Page 87 of Of Fate and Phantoms
"Oh!" I cried. "Alice!" She wasn't here. My scream hadn't woken her up, although it had woken everyone else. Mrs. Cotchin and Bella stood by the door, clutching candles, but Lady Vickers ordered them to return to bed.
I pushed past her, but she hardly noticed me. She was staring at the creature on the floor trying to wriggle out from beneath Gus. "Now I've seen everything," she muttered.
"Doyle, your candelabra, please," I said.
He handed it to me and I raced up the stairs, taking two at a time. I pounded on Alice's bedroom door, but she didn't answer. She was a heavy sleeper, particularly when she was having one of these odd dreams. I hoped waking her up would get rid of the rabbit. The last time her nightmare had come to life, back at the school, she'd shrunk herself in the dream and so had become miniature in life too. It had been impossible to find her and wake her.
I pushed open the door and, careful of where I stepped, approached the bed. She was in it and normal size, fast asleep, thank God. "Alice," I said. When she didn't wake, I shook her. "Alice! Wake up!"
She awoke with a start and sat up. "Charlie? What's wrong?" She groaned before I answered. "Oh no. It happened again, didn't it?"
"There's a white rabbit on the floor in the parlor, demanding that you go with him."
"Or I'll be late," she said heavily.
I nodded. "What will you be late for?"
"I have no idea." She climbed out of bed and threw a shawl around her shoulders. "He should be gone now. Oh, Charlie, I'm so sorry."
I hugged her. "It's all right. It's not your fault. Besides, he was harmless enough." Unlike the army who'd tried to capture her at the school. Their weapons had been very real.
A number of footsteps rushed along the corridor. Seth appeared in the doorway, carrying a lamp, Gus behind him. Cook, breathing heavily, joined them.
"Alice?" Seth passed the lamp to Gus and took Alice's hands in his own. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, thank you," she said, speaking to his bare chest. "They don't harm me."
Seth stood a little straighter. "Your dreams?"
She nodded. "I am never harmed. Those around me, however, are in danger."
"The rabbit was well behaved," I assured her. "Particularly after Gus sat on him."
Cook chuckled. "Ain't nothing going to move with that lard arse on top of 'em."
Gus thumped him in the shoulder. "Gave me a bit of a shock once I saw its face. Got an even bigger shock when it just disappeared like magic."
"When I woke up," Alice mumbled. She pulled her shawl tighter. "I'm so glad everyone's all right. Who saw it first?"
"I did," I said. "I fell asleep in the parlor, waiting for Lincoln to return."
"Half of London heard you scream," Gus said. "My ears are still ringing."
"You'll have to forgive me," I said with a wry smile. "It's not every night I wake up to see a white rabbit dressed in a waistcoat and trousers, demanding to see my friend."
"Oh, Charlie." Alice took my hand. "It must have been frightening."
"I think my heart has begun beating at its usual pace again, but I doubt I'll be falling asleep any time soon."
"Come to the kitchen," Cook said. "I'll make hot chocolate."
"I never turn down hot chocolate. Coming, Alice?"
She nodded. "I'm almost too afraid to fall asleep again."
All except Seth headed to the kitchen. He went to see if his mother's nerves had recovered. The square set of his shoulders and his strut were a sure sign that he knew Alice was staring at his back.
Bella, Doyle and Mrs. Cotchin were already in the kitchen, pouring hot chocolate into cups for themselves, and another for Lady Vickers.
