pulled his doctor’s bag from his shoulder. “Falsteed, what are your feelings on additional patients? I’m surprised at Heedson only requesting one procedure with the Board’s arrival imminent.”
“I imagine one or two more will be along,” Falsteed said. “He always overestimates his capacity for generosity before the panic sets in.”
“Panic indeed,” Thornhollow said, pulling a wooden box from his satchel. He sank to his knees on the stone hall, oblivious to the wet as he flipped the lid. It came open like a jewelry box, compartments unfolding in the faint light of Reed’s fading lantern as he led the spider girl away. Grace’s hands went to her ears, remembering the jewels that had hung there once upon a time and a similar box on her nightstand at home.
But what emerged from Dr. Thornhollow’s box was nothing to ornament a woman or anything to be spoken of at parties. Glass bottles clanked against one another and metal scraped as he rummaged in a lower drawer. “I don’t suppose the kitchens would begrudge me an egg or two, Falsteed? I seem to have broken mine.” Thornhollow distastefully flicked something off his fingers.
“Trying something new?” Falsteed asked.
Footsteps signaled Reed’s return, along with the gradual lightening of the hall. Grace could see one of the doctor’s eyebrows raise. “I hardly think you’re one to condemn a little experimentation, Falsteed,” Thornhollow said.
“Just a professional curiosity,” Falsteed said. “I find it hard to remain at the top of my field when I’m always . . . kept in the dark.”
Thornhollow’s mouth barely twitched at the joke. “I highly doubt that. Reed keeps a steady stream of information directly to your ear. As far as the darkness goes, I’d welcome an excuse for isolation.”
Falsteed grunted in response, and Grace squinted as Reed leaned over the still-kneeling Thornhollow. “I think you’ll find her quite ready for you, sir. I dosed her with ether and the poor bird flew off into the oblivion like she’d been pining for it.”
“Like I said, Dr. Thornhollow,” Falsteed said. “It’s a mercy.”
“No doubt. And yet only hours after I carve into the brain of a lost girl whose name we’ll never know, I’ll be seated next to the recognizable names of society with my hands itching to give them that same mercy so as to stop their ceaseless words.”
“You’ve evaded their clutches quite a while. A young man of your position can only escape his social duties for so long. I imagine they’re hoping to affiance you to a daughter before you leave for Ohio?”
Thornhollow snapped the box closed. “Reed really does keep you up to speed on current affairs,” he said stiffly. “As to the daughters, society will have to learn to live without air if they’re holding their breaths for my marriage.” He rose holding only a glass vial and a slim blade. “Reed, if you’ll humor me by going to the kitchen for two eggs and an apple corer?”
Grace could see Reed’s face pale. “Y-yes, sir,” he stammered, leaving the lantern on the floor. The light pooled around the doctor’s feet, his features lost into a smeared blur once again.
Falsteed cleared his throat. “Thornhollow . . . if I could speak with you about something, when you’re finished?”
“Of course. I have to meet with Heedson to see if he’ll have me deliver any more of his patients from ever having to be aware of his presence again, then I’ll be back down to check on the girl. Unless you needed something from me immediately?”
“No, Doctor, just a moment of your time after the procedure. And if we can agree to something, perhaps a favor after the fact.”
“A favor? I don’t recall you ever asking anything of the kind from me before.”
“And I wouldn’t, if the situation weren’t dire.”
“For a man who’s been sitting in darkness for years with none but the mad for company to suddenly find his situation dire makes me quite worried for him.”
“Not for myself, Thornhollow. My lot is my own,” Falsteed said.
The doctor rose to his feet, lantern in hand, as the sound of Reed’s footsteps advanced down the hall. “I’ll speak to you of it afterward,” he said. “Your protégé returns much more quickly than he left. I imagine he’s been told to set to. Which means I’ve got more than our poor lost lamb for my night’s work.”
Reed burst into the hall, two eggs in one hand and the apple corer in the other, sweat beaded on his upper lip. “I’m sorry, sir, it