Forged by Desire by Bec McMaster Read Free Book Online

a young girl’s entire reputation could be ruined and she would be seen as anyone’s for the taking. A blood whore.
    The rings must have come into fashion shortly after word of hemlock’s effects reached the Echelon, as a girl’s only means of protection against such a scenario.
    The other girl’s fingers were bare but there was a mark on her right hand that attested to the presence of some sort of jewelry in recent times. Something she wore frequently enough that it had left its mark on her.
    “Look at their hair,” Perry said. “It’s thick and glossy with health and long enough to be looped up in fashionable styles. If a young working girl had hair like this, she’d have sold it. Their nails”—she held up the blond’s hand—“are perfectly manicured.”
    All signs he probably wouldn’t have looked for. Perry’s skills ran in the other direction from his.
    “Plump girls,” Garrett began to notice. “Neither of them knew hardship.”
    “If word of this gets out…” Barrons trailed off grimly.
    “We’ll find out who they are,” Perry replied, her voice hardening as she folded the girl’s hands over the ragged hole in her chest. “And then we’ll find the killer.”
    The firmness of her tone surprised him. Garrett examined her face, but it was expressionless as usual. Perry always kept her emotions locked firmly under key, but she couldn’t hide them from him. What was it about this situation that bothered her?
    Wiping her hands on her breeches, she stood up and let out a breath.
    “Scoresby, make sure you photograph this entire area in detail,” Garrett said. “Faber, I want the whole factory searched for anything out of the ordinary, including anything that might have created this ‘ghost.’” Although he had his doubts about precisely what Mallory had seen. A man stumbling across two bodies in the dark was often confused. “When Dr. Gibson arrives, help him to load the girls into the medical van.” He looked at Perry. “Ready to question some of the jewelers?”
    Barrons was still staring at the bodies. “I believe I can spare you some time with that inquiry.”
    “You know where the rings come from, my lord?” Perry asked.
    “My ward, Lena Todd—now Lena Carver—is responsible for distributing them among the debutantes. It was her idea, you see.” Barrons’s head lowered in thought. “She might know if any of the debutantes have gone missing.”
    “Lena Carver.” Garrett frowned. “The new verwulfen ambassador’s wife?”
    “Aye,” Barrons replied.
    “Bloody hell,” Perry muttered under her breath.
    Bloody hell, indeed.
    ***
    By the time they exited the factory, several other Nighthawks had arrived, along with Dr. Gibson. Garrett gave them directions, then commandeered one of the novices to drive the carriage.
    Perry reluctantly handed over her driving goggles and glared at Garrett as he held the door open for her.
    “I always hold the door open,” he pointed out.
    Perry glanced up at him from beneath her thick, dark lashes as she climbed inside. “And do you always stare at my backside when I climb in?”
    Garrett choked back a laugh and followed her inside. “Guilty as charged, I’m afraid.” Slamming the door shut, he felt the familiar throbbing hum as the boilers started. At least now their conversation wouldn’t be overheard.
    When she didn’t reply, he looked up. Faint rosy circles colored her cheeks, despite the infinitely cool look she gave him.
    “Good God. Are you blushing?”
    “You would have to say more than that to make me blush. I’ve heard all manner of vulgar commentary from you over the years, enough to grant me some immunity.”
    The steam carriage started forward. Perry glanced out the window, the gray light of a frosty November morning washing over her features. The unsettling urge to push at her hit him again.
    “Don’t pretend you’re in any way innocent,” he replied. “Do you remember what you were whispering in my ear at the