Page 48 of Across Space and Time

Hugh nodded. “I know. I’m not going with you. I’m going to go with Mr. Galloway’s boys.”

“What?” Jack demanded.

“I will sneak in with his boys when they are taken to the party. Anthony is going to take me along.”

“You think no one will notice an extra person?” Jack said.

“Anthony said he can claim I’m new, and they don’t have to pay extra. And Mr. Galloway himself said that I have a pretty face. What’s one more pretty face?”

Jack shook his head. “Absolutely not. I am not putting you in that sort of situation.”

“We’re not going to argue about it, Jack,” Hugh said firmly. “I’m a police officer. This is my investigation. And I’m not putting anyone else into further danger. It’s bad enough that I am getting you involved in it.”

“It is my job to be involved in it,” Jack pointed out.

“And mine too,” Hugh replied. “As you said, this is not a place where I can easily come with you.”

Jack sighed loudly. “I understand your logic, Hugh, but I don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to like it,” Hugh said.

“I don’t want you to be in danger.”

“I am in danger out on the streets every night,” Hugh pointed out. “At least if I go with you to Eden, we’ll be together, right?”

“What if we get separated?” Jack asked with a frown. “I may not be able to be by your side the whole time.”

“That is a risk we will have to take,” Hugh said softly.

“But you might get hurt,” Jack said, a frown deepening his bone-like forehead.

“Jack, I know you’re worried about me, but it will be all right,” Hugh replied firmly. “Please. We’ll never learn anything if we don’t take this chance. And it might be the only one we get.”

Jack heaved a heavy sigh. “All right. I suppose I must learn to trust your judgement.”

Hugh smiled at that. “A terrible idea, really,” he teased.

Jack slid the mask on again and lifted his arms to spread his cape wide. “How do I look?”

“Still only half-dressed,” Hugh replied, gazing back at him for a moment. Jack needed a coat or something on top of his white oilskin top. While he was very obviously Spring-Heeled Jack, if the people that he would be meeting were rich or influential, trying to assimilate into their ranks seemed like a wise idea. His own clothing would be too small for Jack, and he didn’t have anything that nice anyway. But then a thought occurred to him.

“Hold on,” he said and retreated to his bedroom. He opened the trunk at the foot of his bed where he kept the few treasures he had. One of them was a tailcoat, a bit old-fashioned for their current time and in need of some ironing, but not enough to look entirely out of place. He carried it back to the sitting room where Jack had not moved from where he stood with the top hat on. Hugh held out the coat. “Try this on. It was my father’s.”

Jack ran his hand gently over the fabric of one sleeve. “I could not take such a memento from you.”

“Please,” Hugh said again, giving it a little shake. “My father has no use for it now, and he did love a good mystery. I think he’d be honored to have you wear it.”

Jack frowned a bit. “Only if you are sure.”

Hugh nodded. “I am. Please. I would not offer it if I did not want you to use it.”

Jack turned his back and held out his arms for Hugh. Hugh smiled and slipped the coat on over Jack’s broad shoulders like a valet. Jack turned toward him again, and Hugh leaned in to do up the buttons on the front before stepping back to eye it critically. It was not the most tailored look, but under Jack’s cape, it would be entirely adequate to disguise Jack’s fantastical appearance a bit more. “I think that will work.”

Jack grabbed the lapels and did a little spin. “Ah, marvelous. Thank you, Hugh. I promise I will make you and your father proud.”

Chapter fourteen

Hugh’s stomach was turning whirligig circles inside of him as the evening of the gathering for Eden approached. He had dressed in simple clothing, including his scuffed boots again, to look as non-police as possible. Jack dressed in the old-fashioned tailcoat that had been ironed and a few places mended. His boots were shined, his pants and cape washed, and he looked about as respectable as a spectral creature from another realm could look, Hugh thought. Quite handsome too, but now was not the time for a quick toss in the sheets. They needed to be focused and ready for whatever tonight was going to bring.

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