Page 35 of Her Majesty's Necromancer
He drew in a deep breath that expanded his chest, then he strode out of the library.
***
It was after midday when I arose to the sounds of voices downstairs. One of the voices was Seth's, the other softer and feminine. It must belong to Lady Harcourt, the only woman who visited Lichfield. I dressed quickly and headed down via the main staircase, but stopped on the landing, out of sight, above them. Seth's heated tone was not one I'd heard him employ with her before.
"Why not?" he prompted her. "Don't I have a right to be there?"
"Of course you do." Her voice was barely above a whisper. She glanced around, but did not think to look up the stairs to where I hid. "But it's not my ball or my invitation."
"Would you invite me if it was?"
"Of course," she soothed.
"Even if it caused a scandal?" When she didn't answer, he added, "It would, you know. It would make you the subject of gossip and ridicule."
"It might cause a scandal, but I wouldn't be tarred by it. A little gossip and ridicule doesn't bother me. If it did, I wouldn't be here."
He grunted, but I couldn't decipher what he meant by it.
"Darling Seth." She patted his cheek. "I know your current predicament troubles you."
"You cannot possibly have a clue, Julia."
"Clearly your memory is short."
He grunted again.
"You will find a way out of it, Seth. I'll do anything I can to help."
He snatched something from her hand—an envelope?—and waved it in her face. "You could have helped with this. If you managed to get Death invited, why not me? I scowl far less than him, and my heritage is not a mystery. I'm also easier to get into bed and far less discerning about whom I take there, something for which I would have thought Lady Plumton grateful."
She plucked off one of her gloves, finger by finger. "That's part of the problem. You're not particularly discreet."
"Ah," he said with a theatrical sigh. "If only that were my singular fault."
"But alas you have many?" She grinned and took back the envelope. "I'll wait in the parlor."
"He could be some time."
"Will you join me until he returns?"
He glanced over his shoulder toward the service area. "Why not?" He held out his arm and she took it. Together they strolled through to the parlor.
I crept down the stairs and headed to the kitchen where I found Cook alone. "Is there anything for breakfast?" I asked.
"Cold sausage. I ain't got time to heat it up, now her ladyship's here." He stirred the contents of the bowl wedged in the crook of his arm.
"She has requested tea?"
"She be stayin' for lunch. I weren't goin' to put out much, what with Fitzroy and Gus not here, but now I have to cook somethin' special."
"You can't serve sandwiches?"
He glared at me.
"I suppose not. Can I help?"
"You can get your own breakfast and stay out of my way."
