Her Majesty's Necromancer (The Ministry of Curiosities #2)(50)

I put my arms around Lincoln and sighed into him. He tensed and I tensed too, but after a few moments, as my body relaxed, I felt the tension leach out of him. Was that because he thought I'd fallen asleep again? I didn't dare look up at him or move a muscle. I didn't want him to feel anxious for holding me. I liked it when he was more relaxed.

Some time later, we stopped, and I finally glanced around. We were at the cemetery, near Gordon's grave. He walked ahead of the horses, a spade in hand.

"Where did you get that?" I asked him.

"One of the groundsmen must have left it out." He clicked his tongue. "They ought to be more careful. There are so many thieves in these parts of late."

He handed the horses' reins to Lincoln then began shoveling soil out of his grave so that he could access the coffin. The effort would have left a living man breathing heavily and sweating profusely, but he simply leaned on the spade handle and smiled at me when he finished.

"I have to go now, dear Miss Charlie. Thank you for the adventure. I enjoyed most of it." He gave Lincoln a flat-lipped smile. "You've got a lot of tricks up your sleeve, sir. I've never met anyone who fought like you."

Lincoln inclined his head in a nod. "Next time, declare yourself."

Gordon's lips tightened even more. "If I get an opportunity, I will."

Gordon bowed to me. "Good bye, Miss Charlie. Take care. Don't go inhaling anything you shouldn't."

I grinned. "Thank you, Gordon. I appreciate everything you did tonight." I held out my hand and he took it without hesitation. Some skin flaked off at my touch, but I pretended not to notice. He let me go and bobbed down into his grave, out of my line of sight. "Ready?" I asked.

I heard the coffin lid close then a muffled, "Ready!"

"You are released, Gordon," I said. "Return to your afterlife."

I watched as his misty spirit rose from the grave and hovered above the headstone. He saluted me then swept up into the dark sky.

Lincoln turned the horses around and we rode out of the cemetery. Now that we were alone, and I was fully awake, it felt somewhat awkward. I should ask him to let me ride on my own, but I didn't. Nor did he suggest it. He continued to hold me in his lap, although both his hands were now occupied with all three sets of reins.

"Lincoln?" I said, peering at him in profile. There was just enough light from the streetlamps to see him clearly at such a close angle.

"Yes?"

"I saw no other option." When he didn't answer, I added, "This opportunity might not have come again."

"I know."

"Don't be angry with me. I hate it when you're angry with me for no reason."

"It's always for a reason."

"It doesn't always seem that way from my position."

I felt rather than heard his sigh. "You don't understand."

"Then make me."

Several heartbeats passed before he said, "I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not sure I understand myself."

The ache in his voice plucked at my heart. I shifted a little to see him better, but he was staring straight ahead. I touched his jaw and gently forced him to look at me. His Adam's apple jerked fiercely and his warm gaze settled on my eyes.

I stroked the strong line of his jaw with my thumb, wishing I dared touch more of him. "I think you do understand," I murmured. "And I think you're afraid of what you feel."

He jerked his head away, breaking the connection. I didn't need to be touching him to know that his jaw hardened. "You're still affected by the opium."

I didn't bother to protest. I simply sighed and settled my head against his shoulder again.

We arrived home to a house that was more awake than asleep. Cook was nowhere to be seen, but Seth and Gus ran into the courtyard when they heard the horses. Lincoln handed me down to Seth, much to my disappointment. I tried telling them that I could walk, but when Seth set me down on my feet, my legs buckled.

He caught me and looped his arm around my waist. With his help, I was able to stumble to the house. Gus and Lincoln took the horses to the stables and Seth sat me down at the kitchen table. He poured me a cup of water and I drank it greedily.

"You don't look injured," he said, his narrow gaze eyeing me up and down.

"I'm not. The residual effects of other people's opium smoke did this. Apparently it affects novices. The dead are immune, fortunately."

His eyebrows shot up his forehead. "Who died? And did you kill them? Or did Fitzroy?"

"I took Gordon Thackery with me as a bodyguard."

"Ah, yes. I read your note." His eyebrows remained halfway up his forehead as he regarded me with more admiration than concern. "That was clever of you to summon him. Your note also mentioned the captain was at Mr. Lee's. Did you see him?"

"No more questions," Lincoln barked as he strode into the kitchen. "Charlie's exhausted."

I would have argued with him, but I was much too tired. "I think I'll go straight to bed." Both of them came to assist me, but I held up my hand as I rose. "I can walk, thank you."

"Have the effects worn off?" Seth asked, hovering nearby.

"It would seem so." I concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other and maintaining my balance. I yawned as I reached the doorway and had to grasp the doorframe as a bout of dizziness swamped me.