Her Majesty's Necromancer (The Ministry of Curiosities #2)(52)

Gus raised a hand. "First of all, how did Cook cut his thumb?"

"I startled him as he was cleaning knives."

Gus and Seth both chuckled. "Afraid of girls now, is he?" Gus said.

Seth snorted. "It'll be fun to tease him when he returns."

Lincoln lowered his spoon and regarded me. "I understand you saw the captain at Lee's."

I watched him carefully for any signs that he was about to admonish me for not waiting for him, but he seemed perfectly calm. Perhaps he got all his anger out last night, but in my dazed state, I'd not realized. "I did. He wasn't a particularly distinctive fellow, but I would recognize him if I saw him again."

"He won't go back to Lee's now," Gus said.

I bit my lip and concentrated on my broth. "I know. I'm sorry I didn't stop him or find out more about him."

"Shut up, Gus," Seth hissed. "You didn't do anything different to what I would've done, Charlie."

It wasn't quite the comfort he'd intended to be. If Lincoln had said it, on the other hand…

He simply finished his broth in calm silence. It was maddening.

"I do know the captain was holding a syringe full of blood," I said. "He was either about to inject it into the man on the bed, or was extracting it out of him."

"Before or after his death?" Lincoln asked.

"Before. The captain is also a doctor, I'm quite sure. He had a medical bag." That I remembered. I'd thought the captain was going to hurt me for trying to look inside it.

"Definitely another Frankenstein." Gus shifted his crossed arms higher on his chest and pulled a face. "That's all we need."

"He didn't cut up the bodies," Seth said, holding up a thumb. "He's not searching for a necromancer." His forefinger joined the thumb then a third finger popped up. "And he wasn't injecting electrical currents into the bodies. He's nothing like Frankenstein. Now who's the dolt, eh?"

"So what does he want with them?" I asked before they could exchange further snide remarks.

"If I had to guess, I'd say he's experimenting," Lincoln said. "The experiments have something to do with the liquid he's spooning into their mouths as they lie dying from malnutrition, exhaustion and too much opium. His experiments must continue after their deaths, hence the need for the bodies."

"You mean he's studying them?" I asked.

He nodded. "Specifically, the effects of the liquid on them."

"How awful."

Seth shrugged. "They're dead. What does it matter?"

"It matters because he might be trying to bring them back to life," Gus said before I could.

"How many times do I have to tell you? He's not Frankenstein!"

"Enough," Lincoln said with quiet malice that cut through the tension. "Bringing them back to life is a possibility. One among many."

I folded my arms too and rubbed them. "I wish I'd learned more about him."

"Did you speak to the spirit after he died?" Lincoln asked.

I gasped and sat up straight. "Yes! I believe I did. He was terribly rude. I didn't like him much. I have a feeling he said something important to me…" I dragged my hands through my hair and down my face. There was definitely something there, on the edges of my memory, but I couldn't catch it. It was so frustrating! "Why can't I remember?" I said, thumping the table.

"Opium," Gus said knowingly.

"Thackery might remember more," Lincoln said.

I nodded slowly. "He might, but I have a better idea. Let's ask the spirit himself. That way we're not relying on Gordon's memory either."

Lincoln stood abruptly, startling me. It would seem my nerves were somewhat jumpy this morning. "Are you recovered enough to go now?"

"I'll fetch my coat."

"Be sure to get your own!" Seth called after me.

***

Lincoln apologized for keeping us waiting when he joined Seth, Gus and me at the carriage house. "Deliver this message to the general," he said to Gus, passing him a piece of paper.

Gus pocketed the note and headed out of the carriage house. Lincoln finished helping Seth prepare the horse and carriage, then assisted me into the cabin. He climbed in after me, and Seth took the driver's seat. I wanted to ask Lincoln what the message for the general was about, but held my tongue. Well, only until we passed through the gate.

"Are you inquiring into his own investigation?"

He nodded. "I told him we're getting close to learning a name, but if we fail, the names he's managed to uncover so far will give us something to work on. Hopefully Gus will return with a list."

"Good idea. I like to have a plan of action." And I liked to be involved in that plan. I was rather surprised that Lincoln was allowing me to go back to Lee's with him. Perhaps he thought I'd stay out of trouble with him there, even if the opium affected me again.

The drive was a long one and the silence excruciating. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was awkward, and I didn't really know why. Something must have happened last night but my rotten memory was playing tricks on me. Eventually I could stand it no longer.

"Mr. Fitzroy…last night…did something happen?"