Page 38 of A Case of Possession
It hadn’t been remotely auspicious. Crane’s hated family had cast a very dark shadow over his first encounters with Stephen. He didn’t intend to discuss that, so he simply shrugged.
Dr. Gold cocked an eyebrow. “One might wonder why Steph would enter into a, er, liaison under such unpromising circumstances.”
“You’d need to speak to him about it.”
“I’ll do that, the next time I want to hear a pack of bare-faced lies. Lord Crane, I know Steph extremely well. And this is the first time I’ve known him risk arrest, disaster and the destruction of his professional reputation. Consider me fascinated that he’s doing so on your account. Fascinated, and just a little concerned.”
“I don’t intend to let him suffer any consequences.”
“I very much doubt you can avert them, in the long run,” Dr. Gold said. “This strikes me as something of a dangerous game.”
Crane checked quickly over his shoulder to be sure the two justiciars were still intent on one another. “I understand your concern, Doctor. Notwithstanding which, and with the greatest respect, it’s none of your business.”
Dr. Gold opened his hands, apparently unoffended. “Perhaps not. Although he’s weeping over my wife in my surgery. That surely gives me some say in the matter, if only to ask him to take it somewhere else.”
Crane wasn’t sure how to answer that, so he didn’t. The doctor continued, “We’re fond of Steph, you know. Despite appearances. I don’t wish to see him hurt.”
“I trust Mrs. Gold feels the same.”
Dr. Gold made a face. “Esther’s bark is worse than her bite. Well, actually, it isn’t, but she’s entitled to do some barking anyway. Steph’s put her through a miserable few months with all this.”
“It hasn’t been very entertaining for him either,” Crane returned swiftly, and saw a glint of something like approval in Dr. Gold’s expression.
“Well, as you say, it’s his business. But watch your step, Lord Crane. And perhaps bear in mind that you may consult me in confidence, professionally speaking.” Crane had no idea what that was supposed to mean, but Dr. Gold looked past him before he could ask. “Ah, the march of justice. Have you two finished?”
Crane turned to see that Esther and Stephen had come up behind him, both somewhat red of cheek and eye, but under more control. He flicked an eyebrow at Stephen and received a quick, watery smile.
“Er. Dan…” Stephen began awkwardly.
Dr. Gold gripped Stephen’s shoulder and gave it a slight shake. “Stephen Day, you’re a blithering idiot.”
“I know.”
“Good,” Esther said. “And now that’s all sorted out, we have work to do.”
Chapter Twelve
Before any work could be done, Dr. Gold had to wake Leonora from her magically induced unconsciousness. He began a careful explanation, as she stared at her unbitten arms, which Crane interrupted with a brisk, “They’re shamans. It was magic.”
Leonora accepted the situation fairly rapidly, under the circumstances, but declined to be interviewed in the bloody rags of her gown, so Esther took her off to borrow a dress, and Dr. Gold disappeared to find Crane a shirt, while they waited for Merrick, who had been summoned to bring replacements for his gory clothing.
That left Stephen and Crane briefly alone.
“Are you all right?” Crane asked.
Stephen walked over and held on to as much of Crane as he could reach, burying his face in the stained shirtfront, gripping tight. “Oh God, Lucien. God. I was so frightened.”
“I know. You looked a great deal less scared when we were about to be murdered by warlocks.”
“That was only death. This was Esther.” Stephen snuggled closer, rubbing his face on Crane’s chest, trembling slightly. “Oh God, I’m such a coward. Don’t let me go.”
“I don’t intend to,” Crane said, caressing the curly hair, and something rang in his voice that made Stephen look up.
“You didn’t ask me to do it.” He pulled away slightly. “You don’t owe me anything. It was my choice.”
Crane heard the words from long ago that morning:I have to choose with the rest of my life in mind.His hands tightened on the smaller man, pulling him back, as close as he could come.
“You know, Gold’s right. You’re a fool, and I’m another. Between us, we’d barely make a village idiot. God damn the man,” he added as footsteps sounded, coming down the stairs. “Iwilltalk to you later.”
