Her Majesty's Necromancer (The Ministry of Curiosities #2)(68)

"And how close are you to developing it?"

He sighed and pushed off from the desk. "Not as close as I would like. It would help if I could speak to the subjects about the changes they experience. That's where you come in." He smiled at me. "You'll raise them for me and I'll interview them and perform tests. We'll start today. Bertram Purley will be buried this morning. It's best to start with a fresh corpse."

I willed him to turn around, to take his eyes off me for a moment. But he did not. "Were you experimenting with this serum in the army?" Keeping him talking was all I could do for now, but biding my time grated on my nerves. I just wanted to get out and go home.

He smiled. "It's where I developed and nurtured the idea."

"Until your superiors discovered what you were doing."

He pushed his glasses up his nose again. "On the contrary. They were quite happy for me to continue. They encouraged me. The application of such a serum has enormous benefit for the army, naturally. Ordinarily, when a soldier dies on the battlefield it means they are a man down. But if he can rise again…" His face lit up, his eyes bright in the lamplight. "It would make the British army a strong force, impossible to defeat."

It certainly would. "None of your superiors objected? How many knew?"

"Only two. But the secret got out." He sighed. "Others learned of it and they didn't see the benefits. The very thought sickened them." His mouth twisted into a mocking smile. "Some people are closed minded, and nothing can convince them of the wonderful possibilities that science and medicine can offer the world. I was dismissed from the army, but I continued my work here, in this office—and at Mr. Lee's and the butcher's too, of course."

"Did you hide the bodies in the cool room to slow down their decay?"

"Very clever, Miss Holloway. That was the intention, but it wasn't cold enough for my purposes. I need to learn what happens to them much, much faster. That's where you come in." The light in his eyes flared again. "Miss Holloway, I haven't been this excited in years. My mind is running wild with possibilities. Perhaps I can study you too, one day."

My chest constricted and my stomach rolled.

"Do you think your master will present a problem?" he asked.

He thought I was going to help him? Just like that? I opened my mouth to tell him he was wrong, but shut it again. Playing my hand too early would work against me. Wait, Charlie. Just wait.

"He might," I said carefully.

"Then you should hand in your notice. I'll rent accommodation for you nearby."

"Where are we?"

"Savile Row."

"That's a nice area. Can you afford to keep me?"

He smiled. "I have funds. My work hasn't been abandoned by everyone. Some still see the benefits."

"Who?" I blurted out.

He shrugged. "Anonymous benefactors." He laughed. "Isn't that always the way?" He grasped my hand and patted it. "You won't regret this, Miss Holloway. I'll pay you a wage too, of course; much better than you're paid as a maid. I trust our arrangement will be to your benefit as well as mine."

I withdrew my hand and forced a smile to my face. "Thank you. You've answered all my questions. Oh, one more. Those two men who work for you…" I effected a shudder. "They frighten me."

"They frighten you?" He laughed again. "My dear Miss Holloway, you frighten them. Particularly Jimmy. He's terrified you'll set a ghost onto him."

I laughed too. "Shall I assure him that I won't as long as he doesn't hurt me?" I touched my cheek. "Is he just outside?"

"He is, but he's asleep. Let him rest a while longer." He glanced at the window where the birds had begun to wake up and chirp for their breakfast. "It's still early."

"How did you know where to find me last night? From Mr. Lee?" I thought about the boy who'd benefited from Seth's coat and gloves. It saddened me to think he would betray me to this man, but it was understandable. I would have done the same thing when I'd lived in the gutter and a little money meant the difference between living and starving to death.

"One of the groundsmen from Highgate Cemetery, as it happens. Chap with an ugly birthmark on his face. I asked him who had been to Thackery's grave, and he described you. He said you lived in the big house with the iron gates at Hampstead Heath."

I gasped. "How did he know that?"

Jasper shrugged. "Perhaps he followed you home after one of your visits to the cemetery. He said you go frequently."

My fingers tightened around the rope. Had the groundskeeper followed me of his own volition, or on someone else's behalf? Both options filled me with horror. I shuddered again.

"Are you cold?" Jasper asked.

"Yes. Can you build up the fire?"

"Of course. Wait here." He smiled sheepishly. "We removed the fire tools when we brought you in here. Couldn't have you using them as weapons, could we? I am sorry for the harsh treatment, Miss Holloway. We couldn't be certain how you would react when you awoke." He nodded at my cheek. "I'll take a look at that after I see to the fire." He gave me another warm smile, and I almost felt guilty for what I was about to do.