Page 81 of Grave Expectations
His gaze flicked from me to Mrs. Drinkwater and back again. His face remained passive but a pulse throbbed in his jaw. "Charlie," he said quietly, ominously, "why are you covered in soot?"
Chapter 16
"We should talk privately," I said with a telling glance at Mrs. Drinkwater.
Lincoln inclined his head and stood aside. I walked out ahead of the men and waited until Seth had locked the door again. Then I threw my arms around Lincoln.
"I'm so glad to see you!" He felt so good, so solid and warm, although he looked every bit the wild gypsy with his hair hanging loose and his jaw roughened with dark stubble.
His arms circled me all too briefly before gently holding me at arm's length. "My rooms," he said. "All of you."
Gus's audible gulp set my nerves on edge. Lincoln was in a terrible mood, but I had to believe that was because he'd seen that I'd been in danger. Once he realized I was all right, he would calm down.
He closed the door behind us and directed me to sit in the wingback chair in his sitting room. I did, only to find the men preferred to remain standing. Seth and Gus stood near the door, as if they hoped to escape quickly if necessary.
Lincoln stripped off his gloves, jacket and tie, throwing them onto another armchair.
"We found Mrs. Drinkwater," I said in a lame attempt to fill the taut silence. "As you saw."
"You left the house to find her."
"She was at The Alhambra. Her friend, Miss Redding, hid her there. They danced together years ago, along with Lady Harcourt."
He didn't blink or show any sign of surprise. Perhaps he knew, or suspected. "How did you learn of the connection?"
"From Mrs. Southey, Mrs. Drinkwater's sister."
A slight tightening around his mouth was the only indication that this piece of information intrigued him. "I visited her and wasn't told that. What threats did you make?"
"No threats. We simply told her that her sister could be in danger if we didn't warn her. Don't blame yourself, Lincoln. Women tend to trust other women more readily. She may have my found presence reassuring."
"Don't make excuses."
"Pardon?"
His fingers dug into the leather back of the chair. "I failed at something that should have been easy."
I went to him and rested my hand on his arm. The muscles beneath his shirt jumped. "It's hardly a failure. We simply have different methods, and my method was more effective this time. Next time, yours will be."
He placed his hand over mine. Then he plucked it off. "You promised me you wouldn't leave the house."
"I decided to make an exception. It was necessary—"
"It was not!"
I swallowed. "I had Seth and Gus with me, and the imp." I pulled the necklace out of my pocket. "Don't make an issue out of this. I was successful and unharmed. It's pointless to worry now."
"Explain your appearance." He folded his arms and waited expectantly for me to tell him.
Gus and Seth glanced at one another. I decided to remove them from the line of fire.
"If you wouldn't mind giving us some privacy," I told them.
"No," Lincoln said. "They stay."
"Why?"
He strode to his desk where he proceeded to rifle through his papers. After a moment, he put them down again, having achieved nothing. It was as if he was trying to get away from me. As if he didn't want to be alone with me.
