Page 18 of From the Ashes
"It's so good to see you again," I said, pulling back to look at him. His eyes sparkled and a grin split his moon-like face.
"And you!" He glanced past me. "You escaped? Does he know?"
I laughed. "He fetched me. I don't know why."
"He missed you," he said with typical bluntness. "He ain't a machine; he just want folk to think he is." He laughed and hugged me again. "Thank God you be back. It be hell here since you left. Seth and Gus be gone."
"I heard. Do you think they'll come back?"
He nodded. "Once they hear of your return. Only I'm not sure where to find them."
"Then how will we inform them?"
"Seth will be in touch with his mother."
"His mother?"
He grinned. "The hoity toity Lady Vickers be living here now. You'll meet her soon enough." He told me to wait and fetched something wrapped in a cloth from the pantry. He handed it to me. "I were saving this for Lady V, but you have it." I unwrapped three slices of cold beef and ate one while Cook watched. "Take it with you upstairs. Go have a bath. You be wet and cold." He nudged me with his elbow and returned to his dough. "These biscuits be ready by the time you get out."
I took the service stairs to the second floor and kept an eye open for Lady Vickers as I hurried to my old rooms. I wasn't ready to meet her yet. A warm bath was called for to fortify my nerves first.
Lincoln emerged from his rooms, already changed into dry clothes. His damp hair hung in tangled waves to the nape of his neck. He carried his jacket and tie and the top button of his shirt was undone. My heart skipped at the sight.
He spotted me before I could duck into my old rooms and pretend I hadn't seen him. His pace slowed, as if he was surprised to see me. Or perhaps he didn't want to get too close. "I know this is awkward for you," he said, as he drew near, "but I hope you can bear it."
I squared my shoulders. "It's not awkward for you?"
His hand settled on the door handle, blocking my exit. "I…don't know."
"What do you mean, you don't know?"
His Adam's apple bobbed and his knuckles went white. "I feel a lot of things right now, but I can't separate them. They're jumbled together. Like the mixture for one of Cook's cakes." His gaze dipped, as if he could no longer meet mine. He opened the door. "I'll be scarce in the near future as I warn the supernaturals and continue with the investigation."
I wondered how hard it had been for him to tell me about his feelings. He wasn't a man who liked to discuss emotions. Sometimes, I wasn't sure he had the same emotional range as the rest of us. I was beginning to think that his regimented and lonely childhood didn't completely explain his lack of empathy, and it was more probably that he lacked a piece in his heart that the rest of us possessed.
"The committee won't be told of your return," he said. "Nor anyone else. That should give you some freedom for the time being."
"You're not ordering me to remain here?"
"Ordering you hasn't worked before, I see no reason why it'll work this time."
"If I do go out, I'll be careful."
He inclined his head in a nod and walked off.
"You're limping," I said before he'd gone too far.
His step changed to his normal one. "You're mistaken."
Liar. He'd definitely been limping. I resisted the urge to go after him and retreated to my rooms instead. I didn't care if he limped. I didn't care if his entire leg fell off. He could go to hell and stay there for all I cared. I would never again worry about his wellbeing. He certainly didn't worry about mine.
* * *
Ireturnedto the kitchen via the service stairs again. It was easier to avoid Lady Vickers that way. I had not, however, anticipated running into her maid.
"Who are you?" I blurted upon seeing the pretty woman carrying a tray up the stairs.
"Bella Briggs, miss." She bobbed an awkward curtsey that almost saw the covered plate slide off the tray. She caught it just in time, only to over correct the tray. "Bloody hell!"
