"Thank you, Polly," I said to the ladies' maid. "We'll keep her company for a while."
"Aunt Letitia, can you hear me?"
"Of course I can," his aunt said, turning glassy eyes onto Matt. "Where have you been, Harry? I've been waiting and waiting." She clicked her tongue. "Look at you; you're filthy. Go and clean up for dinner or Father will be cross."
"I'll go now."
"I'll take you to your room, Miss Glass," I said. "We'll get you ready for dinner. Tonight is a celebration."
"Celebration?" she echoed, taking Matt's hand. "What are we celebrating?"
"Life and living."
She nodded solemnly. "Come along then, Veronica," she said, calling me the name of her maid from years ago. "I want to wear something colorful. I don't know why I'm in this dreary black. Mama has been gone long enough; it’s time to wear something other than mourning."
"And you all call me mad," Chronos muttered.
I shot him a glare and followed Matt and Miss Glass up the stairs. He opened her door for us and directed her inside, but stopped me with a hand on my arm. His thumb caressed my elbow. His gaze searched mine, but I wasn't sure what he was looking for. He didn't look as happy as a man who'd escaped death ought.
"India," he said but did not go on.
"How do you feel?" I asked. "Do you need to rest now?"
"I feel better than I have in a long time. A very long time. No resting required."
"So it worked. It really worked." I would not cry again. I would not cry again. I managed to keep the tears in check but my eyes watered.
Matt stroked my cheek with his knuckles. "Thank you isn't enough, but it's all I can offer, for now. Thank you, India. You saved my life. Again."
"You rescued me, and Gabe too. We're even."
"Hardly." The corner of his mouth lifted but quickly fell again. "We need to talk. It won't be quite the talk I had in mind—my uncle has seen to that—but your grandfather is right. We need to plan for the future."
A lump swelled in my throat. "Tomorrow. Tonight, I want to drink to your health." I wanted to be happy, and I had a feeling our talk would not end the way either of us wanted it to.
"India!" Miss Glass called from inside. "India, help me choose what to wear."
Miss Glass didn't need my help choosing an outfit, and once she was sure that Matt had left, she dismissed me. Thankfully she didn't scold me for having a quiet conversation with her nephew. I was in no mood for her lecture.
I headed to my own rooms, passing Matt's on the way. Bristow exited, carrying bloodied clothing. I caught a glimpse of Matt standing in his room, bare-chested and looking more masculine than I'd ever seen him. The sight sent quite a thrill through me.
Bristow caught me staring, and although he didn't smile, the brightness of his eyes gave away his thoughts. He was more mischievous than he let on.
* * *
I wore one of my best dresses to dinner, a pale cream silk with yellow spring flowers embroidered into the bodice. Somehow Mrs. Potter the cook had managed to put on quite a feast, considering the lateness of our return. To my surprise, Chronos had not yet left. He must be staying for the food.
Matt had dressed for the occasion too, wearing a double breasted waistcoat and white tie. Miss Glass wore her finest mourning, but everyone else wore the clothes they'd worn during the day. Miss Glass scolded Willie for it.
"Why don't you tell the men to change?" Willie said. "Why just me?"
"Because you're a lady," Miss Glass said.
"No, I ain't."
"Amen," Duke muttered.
Instead of arguing with him, Willie smiled and he returned it.
"You are Matthew's cousin," Miss Glass said. "Therefore you are a lady when you associate with him."
Willie answered by picking up a slice of rabbit pie and shoving it into her mouth. Thank goodness she didn't try to talk. Her manners were improving.
Bristow finished pouring the wine, and Cyclops told him to pour another for himself. At Matt's encouraging nod, he did so, and Cyclops lifted his glass in salute. "To your health, Matt."
"To your health," the rest of us chorused.
Bristow sipped before starting to make his exit. "Open a few bottles for yourselves," Matt told him. "Then take the rest of the night off. The cleaning up can wait for tomorrow."
"That's what I like to hear," Chronos said. "Does that mean you're drinking like a proper man now, Matt?"
"Just a glass or two," Matt said. "That hasn't changed."
Chronos rolled his eyes. "Willie'll match me, won't you, Willie?"
"Try and keep up with me," she said, and drank the contents of her glass.
She was drunk before dinner finished, but in true Wild West spirit, she refused to retire and continued drinking afterward in the drawing room. She even took to playing the piano, badly, until Miss Glass pushed her aside. They bickered until Duke suggested they play a duet. It worked out rather well, even when Willie decided to add her singing voice. It only began to dissolve into bickering again when she changed the words of God Save the Queen to a version I'd only heard drunkards bellowing.
"Oi!" Chronos added his objection to Miss Glass's. "You can't say that about our monarch."
"She ain't my queen," Willie said. "And she is aging and has a face like a sow. Look." She fished out a coin from her pocket and tossed it to him.
He did not catch it and it rolled into the corner of the room. "You should show some respect if you want to live in England."
Willie swung around to face Matt. "Speaking of which." She crossed her arms and swayed a little on the seat. "Now that you're better, when are we going home?"
"I can't go yet," Matt said.
"Why the hell not?"
"Language," Miss Glass scolded. "And he can't go because he's going to live here permanently, that's why. Aren't you, Matthew?"
Matt sighed. "I'm not discussing this tonight."
"Aye," Duke said with a glare for Willie. "Let the man have some peace and enjoy himself."
She turned back to the piano and muttered, "All right."
"Do you really want to leave yet, Willie?" Cyclops said. "Are you sure you've resolved all your personal business here in London?"
"Personal business, eh?" Chronos smirked. "Sounds intriguing."
"Don't you have somewhere to go?" Willie snapped at him. "And you, Cyclops, you oversized one-eyed so-called friend, you got personal business to fix here too. Catherine Mason don't deserve to have you run off on her without a word of goodbye."
"Miss Mason, eh?" Chronos chuckled. "Well, well, her father's in for a shock when he learns that."
"He's got nothing to worry about," Cyclops growled. "I ain't pursuing his daughter." He swallowed the remaining contents of his glass and thumped it down on the chair arm.
"That's enough," I declared. "Tonight is supposed to be a celebration. Miss Glass, please play something uplifting."