Page 61 of A Devilish Element
“But what is the purpose of it? What is its practical application? Please tell me this is not simply a study in depriving yourself of reasoned thought.”
“My paymaster’s purposes I’m not at liberty to depart.”
“Is it for a medicinal purpose, or a recreational one? Tell me that at least.”
Jem dragged a nearby stool to him and balanced on its surface. The dreamy expression on his face lingered, and as he raised the bag to his lips to inhale again, Eliza found herself reaching out and staying his hand.
“Is he ill? Is Linfield unwell? Is that why he’s here at Cedarton?”
“Eliza cease. You’re asking for knowledge that I’m truly not at liberty to reveal.”
“So, he is sick?”
“No.”
“Then tell me why he has not bedded Jane.”
He coughed, and his cough turned into a laugh.
“Nothing, but nothing escapes you, does it? I suppose she has told you that. I told him that she wasn’t so ill-informed as he liked to think. Even the most modest of maids have some notion of what occurs in the marriage bed, unless they are city bred and entirely without ears or eyes.”
“Jem, she is my friend. I will not have you disparage her.”
“Lord, no, I mean her no disrespect. A woman ought to know these things. I think it’s scandalous that so many are so desperately uneducated. I only mean to say that Linfield imagines her so thoroughly green that she’ll believe any old nonsense he feeds her. I think she is probably rather wiser than he.”
“You are talking in riddles.”
“That is probably for the best.”
She observed him for some minutes more, jotting down her observations of his appearance. He took to waddling around the laboratory as if he couldn’t quite decide where to put his feet but following a more or less clockwise direction around the worktable. Occasionally, he would mutter a few words, or release a chuckle. When he reattached the waxen sack to fill it a second time, Eliza slid her hand over his, which caused him to stare most intently at the point of contact.
“I think I might like to try it.”
His head twitched to one side.
“Unless there is some inherent danger of which I’m unaware?”
He gave his head a miniscule shake, then swallowed so that she could see his Adam’s apple bob. “Davy records the results of several women partaking, and none describe ill effects, only amplification of their general disposition. Those who are of a flighty and delicate nature, react as flighty, delicate creatures are wont to. But Eliza, you have never been those things.”
“Indeed, I should think not. Shall it make me giddy?”
“It’s heady,” he replied. “But come rest against me as you breathe, in case you should feel the need to fall into repose.” It seemed to her that of the two of them, he was more likely to fall into indolence. Jem moved them over to the chaise and sank against its backrest. Rather shockingly, he positioned her so that she rested her back to his body. “I’ll cover both your mouth and nose. Deep even breaths,” he murmured soft against her ear. “Get it right to the bottom of your lungs.”
The effects stole through her body from her chest to her toes, creating a sense of muscular power. However, it was not a thrill in her extremities she experienced, but rather an abrupt and involuntary urge to laugh. This she did the moment the bag was removed from her lips, while the tip of her nose tingled, and her cheeks warmed as they might when coming into a warm kitchen after a walk on a frosty morn.
“What is so funny?”
Jem’s words whispered against her ear made it tingle in turn, as if his breath were possessed of feathered fingers, and each was caressing the skin in a way that filled it with delight.
“You did say it was called laughing gas.”
“I did.”
“I can’t stop myself,” she giggled, and touched her lips with her fingertips, as if by doing so she might control herself.
It did not work.
“What do you feel, Eliza? I’m finding my thoughts are much diverted, and it’s difficult to remain focused on what remains external, the internal calls so loudly. But then, you are here, and you are in here.” He tapped his skull. “My thoughts are all of earlier. What we did. Eliza, there’s so much more I want to do with you. So very much more.” His lips grazed the back of her neck. “You don’t regret it, do you?”
