Page 3 of Master Wolf

Your pendulum’sfartoo small for my clock!”

This time Francis did nothing to stifle his mirth and it scarcely mattered—Lindsay was oblivious. He threw back his head and continued even more loudly.

“Mythingis my own and—”

“Shut yer trap!” a woman yelled. Her screech was followed by a noisy clatter as some missile—a turnip?— was launched from her window, scattering the cats in a flurry of yowls and squalling.

“Madam!” Lindsay cried, throwing his arms wide and sending a stream of dark wine over the flagstones. “You are angry. Let me soothe your savage breast with my song and—”

“No more singing, Lindsay!” Francis called down hurriedly before the woman could reply. “Come up now.”

Lindsay glanced up then. Finally noticing them.

Dawn was breaking, a watery sun just breaching the crow-stepped rooftops to the east. It illuminated Lindsay’s disreputable figure with rosy light. Christ, even drunk and disorderly he was beautiful. Even wine- and mud-stained with his hair like a rat’s nest. The soft dawn light showed off his handsome features to advantage even as it showed up the sorry state of his attire.

Their gazes met and Lindsay’s softened. “Drew,” he said into the morning quiet. “Did I wake you?”

Francis nudged Drew and he took the hint. “You did. So, come up now. You’re disturbing everyone with your singing.”

Despite Drew’s irritable tone, Lindsay’s answering grin was oddly sweet. “I will,” he said. “I’m coming now!” Then he made for the tenement door, disappearing from view.

“I’ll go down and let him in,” Wildsmith murmured, and slipped away.

A hand landed on Drew’s shoulder. Francis said softly, “He’ll be leaving in a few hours. Be kind, Drew.”

Be kind?What sort of thing was that to say? But Drew didn’t give voice to the thought. Instead he said flatly, “I’m going back to bed. There’s no need for dramatic farewells.”

Francis didn’t answer straightaway. His expression was troubled. Eventually he sighed heavily and said, “I think you should say goodbye, but it’s your decision.” Then he turned and left, closing the door quietly behind him.

For a long time, Drew stayed in his chamber. He didn’t go back to bed. He just sat on the edge of the mattress, staring at his hands.

I won’t go out at all, he thought.I’ll just let him leave.

He heard the others, of course. Lindsay asking for Drew and being shushed. More singing. The sounds of things being fetched and carried, back and forth—water for Lindsay to wash in and coffee for him to drink. Food. Mounds of it to soak up the alcohol.

As time passed, Drew sensed Lindsay’s drunken ebullience fading, overtaken by a quiet melancholy. Then came the industrious sound of trunks and boxes being fetched from chambers and carried downstairs.

Not much longer now, thank God. Drew’s nerves were in shreds between his desire to see Lindsay and his determination to ignore him.

He was just beginning to wonder if Lindsay and Wildsmith had already left when he heard footsteps outside his door and Lindsay’s frustrated voice.

“For Christ’s sake, Francis, I just want to say goodbye!”

Patiently Francis said, “If he wanted to come out, he’d have done so.”

Drew wasn’t sure where the wave of wrenching grief that washed over him came from, but it impelled him to his feet and had him crossing the floor of his bedchamber, in a sudden rush, yanking the door open and staring out at the two men standing several feet away.

Lindsay eyes widened and he took a step forward as though to go to Drew, only to halt in his tracks when Drew immediately retreated a step back into the chamber. Lindsay raised his hands, palm outward in reassurance.

“I am leaving now,” he said gently. “As you requested.”

Drew said nothing. He couldn’t seem to form words. His heart felt hot and messy and his throat was tight.

Lindsay’s gaze was steady. His hair was free of powder now and neatly brushed back from his brow, the length secured in a neat queue. His clean clothes were elegant but rather more sombre than his usual apparel. Travelling clothes.

Was this really the same man as the one who’d been carousing in the courtyard such a short time ago?

“I will miss you, Drew,” Lindsay said hesitantly. “It will be… painful to be apart from you.” He paused. “Perhaps for you too.”