“All opposed, let it be known,” Fletcher said.
Not a single hand was raised. Not one.
“The resolution passes,” Fletcher said.
Brogan looked across at Doc. “’Twill be a fine thing working together.”
“Assuming you don’t take on another secret mission and disappear again.” The man was clearly not entirely joking.
Damage had been done. Brogan would have to work to regain the trust of his fellow Dreadfuls. Some would likely be harder to convince than others.
“The matter of the sister organization—whose name is yet to be determined—was our primary purpose in gathering today,” Fletcher said. “But before we dismiss or move on to any other matters, I have yet one more letter to read, again from the Dread Master.”
Four letters in one meeting. That had never happened before. Never.
The whole room went still.
Dreadfuls,
The events of the recent past have revealed the enormity of the web in which we have found ourselves entangled. The Mastiff and his minions have greater reach than we realized. To his crimes of fraud, child labor, forced prostitution, arson, we must now add blackmail, forgeries, extortion, and rigging explosives meant to kill. He holds prisoner, still, the unfortunate Serena we have been attempting to rescue, as well as, we must assume, her children. He is unafraid to target even the most powerful in England. He will not hesitate to crush each one of us.
As we have been warned, a tempest is brewing, one greater than we’ve ever known. Pursuing our fight against him is, possibly, a bigger threat than some would wish to take on.
We either knowingly and willingly take on the danger of going after London’s most notorious criminal, or we choose not to invite the war our efforts might very well cause.
Decide. And act.
DM
Fletcher stood, holding the letter in his hand. “Our work has never been without risk, but this is a level we hadn’t anticipated. The Mastiff is a ruthless criminal, willing to kill and destroy in pursuit of total control of London. He has conspirators among the police and in the government. His power is growing, and with it the danger he poses.” His gaze slid over the entire gathering. The group listened without so much as breathing. “As the Dread Master says, the time has come for each of us to decide if this threat is one we want to confront. I won’t ask you to make that choice now. And I won’t make you declare your decision in the presence of your fellow Dreadfuls, but the decision must be made. Before long, there will be no turning back. Ponder. Contemplate. Decide.”
“We are the Dread Penny Society,” Brogan said. “We do not relent.”
“And we do not turn tail and run,” Stone added.
“So long as the Mastiff plies his trade unchallenged,” Fletcher said, “the people of London will never be safe. Going after him might free them, or it might simply see us killed. Once we take this step, there’ll be no turning back.”
It was a promise as much as a warning. Danger lay ahead. Greater than they’d ever known.
There was, indeed, no turning back.
My deepest gratitude to
• The curators of Dublin’s Museum of Natural History for answering questions and sharing my enthusiasm for this most creepy of museums. I absolutely loved the time I spent in its walls. And a further thank you to the people of Dublin for using their talent for dark humor to give this museum the utterly perfect nickname of “The Dead Zoo.”
• Dublin’s Leprechaun Museum, for preserving the folklore and mythology of Ireland, for a wonderful, tale-filled tour, and for expanding my already enormous love of Irish folktales.
• Braeden Jensen, for invaluable help with the Russian language. He saved me from several embarrassing errors and offered perfect insights. Any errors that might have slipped through are mine. Everything that is correct is thanks to him!
• The Crandall Printing Museum. I could not be happier to have found this gem so close to home.
• Lisa Mangum and Jolene Perry for unparalleled editorial feedback, advice, and insights. I could not have managed to tell this tale without it!
• Pam and Bob for being the best advocates an author could hope for.
• The ladies of the Friday Write Group for getting me through 2020 with all its ups and downs and for keeping me writing when I felt like giving up.
1. Brogan considers himself a “foot soldier,” someone better suited to following orders than formulating strategies. What experiences in his life lead him to believe this? What proof is there that he is underestimating himself?
2. Vera is understandably upset when she discovers Brogan has been using a false name. She later learns that she has been unknowingly using one as well. How do you think this discovery will impact her relationship with Brogan and with her father?
3. Street children in the 19th century often took on unpleasant and dangerous work in order to survive. Had you heard of “pure finding” before? What dangers would pure finders have faced on the streets of London?
4. Mr. King’s penny dreadful featured a fear dearg—a creature from Irish folklore. Many Irish mythological creatures were frightening. What role do you think “scary” tales play in children’s stories?
5. Why do you think the Dread Master chose Brogan to undertake the rogue mission rather than one of the other Dreadfuls?
6. The Dead Zoo is an actual museum in Dublin—Ireland’s Museum of Natural History. It has remained relatively unchanged since the Victorian Era. If given the opportunity, would you spend the night alone in the Dead Zoo as Amos Cavey did?
7. Mr. Sorokin’s last letter to Vera, along with the Dread Master’s note to the DPS, indicated that greater danger lurks on the horizon. What troubles do you think lie ahead?
Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today best-selling author of witty and charming historical romances, including 2019’s Foreword Reviews INDIE Awards Gold Winner for Romance, The Lady and the Highwayman, and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist, Healing Hearts. She is a two-time “Best of State” Gold Medal winner for fiction and a three-time Whitney Award winner. Combining her obsession with history and her affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting deep characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
The Dead Zoo
Chapter 3
The Merchant and the Rogue