Page 68 of From the Ashes
I left Lincoln to inform him and took my breakfast tray upstairs to eat in my room. After a warm bath and a quiet sit by the fire to dry my hair, I could no longer keep my eyes open. I fell asleep, only to wake up a few hours later from a nightmare. I'd dreamed that the Queen of Hearts' soldiers chased me into a prison cell where the disgusting Jenny, dressed in the queen's livery, belched in my face then drove a sword through my heart.
I went downstairs and found Seth and Gus in the sitting room with Cook and Doyle. Doyle jumped to his feet upon seeing me and flushed red to his hairline.
"It's all right," I told him. "Please, sit down. You're welcome to use the sitting room. Mr. Fitzroy won't mind."
"Thank you, but I have to speak to him anyway." He skirted around me as if I were a wild animal and slipped out.
"How's the prisoner?" I asked, touching the sides of the teapot on the table to test its warmth.
"Still alive, unfortunately." Seth lay stretched out on the sofa, his long legs dangling over the armrest, one arm under his head. "He's an annoying little turd."
"Did Lincoln question him?"
"Aye," Gus said. He sat on an armchair and wiggled his bare toes at the fire. "Fawkner told him nothin' about the person who employed him. Prob'ly because he knew nothin'."
"He received money and instructions in a blank envelope delivered to his house," Seth added. "He didn't see who left it."
Cook stretched out his legs and scratched his round belly. "He sounds like a toss pot. Who'd hire a fool like that?"
"He was closest to Dr. Bell," I said, "and desperate. Men like that are eminently employable. Apparently his mother is ill, too. That reminds me, we ought to find out where his family lives and concoct a story to explain his absence."
"Fitzroy asked me to do it later," Gus said.
Seth sat up to make room for me on the sofa. "Your mother would have a fit if she saw you sprawled out like this," I said. "Where is she, by the way? And why isn't Bella in here with you?"
"Bella's helping my mother dress for the dinner party."
I glanced pointedly at the clock on the mantel. It was only five o'clock and the dinner didn't begin until eight.
"Apparently it takes hours," Seth said. "Bella's hair dressing skills aren't up to snuff."
Gus snorted. "She ain't much good at anythin' round here."
Seth wiggled his eyebrows. "That's what you think."
"You're doin' it right under your mother's nose? Bloody hell."
"You be asking for trouble," Cook added. "Don't come crying to us if you get caught."
"I can handle my mother," Seth said around a yawn.
I chuckled into my teacup.
Lincoln entered and nodded at me. "You're awake."
Had Doyle been ordered to tell him when I woke? It would seem so. "Tea?" I asked.
"Thank you. Gus, make your visit to the Fawkners now. Seth, see if Dr. Fawkner needs anything."
"Why?" Seth whined. "I looked in on him not long ago."
Lincoln gave him a withering glare and Seth sighed. He followed Gus out. Cook left too, without being asked. Lincoln had just made sure that we were alone. I suddenly felt trapped. Even more so when he shut the door.
I poured him a cup of tea, but regretted it when I went to hand it to him. My trembling made the cup rattle in the saucer.
"Thank you," he said and sipped.
I sipped too and avoided his gaze. If he mentioned that kiss, I'd…I'd walk out. I wasn't ready to discuss such things with him. Intimacy needed to be avoided at all costs. By that measure, being alone with him should be avoided too.
