Page 34 of The Assassin and the Libertine
“Yes. I was not turned here. And before you ask,no, I did not bring the plague to the city. By the time I returned from my travels abroad, it had already taken hold.”
“I did not think—” she defended.
I cut her off. “Yes, you did. I don’t blame you. You’re not the first to wonder such a thing, particularly because I’m the oldest vampire in the city as far as I know. I contracted the disease while traveling through Hungary. It took hold in that region long before and has been slowly spreading east for some time now. The wars that Louis has been fighting all over eastern Europe have advanced the spread faster thanla grande verole,thanks to all the eager soldiers.”
“La grande verole?The great pox?” Daphne sat forward. “Syphilis!”
I arched a brow. “…yes? What about it?”
“Quicksilver!” she said with excitement. “Don’t you see? Quicksilver is a treatment for syphilis.”
I could see where she was going with this, but it still wasn’t enough.
“Yes, but anyone can get their hands on quicksilver these days, not just physicians. Any corner chemist will have it.”
She sat back, defeated. “Yes, you’re right. I was hoping we could match the handwriting on the instructions to a receipt—maybe a signature, or a prescription. Perhaps a chemist would recognize it. But that would take too much time—questioning every chemist and physician in the city. The quicksilver and the ring seem to be dead ends for us at the moment. So far, we know that someone murdered Jeanne and stole her ring. It’s possible that same person is familiar with vampiric poisons, knows Josephine’smaisonis connected to you, and sent Brigitte after you. Oh, and that if it is the same person, they want you dead.”
“You don’t think it was The Order?”
She shook her head. “I considered it at first, but it doesn’t fit. They might want you out of the way, but they wouldn’t chance sending another agent into my assignment. It would be too messy. Much of their power lies in their ability to operate in shadow, so they only authorize operations that can be easily and thoroughly covered up. Besides, if they suspect that you’re under my protection at the moment, they won’t run the risk of antagonizing me.”
I was taken aback by the matter-of-fact way she spoke about her abilities. Given her marriage, I was sure her confidence had been hard-won, and I felt a peculiar sense of pride in thinking that she didn’t fear the men in The Order—rather, that they should be intimidated by her. That was the truth. I smiled.
“Am I under your protection?”
Her eyes narrowed. “When it comes to The Order, you are.At the moment.And I shouldn’t need to remind you, but that doesn’t mean you’re safe frommeindefinitely.”
I chuckled. “Promises, promises.”
We sat in companionable silence for a while. Finally, the carriage came to a stop across from a dark alley.
“Put on your cloak,” I instructed. “Pull the hood up and donotremove it for any reason. Do not speak. Do not touch anything. Do not go anywhere without me. In fact, donotleave my side. If things should go wrong for any reason—well, let’s just hope they don’t.”
Fear clawed at me. Certainly not for my own safety, but for Daphne’s. This was a terrible idea.
“Are you ready?” I asked.Last chance to wise up and back out, Duchesse.
She nodded once, steel in her eyes.I should have known.
I sighed, resigned.
She pulled her hood up, obscuring her face. I was less concerned about her being seen and more concerned with herbeing smelled. Beneath the mouth-watering orange blossom and vanilla fragrance wafted the sweetness of her blood. At this time of night, I hoped most would have already found their food and entertainment. Dawn would soon approach.
We stepped from the carriage and hurried down the alley. Daphne clung to my arm and a thrill went through me, though I suspected it was less to do with any fear or desire she felt and more to do with the fact that she could not see as well as I in the near blackness of night. I could hear carousing down a few side streets and smelled blood, both fresh and stale. We passed by a knot of people outside a tavern and I picked up our pace. Just as we cleared the group, a man called out to me.
“Monsieur! Fancy sharing your bite?” He cackled drunkenly. A few others turned.
“Not tonight, my good man,” I tried jovially. Daphne stiffed beside me.
“Aw, come on,” he jeered. “Be a sport. She looks tasty and I haven’t had anything this evening. I won’t take too much, love.”
“I’m afraid I’m too hungry to share and I’ve already paid for the privilege,” I said. I moved Daphne along as quickly as I could without drawing more notice. Unfortunately, the man followed with two of his friends.
“That’s not very brotherly,” he sang. The others laughed.
Nearly jogging, Daphne and I made a sharp right down a narrow street. Only one window at the end of the street flickered with candlelight, casting a dim pool of dingy amber on a stone wall.A dead end. Merde.
I pushed Daphne behind me and faced the men. Two would be no problem. Three would be troublesome. I could smell their newly turned blood, which meant I had the advantage of increased speed and strength. They would probably fight recklessly, as most new vampires do, which made themdangerously unpredictable. I leaned casually on my walking stick, affecting an air of nonchalance.
