Page 9 of Her Majesty's Necromancer
I nodded. "I need to tell him about something I learned at the cemetery."
"He'll probably be in a bad mood. He usually is after Lady H leaves.
I smirked. "He's always in a bad mood of late." I took the tray and steeled myself for an awkward meeting with my master. I had some questions that I wanted answered, and now was as good a time as any to ask them.
***
"I asked for one of the men to bring up tea." Lincoln blocked my entry to his rooms with his arms crossed over his chest. His shoulders and jaw were rigid. I was a fool to want to speak to him. I knew it, yet I couldn't help myself. I wanted to get a reaction from him. Anything was better than the way he'd been ignoring me of late.
"They're busy." I inched closer, and he had to step aside or risk touching me. He chose to step aside.
I set the tray down on one of the occasional tables near the deep armchair. There was no room to place it on his desk, between the papers, books and another tray laden with dirty dishes.
"Why haven't Seth or Gus collected these yet?" I asked, picking up the breakfast tray.
"They haven't been up."
The sunlight spearing through the window picked out the thin layer of dust on the sill. "They haven't dusted in some time either. And I see your bed hasn't been made."
He shut the door to his bedroom. "They've become lazier with their duties since you became maid. I'll have a word with them."
"Or you could allow me in here to clean."
"You already do enough."
"I don't mind the extra work."
"Seth and Gus will suffice."
"Clearly they don't want to do it. Let me clean for you, Linc—Mr. Fitzroy."
"No. Thank you for the tea. Send up Gus, when you see him."
I set the breakfast tray down again. "Why don't you want me in here? What are you afraid I'll find?"
His lips flattened. He crossed back to the exit and stood with his hand on the doorknob, waiting for me to leave.
I walked over to him and laid my hand over his. His nostrils flared then he quickly withdrew his hand, allowing me to shut the door. I stood in front of it, hands on hips, and regarded him. He stared levelly back.
"Why have you been ignoring me these last two months?" I asked.
"Ignoring you? Hardly."
"You've been pushing me away."
"I didn't want to overwhelm you. I thought it best if the men show you what needs to be done and you make the position your own. Your service has been admirable, Charlie."
His praise caught me off guard. "Thank you. Admirable is much better than adequate."
His eyes narrowed.
"Don't change the subject," I said. "You've been avoiding me for two months except during training, and even then we hardly talk."
"There's nothing to talk about."
"There is! And not only that, you don't join the men after dinner to play cards anymore."
"I rarely did before."
