unexpectedly.
“What is the matter?”
“Nothing much, just a small cut from this morning.”
My power had grown so sluggish, for the past week now it seemed insufficient to heal even a hangnail. But then Henry had kissed me, bringing up a reserve I thought long spent while sailing on the Callisto.
“Take off your glove,” I said, eager to see if I was up to the task.
“You must be tired. It can wait until later.”
“Take it off or I shall heal it right through the leather.”
“Very well,” he laughed, pulling off the glove. “There is a nice gash in between my thumb and index finger.”
Even in the heavy shadow, I could make out the blood stained bandage that had been hastily tied in place. “How did it happen?”
He paused before answering. “I cut it on your father’s pocket watch.”
Loosening the knot, I gently pulled the bandage away and squinted at the wound. It was deep all right, cutting almost to the bone from what I could tell. “I never knew a watch could be so dangerous.”
“Usually they’re not. Mine just happened to be in my hand when the messenger arrived with news of your ship. I expected the worst at first and inadvertently tightened my hand into a fist. The glass facing broke before I realized what I was doing. A goldsmith should be able to fix the damage.”
“I am more concerned about your hand,” I said as Brigid’s fire stirred inside me. It was a fraction of what I had felt while kissing Henry, but certainly enough to heal such a simple wound. With some prodding, the warmth moved down my arms into my fingers before suddenly receding back to my core.
“Are you too tired?” Henry asked.
I shook my head. “My power is just being stubborn.”
Renewing my concentration, I focused directly on the gash. More power stirred this time and I willed it up to my fingertips. The carriage had grown uncomfortably warm while I worked, causing a thin coat of sweat to form on my forehead. Feeling the power begin to pull back, I snapped my eyes shut and forced it from my hands.
The moment it flowed into Henry, my insides prickled unpleasantly. The sensation lasted only a few seconds while I mended the various layers of tissue and rethreaded the nerves and vessels. Once done, I opened my eyes to inspect his hand. The blood still needed to be cleaned up, but the skin looked good as new.
Henry flexed his hand several times. “That is amazing. Thank you, Selah.”
“My pleasure,” I said, which was partly the truth. The other part was more than I wanted to consider at the moment. The carriage wheels clattered along the cobblestones, reminiscent of a clock ticking down the seconds. “Are we near Lansbury House?”
“I’ve arranged for different accommodations with a young widow by the name of Lady Catherine Dinley. She’s a dear friend and a well-known favorite at court. If she likes you, she may even be willing to help with our cause.”
“And if she doesn’t like me?” I couldn’t help asking.
“How could she not?” Henry laughed. “My judgment is impeccable.”
“Just with women or in every aspect of your life?”
“In everything,” he said, kissing my neck playfully. “But especially in women.”
The carriage slowed to a stop, and I scooted off of his lap to straighten my skirts. Henry smoothed the wrinkles from his own clothing. “I sent word of your arrival before I left for the docks so she is expecting you.”
My heart filled with dread for what lay ahead. “Will you be treating me like before once we are in public?”
He reached over and took my hand, pressing it in his own. “Seeing you today nearly undid me after so long apart. But now that I’ve been...reassured of your safety, I needn’t employ such extreme measures to keep my emotions in check. We may act as any friends, and hopefully even that charade will soon end once the king meets you and the betrothal is canceled with Amelia.” He pressed my hand again. “Are you ready?”
I nodded,
“What is the matter?”
“Nothing much, just a small cut from this morning.”
My power had grown so sluggish, for the past week now it seemed insufficient to heal even a hangnail. But then Henry had kissed me, bringing up a reserve I thought long spent while sailing on the Callisto.
“Take off your glove,” I said, eager to see if I was up to the task.
“You must be tired. It can wait until later.”
“Take it off or I shall heal it right through the leather.”
“Very well,” he laughed, pulling off the glove. “There is a nice gash in between my thumb and index finger.”
Even in the heavy shadow, I could make out the blood stained bandage that had been hastily tied in place. “How did it happen?”
He paused before answering. “I cut it on your father’s pocket watch.”
Loosening the knot, I gently pulled the bandage away and squinted at the wound. It was deep all right, cutting almost to the bone from what I could tell. “I never knew a watch could be so dangerous.”
“Usually they’re not. Mine just happened to be in my hand when the messenger arrived with news of your ship. I expected the worst at first and inadvertently tightened my hand into a fist. The glass facing broke before I realized what I was doing. A goldsmith should be able to fix the damage.”
“I am more concerned about your hand,” I said as Brigid’s fire stirred inside me. It was a fraction of what I had felt while kissing Henry, but certainly enough to heal such a simple wound. With some prodding, the warmth moved down my arms into my fingers before suddenly receding back to my core.
“Are you too tired?” Henry asked.
I shook my head. “My power is just being stubborn.”
Renewing my concentration, I focused directly on the gash. More power stirred this time and I willed it up to my fingertips. The carriage had grown uncomfortably warm while I worked, causing a thin coat of sweat to form on my forehead. Feeling the power begin to pull back, I snapped my eyes shut and forced it from my hands.
The moment it flowed into Henry, my insides prickled unpleasantly. The sensation lasted only a few seconds while I mended the various layers of tissue and rethreaded the nerves and vessels. Once done, I opened my eyes to inspect his hand. The blood still needed to be cleaned up, but the skin looked good as new.
Henry flexed his hand several times. “That is amazing. Thank you, Selah.”
“My pleasure,” I said, which was partly the truth. The other part was more than I wanted to consider at the moment. The carriage wheels clattered along the cobblestones, reminiscent of a clock ticking down the seconds. “Are we near Lansbury House?”
“I’ve arranged for different accommodations with a young widow by the name of Lady Catherine Dinley. She’s a dear friend and a well-known favorite at court. If she likes you, she may even be willing to help with our cause.”
“And if she doesn’t like me?” I couldn’t help asking.
“How could she not?” Henry laughed. “My judgment is impeccable.”
“Just with women or in every aspect of your life?”
“In everything,” he said, kissing my neck playfully. “But especially in women.”
The carriage slowed to a stop, and I scooted off of his lap to straighten my skirts. Henry smoothed the wrinkles from his own clothing. “I sent word of your arrival before I left for the docks so she is expecting you.”
My heart filled with dread for what lay ahead. “Will you be treating me like before once we are in public?”
He reached over and took my hand, pressing it in his own. “Seeing you today nearly undid me after so long apart. But now that I’ve been...reassured of your safety, I needn’t employ such extreme measures to keep my emotions in check. We may act as any friends, and hopefully even that charade will soon end once the king meets you and the betrothal is canceled with Amelia.” He pressed my hand again. “Are you ready?”
I nodded,
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