^^Above: English actor Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy vibes, anyone??) as (Lord) Charles Ashbury.^^

Thomas

A month went by before I was completely satisfied with my statement for the investors. I had never met any of them, nor did I know who Ray would decide to bring in. People were reluctant to put their money in anything at the moment. The war had certainly changed many people's ideas about it.

Emmeline's condition, meanwhile, improved in fits and starts. One day, she would be able to keep a light meal down; the next, she would be vomiting it back up. A few nights, we were woken by her terrified screaming, and would only sleep again if I stayed next to her. And she could still never be left by herself. I found myself wondering if her captor had left her alone for long periods of time, simply for the agony of thinking she might go mad.

We were having breakfast together when the letter from London came. The envelope bore a wax seal that I had never seen before, and was addressed with a neatly flowing hand to Cpt. Earl Dorchester Thomas Haywood, Esquire.

I unfolded it and flattened it out. Dear Sir, it read. We trust this letter finds you well. It has been brought to our attention that there is an important matter that needs to be discussed regarding the Elementals. Therefore we request your presence at Westminster, London, on the fifteenth. There we will make a final decision as investors in the venture. We look forward to meeting you, and to our partnership. Sincerely Right Hon. Charles Ashbury, on Behalf of the Organisation for Elemental Advancement.

I sat back and thought about it for a moment. The fifteenth was four days from now. It took two days to reach London from here, which meant I only had two days to prepare the house. Not only that, but I only had one good suit of clothes. A country squire such as myself did not often have to be well-dressed except for social events. Or go to Westminster, for that matter.

||

The two days passed quickly. I put Lucian in charge of the tenants, and Mrs Shute and Peggy shared duties regarding Emmeline. I packed a bag, and then re-packed it. It was moments like these that I thought of my family, and how I had lost them in the space of less than two years. The man I saw in the mirror in the mornings was no longer one I recognised. He had been clean, well-groomed, with an air of reckless gallantry and a head full of dreams of glory. Now he had hollow cheeks, an unshaven jaw, dark hair grown wild, and jaded eyes. Not to mention the scar, running parallel to the left brow.

The morning of my departure, I rose early to shave and dress. If I was going to be presenting myself to the gentlemen of Westminster, I had to look the part. Father had always told us that a gentleman prided himself on the way he behaved in front of his fellow men.

"I can't say I've ever been to London myself, milord," said Lucian when I met him in the entrance hall with my packed bag. "Not since I was a child, at least."

"I will say it is quite a bustling city." I'd gone to school near London, and the constant rush and noise proved to be quite draining. "A sensory overstimulation."

"We'll wish you luck, milord," said Mrs Shute as she joined us, with Emmeline trailing behind. She was still very waif-like in appearance, and rather diminished in my brother's clothes. I would have to start thinking of a visit to the tailor in town to fit her for better ones. "And the maid wanted to see you off."

"But of course." I approached Emmeline, catching her thin shoulders and holding her gaze steadily. "Emmeline, I have to leave for a few days. There is business I must attend to."

"Where?" she asked. She was much more confident when she spoke now, but still had not progressed beyond one-syllable sentences.

"London. Which means we will not see each other for some time. Can you manage?"

Something flashed behind her eyes, so quickly I was unable to see what it was. "Yes."

"Are you sure? Your nightmares will not keep you awake?" She had, after all, been in a hostage situation. The mistrust that stemmed from that was unlike any other.

She shook her head.

"All right." I leaned forward, cupping her cheek and kissing her forehead between her eyebrows. "I'll be back before you realise I'm gone."

When I pulled back from her, she caught my wrist suddenly, stopping me. "Thomas..."

That was the first time she'd said my name. I was so taken aback I didn't answer.

"Thank you," she said, quietly.

"It was no trouble at all," I said, when I recovered. Gently I set my hand on top of hers.

Just barely, almost imperceptibly, one corner of her mouth went up. For one who had experienced what she had, she was coming along remarkably well.

||

London was a place of constant movement. The streets flowed with pedestrians and horse carts, and all of them were in a hurry to get somewhere, jostling as they did. I peered out the window as the carriage rattled along, unaccustomed to brick and stone all around. And yet, as my father said, it was a great city, here before any of us were born and would remain long after we'd gone as well.

The coach dropped me at the Leicester Square address Ray had sent — apparently he had friends in high places that allowed for certain liberties such as this. I had neither the money nor the inclination to have two houses. One was plenty.

"Captain Thomas Haywood?" asked the footman answering the door. "Lord Dorchester?"

"One and the same," I replied.

He bowed. "Very good. This way, sir."

I followed him inside, entering a grand foyer with a sweeping staircase that led up to a gallery. The walls were whitewashed, a luxury in itself. It gave the house a certain refined air, no bare wood or stone anywhere.

The footman showed me into the parlour, a room with a high vaulted ceiling and hung with drapes and tapestries. Out the window, there was a near-panoramic view of the square.

"Tom!" Ray's voice came from behind, and as I turned around saw him entering. "You made it all in one piece, I see?"

"I did." I was still sore from the carriage ride, and not looking forward to the prospect of more sitting in front of the men of Elemental Advancement. But they had requested our presence, and we would be appearing before them as they asked.

"Well, come then, I'll show you to your room. Arrived a bit earlier than expected, I must say. However did you do it?"

"We only stopped once at an inn for a few hours. The coachman was afraid of being robbed." I followed him up the stairs, my feet sinking into the thick red carpet covering them.

"Highwaymen," Ray grumbled, running his hand over his sandy hair. "Almost as bad as those privateers and smugglers put together."

"They do quite well, I hear," I said with a shrug.

"I wouldn't know," Ray answered, casting me an odd glance. "Haven't fallen in with nasty company while we've been away, have we?"

"No, no," I said quickly. "Only...with trade beginning to pick up again..."

"More goods are moving around," he finished with a nod. "Yes, of course. Beg pardon. Silly me."

The bedroom he showed me was a grand one, with a bed hung in red and gold, and wallpaper to match. The furnishing was made of a fine reddish wood, and quite unexpectedly I was reminded of the colour of Emmeline's hair. I pushed it away quickly. It was premature, to be thinking of her in that way. I hardly knew the girl.

Within two hours, we were on our way to the meeting, an address not far from St Paul's Cathedral. My finished statement was tucked into the pocket of my coat, and the idea of delivering it now seemed daunting.

"This organisation," I said, after some silence. "What does it do, exactly? I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with it."

"A rubbish name made up on the spot by that Charles Ashbury. Lord Ashbury. Pretentious twit." Ray tugged at his neckcloth in an agitated manner. "Thinks he's better than us, you know. Must have something to do with Northampton's banks."

"What does he think we do? Having no assets in the banks?" I was hardly a gentleman farmer.

"I don't know. Un-worthwhile work, I suppose."

At that moment, the carriage drew to a stop and the driver knocked on the roof. "Ludgate Hill, gents."

Ray pushed open the carriage door and climbed out ahead of me. As I emerged, I squinted up at the columned façade in front of me. The stone was a bright white, hard to look at straight on. A great set of semicircular steps led up to the carved wooden doors, with brass knockers shaped like lion's heads. Ray gave one a few good taps and then stepped back and glanced at me.

"Are you ready?" His top hat shaded his eyes, so at least he did not have to squint. My tricorn, on the other hand, was very ineffective at blocking out the sun.

I gave my own neckcloth a tug. "As ready as one can be, I suppose."

The door creaked open, revealing the sliver of a face inside. "Your business, gentlemen?"

Ray leaned forward. "Captain Haywood and Lord Radford to see the Organisation for Elemental Advancement."

"Ah, yes. You are right on time." The door opened wider. "Come in. They are expecting you."

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust as we entered. The interior was dim, with a high vaulted ceiling and wrought-metal railings. As our escort led us up the curving staircase, I tipped my head back to see above me. The ceiling was painted with a scene of clouds and cherubs, and I recalled learning about the Sistine Chapel in school. I wondered if this is what it looked like.

Every turn presented more of the same. The floor was carpeted with deep blue, so thick it muffled our footsteps. The walls were covered in fabric and not paper, and at regular intervals a painting was hung, mostly landscapes in dark oils.

We stopped at a set of double doors at the end of a corridor with gold fabric on the walls, and our escort knocked twice.

"Come in!" called a deep voice from inside.

He pushed the doors open, and we were greeted with another spacious room in the same style as the rest of the place, with a long table down the center and a fire roaring in the large fireplace at the end. The men were already assembled, in their ruffled neckcloths and powdered wigs. Collectively, they turned towards us, and we were faced with ten pairs of eyes.

"Lord Radford and Captain Haywood," said our escort, and then bowed himself out. The doors closed behind us with a decisive boom.

"Hello, gentlemen," Ray said, removing his hat. Hurriedly I did the same. "We are glad you have made the time to see us."

"You said you had a statement to make," said one voice, from the opposite end. It sounded younger than the others there. "What is it?"

Ray had to nudge me, and I snapped to attention, startled. 

"Yes. Captain Haywood has written one."

I pulled it from my coat and unfolded it, noticing it was slightly bent on one corner. Still, I smoothed it out on the table and cleared my throat.

"Gentlemen, as you know, as Elementals, we are not granted the same protections under the Crown. By this, I mean such things as safeguards against threats that endanger us alone. Over a month ago, a young woman came to my doorstep soaked with rain and covered with bruises. She was fleeing a threat, a nameless, faceless captor that beat her and threatened her. I know that the threat itself is Elemental, because this young woman is a Fire-Elemental. However, presently, there are no laws that say this cannot be done to her. There is no system in place to track the captors down and put a stop to their crimes. And most importantly, there is nothing that ensures this young woman's safety. I urge you, gentlemen, to consider. Hers may be one case out of many, but do not let this discourage you. If this threat is truly Elemental, a danger to one is a danger to all."

The room was dead silent when I finished. The fire crackled, and a few of the men cleared their throats or shifted in their chairs. I folded my statement back up and tucked it away. Their reception was enough of a sign.

"You are harbouring a young woman under your roof, Captain Haywood?" said the same voice, and then the man leaned forward, the only one not wearing a powdered wig. Grey eyes, hair so fair it was almost white, a haughty set to his mouth. "A woman with no relation to you?"

"Yes, but she is injured and half-starved–"

"And yet not married to you or hired as your help?" said the man. This was Charles Ashbury, no doubt. The haughty tone of his letter matched the one he was speaking to me with now. Ray was right – he appeared to think he was better than both of us.

"No, but that was the last thing on our mind when we were tending to her–"

"You know what people say about you, Captain?" Ashbury stood, looking down his nose at us. "You are reckless, and care nothing for social mores."

"True as that may be, I was only trying to help–"

"So you do not deny it," said Ashbury, interrupting again. "What are you going to tell us next, that you are taking this woman for your wife?"

At that there was a chuckle from a couple other men. I felt myself bristle.

"Don't be ridiculous," Ray said, now jumping to my defence. "This is a case study, gentlemen. An example from real life that shows the peril that we face. Will you not consider that?"

"Perhaps, if Captain Haywood tells us what he intends to do about this unattached young woman in his house." Ashbury's eyes narrowed. As if he could glare the answer out of me.

I folded my hands behind my back and met his gaze head-on. "I intend nothing. As soon as she is well, she may do as she chooses. And if it means she leaves me, then so be it."

"Your honour is admirable, Captain Haywood," said Ashbury, his tone cutting as he resumed his seat. "You must have been a fine soldier."

"Better to have some than none, is it not, Charles?" I raised an eyebrow at him. "Soldier or not?"

Ashbury's fists clenched and his jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

"I believe that is all we have for now, gentlemen." Ray inclined his head towards them. "Thank you for your consideration."

We said nothing until we were out on the steps again. There was still a seed of doubt in my mind, and I found myself thinking they would throw out the entire decision posthaste.

"Why did you not say anything about this young woman before, Tom?" Ray said, as we began to walk. "Was she in your house when you came to see me?"

"Yes," I said from between gritted teeth. "Why is that everyone's concern?"

"Surely you've thought about it." Ray stopped, making me double back. "Ashbury is right. People do talk, Tom. They will start saying you may have an...intimate connection to her."

The implication was enough to spark my irritation. "This woman came to my doorstep, in the middle of a rainstorm, bloody, bruised, and terrified, and all anyone can think about is whether we are involved in some kind of illicit romance?"

"Tom, that's–"

"I need some time alone, Ray, if that's allowed."

I didn't wait for his answer. Instead I brushed past him, walking quickly up the street and letting the crowd swallow me up.

||

It was dark by the time I found a pub, close to the harbor. The Salty Dog, it was called, and was grimy and inconspicuous enough for me to hide in. Most of the patrons were drunken sailors on shore leave, swaying arm-in-arm and singing bawdy songs at the top of their lungs.

At least, I thought I was hidden until a hand slid down my arm, followed by a body leaning into my side.

"Ne'er seen you 'ere before, sir," said a low husky voice in my ear.

I started, leaning away. Next to me there was a woman, her eyes, lips, and cheeks painted. So were her fingernails, now caressing my palm. Her long dark hair didn't quite hide her abundant décolletage, spilling up and over the top of her dress.

"You seem lonely," she said, swinging herself onto my knee and running a finger along my jaw. "Long 'ard day, hm?"

"Miss–" I started, but she giggled and kissed my cheek.

"Ne'er been called 'Miss' before. You one a those gennlemen?" She leaned forward, pressing herself into me.

"I was, yes–"

"That's jus' fine wit' me, sir." She was breathing in my ear. "Or should I say milord?"

"I would rather–" I knew I didn't have the money to pay her for the service she offered, but she was breaking my resistance down, bit by bit. My hands twitched. I wanted to touch her, badly. I wanted to tear through these layers and dig deeper. Perhaps I would be able to blot out the events of the day.

"Milord it is," she breathed into my cheek before turning my head towards her and pressing a kiss to my lips. And this time, I didn't resist.

||

I woke on my stomach the next morning, my hand hanging off the bed. I lifted my head to turn it the other way and found the harlot next to me, asleep with her back to me. I rolled on my side and sat up, wincing as my shoulder twinged. As I was rubbing my hands over my face, there was a rustling behind me. She was awake.

"'Aven't done anythin' like that in a long time, milord." I felt her finger tracing my shoulder blade. "Where were you from, agin?"

"Never said." I climbed out of bed and began to dress.

"I were certainly pleased." She smiled and raised a long dark eyebrow as I turned to face her. "E'en if I don't know your name."

"Perhaps it's better that way." I pulled my coat on, and then dug out my coin purse. I took out three guineas and set them on the stand next to the lamp. "Good day, Miss."

It was only when I reached the street that I kicked at the dirt and cursed. Charles Ashbury was right. I would have to remedy the problem soon. But I knew Emmeline wouldn't like it.