Page 59 of The Last Necromancer
She clicked her tongue.
"Drink whiskey and smoke cigars."
"Charlie, really, now you're just being stubborn."
"Apparently I make a habit of it," I said, ignoring Fitzroy as best as I could.
"She won't come to any harm here," he assured her. "You know that, Julia. Indeed, you also know that this is the safest place for her, while we try to draw V.F. out. I won't expose her to danger because you believe she needs feminine company."
It was quite the speech, and I was surprised at his vehemence. It would seem he took my safety seriously.
"Very well," she huffed. "I'll have some embroidery sent around. And you are to keep Gus and Seth on a tight leash. If anything happens to her—"
"Nothing will happen," I said. "They're not going to…compromise me under Fitzroy's nose. He'll skin them alive."
He lifted his brows at Lady Harcourt in what I suspected was triumph, but I wasn't entirely sure.
She sighed. "Then that is that. I'll retreat. I must dash anyway, but I'd like a word with Charlie alone before I go."
Fitzroy bowed then left us. Once the door was shut, Lady Harcourt picked up the fire iron and stabbed at the burnt corset. Her vigorous thrusts quickly made her breathless. I could have told her she'd be able to breathe better if she threw her own corset into the fire, but I didn't think the suggestion would be welcomed.
"Do you have your courses?" she asked.
"Pardon?"
"Your monthly woman's courses."
"I…no. It stopped some time ago."
She eyed me up and down. "That can occur with underweight girls. I expect, now that you're eating, it will return. I'll have linens sent to you along with the sewing."
"Thank you, my lady. You're very kind." I meant it. She had thought of difficulties that hadn't even occurred to me. "I know you're worried about how a girl who doesn't like to wear corsets will behave around the men, but I can assure you, I am not interested in…those sorts of activities."
She stabbed at the ruined corset again. "Not yet."
I sighed. "Fitzroy won't allow it under his roof anyway. He'll make sure the men treat me with respect."
Stab, stab, stab.
"And I won't tempt them." I laughed. It sounded ridiculous. "As if I could, anyway."
She stopped and placed the fire iron in the stand. "You underestimate yourself, Charlie. And I think you underestimate men, too." She lifted a finger when I opened my mouth to protest. "Men, not boys. They are not the same. Well, some are, but many are not. Now, tell me something."
"What?" I mumbled, unsure if I'd been chastised or advised.
"How did Fitzroy convince you to stay and help us?"
"He didn't tell you?"
She smiled sweetly and hooked her arm through mine. "I thought I'd ask you."
"Perhaps you ought to ask him." I extricated myself, but not before I felt her fingers tense on my arm.
I headed for the door and opened it. Fitzroy wasn't there, and nor were any of the men. It took me a moment to remember that I was no longer a prisoner. I walked down the stairs with Lady Harcourt. We found Fitzroy in the library, propped against the windowsill, a book in hand.
He looked up as we came in and closed the book. "We need to talk."
I wasn't sure if he spoke to me or Lady Harcourt and whether his announcement meant the other should leave. Lady Harcourt, however, seemed to know. She gave him her hand and he bowed over it.
