The Apothecary's Poison (Glass and Steele #3)(65)

"Thank you, Miss Steele," Brockwell said. "I am aware of what I must ask him."

"He won't admit anything," Matt bit off. "Coyle has somehow managed to convince him not to speak. Perhaps he has threatened the man's family or promised them money if something happens to him." He lowered his head and swore under his breath.

"Thank you for bringing him to me," Brockwell said, standing. "Please, stay for tea. Miss Steele looks as if she could do with a cup. You both do." He headed out, passing the constable carrying a tray.

Matt dragged his hands through his hair and shook his head when the man offered him tea.

"I think we'll go," I said to the constable. "I'm sorry for your trouble."

"No trouble, ma'am." He eyed Matt who was once again pacing.

I grabbed Matt's arm and forced him to stand with me. "We have work to do," I said. "Remember?"

We followed the constable back through the warren of offices and cubicles then saw ourselves out. "The London Hospital," I said to Bryce.

"We should go home," Matt said. "Brockwell's right. You've had an ordeal."

"We both have, but I seem to have calmed down. You have not. I think you need to focus on work for a little while, and then we'll return to Park Street. If we go home now, you'll sit there and stew in your own anger."

"I am not angry," he said, settling beside me.

I took his hand in both of mine and rubbed it. After a minute, I felt the tension leach away and his body relax. He caught my hand and tugged the fingertips of my glove, removing it completely. He stroked his thumb across my knuckles, giving the motion his full attention. He breathed deeply, expanding his chest, and let it out slowly.

"India, I'm sorry for all of this. You shouldn't have gone through that."

"It's hardly your fault. There's no need for you to apologize."

"If I'd left you home, you would not have endured that."

"Therein lies the problem. I would not allow you to leave me at home." I curled my other hand around his arm above the elbow. "Matt, do not blame yourself. And anyway, you saved us."

He merely grunted.

"Although my watch would have managed once I let it out of my reticule."

His faced lifted, although he didn't quite smile. "I'm not yet confident in your watch's abilities to put our lives in its hands."

I rolled my eyes. "Very amusing."

"Pardon?"

"Hands. Watches have hands. You made a pun."

He smiled, sort of. I counted it as a small victory and smiled back, but his features quickly settled into a frown again. He concentrated on my fingers, perhaps thinking about what would have happened if he hadn't stopped Coyle's man from breaking the bones.

A shiver threatened to wrack me, only to be stopped in its tracks when he kissed my hand. My breath stopped too as his warm lips pressed against the knuckles.

I stared at the top of his head, then, without really thinking, went to stroke his hair.

But he pulled away and caught my hand. He tucked it between both of his, cradling it. "We're stopping the investigation," he said.

"No! Matt, you can't stop now."

"We have to put our faith in Brockwell."

"And wait and see if he arrests you for Hale's murder?" I withdrew my hand and thrust it back into my glove. "Unlike you, I have little faith in our constabulary. We're going to continue until the murderer is caught, and that's that."

"India—"

"No, Matt. I insist. Besides, Coyle now knows we're aware of his involvement, and he knows the police are aware, too. He'd be a fool to send a second man after us."

"Perhaps he is a fool. We don't know enough about him to say for certain. India, I'm not placing your life in unnecessary danger."

"If you won't help, then I'll continue the investigation on my own."

"Now you're just being stubborn and unreasonable."

I crossed my arms. "I suspect Willie will help me."

He threw his hands in the air. "Of course she will! She's one card short of a full deck, and I'm beginning to think you are too." He shook his head. "I can't believe you're going to defy me on this."

"I'm glad you realize that I will."

He crossed his arms too, matching my pose. "I don't see that I have a choice if I want to protect you."

We sat side by side without speaking the rest of the way to the hospital.



Unfortunately, Dr. Ritter and Dr. Wiley were in surgery and were expected to remain there for some time. We decided to go home and return later. Matt had looked tired ever since the incident with Coyle's man, so it was perhaps for the best that he would be forced to rest now and use his watch in the privacy of his own house. It wasn't yet midday, however. It worried me that he needed his watch already.

He refused to retire to his rooms until after he'd spoken with the others. Miss Glass was out making calls so the rest of us assembled in the sitting room with cups of tea. Matt told them what had happened when we'd first arrived at the hospital and then went on to confront Lord Coyle. It wasn't easy with Willie interjecting every few seconds.