Moonlight Secrets (#2 Penderry's Bizarre)

Chapter Twelve

Appleby hadn't ventured further than the market in a long time. Even shopping for food caused him a great deal of anxiety. He felt tiny amidst crowds, surrounded by judging stares. But after the carnage in the hallway, the fur, broken furniture, blood, and smashed ornaments, he had to act. Bunny was gone, taken by two scoundrels. A maharaja's son and his crony. Werewolves.

He couldn't hide away. The time had come to dig deep for confidence and courage. On the hook by the door, he found his moth-eaten coat and left the house. He slunk through the dark. The city was chaotic with nighttime carousers, and a confusion of voices and laughter came at him from every direction.

Keep walking.

He turned his focus to the address on the card Bunny had given him. This fellow, Penderry, seemed like his only option if he wanted to see his niece again. When he reached Jermyn Street, he called at the young man's home. Penderry's eyes widened in surprise when he saw Appleby, but politeness prevailed and he invited him in to the sitting-room.

"What brings you here at this late hour, sir?" asked Jim.

Appleby leaned on his walking cane and paced the floor by the fireplace. "She's gone."

"Who, sir?"

"Berenice. Bunny. My niece. And her servant, too. They're gone."

Penderry blinked, concern filling his face. "What do you mean gone?"

"Taken. Kidnapped by werewolves. I didn't know who else to turn to for help. I would go to the police, but I'm certain they won't believe me. You can help, can't you? She gave me this." He fished out the creased business card.

Penderry peered at the card, then at Appleby. "Of course I'll help. Please sit and calm yourself, sir, before you wear a hole in the carpet."

"Oh, right, yes." Appleby inhaled deeply and lowered his rump into an armchair. "Bunny told me you saved her life."

"In Hyde Park. I heard gunfire and came across Miss Spencer, and the werewolf."

"I'm indebted to you, young man."

He waved the notion away, his eyebrows migrating towards the bridge of his nose. "No, not at all. Please tell me exactly what happened."

Appleby rubbed his unshaven chin, his pulse quickening. "Horrible. It was horrible."

The boy swallowed and offered Appleby a cup of tea or a sherry for his nerves.

"No, no." Appleby took control of his anxiety. "The beast in Hyde Park was not an isolated incident. I received word from my brother's regiment earlier this week. Werewolves attacked their camp. At first, I didn't understand why any of this was happening. But now I do. It's all because of that servant. The werewolves came for her. She's one of them."

"Wait. Are you talking about Anju?"

"Yes. She's a werewolf. I saw it with my own eyes. She changed right in front of me." The memory caused his hands to tremble.

"Was Miss Spencer aware?"

He shook his head. "She seemed just as horrified as me. What can we do? They took her. Right from under my nose. My brother made a terrible mistake sending her to me. I can't protect anyone. I'm just a useless old man."

Penderry leaned forward, a serious gleam in his eyes. "Mr Spencer, if we're to find them, I must know as much as possible about the abductors. Did you get a good look at them? Could you describe them?"

"Better than that. They introduced themselves. Idiots. An Indian prince and his henchman. He said he'd come for Anju. Called her his bride."

"A prince?"