Jack Staples and the City of Shadows Read Online Free

don’t think it’s safe to go back to Ballylesson. Not after what happened there.”
    â€œI know they’re chasing you and Alexia,” Arthur said guiltily. “But I don’t think they care about me. If I disappeared, Mrs. Dumphry wouldn’t even notice!”
    â€œDo you mean to leave us?” Jack asked anxiously. He didn’t know what he would do if Arthur wasn’t there.
    â€œNo,” Arthur said. “Or, I don’t know …” He whispered again. “I don’t think Mrs. Dumphry has ever wanted me here. You and Alexia are great at being heroes, but not me. I’m scared all the time. Everyone cares about what you do and where you go, but I’m just here because Wild found me and didn’t think it safe to leave me behind. Mrs. Dumphry came to Ballylesson to get both of you. I just got caught up in it.”
    Before Jack could respond, Aias exited the coachman’s shop. “Master Hampton has agreed to take us where we need to go,” he said.
    A tall man wearing a black coat and top hat offered a bow. “’Ello, young lords and ladies. Pleased to meet your acquaintance, I am!” Master Hampton bowed again.
    â€œReginald, Darby, and Hissey will ride in the coach with Lilly,” Aias said. “We’ll board the horses here while we’re away.”
    Jack grimaced; Mrs. Dumphry had given each of them a new name to use in London. They were pretending to be the family of a high lord from somewhere up in the north of Ireland. Jack’s name was Reginald, Arthur was Darby, and Alexia was Hissey. All three were meant to be Aias’s children, though Aias was now Lord Blair, and Mrs. Dumphry was pretending to be their nanny. Jack had no idea who Wild was supposed to be.
    â€œIt is far too dangerous to use our real names,” Mrs. Dumphry told them. “The Assassin’s servants are everywhere these days. In the city they will be more numerous than rats.”
    Jack had lost count of how many rats he’d seen since entering London. The creatures scurried everywhere and seemed to have no fear of humans. If the dark servants truly are more numerous … He tried not to dwell on it.
    â€œReginald!”
    Jack blinked. Mrs. Dumphry, Alexia, and Arthur were already inside the black lacquered coach, and all eyes were on Jack as he stood like a ninny in the falling snow. Aias mounted his stallion to ride alongside.
    â€œDon’t make your father tell you again! Get in!” Mrs. Dumphry’s voice was sharp.
    As he climbed into the coach, Jack saw a thick wall of white fog rolling toward them. Something about the fog didn’t seem natural, but Mrs. Dumphry didn’t look concerned so he decided not to mention it. As the coach lurched forward, Jack panicked. We’re truly leaving! It had been impossibly hard to leave Ireland a month earlier, but leaving the United Kingdom altogether … Jack didn’t want to think about it.
    â€œIn just a few minutes we will be inside Buckingham Palace,” Mrs. Dumphry explained.
    â€œWhat?” Jack and Arthur said on top of each other.
    Mrs. Dumphry sighed as she offered the boys a withering look. “Until just a few hours ago, we didn’t know how we would be leaving. The Council of Seven has been working tirelessly on four different escape plans. We can be sure the dark servants know about all of them, but it is our sincere hope they won’t know which we have chosen until after we are gone.”
    â€œThe dark servants know what we’re doing?” Alexia said incredulously.
    â€œThis will go faster if I am not interrupted. Yes, I am sure the dark servants know all about our plans. And I am also sure they’ll do everything in their power to stop us. But since they don’t know which way we will run, they will have to divide their forces. We will travel by way of a World Portal.” Mrs. Dumphry held up her hands to halt any interruptions.