“There are already alchemists in London, or at least in England,” said Beatrice. “This way we would know who they are. They could be monitored and regulated. I would make certain they adhered to ethical standards. But, Madam President, I wish you had discussed this matter with me beforehand.” Her voice was calm, but Lucinda could tell that she was upset at not having been consulted.
Ayesha waved her hand, as though Beatrice’s statement was of no concern. “You would have accepted the responsibility in any case. I did not have time to spare, and telling you together with your fellow members of the Athena Club is more efficient. This morning I made financial arrangements for Jenny Bucket to be treated at a sanatorium in Switzerland. Lady Crowe has helped her a great deal, but even I cannot cure tuberculosis. There she will receive the best treatment available. Then, I stopped in Scotland Yard to discuss the case of Margaret Trelawny with your friend Inspector Lestrade.”
“He’s not my friend,” Diana muttered so quietly that only Lucinda could have heard it.
“She is still in prison in Penzance. Based on your testimony and the evidence of the pistol shot, she will be charged with the murder of Helen Raymond. Some of you will likely be called to testify in court. However, I do not know if she will be convicted—according to Lestrade, passersby saw a fog around the keep that morning, and she claims that she shot at a shadow in the fog, thinking it was an intruder and not her friend Helen. She is well known in those parts as a respectable woman, and the jury will likely be on her side. I do not think we have seen the last of her.”
“And I don’t think she’s going to stop trying to conquer the world,” said Mary. “From what I overheard while I was her prisoner, she struck me as a ruthless, ambitious woman.”
“Those are not necessarily bad qualities,” said Catherine.
Alice shook her head. “You didn’t know her the way I did. She’s a bad’un, as Mrs. Poole would say. I hope she’s going to stay behind bars, even if she doesn’t hang for my mother’s murder.”
“Lydia,” continued Ayesha, “the gravestone I ordered for your mother’s grave in the churchyard in Perranuthnoe should be arriving this week.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” said Alice.
“Our final order of business concerns Archibald.” The Orangutan Man turned to look at Ayesha. “He cannot stay in London.”
“But this is where he lives,” said Catherine. “You can’t just take him away from us.”
“Nevertheless, he cannot stay—you know this to be true. You have already exposed him to Lestrade, who made some pointed remarks about the ‘queer creature,’ as he said, that you kept as a footman. If he should start questioning what Archibald is or where he comes from, it could expose the Société des Alchimistes once more.”
“Is that your primary concern?” asked Beatrice. “The welfare of the Société des Alchimistes?”
“What about Archibald and what he wants?” asked Catherine heatedly. “He is not a beast anymore. He can’t simply be sent away somewhere, or put back in a cage.”
“Then we shall ask him,” said Ayesha. “Archibald, would you like to come with me? I will take you back to Borneo, where I shall find a tribe that will accept you, perhaps not in the forest where you were captured, but close by. Or would you prefer to remain here?”
Archibald looked at her with large, dark eyes. “I want to go home,” he said. Lucinda could hear the longing in his voice.
“Well then,” said Ayesha. “I think the matter is settled. If someone could pack his bags?”
“I’ll do it,” said Alice. “He doesn’t have much. I wish he were staying—but if he wants to go home, then he should. We’ll miss you, Archibald.” She stroked his hand for a moment before standing up.
“Thank you, Lydia. And do you feel that you will receive adequate training here in using your energic powers?”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Alice. “Martin is teaching me. He’s a very good teacher. And I don’t want to throw lightning bolts or anything like that. I don’t want to be like Queen Tera.”
“Or like me?” said Ayesha, with another of her cold smiles. “You will quickly surpass any mere mesmerist. When you feel ready to learn more than he can teach—and you will, in time—come to me and I will undertake your education myself.”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Alice, in a voice that clearly conveyed I never shall. “May I go now?”
Just then, the doorbell rang. “That must be Mr. Vincey,” said Mrs. Poole. “You mentioned that you were expecting him, ma’am. You go pack for Archibald, Alice dear. I’ll get the door.”
Ayesha rose, picking the black cat up in her arms. “As for Bast—”
“Oh no, you don’t!” said Catherine. “You may take Archibald, since he wants to go, but you’re not taking Bast away from us!”
Ayesha looked at the Puma Woman with amusement. “You wish to keep a two-thousand-year-old resurrected mummy cat here at the Athena Club?”
“She’s a cat,” said Diana. “Just like any other cat. She ate half a slice of ham that Catherine gave her this morning, and tried to steal Omega’s ham too!”
“Ham!” said Mrs. Poole from the doorway. Behind her stood Leo Vincey, looking as handsome and discontented as ever. The scars that Lucinda had left on his cheek were almost completely gone. She still felt ashamed of herself for having inflicted them.
“When did those rascals get ham, and who gave it to them? No wonder they never eat the mice they catch, but leave them underfoot for me to step on!” She strode into the room as though to scold one of them—whichever one of them was responsible for such an outrage.
“Well, to be honest, most of us did,” said Catherine. “It was at breakfast. I gave them a bit, and so did Diana, and even Justine—yes, you did, I saw you,” she said, although Justine was shaking her head. “Lucinda and Beatrice just sat there quietly drinking their noxious liquids, but they certainly didn’t stop us. Only Mary is completely absolved of responsibility.”
“And I brought the ham,” said Alice. “I mean, it was part of breakfast, but I did bring up a bit more than usual, knowing the cats might want some.” She ducked out through the doorway, no doubt to pack the few possessions Archibald had acquired during his stay at the Athena Club.
Mrs. Poole shook her head. “You are all quite impossible.”
“Are you ready, my love?” asked Leo, maneuvering his way around Mrs. Poole. “The train to Dover leaves in an hour.”
Ayesha looked around at the assorted members of the Athena Club. “I am. Try, if you can, all of you, to stay out of mischief for a while. And if you need me—well, try not to. I do, after all, have a scientific society to run. The Société des Alchimistes does not manage itself, you know. Among other things, we have the next issue of the journal to get out!”
“We don’t get into mischief,” said Mary indignantly. “It sort of happens to us, or around us, or in our general vicinity.”
Ayesha looked at her with an expression of amusement before turning and walking out the door. A moment later, she was standing in the hallway with Leo Vincey’s arm around her waist, holding Archibald’s hand and waiting for Alice to bring his possessions. Then they had climbed into a cab, and they were gone. Lucinda saw their cab driving away down Park Terrace toward Marylebone Road.