Charlotte looked at her, perplexed. "What makes you say that?"
"I dont-I dont know exactly. " Sophie looked at the floor. "But I know its true. "
"Sophie?" Charlottes tone was querulous, and Tessa knew what she was thinking: Did they have another spy, another serpent in their garden? Will, too, was leaning forward with narrowed eyes.
"Sophies not lying," Tessa said abruptly. "She knows because-because we overheard Gideon and Gabriel speaking of it in the training room. "
"And you only now decided to mention it?" Will arched his brows.
Suddenly, unreasonably furious with him, Tessa snapped, "Be quiet, Will. If you-"
"Ive been stepping out with him," Sophie interrupted loudly. "With Gideon Lightwood. Seeing him on my days off. " She was as pale as a ghost. "He told me. He heard his father laughing about it. They knew Jessamine was found out. They were hoping youd go to the Clave. I shouldve said something, but it seemed like you didnt want to go to them anyways, so I . . . "
"Stepping out?" said Henry incredulously. "With Gideon Lightwood?"
Sophie kept her attention on Charlotte, who was gazing at her, round- eyed. "I know what Mortmain is holding over Mr. Lightwood too," she said.
"Gideon only just found out. His father doesnt know he knows. "
"Well, dear God, girl, dont just stand there," said Henry, who looked as poleaxed as his wife. "Tel us. "
"Demon pox," said Sophie. "Mr. Lightwoods got it, has had for years, and itl kil him in a right couple of months if he doesnt get the cure. And Mortmain said he can get it for him. "
The room exploded in a hubbub. Charlotte raced over to Sophie; Henry call ed after her; Will leaped from his chair and was dancing in a circle. Tessa stayed where she was, stunned, and Jem remained beside her. Meanwhile, Will appeared to be singing a song about how he had been right about demon pox all along.
"Demon pox, oh, demon pox,
Just how is it acquired?
One must go down to the bad part of town
Until one is very tired.
Demon pox, oh, demon pox
I had it all along-
No, not the pox, you foolish blocks,
I mean this very song-
For I was right, and you were wrong!"
"Will!" Charlotte shouted over the noise. "Have you LOST YOUR MIND? CEASE THAT INFERNAL RACKET! Jem-"
Jem, rising to his feet, clapped his hands over Will s mouth. "Do you promise to be quiet?" he hissed into his friends ear.
Will nodded, blue eyes blazing. Tessa was staring at him in amazement; they all were. She had seen Will many things-amused, bitter, condescending, angry, pitying-but never giddy before.
Jem let him go. "Al right, then. "
Will slid to the floor, his back against the armchair, and threw his arms up.
"A demon pox on all your houses!" he announced, and yawned.
"Oh God, weeks of pox jokes," said Jem. "Were for it now. "
"It cant be true," said Charlotte. "Its simply-demon pox?"
"How do we know Gideon did not lie to Sophie?" asked Jem, his tone mild. "I am sorry, Sophie. I hate to have to say it, but the Lightwoods are not trustworthy. . . . "
"Ive seen Gideons face when he looks at Sophie," said Will. "It was Tessa who told me first that Gideon fancied our Miss Col ins, and I thought back, and I realized it was true. And a man in love-a man in love Will tell anything.
Betray anyone. " He was staring at Tessa as he spoke. She stared back; she could not help it. Her gaze felt pulled to him. The way he looked at her, with those blue eyes like pieces of sky, as if trying to communicate something to her silently. But what on earth . . . ?
She did owe him her life, she realized with a start. Perhaps he had been waiting for her to thank him. But there had been no time, no chance! She resolved to thank him at the first opportunity that presented itself. "Besides, Benedict was holding a demon woman on his lap at that party of his, kissing her," Will went on, glancing away. "She had snakes for eyes. Each man to his own, I suppose. Anyway, the only way you can contract demon pox is by having improper relations with a demon, so . . . "
"Nate told me Mr. Lightwood preferred demon women," said Tessa. "I dont suppose his wife ever knew about that. "
"Wait. " It was Jem, who had suddenly gone very still. "Wil -what are the symptoms of demon pox?"
"Quite nasty," said Will with relish. "It begins with a shield-shaped rash on ones back, and spreads over the body, creating cracks and fissures in the skin-"
Jem expel ed a gasp of breath. "I-I shall return," he said, "in just a moment. By the Angel-"
And he vanished out the door, leaving the others staring after him.
"You dont think he has demon pox, do you?" Henry inquired of no one in particular.
I hope not, since we just got engaged, Tessa had the urge to say-just to see the looks on their faces-but repressed it.
"Oh, shut up, Henry," said Will, and looked as if he were about to say something else, but the door banged open and Jem was back in the room, panting, and holding a piece of parchment. "I got this," he said, "from the Silent Brothers-when Tessa and I went to see Jessamine. " He gave Tessa a slightly guilty look from under his fair hair, and she remembered him leaving Jessamines cel and returning moments later, looking preoccupied.
"It is the report on Barbara Lightwoods death. After Charlotte told us that her father had never turned Silas Lightwood over to the Clave, I thought I would inquire of the Silent Brothers if there was another manner in which Mrs.