Nick asked, “Did you tell your master we had succeeded?”
Simon ignored the jabbing tone. “I wrote to King William that we had recovered the Stone but warned him that the danger had not passed. I instructed them to hold the militia and home guard in preparation for possible attacks on the city. Mrs. North—or Ash—sent back His Majesty’s gratitude and to let us know that the king refused to leave the people of London despite the peril of Gaios. However, they are taking the princess Victoria away to safety.”
“Thank God the princess will be safe,” Nick muttered as he raised his glass to be refilled to the rim. “To the millions of poor who cannot flee the city, too bad on you.”
“The millions of poor have us, Nick.” Simon turned to encompass all within the small battered room with the tray in hand, distributing glasses all around, except for Charlotte, who pouted. “We won’t fail them.”
Imogen stirred against Kate’s side and stretched out her arms. She opened her milky human eye and gave her strange rictus smile up at Kate. “Is it late?”
“Yes,” Kate rubbed her sister’s hand. “You should go to bed.”
“Not yet.” Imogen sat up, careful to shift the hedgehog into a better position, and accepted a small dram of whiskey from the tray.
Simon lifted his glass. “Ladies and gentlemen, join me, please.”
Malcolm stepped from the warm fire and took Charlotte’s hand. Nick rose from the chair with an inebriated groan. The women followed suit until all their glasses touched in the firelight.
Simon looked each of them in the eye. “There are no people in this world that I love and respect more than all of you. Nick, you trained me in more ways than you know. When I came to London looking for a path, you put me on it and kept me true to it.”
Nick started to interrupt, but Simon knew he was going to qualify it with a guilty admission of his goal of attaining Simon for Ash.
Simon made a silencing sound and gave his friend a confident smile. “Don’t. I owe you much. More than I can repay. And Malcolm, you have come into this group in a way that you thought was unnatural for you. You never wanted to be a part of a team of any sort, but you are now the heart of this one. Your honesty steered us when we were lost. Your uncluttered reason has kept us focused. Kate loves you. Penny loves you. The girls love you. Without you, there is no family here.”
Malcolm’s cheeks actually colored and Penny grinned, her eyes darting to the ground.
Simon turned to the young engineer. “And to you Penny. You are an absolute genius. You give us that extra edge which enables us to stand toe to toe with madmen and gods alike.” Her face lifted to his with gratitude shining in her smile.
“To Imogen and Charlotte, who bring joy into this house and teach us what is worth fighting for.” He paused a moment, his gaze sweeping over. “And Kate.”
The depth of adoration and tenderness in his eyes brought warmth spreading out from Kate’s chest.
“Kate,” he repeated softly. “Your unflagging thirst for knowledge and truth propels us always forward to a place where anything is possible.” His free hand brushed against hers, twining their fingers. He raised his glass, preparing to finish the toast.
Kate drew in a deep breath, her heart lifting higher. “And to you, dear Simon. In whose fearless footsteps we follow. In darkness from which all of humanity would flee, you remain stalwart.”
Simon’s face shone in the firelight. His glass pushed toward the others. “I wish us all success and long life. I expect that we shall all gather here again, well and healthy. I thank you.”
The multitude of glasses clinked and they all drank.
“What about Mr. Hogarth?” Charlotte asked. “He’s our protector.”
“And to Hogarth,” Simon agreed.
“Charlotte and I are relieving Hogarth on the roof.” Imogen reached for the bottle of whiskey. “We’ll tell him.”
“No, ma’am, you are not.” Kate looked from Imogen to Charlotte as she pulled the bottle from her sister’s hand. “You’re both getting some sleep.”
“We can’t. It’s our turn.” Imogen was firm but polite. Charlotte bounded over to her, trailing her drawing from her hand, and leaned against Imogen. “You should get some sleep, Kate. You look tired.”
Kate put on her stern face. “I won’t be disobeyed, Imogen. I want you to go to bed.”
Imogen shook her head and said in her strange calm voice, “Malcolm will take over from us in a few hours, and we’ll sleep then.”
Kate could sense stubbornness in her sister that reminded her of the old willful Imogen. Except that it wasn’t selfishness; she was trying to help. In truth, Kate was too exhausted to fight this battle, which she probably shouldn’t.
“Very well.” Kate rubbed her face and stifled a yawn. “Off you go then, but please be careful on the roof. There are holes everywhere and weak spots that can’t be seen.”