Page 84 of The Journal of a Thousand Years
“I love you.”
I pushed myself up on my elbow to see him better. There was a little more color in his cheeks, thankfully, and his eyes were alert as they searched my face. I smiled. “I love you, too.”
Our kiss was achingly soft. It was tinged with the relief we felt to be alive after coming so close to death. I’d suffered a loss today, but Gabe’s kiss reassured me that he would be by my sidewhile I digested that loss. He wasn’t going anywhere. I hoped he understood that I would always be there for him, too, from the way I kissed him back.
When I was once again snuggled into his side, his good arm circling me, I teased the hairs on his bare chest. “Why did you have so much letterhead with my name on it?”
He laughed softly. “I ordered it from the Petersons after I learned you were a paper magician. I was going to gift it to you for your birthday. The surprise is ruined now.”
“Nevertheless, it’s much appreciated.” I kissed him lightly. “You know me well.”
He put a finger to his lips in mock thought. “Hmmm, so gifts of paper in some form or other for the next fifty birthdays. Noted.”
“Fifty?”
“Hopefully more.” His heated gaze met mine. “Many more.”
The doctor cameand stitched Gabe’s wound, then Tilda arrived. She told us that Mrs. Bristow had telephoned her and asked her to come. After checking the stitching, she said she’d return later.
“You may stay with him, Sylvia, but he must rest.”
I didn’t think I was tired, but I fell asleep in Gabe’s arms as he slept. We both awoke some time later to Willie demanding to be let in. While her tone was hushed, it was still loud enough to be heard through the door. I couldn’t hear the response, or who gave it, but Willie’s next words had me climbing off the bed in a hurry.
“If you don’t let me in to see him, then you and me are finished, Tilda.”
I had to let her in before she ruined a perfectly good relationship.
I opened the door to see Tilda sitting on a chair, her back to me, blocking the doorway. Willie stood in front of her, arms over her chest, a fierce glare in place. The glare vanished when I invited her inside.
Tilda moved the chair and entered after Willie. “Don’t crush him,” she chided as Willie threw herself on Gabe.
Alex must have been hovering nearby because he entered, too. He drew me into a hug. “The servants told us everything. Are you all right?”
“Thank you, yes. Gabe is, too. Like last time, he just needs rest.”
Alex squeezed my hands. “Your father did a noble thing.”
I nodded. It was all I could manage, otherwise the tears would spill again, and I didn’t want to cry anymore.
Alex joined Willie at Gabe’s side. “You’ve got to stop worrying us like this,” he said. “Willie’s nerves can’t take it, and my nerves can’t take any more of her fretting.” He grinned and shook Gabe’s hand warmly.
Willie poked Alex in the chest. “I don’t fret.”
“Have you been back long?” I asked, glancing at the clock. It was ten minutes past three.
“We arrived a few minutes ago,” Willie said.
“When no one turned up at the meeting place in Epping Forest, we knew something was wrong,” Alex added. “We drove back as fast as we could.”
Williehumphed. “We missed it all. Even the police have gone, although Cyclops waited until we got back before he left for Scotland Yard.”
“He’s going to interrogate Ivy and Thurlow immediately,” Alex said. “There were many witnesses, so there’s no way Thurlow can weasel his way out of it in court this time.”
“And Ivy?” Gabe asked.
“She’s saying she was coerced by her mother and Thurlow, but Thurlow is claiming she was willing and even contributed ideas of her own to ensure you suffered. Given Thurlow’s reputation, it’s likely the jury will believe her over him. Or they might tar her with the same brush used to tar the Hobson and Son company once their fraud is made public. She didn’t murder anyone, unlike Thurlow, so she won’t hang if found guilty of aiding and abetting.”
Willie looked smug. “So, either she’ll spend a very long and uncomfortable time in prison, or she’ll endure a humiliating trial at the end of which none of her former friends will speak to her. She’ll be ruined.” She wagged a finger at Gabe. “Don’t you dare feel sorry for her.”
