Page 101 of From the Ashes
"I'll keep you informed every time I change it," he went on. "None of that's necessary now. My memory is fine. I'll write down the cipher and you can decode my list." He walked to the desk, steadier than I expected, but sat heavily.
He reached for the inkstand but paused when he saw the engagement box had been moved. He picked it up and cradled it in his palm before setting it down again in its original position near the back of his desk.
A few minutes later, he handed me the paper. The code was ridiculously long. "Your memory is better than fine," I said.
"Unless this doesn't work and you end up with a laundry list instead."
I smiled with relief. If he was making jokes, he must be all right. "Go to bed, Lincoln. You look tired and I suspect your head aches."
He bristled. I may have insulted his manliness, but I didn't care. "I don't want to sleep. I want to talk to you."
"There'll be no more talking tonight. Tomorrow. I promise."
He lowered his head and I touched his chin. He looked up at me, hopefully.
"Goodnight, Lincoln."
He eyed the sofa. "I'll stay out here with you, to help with the code if necessary."
If he didn't look so weak, I'd thump him. "Do you need help getting to the sofa?"
"I can manage." He rose and stepped away, then paused. "I think I do need help. If you could put your arm around me…"
It was a bald faced lie and I knew it. What's more, if the slight curve of his lips was an indication, he knew that I knew it. Even so, I tucked myself into his side and put my arm around his waist. He circled his arm around my shoulders, but didn't put any of his weight on me, and allowed me to steer him to the sofa.
I positioned two cushions at one end and he lay down, his legs dangling over the edge at the other end. I helped him off with his shoes only to stop at the sight of the bandages wrapped around his feet. I'd forgotten about the cuts he'd inflicted by walking over broken glass in this very room.
I rested my hand on the top of one his feet and swept my gaze up to his face. He quickly closed his eyes, but I knew he'd been watching me.Oh, Lincoln, you're a broken, battered mess.
I resisted the urge to kiss him, although it wasn't easy. I lit a fire in the grate and returned to the desk. It took some time to use the code to write out all the names and new addresses of the supernaturals. When I finished, I glanced at Lincoln. He slept in exactly the position I'd left him, his arms crossed over his chest. The color had returned to his face and his breathing sounded steady, thank God.
Another two hours later, I'd written letters to every supernatural in my best hand, and left a space for Lincoln to sign when he woke. Then I left after casting a long look at him asleep on the sofa, more at peace than I'd ever seen him.
Chapter 20
"He's awake," Doyle announced as he brought in luncheon to Lady Vickers, Gus and me in the sitting room the next day. She had been told what had transpired in her absence and taken it remarkably well. That could have been because she hadn't seen the kitchen, the dismembered body parts, or the general's dead body. "He asked me to post these." Doyle set the tray down and picked up the stack of papers. It was the letters, all signed.
"He's not coming down?" I asked.
Doyle shook his head.
For Lincoln to remain in his room, he must feel very unwell. "Is it his head?"
"He wouldn't say, but I suspect so. I opened the curtains, but the light hurt his eyes. And he can't keep anything down this morning."
"Oh." I stared at the letters in Doyle's hand, but hardly saw them. "I should see if he needs anything."
Lady Vickers pulled a face as she accepted her plate of sandwiches from Doyle. "If you want my advice, stay here, Charlie. Capable men like Mr. Fitzroy don't like their paramours to see them when they're low."
"We're not paramours."
"You know what I mean. Send for the doctor, Doyle."
"He's on his way, madam." Doyle bowed. "Thank you for your advice."
He left and I tried to eat my lunch, but I wasn't hungry. I'd been shooed out of the service rooms earlier as Seth oversaw the continued clean up, so sat with Gus in his room for a while until he decided he was well enough to come downstairs. But I couldn't sit idly forever. For one thing, Lady Vickers would drive me mad with her endless gossiping, and for another, I now had Lincoln to worry about.
Seth provided a welcome distraction when he strode in, dressed in blue overalls like a navvy. His mother clicked her tongue and ordered him not to sit on the furniture.
