From The Ashes (The Ministry of Curiosities #6)(82)

Another two hours later, I'd written letters to every supernatural in my best hand, and left a space for Lincoln to sign when he woke. Then I left after casting a long look at him asleep on the sofa, more at peace than I'd ever seen him.





Chapter 20





"He's awake," Doyle announced as he brought in luncheon to Lady Vickers, Gus and me in the sitting room the next day. She had been told what had transpired in her absence and taken it remarkably well. That could have been because she hadn't seen the kitchen, the dismembered body parts, or the general's dead body. "He asked me to post these." Doyle set the tray down and picked up the stack of papers. It was the letters, all signed.

"He's not coming down?" I asked.

Doyle shook his head.

For Lincoln to remain in his room, he must feel very unwell. "Is it his head?"

"He wouldn't say, but I suspect so. I opened the curtains, but the light hurt his eyes. And he can't keep anything down this morning."

"Oh." I stared at the letters in Doyle's hand, but hardly saw them. "I should see if he needs anything."

Lady Vickers pulled a face as she accepted her plate of sandwiches from Doyle. "If you want my advice, stay here, Charlie. Capable men like Mr. Fitzroy don't like their paramours to see them when they're low."

"We're not paramours."

"You know what I mean. Send for the doctor, Doyle."

"He's on his way, madam." Doyle bowed. "Thank you for your advice."

He left and I tried to eat my lunch, but I wasn't hungry. I'd been shooed out of the service rooms earlier as Seth oversaw the continued clean up, so sat with Gus in his room for a while until he decided he was well enough to come downstairs. But I couldn't sit idly forever. For one thing, Lady Vickers would drive me mad with her endless gossiping, and for another, I now had Lincoln to worry about.

Seth provided a welcome distraction when he strode in, dressed in blue overalls like a navvy. His mother clicked her tongue and ordered him not to sit on the furniture.

Gus snickered and made a point of stretching like a languid cat in the armchair by the fire. Instead of sneering back at him, Seth picked up the blanket from the back of the sofa and tucked it around Gus.

"Have a rest, my friend," Seth said quietly.

Gus's smug smile vanished. He nodded soberly.

"How is it back there?" I asked Seth.

"Filthy, but at least the area is secure now and the ceiling won't collapse. Thank goodness that part of the house is only single level."

"How long do you think repairs will take?"

"Weeks. I'll find a builder this afternoon. I know of several who're quite good if they remain sober long enough."

I suspected he knew them from his days as a boxer, but didn't mention as much in front of his mother. She looked horrified enough that her son knew tradesmen.

"I forgot to ask Doyle how Cook is coping without a kitchen," I said, holding up my sandwich.

"Badly, God help me. He's working from the servants' dining room and complaining endlessly. I hope everyone likes sandwiches because we won't be eating much better for a while."

He went to sit, but his mother scolded him. "Look at you! You're a disgrace."

He rolled his eyes. "Doyle says Fitzroy's unwell," he said to me. "Have you been in this morning?"

I shook my head. "He won't want me to see him like that."

"Are you sure?"

I stared down at my clasped hands in my lap.

Seth crouched in front of me. "He'll be fine. There's no need to worry."

I nodded as my tears welled. "It's just that…Gus said Lincoln was closest to the coachman when the explosion went off. Lincoln was trying to disarm him, wasn't he?"

"Probably." He looked to Gus.

"The man were drunk," Gus said, darkly. "He had a gun and a small bomb what looked like he'd made in his stables. I think he was supposed to use it later, when no one were around, as a distraction, may be. He weren't meant to shoot no one neither, I expect." He touched his side, heavily bandaged beneath his shirt. "Fitzroy tried to calm him down and draw near to overpower him. The coachman panicked and lit the bomb, but he didn't get rid of it fast enough. It all happened so quick."

"Lincoln tried to stop him." I wiped at my cheeks. "He risked his own life to save everyone else. It was a selfless act."

"It was." Seth touched my knee.

"You don't understand," I said, unable to stop crying now. "I accused him of being selfish."

"No, Charlie. Don't blame yourself."

"He would have risked himself no matter what," Gus added.

"The thing is, Charlie," Lady Vickers said, coming to sit by me. "He is a selfish man, but only in some matters, and not others. I'd say it's because he thought he knew what was best for everyone."

"He doesn't," Gus said.

"Both of you, out," Lady Vickers ordered. "I wish to speak to Charlie alone."

"But I'm wounded!"

She stood and pulled me up with her. "Then we'll leave."

I allowed her to lead me out of the sitting room to the base of the staircase. Should I go up and see him?