The Sapphire Brooch Katherine Logan (best beach reads TXT) 📖

She spotted Cullen about twenty yards away, chatting with the driver of a barouche. “I don’t think the carriage has a meter like our taxis.”

She glanced up and met David’s eyes. He didn’t need aviators to hide what he was thinking or seeing. His beautiful hooded brown eyes did it naturally. Impossibly full lips tipped up into a smile, and he flipped the brim of her top hat, exposing her face to the sun.

“Glad to see ye retained a bit of yer humor. I think it’s the beard ye’re wearing making ye short-tempered.”

“Let’s hope I can take it off when we get to Braham’s.”

The city was once again in high spirits. National colors bedecked the buildings, replacing emblems of mourning. Passengers on the train had mentioned the muster out of a million men had begun at the end of April, and thousands of soldiers were pouring into the city. Camps were miles long and wide on every slope and ridge. Charlotte sat tense in her seat, observing the restless and impatient people bumping each other as they traversed the sidewalks.

“Are ye okay?” David asked.

“This is my third trip here. The first time I was scared to death. The second time I was excited, anticipating a romantic getaway with Braham. This time I’m scared again, but not for myself.”

“We’ll get him out. I promise.”

Charlotte gave his arm a pat and a squeeze. “Promises are easy to make. They’re impossible to keep.”

“Not all of them are, Charley.”

Cullen stopped whistling a Bach tune she recognized, but didn’t know the name of the piece. “David’s right. I’ve got some ideas, but I have to talk with Braham first. Keep yer eyes on the prize, lass.”

“Paul and Silas, bound in jail. Had no money for to go their bail. Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on,” Charlotte said. “It’s an American civil rights song. I guess Kit taught it to you.”

A distant stare turned Cullen’s face into an expression of pensive admiration. “Music stopped for her one day, and she swore she’d never again play the guitar or sing. It wasn’t easy, but she found her way through the darkness, and music is alive in her heart today. The days ahead will get darker, but ye’ll hear the music again, too.”

The carriage stopped in front of Braham’s townhouse and Cullen alighted first.

“Let’s not tell Braham’s butler who I am until we find out if I’m under suspicion. We don’t know what happened when the police arrested Jack. Edward might have given him up. And we have to find the sapphire brooch. If we don’t, Braham will have to take Jack to the future and then come back for David and me.”

“We’ll work out logistics later, but I agree we should keep yer identity secret until we know yer status. Although I don’t believe Edward would betray his employer’s friend,” Cullen said.

Charlotte threw the strap of her carpetbag over her shoulder and stepped down to the sidewalk. “He might if the police threatened him, as they did most of the witnesses.”

David glanced up and down the street then turned slowly, looking at the park and the White House in the distance. “Great location. Let’s go inside. We’re not going to learn anything standing out here.”

Above the rumble of heavy wagons on the hard-packed dirt came the sounds of spring, barks and yelps of dogs from a neighbor’s yard, and birds singing in full voice from the elm tree in front of the townhouse. The second-floor windows facing the street were located in the two rooms she and Jack had used. His was close to the tree. Hers looked out over the front door.

Cullen led the way to the front door, but stopped before knocking and said to Charlotte and David, “Since I’m expected, I’ll introduce ye as business associates from Kentucky.”

Edward opened the door quickly after Cullen’s knock. A sour expression turned to one of pleasure when he recognized Cullen. “Welcome, Mr. Montgomery. Come in. Colonel McCabe will be glad to see ye.”

“Afternoon, Edward.” Cullen turned toward Charlotte and David. “These are my associates Charley Duffy and David McBain. Braham doesn’t know I invited them, but he’ll be glad for the help, I’m sure.”

“Did you say colonel?” she asked.

“The major was promoted to colonel for his assistance during the attack against Secretary Seward,” Edward said.

A strange ripple, like pebbles thrown into a pond, went through Charlotte, and her heart seemed to sigh. She hoped being rewarded for his service would go a long way toward restoring Braham’s perceived loss of honor.

“They should have made him a general,” Cullen said. “Where is he, by the way?”

Edward lowered his head, shaking it. “At the Old Arsenal Penitentiary, trying to visit Mr. Jack. He wasn’t involved in Mr. Lincoln’s death. I know it for sure.” Edward sighed, woefully. “I wish Miss Charlotte was here, but the colonel, he said he didn’t expect her to come back, and we had to take care of Mr. Jack. Lordy, if only she was here…”

She dug her fingers into her wig, ready to rip it off and reveal herself. “Edward—”

David placed his hand firmly on her back, a warning gesture, and she shut her mouth.

“We’d like to work in Braham’s office while he’s gone.” David’s hand remained pressed against her. “Could ye lead us there?”

“Yes, sir. Leave your bags here. I’ll take them upstairs and see to your rooms.”

Once inside Braham’s office with the door closed, David turned toward her, arms crossed over his chest, eyes hot and glaring. “We had a discussion on the street about keeping yer identity secret. Thirty seconds later, ye’re ready to come clean. Ye can’t, Charley. Ye’ll compromise the mission.” He pressed his hand hard on her shoulder, forcing her into a chair. “Sit and remember this is about Jack, not ye.”

Cullen slipped off his jacket and hung it on the back of the desk chair. “If the police come looking for ye, they’ll pilfer through our research, which