore was. It had been the source of Alec's downfall when he'd bungled an attempt to get a better look at it. As such, he'd been understandably leery of Ardmore ever since, making his suspicions of His Lordship older than mine.

"Do you know why Collins is in contact with him?" I asked, feeling the vague stirrings of my apprehension begin to solidify.

"Not entirely. But I know Mick seems to think Ardmore means to help. That he could be a valuable ally." Alec's voice was strained, telling me he wasn't pleased by this.

"Have you told him about your history with Ardmore? Have you told him what we know he's capable of?"

"Yes. And I warned him that Ardmore is almost certainly playing both sides and hoping to profit from it. Mick didn't seem surprised by anything I said. But then, he's no simpleton. He probably took Ardmore's measure long ago."

"I don't know. He seems to have a lot of people fooled." Including most of British Intelligence and the government.

"Aye, but those people aren't outwitting the might of the British Empire and its unlimited resources simply by willpower and strategic connivance. By refusing to play the game their way, no matter how often they change the rules, or how much they malign us for it," he muttered dryly.

He was right. We British did have a tendency to write the rule book and then expect everyone to play by it, whether it was to their benefit or not, and then cry foul when they didn't. It was a timeworn strategy, and the Restoration of Order in Ireland Act was merely the latest effort to enforce their playbook.

"Mick is no fool," he stated firmly. "If we've seen through Ardmore, he will, too."

"I'm glad you have so much faith in him considering all you've risked in joining his side," I replied, choosing my words with care. "But there's too much at stake for me to simply take you at your word, Alec. Does Collins know about the phosgene?"

Alec's brow furrowed, answering my question for me.

"Does he know where it is?"

"No. Though Ardmore has told him it's at his disposal."

"Alec," I gasped in alarm.

"Mick's not going to use it, Ver," he argued. "Not unless the Brits use it first. It's merely a precaution."

Then that letter Bennett had showed Sidney was correct. The rebels were looking to secure biological weapons at least as a means of retaliation.

"But Alec, even then."

"Eager to save our brave troops?" he sneered.

"From such a fate? Yes," I retorted angrily. "But I'm equally concerned about saving the innocent population of Ireland. You know as well as I do that poisonous gas is not so easily deployed. That it can billow where it wishes. Even as often as not, back at those who released it in the first place. And what of the reprisals that would follow?"

I shuddered at the thought of the Black and Tans and other Crown Forces running amuck after such an attack. Discipline was already lax—purposely or not. There would be no control if the republicans utilized such a weapon, regardless of the fact the British had used it first.

I could see that Alec was not unaffected by my words, and I pressed him further.

"You may trust Collins, but I know that you don't trust Ardmore any more than I do. And while that phosgene is in his hands, he could do anything with it. He may claim he's keeping it in reserve for the republicans' use if needed, but since when has he ever made his intentions so plain?"

"Never," he conceded.

"Mark me, he plans to use it for something unexpected, something heinous. Perhaps even blackmail or to frame Collins and the rebels. But certainly not the one he's stated."

Alec eyed me unhappily, but I could see I'd gotten my point across.

"So you're saving us now?" he quipped. "From infamy?"

"That's not what . . ." I began to retort until I caught sight of the tiny quirk at the corner of his lips. I might have retaliated for his twigging my tail, but I was simply too relieved to be on equal footing about something.

"I'll speak to Mick again," he assured me. "If nothing else, maybe he can convince Ardmore to at least hand the phosgene over into our care."

I shook my head. "He won't. You know he won't." He didn't counter this, and I took it as agreement, allowing my gaze to follow his across the water to the traffic passing along the opposite quay. "I'm worried, Alec," I confessed, allowing the nameless fear that had been lurking inside me to surface. "Why is Ardmore here? You know he doesn't do anything without a very specific reason. So why now? What is he planning?"

Yes, there was the financial crisis facing Dublin Corporation and many other local and county councils throughout Ireland, which Ardmore may or may not be intending to take advantage of. But he didn't need to be here to do that. He didn't need to come here himself to toy with me either. He could have tasked Willoughby to do it.

No, there must be a specific reason for him being here and now. But what?

Alec reached out to grip my hand where it rested against the cement bulwark, pulling me out of my fretful contemplation. "We'll figure it out, Ver. You and me." His gaze swept over my features, as tangible as a caress, and then retreated. "And Sidney." His hand moved away from mine. "Where is he, by the way?" He looked over his shoulder. "I'm surprised he let you come alone."

"I convinced him it would be less conspicuous." I turned to peer down the quay in the direction I'd come. "Though he could still be watching us from somewhere." Sidney trusted me. I knew that. But I also knew he didn't trust Alec. At least, not where I was concerned. And I couldn't blame him, considering my and Alec's past.

"I suppose this means we'll be remaining in Ireland a bit longer," I replied, striving for a lightness I didn't feel. "That is, if Sidney agrees." My resolution from the week before remained firm. I wouldn't make any decisions without him.

But Alec was a different story. Though given how hard he'd been trying to convince me to leave, I was curious how he would react.

"You could always return home and let Sidney and me handle it," he suggested hopefully.

The glare I turned on him let him know how I felt about that.

He shrugged remorselessly. "It was worth a shot."

Church bells began to chime across the river and a second later from somewhere south of us, reminding us of the hour. The blue of the sky had deepened, sharpening the angles of the feathered clouds above. The smell of hot ink wafted from the printing works behind us, blown out toward the river by the same wind that played with the ends of my auburn hair curling out from beneath the brim of my ivory cloche hat.

"You should know," Alec said, trying to sound offhanded, but I noted the watchfulness in his gaze. "Mick seems determined to recruit you."

"That won't happen," I stated flatly.

He turned to lean his hip against the balustrade. "You sound confident, but he can be very persuasive."

I arched a single eyebrow, my voice turning wry. "Undoubtedly." He'd recruited Alec, hadn't he?

"He doesn't underestimate the value of women, or their minds," he assured me.

"I don't dispute it. Some of his best agents are female, no doubt." This was spoken lightly, but a spark of interest still lit Alec's eyes. "But I won't do it, Alec. I'll keep his secrets and yours. But I won't spy for Collins. Don't even try," I warned, wondering if Collins had tasked him with this very thing.

He dipped his head in acceptance, though I knew better than to think this discussion was over. "Neutral, then?"

"I suppose." I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "Sidney and I are here to find those phosgene cylinders and stop Ardmore. Nothing more."

"Come on, love. Don't look at me like that," Alec cajoled, flashing me his blinding smile. "You may not trust Mick yet, but you know you can trust me."

I'd thought so, but I was just remembering something I'd meant to confront him about. "Interesting how Lieutenant Delagrange ended up dead just days after I was so injudicious as to grouse about his crimes in front of you both."

Alec held up his hands in a display of innocence. "That wasn't me. And it wasn't Mick either. Not after the way he called me on the mat after hearing about it. Mick has a strict policy about no unauthorized shootings and no revenge killings. It's detrimental to the cause, and considering the fact we're not all aware of who's working for who, might result in the murder of some of our own inside men. Or women."

"You truly didn't do it?" I pressed, easing down from the high dudgeon I was working myself into.

"No, Ver. I swear. And I don't know who did."

I'd thought for certain he or Collins was responsible. The timing had been right. But Alec's reaction was convincing, as were his arguments. I'd heard from other sources how selective Collins was about those he marked for assassination.

"Delagrange was knifed, not shot, right?"

I nodded.

"Not our method. It's too difficult to ensure the attack is fatal."

Inwardly, I shrank away from this comment, not wanting to imagine Alec in such a role.

"It was skillfully done," I told him, for Sidney had ferreted out a number of details about the attack from Bennett. Details that the general public wasn't aware of. "Whoever it was, they knew exactly what they were doing." Which certainly didn't suggest a random thief or a disgruntled prostitute.

Alec's expression turned pensive. "Could it be Ardmore?"

"Ardmore doesn't get his hands—" I began heatedly before breaking off. "Willoughby," I practically growled as I recalled his presence in Dublin.

"That captain who saved our bacon in Wiltshire?"

"At the behest of Ardmore," I reminded him. "And I assure you, he's done a lot less noble things at the behest of Ardmore as well. Including murder."

His brow furrowed in contemplation. "He was once a Naval Intelligence officer, right?"

"Yes. And the timing of his arrival here in Dublin is just about right." I frowned, not liking the picture that was forming. "Sidney and I have already been speculating about how Ardmore knew about Miss Kavanagh's assault and how her assailants were probably not members of the IRA. Maybe Ardmore's connection was directly to Delagrange."

"Making him a liability," Alec pronounced gravely.

One that perhaps had outlived his usefulness.

"Can you remember any connection to someone named Delagrange in that dossier you put together on Ardmore?" I asked.

Alec considered and then shook his head. "Not unless it was a detail so minor it slipped my notice."

I sighed in discouragement.

There was suddenly shouting from the direction of the bridge near the far shore, though we couldn't see who was making the ruckus. However, Alec seemed to have some idea.

"You should return home, Ver. Before it gets too late."

"Why?"

His brow furrowed. "The British Navy prevented Archbishop Daniel Mannix from landing in Ireland. Apparently, he drew massive crowds in New York, where he spoke out in opposition to English rule in Ireland, and the authorities weren't about to let that happen here. So instead they diverted him from his ship bound for Cork, to Penzance."

"They detained him in England?"

"At least, for the moment," Alec confirmed, surveying those around us guardedly. "But we expect trouble tonight. People are angry. About the coercion bill and everything else. This stunt is merely the latest provocation. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some clashes with Crown Forces before the night is through." He turned to look at me. "You should go home before the trouble starts. No one is safe in a mob," he pronounced solemnly.

I stepped away, knowing he was right.

"I'll be in touch," he promised, though the look in his eyes was conflicted.

"Be safe," I urged him before turning to go, a conscious echo of what I'd said to him the last time I'd seen him in London before he'd set out for Ireland. I'd wondered then if he had anyone else to tell him so. Now I felt fairly confident he didn't.

I didn't look back, allowing him at least the illusion that I didn't know he shadowed me for several blocks. Or perhaps he was merely bound for his next meeting. Near the corner of Nassau and Dawson Street I heard the distinctive rattle of Collins's bicycle chain and wondered.

* * *

Sidney was waiting for me in our private sitting room when I returned. I spared him the effort of poking and prodding, relaying everything Alec had told me up front, including his remark that Collins wished to recruit me. He listened intently, interrupting periodically for clarification, but otherwise remained quiet as I paced back and forth.

Once I'd finished, I plopped down on the settee next to him, staring down at the painted floor. "Once this bill receives Royal assent tomorrow, things are almost certain to get worse. Matters could seriously deteriorate. And quickly. Knowing that, knowing we have no idea where the phosgene actually is other than the vague notion that it's somewhere in or near Dublin . . ." I looked up, meeting his deep midnight-blue eyes. "Do we stay?"

The corners of his lips lifted unexpectedly. "Are you trying to talk me out of it?"

"No, but I am trying to be realistic." My eyes pleaded with him, wanting him to tell me what we should do.

Seeing this, his amusement faded, and he reached for my hand. "What do you want to do?"

"No! Don't ask me that," I exploded, pushing to my feet again.

"Why?" he asked calmly.

"Because I don't know. I'm . . . I'm terrified of what may happen to you, to me if we stay. And I'm terrified of what may happen if we don't. So don't ask me what the right thing to do is, because I don't know!"

Sidney stood, grasping hold of my shoulders as I paced past him again, forcing me to look at him. His eyes when I met them ached with uncertainty. "But here's the thing, Ver. I don't know either."

Contradictory as it may have been, this made me feel better. At least I wasn't the only one shaken by all this and frightened by what was to come. At least I wasn't alone.

I stepped into his embrace, clutching him as tightly as he held me. My breathing was shallow, and I forced myself to inhale deeply, drawing his scent into my lungs once, twice, and then a third time. Gradually, I began to feel the knots of dread loosen and the haze of my panic begin to recede.

One step at a time, I told myself. The same mantra that had seen me through countless difficult and perilous situations during the war and after. Just take it one step at a time.

"Bennett and Ames," I said, lifting my head from Sidney's shoulder. "Do you trust them to find this phosgene? Do you trust Ardmore not to somehow interfere or influence them if they do?"

In place of his answer, he posed a question of his own. "Collins and Xavier. Do you trust them to coax the phosgene out of Ardmore's hands? Do you trust them to do the right thing with it if they do?"

The simple answer was no. I wanted to trust Alec and that he would be able to convince Collins to do the right thing. But I also recognized that the Big Fellow exerted a strong influence over Alec. One that might be even stronger than his conscience.

However, there was no need to say this aloud, for Sidney could read my response as well as I could read his. There was no one here in Ireland we could trust to see this through to the end but ourselves.

"We can't leave, can we?" I murmured, daring to speak the truth.

"I'm afraid we'll never forgive ourselves if we do and the worst happens," he replied solemnly.

I sighed, resting my forehead against the center of his chest. "What an awfully noble pair we are," I quipped, sometimes wishing that wasn't the case.

Sidney chuckled humorlessly. "For better or for worse, it's who we are."

"I suppose at least we got that part of the vows right," I murmured.

He smiled sadly and I arched up onto my toes, wrapping my arms around his neck to hold him close. For a dreadful premonition had fluttered within me. And I could only pray this decision wasn't one we would eternally regret.