Page 110 of Of Fate and Phantoms
"Yes, as it happens." Seth grinned but it quickly vanished. He dabbed the handkerchief to his wound. "She's going to have a fit when she sees me like this."
"You could hide out in the cellar until it heals," Gus said helpfully. "Or the kitchen. She don't go in there."
"Don't worry," I said cheerfully. "Alice's concern will make up for any lectures your mother doles out."
Seth brightened. "Good point. I wonder if she's still up at this hour. What time is it, anyway?"
"Eleven," Lincoln said without looking at a watch. "And Charlie gets the first bath."
Seth held up his hands. "Fine by me. I'm going to be busy reassuring Alice that I'll recover."
"Not your mother?" I asked.
"She'll be in bed at this hour, thank God."
We arrived at Harriet's house. Lincoln opened the door for her and stepped down to assist her from the carriage.
"Thank you," she said to us. She squeezed my hand. "You were all marvelous." She allowed Lincoln to escort her up the steps. "I am sorry for all the trouble I caused," I heard her say.
The front door opened and Gillingham appeared in the brightly lit entrance, not the butler. The three of them conversed briefly then Lincoln returned.
"She'll be fine," he said, thumping the cabin ceiling once he'd settled.
"How can you know?" I asked.
"Because she knows her strength now, and he's a coward."
"You think she'll use her strength to curtail his wrath?"
"I hope so," Seth muttered.
The drive from Mayfair to Highgate took some time. The rocking of the coach lulled us, including Lincoln. He closed his eyes but did not rest his head against the walls like the other two. I gently laid my hand on his knee and he settled his bruised hand over mine. He kept the other close to his chest. I suspected it sported broken bones, as did Seth's.
"I'm worried about Mink," I said quietly.
"I know."
"Where do you think he is? What's happened to him?"
He said nothing, and I knew he was avoiding mentioning the worst.
"And what about keeping an eye on King?" I asked. "Do you want me to do it tonight? Or Cook?"
"Gillingham will send men around, so he informed me."
"Is it wise to leave it to him? It's a great responsibility to watch a shifter as wily as King, and Gillingham's not the most competent."
"He has competent men working for him."
"But—"
"No more questions, Charlie. Please." He closed his eyes again and didn't reopen them until we reached Lichfield's gates.
The warm glow of the lamps at the front of the house welcomed us, and the door opened before we reached it. Doyle stepped aside to let us past, his features as schooled as ever, although I thought I detected a flicker of alarm in his eyes when he saw how gingerly the men walked.
"'Bout bloody time," Cook growled, hands on hips. "We thought you all be dead."
"Almost," Seth muttered. Then he suddenly beamed. "Ah, Alice, good evening."
