Page 19 of The Last Necromancer
"Just because you have no use for these things doesn't mean Charlie doesn't want them." Seth winked at me.
I worried he'd seen my reaction to the book and knew I could read. "I don't want them," I said. "Take them away."
"Can't," Gus said. "Death said to bring 'em to you, so we did." He picked up the plate and headed for the door.
"Wait!"
Both men stopped and blinked at me.
Now that I had their attention, I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to say to them. No, that wasn't quite right. There was a great deal I wanted to say to them. I just wasn't sure where to start. "Where's Mr. Fitzroy?"
"Out."
Good. That was one less person I had to worry about, and going on previous experience, I could outrun Gus and Seth. "Who else is in the house?"
"Never you mind," Seth said before Gus could answer. "You'll only see us while you're in here."
"Who is Lady Harcourt?"
"Death's mistress," Gus said.
Seth slapped Gus's shoulder. "He won't like you telling the lad that."
"The boy's thirteen and been living on the street! He's probably had more girls than you. Unlike you toffs, lads like Charlie and me dipped our wicks soon as we could. Eh, Half Pint? Talk about lovers ain't going to shock you, is it?"
"I wasn't referring to educating the boy in the ways of romantic relationships. I meant Death won't like you calling Lady Harcourt his mistress."
Gus sniffed. "Because she's a toff?"
"Yes, but also because she may or may not be his lover anymore. He seems a little cooler toward her lately."
"Don't know how you know the difference. He's always showed as much warmth as an icicle to anyone, including her, far as I can tell."
"That's because you're an unobservant nitwit."
I only half listened to their bantering. I couldn't stop thinking about Fitzroy having a lover. Like Gus, I couldn't imagine their leader capable of a romantic relationship, as Seth had called it. He seemed as passionate as a stone.
"What is the ministry?" I said, cutting through their bickering.
"Save your questions for Death," Seth said.
"When will he be back?"
"Later."
"And what am I to do until then?"
He nodded at the books. "Teach yourself to read."
The men left. They continued to bicker outside, until one set of footsteps receded. The other must have remained to guard me. I didn't think it necessary, since I was locked in.
I sighed. Escaping would have to wait. Perhaps the next time they delivered provisions, I could slip past them and out through the unlocked door. Until then, I had a book to read.
I pulled the chair over to the door and set it against the wall. I stuffed the spare shirt down the front of the one I wore then sat on the chair to read. I was ready to spring up the moment the door opened.
After the first ten pages, I'd decided to take the book with me when I escaped. My reading was a little rusty, but I managed to follow the story, despite not understanding some of the more complicated words. I read several more pages before the door opened.
"Luncheon is—"
