Worse, she had contrived to join last nights fights to spite Griffin. To prove to him she could do it. And why? Just because he made her angry and happy and nervous, all at the same time. Never mind that her plan had worked, she should have shared it with the entire group, instead of just Emily. She had put the other girl at risk. She had put them both at risk.
Before, she could have blamed this sort of behavior on her darker half, but that was no longer the case. Griffin had helped her begin to unite her two sides, and now she was no longer one or the other, but both. Now it was up to her to decide what sort of person she wanted to be.
She didnt want to go back to being alone, especially now that she had found friends. Real friends. Family. Especially Griffin. He had done so much for her, and shed repaid him by being snide and mocking.
But she hadnt wanted him to see that he was the one thing that frightened her. When shed first met Griffin, he had told her that he would give her his trust, and in return, he would settle for nothing less than hers. She had been treated poorly by fellows of his station before, and part of her mind couldnt let go of that wariness; it was the only protection her heart had.
Because if there was one person in all the world capable of breaking her heart, it was Griffin. Perhaps that was why she ran to Jack whenever she felt cagey. Jack didnt have expectations. Jack would eventually let her down, while shed be the one to do that to Griffinif she hadnt already.
This was ridiculous. She threw back the covers and slipped out of her incredibly comfortable bed. She could laze about all day wondering and thinking, but thinking always seemed to get her into trouble. Although, not thinking got her into trouble, too.
Who was she trying to kid? Trouble seemed to find her, no matter what. If trouble was going to come calling, she might as well be clean.
She bathed and dressed in pale pink knee-length trousers with a frill at the bottom, white shirt and her pink-and-blackstriped corset. She laced heavy black boots up to the hem of her trousers and wrapped the ends of the laces around each boot once before tying them. Then she brushed her hair and twisted it up onto the back of her head, securing it with two chopsticks.
The bruises on her face had faded to almost nothing overnight. Her ribs were stiff, but she could draw a deep breath without them hurting. A normal girl would be so stiff and sore, she would barely be able to move about. Then again, if she was a normal girl, she wouldnt have been in the ring in the first place. This was one of those times that being a freak came in handy.
Her stomach fluttered as she left her room. Odd how she felt so anxious going to meet her friends, when Dalton hadnt inspired half so much fuss. Last night, shed felt triumphant, but now she felt a little ... silly and self-conscious.
She stopped to knock at Emilys door. No answer. They must have gone downstairs already. Finley said hello to the boy operating the lift and spent the rest of the trip wondering if the little box could move any slower. Seriously, she could have jumped over the railing in the stairwell and been there by now.
They were all gathered around the dining room table and looked up at her entrance when she walked in. Sam only glanced at her for a split second before turning his attention back to the mountain of food piled on his plate. Surely eating that many scrambled eggs couldnt be healthy for a body.
Morning, Finley, he mumbled.
Good morning, everyone, she replied and winced at the cheer in her voice. Emily smiled at her from her seat beside Sam, but Finley didnt miss the glance her friend shot in Griffins direction.
SlowlydeterminedlyFinley made herself look at him. He sat at his customary spot at the head of the table, but his breakfast was nothing more than coffee and toast. He looked tired and drawn, with dark circles under his storm-blue eyes.
Was she the cause of those dark smudges? The thought added more guilt to her already heavy shoulders. She tried to smile and found her lips incapable of the movement. Griffin, she whispered.
Finley, he echoed with the ghost of a grin. Did he mean to tease or to mock her? I hope you slept well.
Tolerably, she replied, sitting down at the place set for her at his right. You?
Once I got there, you could say I slept like the dead. He chuckled drily.
Emily looked at him again, and this time Finley saw concern in the other girls eyes. What did she know that Finley did not? Had Griffin told her of their conversation?
Says here there was a flash of light, like lightning, from the Statue of Liberty last night, Sam announced as he perused the front page of the morning Times. Any of you see it?
Griffin seemed to find this hilarious and began to laugh in that way Finley often did when she hadnt enough sleep.
Actually ... Emily began, glancing at Griffin as though hed gone mad.
It was probably something faulty with the lantern mechanism in the torch, Griffin interrupted, suddenly serious. Im surprised its never happened before.
Sam shrugged. I suppose so. Call me paranoid, but every time something strange happens now, I expect to find some kind of villain at work.
Youre paranoid, Griffin replied with a grin. I wager the torch will be lit again tonight, and no one will give it another thought.
Except for her, Finley thought as she took two pieces of toast from the warming plate in front of her. Whoever invented heated dishes should be knighted. Did they knight people in America? Probably not.
She hadnt missed the startled look Emily shot Griffin when he interrupted her, which meant that both she and Griffin knew what had happened out on that island last night. Why the secrecy?
Then it hit her. It had been Griffin. Hed been on the verge of losing control of his abilities last nightbecause of her. Somehow hed gotten out to the statue or had done something that had made that flash.
She stared at him. I owe you all an apology, she blurted.
Three pairs of eyes turned toward her. Heat seeped into her cheeks, like tea in hot water. I shouldnt have taken Emily to Five Points to dig up information on Dalton. And I should have told Sam and Griffin about the fights. Im sorry.
Sam helped himself to more sausage. Im the last person who would give you bother about that. It was no secret that he had once taken off on his own a lot, but that seemed to have changed since the fight with The Machinist.
I had fun, Emily added, a tad defiantly.
Yeah, about that, Sam began, gesturing at her with his knife. You need to be careful. This isnt London. Those gangs are dangerous. The fact that he hadnt attempted to lock Emily in her room to keep her safe also showed how different he was. Finley knew it must be hard for him to give up some of his protectiveness.
Emily shot him a glance out of the corner of her eye. Im Irish, Sam Morgan. Most of those gangs are my people.
But the rest arent, Griffin interjected, rubbing his forehead with the heel of his hand. And to some of them, the only good Irish is dead Irish, and they all hate the English, so there will be no running about alone by any of us. Understood?
The three of them nodded. Finley knew the remark was mostly directed at her, but she wasnt about to get her knickers in a twist over it. He was right. They werent in London, and there was danger in this city for all of them.
But the rest arent, Griffin interjected, rubbing his forehead with the heel of his hand. And to some of them, the only good Irish is dead Irish, and they all hate the English, so there will be no running about alone by any of us. Understood?
The three of them nodded. Finley knew the remark was mostly directed at her, but she wasnt about to get her knickers in a twist over it. He was right. They werent in London, and there was danger in this city for all of them.
Good. He leaned back in his chair and reached for his cup of coffee. Finley, you have an engagement with Dalton tonight, correct?
She chewed and swallowed the bite of egg in her mouth. Yes, though I think dinner is just a formality. I reckon hell want me to join his enterprise. Hes fond of rough girls.
No doubt he plans to seduce you, Griffin remarked thoughtfully. When Finleys cheeks turned red, he added, Into his gang, of course. Im sure hell waste no time now that hes seen what you can do.
It was as much of a truce as he was probably going to offer, and she was glad for it. In fact, she liked him all the more for not making it too easy for her.
She knew there really wasnt much point in having a crush on Griffin. A duke would be expected to marry someone of his own social spherenot that Finley wanted to marry him! But he wouldnt make her half so mental if she didnt like him.
Emily perked up. Im going to listen to Mr. Tesla give a talk at the New York Repository of Science this evening. Im so excited!
Im going with her, Sam added. Finley noted with amusement that he did not sound half so enthusiastic as his companion about the evening.
And I am off to a party, Griffin remarked. Seems dukes are quite the popular commodity here in Manhattan.
Sam made a face. I thought the aristocracy was one of the things the Yanks hate about us.
You can take the American out of England ... Griffin grinned. It might be fun to be introduced to the Knickerbocker set.
Lots of rich heiresses trolling for a title, Sam remarked. Be careful you dont come back engaged.
Finleys stomach dropped, but then Griffin laughed. Wouldnt dream of it. Then he turned to her. Dont worry, Fin her eyes widened Ill have my P.T. if you run into trouble. So will Sam and Em. Well be there in a flash if you need us.
Both relieved and annoyed that he hadnt sought to ease her mind as to the heiress issue, Finley was nevertheless comforted by the fact that her friends would come to her rescue if she telegraphed them.
She didnt think she would need them. She was fairly confident in her ability to get and hold Daltons attention. She was also confident in her own ability to break his arms should he cross any lines.
She could break the arms of any heiresses who thought to catch themselves a duke, as well, but she kept that to herself.