The Apothecary's Poison (Glass and Steele #3)(56)

But instead he stepped away with a sigh. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to me. "Will you be all right to go out soon?"

"Yes, of course." I dabbed the handkerchief against my eyes and gave it back to him. "Where are we going?"

"To see Barratt."

I looked away. "Oh."

"I want to know what business he had with Coyle. You don't have to come if you don't feel up to it."

"I want to go. What about Coyle himself? Shall we confront him about the man he sent?"

"We certainly will, but we'll see what Barratt knows first. He may know nothing at all. Like you said, he could be innocent."

He was being diplomatic for my sake. I wished he wouldn't. He seemed to think I liked Oscar Barratt in that way, and that certainly wasn't the message I wanted to send him. I wasn't interested in Barratt at all. I found him charming, and it was nice to discuss magic with another magician. But I couldn't tell Matt any of that without giving away too much of my heart's secrets.

I headed to my rooms but paused in the doorway. Miss Glass sat at my dressing table, rearranging my trinkets and combs.

"Miss Glass! Is everything all right?"

"I thought we were friends, India," she said without looking up.

"We are." I crouched beside her. She spoke evenly, with a strong voice, yet she did not seem like herself. "What's wrong?"

"Friends do not betray one another."

I blinked. "How have I betrayed you?" The moment I said it, I knew she'd seen Matt and me together through his open door. We hadn't noticed her.

"You know how."

I sat on the end of the bed. "I was upset and Matt was consoling me. Actually, he made me upset, so I suppose he felt guilty. That's all it was, Miss Glass, nothing more."

Finally she met my gaze with her cool one. "It didn't appear to be nothing to me, India, nor would it appear that way to any of the servants if they saw."

"It won't happen again."

"Are you quite sure?"

"Yes. There is nothing of that nature between us."

Her lips thinned. She didn't believe me. "The thing is, India, as much as I like you, I love my nephew even more. He's my family and the Rycroft heir. He has duties to consider, and chief among those duties is to marry well and produce an heir. His wife must be from a proper family."

"Why?" I blurted out. "What difference does it make?"

She seemed surprised by my outburst. I couldn't blame her. It was a little out of character for me. "A marriage is an alliance between two families," she went on. "Each partner brings something to the marriage, whether that be money, land, influence or a title. If a gentleman marries a girl who brings none of that, he risks his estate being whittled away over time as well as becoming a laughing stock among his peers. No one will take him seriously. Is that what you want? For Matthew to be treated like an outcast?"

"He already is an outcast," I said. "He's not even English."

"He most certainly is!"

I put my hands up, in no mood for her prejudices. "His father ran away from his responsibilities and yet you don't seem to blame him for marrying a poor American girl."

"Don't bring Harry into it," she snapped. "He was not the heir, and he had his reasons for leaving. Our father did not treat him well." This last she slurred into her chin as her shoulders slumped. "Poor Harry. My poor dear brother, when are you coming home? I'm so alone without you."

I went to her side and gently helped her to stand. "Come, Miss Glass, it's time you rested." As much as I hated seeing her descend so quickly into her addled state, it was a blessing in this instance. I didn't want to battle with her over something that did not exist and could never be.

She clung to me as I steered her to the door, her fingers surprisingly strong. "You understand, don't you, India?"

Her clear voice surprised me. She seemed to remember our exchange.

"I do, Miss Glass. You only want what's best for the Rycroft name."

"And for Matthew. Always, and only, for him. The Rycroft estate will one day be his, as it should be. Every door will open to him and every opportunity will be laid at his feet, as long as he steps carefully and does not repeat Harry's mistake and marry an unsuitable girl. But we are still friends, are we not, India?" Her voice shook and her fingers tightened on my arm. "Please say we are still friends."

"We're still friends, Miss Glass. I've always known Matt is far beyond me and that hasn't changed. You have nothing to fear on that score."

"I knew I could trust you."

Matt walked past as we exited my room. "Aunt? Are you feeling unwell?"

"A little light in the head," she said.

"Allow me to escort you to your rooms while India gets ready."

"Does she have to go out with you?"

He looked to me.

"I do," I told them both. "I'll send Polly up. As to the other matter, Miss Glass, you have my word."

She gave me a weak smile. "Thank you, India. You're a good girl."

They walked off and I heard Miss Glass ask him about the bruise on his cheek. I did not hear Matt's response but I doubted he mentioned sparring with Cyclops.