Quicksilver - Amanda Quick [94]
“Yes, it is. It was much closer than your own, so we brought you here. It seemed more convenient.” She carried the mug into the room, set it down on the bedside table and gave him a bright smile. “How are you feeling?”
He pondered that briefly. “I think I feel all right.” Cautiously he heightened his talent. Relief flooded through him when he realized that his psychical senses were as strong as ever. “Yes. I’m fine.”
“Good,” she said. “Mrs. Crofton is preparing breakfast for all of us. I suggest you wash up, dress and join us.”
He looked around. “Where are the rest of my clothes?”
“Tony discarded them. He went to your house early this morning to fetch some clean clothes for you. There was just too much blood.”
He grimaced. Seeing him covered in the blood of a man he had just killed had probably not left a good impression on her.
“I understand,” he said.
“You’ll find everything you need hanging in the wardrobe. The bathroom is next door.”
She turned to leave.
“Virginia,” he said very quietly.
She stopped and looked at him. “Yes?”
“You saved me last night.”
“No,” she said. “You are a strong man. You just needed time to recover from the effects of the mirror.”
“I can’t believe that damned looking glass was so powerful.”
“It was an alchemical weapon, not an ordinary looking glass. Charlotte and Nick have done some research into its origins. They will tell you all about it when you come downstairs.”
He twisted the sheet around himself, stood and walked across the room to stand in front of her. “Whatever the hell it was, you are the reason I recovered with my senses intact.”
“No, I could sense the power in you, even when you were unconscious. I knew that you would recover.”
“Because I had you to hold on to.” He tipped up her chin and brushed his mouth across hers. “There is a connection between us, Virginia. Admit it.”
“Perhaps there is some sort of psychical awareness.”
“Yes, there certainly is.” He kissed her forehead.
“But that is not so odd, when you think about it,” she said. She frowned in intense concentration, as though puzzling out a math problem. “We are both strong talents, and we have been intimate. Passion is a powerful force. It creates a great deal of energy.”
“Indeed.” He kissed her nose.
“While it lasts,” she whispered.
She whirled and fled the room.
For some reason he was ridiculously pleased with her confusion. It was so unlike Virginia to get flustered. He told himself he would take it as a good omen.
He walked into the dining room a short time later and stopped at the sight of the large crowd gathered there. Virginia and Charlotte sat at the table, plates of eggs, toast and kippered salmon in front of them. Each was reading a morning paper.
“Ladies,” he said. “You look lovely today.”
Virginia glanced up from the Flying Intelligencer. She surveyed him critically and appeared satisfied. “Good morning.”
Charlotte smiled warmly. “It is good to see you looking so fit after your ordeal, sir.”
“I expect to look even better after I’ve had breakfast,” he said.
Nick, Matt and Tony were at the sideboard, helping themselves to generous quantities of food from the serving dishes.
“About time you woke up,” Nick said. He ladled a mound of scrambled eggs onto his plate. “It was a long night, and none of us got much sleep, thanks to you, so we decided to start breakfast without you.”
“I’m touched,” Owen said. He realized he was hungry. He picked up a plate and examined the contents of the serving dishes. “What the devil are you all doing here at this hour of the morning?”
“We spent the night here,” Nick said.
The swinging door between the kitchen and the dining room opened. Mrs. Crofton bustled into the room with a pot of coffee. Her eyes widened at the sight of Owen. She appeared pleased.
Pleased and decidedly more cheerful than usual, Owen thought. The housekeeper seemed almost energized.
“You’re awake, then,