Auguste's eyebrows ticked up at that. "Ah. Well, let's see. Mags, who is on Esther's schedule at the moment?"
"If she's feeling up for it, Dr. Underwood until tomorrow evening, when you both had planned to take her to London."
"I've been looking forward to it. I want to go," I said, immediately.
"You'll have to rest until then," Underwood said, but he was looking at the other men.
"I'll stay at the accommodations here for the day. Two if Esther's ankle isn't better," Auguste said with a quick exchange of glances between him and Underwood. "Mr. MacKenna, you are her guest as well now, officially,” —Amon growled under his breath— “and Mr…Booker is her companion, of course. Between us, we ought to be able to ensure her safety. Underwood and I will take great care with her in London. We can discuss any possible changes of residence after the trip, yes, sphinx?"
"Mr. MacKenna, if you would be willing to use your current advantage to keep an eye on the manor, I would certainly be willing to see about altering the magic placed on you to allow your invisibility to be more…voluntary," Magdalena said, rising from her seat.
I sat up straighter at that. "Oh, yes please!"
"Gladly, Madame," Ezra said, putting on that charm of his, his fingers secretly finding their way beneath the rumpled hem of my nightdress to stroke the inside of my thighs. "Then we can use that mirror idea of yours in any number of ways, puisín."
Magdalena headed for the door as I squirmed and blushed. She paused there, expression softening as she ignored the men who surrounded me. "Esther, I'm sorry again. I was so busy trying to tie up the wards, my gaze focused outward, that I risked your safety on what had already found its way in."
I stared back at her and studied myself. I was…a little wary now, but I didn't blame her. My own eager curiosity had drawn me into the water before the wraith had been able to grab hold of me. "I know you would never want to put me in harm's way," I said.
Magdalena's smile held sadness at its edges, but she nodded and let herself out of the room. I paused, finally alone in the room with my five gentlemen—whether they held such a title by society or not—and found myself a little uncertain of what to say.
"You should eat something if you're up to it. Let me cook for us?" Auguste asked.
I smiled at him, grateful he'd included the others, and next to me, Booker rose with a single declaration of, "Help."
"I'd be very grateful for it," Auguste said to the golem, eyeing him up and down with interest before flashing me a wink. I was rather excited to tell Auguste about Booker's declaration regarding mornings, and perhaps together, we could convince the golem to repeat the act in the evenings so Auguste might watch.
They shut the door behind them, and I was left with three. Jonathon rose from the bed, gathering up drained cups of tea, which left me wrapped in Ezra's arms, while Amon tried to pretend he wasn't glaring right back at us.
"I'd like to talk to Amon," I murmured, brushing my cheek briefly against Ezra's before meeting Amon's gaze, holding out my arms. "Will you talk with me in the other room?"
I'd expected to see triumph on Amon's face, especially as Ezra drew away from me, helping me slide down to the foot of the bed, but I could've sworn it was a flash of panic on his face—the wide eyes, lips pressing flat, and a hard bob of his Adam's apple in his throat. He stepped forward, scooping me up in his arms, and carried me gingerly into the connected sitting room.
"Sit me on your lap," I said, and beneath my arm, his shoulders loosened.
He settled us both into an armchair, and a lamp sparked to life on the wall. I sighed as the darkness burned away into warmth and leaned back against Amon's chest.
"Are you angry with me?" I asked.
Cuddled close, it was difficult to get a good read on Amon, or I was just too distracted by the glow of him, the perfection of his features. I ran my fingers across his jawline, turning his face in my direction.
"No, my star," he whispered, his own eyes searching my face with equal interest.
"Even though I refused to stay with you?"
He winced at that, but his head dipped in a nod. "You were correct. I would find it difficult to be fair with your time. I am finding it difficult."
"But you'll try?" I was surprised by the pang in my heart as I waited for his answer. I'd never been so easily attached to men before. Then again, I'd never had men who treated me the way Amon and Auguste did, with such intense passion, not just for their own sake but for mine too. Amon was possessive and infuriating, but it was flattering for me too, to be so wanted.
Amon's expression warmed with my question. "I will learn what I must to keep you."
My eyes narrowed. "As your lover or your possession?"
Amon's head ducked, but I thought I caught the slight flush on his cheeks. "Lover," he said, in a rather unconvincing tone.
"Mhm."
His hand, which had been settled on my thigh, rose up to my ass, squeezing briefly. "Is it so bad if I am willing to share in the end?"
"Ohh, we are going to have work on you," I said with a huff, but I laughed and met Amon's mouth with mine as he tugged me closer for a kiss.
His tongue was hot against mine, and the warmth burned away a chill in me I hadn't even realized was lingering from the wraith's attack. I melted into the kiss, giving Amon control—he deserved the reward, I decided—and grumbling a little as he didn't push for more.
"The doctor is right, you should rest," Amon murmured, still grazing his mouth over mine, heat pooling on my skin where his lips and hands touched until I was drowsy and limp.
"I know what might make me feel better," I mumbled, trying to slide my hands under his coat.
He lifted me out of the chair without a grunt of effort and carried me back into my bedroom. "Another time. If I am to be fair, I should start now."
Bollocks. He would use that declaration just to deny me and make me pout. But it didn't last for long when Amon passed me back into Ezra's invisible arms on the bed. His eyes flicked over my shoulder to glare briefly at my thief, but it was gone a moment later when he brushed a final kiss over my forehead.
"When you return from London, I will claim my time with you," Amon said, growling just a little. "And while I wait, I'll prepare my home for your visit."
Well if that didn't sound like a trick—
"Goodnight, my star. Keep her safe," he added darkly to the others.