Spellbreaker (Spellbreaker Duology #1) - Charlie N. Holmberg Page 0,66
didn’t know what was.
Clothed, Bacchus said, “Let me pay you for your time.”
Master Pierrelo stayed him with a raised hand. “You’ve not yet taken up a quarter hour of it. I’m sorry you’ve traveled so far only to not need my services. Go. And let me know what you discover, if only to satiate my curiosity.” He eyed Bacchus. “This is a mystery more than ten years in the making.”
So it had been ten years since Master Pierrelo had laid his spell. How long had the other one been in place?
Bacchus shook Master Pierrelo’s hand again, and Elsie did the same, despite it being a masculine gesture. Why shouldn’t she? She was a professional spellbreaker, as far as he knew, and it was not nearly as scandalous as putting her hands all over the bare chest of a virile bachelor, now was it? And because it wasn’t every day she met a master magician, she thought she might also attempt to get some information.
“Master Pierrelo,” she said, “what do you think about the opus crimes in London?”
The spellmaker frowned and released her hand. “They aren’t only in London. I don’t know much; the less I’m involved, the safer I am.”
He seemed resolved not to say more, so Elsie nodded and wished him well. Perhaps the fear of being struck down was one of the reasons Master Pierrelo had traveled back home for a time. Still, it would have been nice if he’d said, I rather suspect a certain squire. Would you like to hear about it?
She nearly had to run to catch up with Bacchus. His stride was longer than usual. So eager was he to leave for London he nearly forgot to thank Mrs. Pierrelo for her hospitality, and he completely forgot to acknowledge her husband, Mr. Pierrelo, who sat shining his shoes in the corner. Elsie waved her apologies in his wake and followed him back to the road.
“Elsie.” He turned around suddenly, the carriage only a few paces away. Rainer and John weren’t there; they’d likely taken off to tour the town.
Elsie barely noticed their absence. She was too entranced by the fact that Bacchus had used her given name, now for the third time.
He grabbed her upper arms, and his lips parted in a true smile, his teeth white as pearls. “You’ve saved me, Elsie.”
She grinned, heart turning over backward. “I wouldn’t say that so soon; you don’t know what that thing was.”
“But I feel the difference.” For a terrifying moment she thought he would lift her in the air, but his hands tightened only a fraction before releasing her, and she felt strangely sad for the separation. Bacchus raised his arms, then grabbed his hair, staring up at the drizzling sky like he looked into heaven itself. “I feel . . . amazing. Whatever it was . . . you’ve cured me.”
Her chest warmed at the compliment. Although she did a great deal of good under the guidance of the Cowls, her role was never acknowledged. She’d never been thanked before. “You’re very welcome, Bacchus.”
Her tone wasn’t exactly jubilant, so he paused in his celebration to look at her. “What’s wrong?”
She tugged on that stubborn loose thread on her sleeve. “Do you know who did it? Who could have put such an awful spell on you?”
He sobered almost instantly, and Elsie regretted being the cause of it. His green eyes shifted back and forth, as though reading his memories like lines in a book. “No. No, I don’t.” He frowned.
“Well, we know what the rune looks like.”
He nodded. “The London Physical Atheneum should have what we’re looking for.”
“You said we.” She stuck her finger out as though accusing him. “That means I’m coming. A gentleman doesn’t recant his word, Mr. Kelsey.”
His lip quirked. It wasn’t as warming as his true smile, but Elsie would take what she could get. “Of course. I certainly won’t strand you here. Miss Camden, I may very well owe you my life.”
“Oh, I doubt that.” But she flushed despite her words. “I’m rather tired of that carriage, but I would like to leave as soon as possible.”
“Yes.” He turned. “As soon as we find John and Rainer.”
“We’ll have plenty to do while we wait,” she said and, when he turned back, added, “You have a great deal of accounting to teach me, Mr. Kelsey, if our story is to be believed when I return home.”
He smiled at her, halfway between a lip quirk and his full, beaming smile. “You’re correct.