Page 97 of The Last Necromancer
We drove north, through the quiet streets of London, not encountering a soul. Gus and Seth slept behind us. I wondered when the effects of the ether would wear off. I hoped they'd be back to their cheerful selves in the morning. I might need their support in my petition to remain at Lichfield.
"Your throat is bandaged." Fitzroy's voice startled me.
I touched the strip of cloth covering the wound Holloway had inflicted earlier in the night. "There'll be a prisoner waiting for you in the cellar. Anselm Holloway." I couldn't bring myself to call him Father.
He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "He hurt you?"
"Not as much as Cook hurt him. He's quite the knife thrower."
He lowered the reins, but the horse kept up its plodding pace. "Are you all right?"
"The wound isn't deep and doesn't hurt much now."
"I wasn't referring to the wound."
I blinked at him and almost reached across the gap between us and took his hand. Instead, I clutched my own hands tighter. "My nightmares will be different ones for the next little while." I laughed but he didn't join in. He continued to watch me with that blank face of his. "You must have heard me when we were sleeping in the same room. I've been told that I cry out. I was merely trying to lighten the mood by making a joke about it."
"I noticed." He'd noticed my nightmares or my attempt at a joke? He looked forward again and urged the horse to quicken with a light flick of the reins. "So you got to see the dungeon after all."
I blinked. "Er, yes, and once was enough. I hope never to have to go down there again."
"You won't." He said it with such surety that I wondered if he meant he'd made up his mind that I was leaving, and that's why I'd never see the dungeon again.
***
Cook emerged from the rear of the house when we arrived back at Lichfield. He met us near the stables before we pulled to a stop, and lifted his lantern. His eyes widened when he saw me jump down from the driver's seat. They widened even further when he spotted Gus and Seth in the back. He shook Seth's foot.
"Are they…?"
"Asleep," was all Fitzroy said.
"What'll we do with 'em, sir?"
"They can sleep in the stables tonight. The fresh air will do them good."
Cook nodded. "You know about our prisoner?"
"Charlie told me. Is he alive?"
"Aye, but he needs a doctor."
Fitzroy handed the reins to Cook. "Give Charlie anything she needs from the kitchen." To me, he said, "Will you be having a bath now?"
"Bloody hell, yes." My gutter language elicited neither a smile nor a frown.
"Then I'll see you in the morning." He walked off, but I raced after him.
"What are you going to do with Holloway?" I asked.
"Turn him over to the authorities."
I blew out a measured breath. "Oh. Good."
"You assumed I would kill him?"
"I…may have."
"I only kill those who threaten the queen and her family."
