"Explain."

Mr Ambrose's iron command could not be challenged.

The masked man swallowed. "There...there are secret depots hidden throughout the city. Coal. Gunpowder. God only knows what else. They were originally supposed to serve as war supplies in case of an attack on the city. But now that the city itself has rebelled..."

The man's voice trailed off meaningfully.

That didn't fly with Mr Rikkard Ambrose.

"Now what?"

"It's all going up in flames." A shudder went through the man's body. "He never said explicitly what he was planning, but he was muttering the entire time. Muttering about fire and destruction, and showing the savages who was in charge here. Muttering about ending it all in one big, fiery explosion."

Lifting his gaze, he met my husband's eyes. "He's going to detonate the central gunpowder depot of the East India Company. That place is hidden right underneath the poorest areas of the city, where all the buildings are made of wood. If it explodes, the whole city will be turned into a fiery hell."

For a long moment, only the dripping and gurgling of dirty water could be heard in the tunnel. The silence ended abruptly when Mr Rikkard Ambrose lashed out, slamming his fist into the masked man's face. The man's head was rammed into the wall behind him, and he slumped forward, unconscious.

Rising to his feet, Mr Ambrose swept his gaze over all of us

"Let's go."

"Are...are we just going to leave him here?" Adaira asked hesitantly. "He told us everything like you wanted."

Mr Ambrose cocked his head. "Did I promise to rescue him if he talked?"

Adaira's mouth opened slightly, as if she were about to say something—then, after a moment, it closed again.

"We've wasted enough time, everybody. Move!"

And he headed down the tunnel the masked men had come from.

"Wait...wait just a minute." This time, it was I who was left with my mouth agape in astonishment as I stared at my husband. "You are going to rescue a city? Without charging for it?"

"Has it escaped your notice, Mrs Ambrose, that we are still within the limits of said city? How do you know we will be able to leave this place before it goes up in flames?"

I swallowed. "I...I don't."

"Indeed. Neither do I. Besides..." Over his shoulder, he glanced straight at me, and his eyes abruptly turned as cold as cold as the very heart of the arctic. "Dalgliesh."

My fists clenched. He was right. Dalgliesh. That one word explained it all. I would be damned if I let that man succeed in anything—let alone burning an entire city full of people alive, us possibly included.

So I nodded. "I'm on board."

"Karim?" Mr Ambrose enquired.

He didn't have to explain what he was asking.

Without hesitation, the big bodyguard placed his hand on the butt of his sabre. "As ever at your command, Sahib."

"Adaira?"

"Well, I sure as heck won't let you risk your neck alone." Grim-faced, Adaira tightened the grip on her revolver. "Let's do this!"

"Then it's decided." Gesturing to us to get moving, my husband once more started down the tunnel. "Let's go!"

"Err..." came a certain captain's voice from beside Adaira. "Is nobody going to ask my opinion?"

"No!"

"Ah. Just checking. Again."

"Silence!"

"Why am I suddenly starting to regret my life choices?"

Adaira's small elbow rammed into the captain's ribs. "Be quiet and move!"

"Oh," I told the despondent captain with a grin on my face. "I can probably tell you why." Abruptly, the smile on my face melted away. "He's right, though. We should really hurry."

"I know." The faux-depressed expression on Captain Carter's face disappeared in favour of a deadly serious one. "I won't abandon my future brother-in-law, no matter how much it would simplify my married life. Besides, I've sworn an oath to protect Her Majesty's subjects. As a soldier, I must fulfil my oath."

"Err...aren't the people in the city rebels who have been trying their best to kill you for the last few weeks?"

Instantly, the serious expression vanished in favour of an innocent smile. "What does that have to do with anything? Aren't rebel subjects still subjects?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Adaira's mouth twitch. "I'm not sure Her Majesty the Queen would agree with your opinion."

"Well, it's good she isn't here then, isn't it?"

"Quiet!" came a familiar cold voice from up ahead. "We are trying to catch up with Dalgliesh. Do you want to draw his attention to the fact that someone is following him?"

Abruptly, all of us fell silent.

"Let's do as he says," I whispered, placing a hand on Adaira's shoulder. "I don't like listening to that bossy ice block's orders any more than you do. But I like the idea of being blown to smithereens and burned to ash even less."

Adaira nodded. "That does make sense." Placing a hand on her holstered gun, she hastened her steps to catch up with her brother. "Let's get this done!"

***

The following hours were spent in silence and darkness. Adaira didn't know how long exactly they marched through the gloomy tunnels of the sewers. Sometimes, it felt like ages. Sometimes, it felt as if they had just set out half an hour ago. Sometimes (especially when she was close to a certain captain), she didn't really think time mattered. All that mattered was that they got out of this city before it was consumed by fire. Deep inside, she was tempted to just forget about Dalgliesh, to turn around and run.

But she didn't.

Adaira knew her brother. If that cold, calculating son of a bachelor said it was safer to go after Dalgliesh than try and flee, then it was. No ifs, ands or buts. Plus...

She glanced sideways at the stalwart silhouette of the man marching beside her in the shadows.

She also knew Captain James Carter. That stupid, stubborn, far-too-honourable man would never forsake those whom he felt honour-bound to protect. Speaking of which...

"Captain?"

"Oh my." With an injured expression on his face, he turned towards her. "You called me James before. Now it's suddenly Captain again?"

Adaira felt her face flush. Stupid! Who does something as redundant as blushing in the dark? "That...that was just in a moment of emotion. Don't expect that sort of thing any time soon."

Even in the darkness of the tunnel, she could see him theatrically place one hand over his heart. "And here I thought you loved me. Oh woe, woe is me!"

"Shh!" Adaira hissed. "Not so loud! Have you forgotten we're supposed to be stealthy?"

"Ah, right. Woe is me stealthily."

Suppressing the urge to strangle the man she loved, Adaira elbowed him in the ribs instead. "Don't try to change the subject! I was about to ask you a question, remember?"

"Hm? What question?"

"You said something earlier...about having to protect Her Majesty's subjects, even if they're rebels."

"Yes?"

"But India is under the control of the East India Company, not the British government, right? So...do the people of India actually count as British subjects?"

"Ah. You noticed that, did you?"

A grin flashed in the shadows. And then...nothing.

"So?" she asked impatiently.

"So what?"

A gentle hand reached out to touch her cheek. In that touch, she could feel his care. His love. His unshakable determination.

He was always going to go, wasn't he? she realised. Even if I'd decided to flee the city, he would have stayed behind to stop Dalgliesh and make sure no one got hurt. Especially me.

It was stupid. It was stubborn. And...and...it made her heart pound like a drum in her chest.

This is the man I love. This is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.

Just then, Adaira heard a squeak and, looking down, spotted a rat scurrying past her. It took all her restraint not to jump out of her shoes.

Though preferably not down here.

"Let's continue, shall we?" the captain suggested in a low voice. "Not that I would object to keeping a cute pet once we are married, but somehow I don't think you like the selection offered down here."

Married! He said we were going to get married!

Never mind that he also mentioned keeping rats as pets. Little details like that were not important.

His hand slid down, away from her face. A moment later, she felt his fingers intertwine with hers and give a gentle tug. Without a second's hesitation, she let herself be led away, down the corridor and towards her future.

***

Somewhere, not so far away down a certain tunnel, a group of masked figures clad in black marched along, led by a pale man with a lion's mane of blonde hair. They were just about to turn a corner when the blonde man stopped in his tracks and cocked his head as if listening to a distant sound.

"Williams!"

"Yes, My Lord?"

"Have Evans and the other members of the rear guard been in touch?"

"Um...no, My Lord. They haven't reported in for several hours."

The blonde man stiffened. Slowly, he turned around, and the face of Lord Daniel Eugene Dalgliesh came into view. To be precise, the distinctly displeased face of Lord Daniel Eugene Dalgliesh.

"What? I thought I gave orders for them to report in regularly!"

"You, um...you did, Your Lordship. But, so far, they haven't returned."

"They haven't, have they?" Dalgliesh's eyes narrowed. There was a momentary pause. Then... "Williams?"

"Yes, My Lord?"

"How many men do we still have?"

"Three dozen, My Lord."

"Send one dozen back the way we came. If they encounter anybody ..."

"Yes, My Lord?"

"Kill them all!"

***

Steadily, we proceeded down the tunnel with Mr Ambrose in the lead and, the farther we walked, the more disturbing the surroundings became. In what way, you might ask?

Simple. They became cleaner.

Not something you would usually consider disturbing. But in a sewer underneath a huge city? It was suspicious as hell! When we reached a big, iron door, half-hidden in an alcove, with the big letters EIC engraved above the lintel, I was sure we had come the right way.

"Are you sure this is a secret depot?" I whispered, leaning over towards my husband. "How come it doesn't look like they're trying to hide this place?"

He lifted one shoulder by about a millimetre, in an Ambrose version of a shrug. "They don't really have to. Who would be stupid enough to come into a sewer to search for things?"

"Besides us, you mean?"

"Indeed. There is also the little fact that, until recently, the East India Company was in charge of this city. If they wanted to keep people away from this place and keep it secret, who could stop them?"

"True." Frowning, I stepped up to the thick metal door and tapped it lightly. The result was a sound like knocking on a solid wall. Darn. "That doesn't help us with our next problem, though. How do we get through this thing?"

"I will take care of that."

Rotating his bulky shoulders, Karim approached and took up a position as if he were about to launch himself at the door.

"Let me rephrase." I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "How can we get through this without being heard?"

"Ah. Ehem." Clearing his throat, he stepped back again. "Right."

"Allow me." Slipping past us, Captain Carter knelt in front of the door and fished a needle out of his pocket. "I had a very eventful youth," he explained as he stuck the needle into the lock. "I learned this from a fellow called Toothless Tom in the East End. He might not have had any teeth, but he always seemed to be able to get his hands on plenty of money and jewellery."

Mr Rikkard Ambrose leaned over to his sister. "Are you sure you want to marry this person?"

"Yes."

"Hm. Just don't let him anywhere near my bank vaults."

Click!

"There we go!" Captain Carter turned to send us a grin. "Easy peasy."

"Adaira?"

"Yes, brother dear?"

"Definitely keep him away from my bank vaults."

Then, without waiting for her response, my dear husband stalked forward and placed his hand on the massive door.

"From here on out, we don't say a word." His voice was no more than an icy whisper, but I heard it perfectly clearly. As did the others, judging by their expressions. "We're getting closer and closer to Dalgliesh, and that man is no fool. Now that his rear guard has not returned, his remaining men will most likely be on guard. So, not a single sound out of any of you, understood?"

We all nodded solemnly.

"Ready?"

In response, Karim lifted his sabre. Adaira and I drew our guns. And Captain Carter...Captain Carter stood there, smiling awkwardly. "Does anyone have a spare weapon?"

Mr Ambrose threw him a look. "You have your pin."

Then he pushed open the door and stalked into the darkness beyond. I didn't waste a second before following him. Dalgliesh was somewhere ahead. Dalgliesh, the man who tried to kill me, my husband, and my baby!

There would be no mercy.

Speaking of mercy...

I pulled out a knife that I had grabbed off of one of the masked men earlier and threw it to Captain Carter. He caught it with a broad grin.

"Be sure to put it to good use."

"Yes, Ma'am!" He saluted, and then fell into stride next to Adaira, eyes sweeping vigilantly from left to right. Good man.

Together, we moved forward into the darkness. Karim was marching at the front, sabre at the ready. Mr Ambrose and I were right behind him, and the last two brought up the rear.

"Now everyone, remember," Mr Ambrose whispered in a voice that was almost inaudible. "Not one word, lest we attract the enemy's attention."

I nodded. Or rather, was about to—when, suddenly, figures emerged from the shadows ahead. Then even more emerged from the sides, encircling us, weapons raised. All of them were wearing familiar dark cloth masks and black clothes.

I swallowed.

"You were saying, Sir?"

-------------------------------------------------

My dear Readers,

I hope Dalgliesh's plan is sufficiently villainous. ;-) One more chapter left before the big showdown with His Lordship!

Yours Truly

Sir Rob