Free The Janus Affair: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel by Pip Ballantine, Tee Morris

friend, and then together they went out onto the street.
    “Not much in the vegetarian line in there,” Eliza wiped a line of mustard off from top of the packaging and licked it off the tip of her finger. “I take it you bring your own food to the Ministry.”
    Ihita shrugged. “Actually, though I do not consume anything that came from a cow, we do eat lamb dishes. Unfortunately, Mr. Southward does not often have it for his sandwiches.” She tucked her hand under Eliza’s elbow. “If you like, tomorrow I shall bring extra of my rogan josh . It’s my mother’s recipe.”
    The combination of Albert’s sandwiches and talking about Indian delights was making Eliza quite hungry. The bundle in her hand began to smell more and more tempting.
    “You know Albert’s secret,” she said, trying to stave off hunger pangs. “He always has the best beef and ham—mostly because his brother is a well-to-do butcher in the West End. Quality ingredients, even done simply, always make for the best meals. My mum taught me that while working in our pub’s kitchen.”
    “Isn’t it the way of the world? The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and we are lucky to have mothers that love us and look out for us.” Ihita nodded appreciatively. “I’ll make sure I bring home a new recipe when I visit my mum next month.”
    Eliza swallowed hard. She’d gotten a letter from back home last week, but it didn’t ease the tight feeling in her chest. A worry that she might never see them again. It seemed like an age since she’d felt her mother’s arms around her, and despite outward appearances she needed that now and again. For some reason Wellington’s turncoat attitude had struck her deeply, and made her yearn for someone who was on her side. Someone who understood that things needed to be set right.
    “I miss my mother too, Eliza.”
    She blinked at the comment. Ihita was smiling warmly, and Eliza considered herself quite fortunate to have a comrade in her. “It is a long way back to Delhi and seeing my home once every two months . . .”
    “But that is what makes us different, Ihita. You can go back home.”
    “All we have to make up for that is the work we do.”
    Such bitter, melancholy thoughts were occupying her mind as they turned the corner, reluctantly making their way back towards the Ministry, and the men who awaited them. That was why she didn’t see the gent whose path intersected with theirs, and why, for an instant, her reflexes failed her and both sandwiches began to topple to the muddy earth underfoot.
    The man she had collided with stepped deftly off the pavement, pivoted on one foot, caught the first sandwich, then, twisting about, ducked down to catch the second on top of the first only a breath above the muddy road. Eliza felt the apology on her tongue, and even tried to summon up a soft smile, but that was before she looked into his eyes. All words and thoughts failed her.
    For the second time in two days, she had run straight into her past, into the world—or at least a part of it—she thought was far and away from England.
    He looked exactly the same as when she had last seen him—tall, handsome, and dressed impeccably—but with the rakish smile that had always been able to melt her.
    Once he had smiled at her. Once those dark eyes had sparkled with love. Once those lips . . .
    Eliza D. Braun, who had faced death and disaster time and time again, who always had a witty reply or a pistol at the ready, found herself completely and utterly speechless.
    “Good afternoon, Eliza.” The gentleman tipped his hat, flashing a brilliant smile. “What a delightful happenstance.”
    “Douglas?” Eliza finally managed. A heat surged beneath her cheeks. The history between them could not have been more complicated. “A bit far from Lambton Quay, isn’t it?”
    “Quite.” He cleared his throat and held up the sandwiches balanced on his fingertips. “Your lunch?”
    Perhaps it was the smell of