Hatshepsut's Collar (The Artifact Hunters #2) (2 page)

Cara let out a breath of held air. She raised a hand and tugged her forelock in a subservient manner.

Miguel let out a snort of laughter at the gesture.

“Why am I helping her?” she asked.

He laughed, his eyes shining with mischief. “Because you are itching to go to Su-Terré and she gives you the perfect reason.”

Cara shot him a smile. She was longing to visit the club and hoped the illicit playground lived up to its reputation as an escape for the wealthy and lost. “Ah, yes. That was it.”

They trotted along Oxford Street and High Holborn, slowing as they approached the congested roads closer to the docks. As they rode toward the airship dockyards by the Thames, the slight echo through her body diminished, indicating she drew closer to Nate. The Lyons hangar was the largest structure, dominating thousands of square feet next to the Thames. Grey painted walls soared high above her head, the interior large enough to accommodate two airships in need of repairs.

Cara jumped from the saddle, and gave the gelding a quick scratch behind the ear before Miguel walked him away to the small stables at the rear of the main building. She turned her attention to the slip running from warehouse entrance, down to the murky river.

Nate and three of his men stared at the rail that hauled the carts from the airships up into the cargo hangar. A panel halfway down the slip stood open. Another man, only visible from the waist up, stood next to the workings. With his sleeves rolled up and grease on his hands, Nate looked like no other noble she had encountered.

He glanced up and said something to the workers before walking in her direction. He used a rag to wipe oil and grease from his hands as he approached.

Cara shook her head in amazement. “I’ve never seen a noble get his hands dirty before.”

“You know I don’t shy from dirty work.” As a peer, Nathaniel was a lord above ground, but he also ruled the underworld with an extensive network of illegal activities. He earned a fortune through piracy and privateering that saved his near bankrupt titles and estates. He tucked the rag into the back pocket of his breeches, looking like a workman rather than a viscount.

“Not quite what I meant,” Cara whispered as he hooked a clean finger under the satchel strap running over her chest, and used it to draw her close. His mouth claimed hers in a languid kiss. His tongue licked the seam of her lips before sliding deeper to taste her. He sent fire racing through her limbs before he released her.

“The mechanism is getting worn. We’ve been increasingly busy. The men will need to use the exoskeletons for a day or two while it’s replaced.”

“You were gone early this morning,” she murmured, waiting for her pounding heartbeat to return to normal.

“We had an early shipment.” He wrapped an arm around her waist as they walked back toward the hangar, his warmth against her doing more to ward off the chill autumn air than the wool overcoat she wore.

She frowned. “No manifesto came through last night.”

“Customs doesn’t need to know about this one.”

She sighed. His comment meant the entire shipment was illegal; probably one of his pirate airships, sneaking in with whatever it looted during its time aloft.

Startled whinnies came from the horses down the lane as a dragon sized shadow swooped over them, accompanied by a low thrum. Cara stopped and raised a hand to shield her eyes, watching the blue and red painted airship glide overhead. Four spherical pods dangled underneath, looking like forgotten Christmas decorations. Each pod contained a soldier on lookout. She watched them spin their weapons toward the Lyons hangar as the airship did a lazy flyover. “There are more military airships around lately.”

Nate’s gaze flicked upward, tracking the military vessel. “There’s more of them circling. Victoria has her sights set on more jewels for her imperial crown.” Her Majesty’s Aeronautical Service expanded the Empire ever outward at an alarming pace, and their queen now styled herself as Empress.

“The lads at the house were served conscription notices this morning.”

Nate nodded. “They came here last week. I’ve been shifting the younger lads to airship duties to keep them out of Victoria’s reach.”

Something else ate at Cara, not just the increased military presence, but the particular scrutiny over all Lyons holdings. “You would think she was expecting you to raise an objection, given the way they watch you. Or have you been up to something I really don’t want to know about?” Cara searched Nate’s face for any hint, but he remained inscrutable.

He raised a dark eyebrow. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

“No. Just keep Miguel and the other men safe.” There were some secrets Cara wasn’t ready to scratch open, like the enormous metal door padlocked shut, far under the ground in a hidden room. Instead she opened the satchel and extracted the paperwork. “I’ve done the Customs documents for this afternoon’s ship. She’s less than an hour away.”

They entered the dim interior and paused, waiting for their eyes to adjust to the lower light. Cara loved the smell of the cargo hangar. The exotic aromas reminiscent of her travels around the world made her wish for an adventure far away from the London smog. The numerous crates, boxes, and different shaped containers intrigued her and her hands itched to pull everything open to see what lay inside. They taunted her like mysterious gifts waiting under a Christmas tree.

They walked to the back of the hangar, where the office was located. Thin wooden shutters allowed the occupant to control the amount of light that could escape and also what the workers outside could see happening within.

Cara tossed the manifesto on to the desk and perched on the edge as Nate sunk into the black leather chair. “If you don’t have any further work for me here, I’m going to visit to Helene.”

He ran a quick eye over the manifesto. “You two have become strange friends.”

Cara shrugged. Helene, Countess de Sal was dying; having lost her mind, social standing, and her nose, to syphilis. Once the paramour of Nate’s uncle, she supplied Cara with the rare books necessary for her research into old and mystic artifacts. “I feel normal around her, by comparison. Besides, she doesn’t have much longer. I think it’s important someone cares about what happens to her.”

Nate tossed the paperwork to the desk. “This is the only ship arriving today, so there’s nothing else that needs immediate attention.”

“One other thing, do you have any plans for this evening?” she asked.

His eyes raked over her form perched on his desk. His desire burned in his gaze and along their common bond. “You mean apart from stripping you naked and licking honey from every inch of your body?”

“Apart from that,” she murmured, her mind already drifting to the scene conjured by his words.

“Then, no. Unless you have something in mind you want to try?”

She had to blink to stop her brain from thinking of all the ways Nate drove her to oblivion with his strong hands and practiced tongue. “I need to go to Su-Terré. I told Sara Collins I would try and get her engagement ring back from the Trickster.”

“Sara Collins?” A dark eyebrow shot up, exhibiting a life of its own. “She’s a cold one. How did you get ensnared in her web?”

“I appear to have become the solution for noble women with indelicate problems.” Cara straddled two worlds, though noble born, her association with Nate gave her access to the underworld. “I’m surprised you haven’t snagged Sara. She’s controlled, like you. Her family is well connected and wealthy. You’d make the perfect couple.”

He ran his hands up Cara’s buckskin clad thighs, his palms blazing against her body as his steel gaze held hers. “She’s not my type. I wouldn’t put anything near her I didn’t want frozen off. I prefer something much warmer, and spirited, in my bed.”

ara took to her bustle skirt with the assistance of Emily, the maid, and needle and thread. Emily deemed the end result unfit to be seen in polite company.

Perfect for tonight then
, Cara thought.

The green taffeta waterfall pleats brushed her ankles behind, but the swag front barely came to mid-thigh, exposing her lace stocking tops and garter clips. A single green gem, in the centre of each black clip, drew the eye to the exposed creamy skin between stocking and skirt. Below, she wore black high heeled boots, reaching to mid-calf, and above, a green and silver halter top corset. Long drops of emerald and diamonds hung from her ears and swayed against her neck.

Nate’s hungry eyes roved over her body as he leaned on the doorjamb, his fingers tucking the end of the cravat into his deep green waistcoat. “Are you sure you want to go out? I have a hankering to stay in.”

“Work first, play later.” Cara made a show of straightening the top of her stocking, giving him a teaser of things to come.

“Business is always a pleasure with you,
cara mia
.” He moved closer to run his palms over her exposed shoulders and dropped a kiss on the nape of her neck. “The carriage is waiting for us downstairs.”

The mechanical horses trotted on felt padded feet as they pulled the carriage. They halted by the river in an unremarkable looking spot in a lower class neighbourhood on the south bank. Cara glanced around; she had never been to Su-Terré, its name only ever caught in whispers, so had no idea what to expect. Part of her thought to see a red light over a doorway, luring them inside. The terrace houses across the road were red brick sentinels, their curtains tightly drawn either against the chill air, or in a fabric gesture of
see no evil
. The inhabitants within remained blissfully unaware of the nocturnal happenings on their street.

The carriage glided away, leaving her to chew her bottom lip, wondering what game Nate played. He maintained a cold persona, but each day she learned there were depths of heat and humour hidden beneath the surface.

He slid his arm around her waist. “You’re looking in the wrong direction.”

He turned her around and led her to the water’s edge, his arms wrapped around her to share his body warmth as they stared over the reflective surface. The river flowed under a nearby bridge and swirled beyond the reach of the meagre street lights. A black void gapped to the left of the bridge and a dancing firefly drew Cara’s attention. As she focused on the spinning wisp, it grew in size. Her eyes widened as she realised she stared down a tunnel, and the light headed toward them.