Eleanor continued, “From tomorrow, you’ll start private sessions with a colleague of mine. Albert Noir.”
“Does he have the same problem as me?” Cinn asked.
Eleanor caught Julien’s eye in the most subtle of glances. A cue to bite his tongue lest he reply out of turn—Eleanor was running this show.
“No,” she said smoothly, withholding the very noteworthy fact that nobody had the same talent as Cinn. Well, nobody still alive to tell the tale, anyway. “But he’s a highly competent scholar and will take good care of you.”
“If you can suffer through his bad jokes,” said Elliot, and Darcy glared at him. She had a fondness for the old man that Julien and Elliot did not share. “And his morning breath.”
Abruptly, Eleanor stood up. “I could only step away for a short time. Cinn, see to it that I don’t have to pay you any more unscheduled visits. My time is precious and I don’t like wasting it. Julien, walk me out, please.”
Without a backward glance, she marched towards the door, forcing Julien to surge up to follow her. Once they’d left the cottage into the frigid night air, she beckoned him down the path to the gate.
“What is it?” Julien was already annoyed at having to leave the warm fire.
“I’m sure this is obvious, Julien, but do not start dragging him into your little project anytime soon.”
Seething, Julien clenched and unclenched his fists. “You’re the one who told me all about him. You’ve practically delivered him to our doorstep.”
“So you can keep a constant eye on him between the three of you,” she hissed. “You know exactly why he’s actually here, and why that’s so important. You know damn well it’s not to play mouthpiece for your sister, as sad as her death was.”
“But—” Julien stopped himself from pouting like a toddler. Pushed down his anger. Smiled sweetly.Play the game.
“There’s nobody here that Viktor Sturmhart and I trust more than you to make sure the boy stays put, keeps his head down, and doesn’t get interfered with by the wrong people. He’s a baby, Julien. He knows nothing about this world. A newborn cub. If you try to get him to run before he can walk…”
Inside, a maelstrom of fury threatened to burst out of Julien.What about Béatrice? How have you just forgotten all about her, just like Père? Youpromised to help.
“And how is the internal review of Béatrice’s death going?” Julien asked, voice level.
“We’re still going through things, Julien. However, the general consensus is still that it was an accident. A tragic accident.”
Lies!
Eleanor moved towards him, to rest a hand on his shoulder and squeeze it in a rare moment of affection. He resisted the impulse to shrug it off. “Still? It’s been three months.”
“Exactly, Julien. It might be time to—”
“I’m going back inside. You should know I’m not babysitting your ward. I’m sure Darcy will be happy to, and I’ll stop Elliot from tormenting him, but I’m too busy with work to ferry him around and entertain him.”
He knew he’d gone too far when Eleanor’s tone turned icy cold. “Julien, have some compassion for once in your life. And if you really can’t do that, then listen to this: your direct orders from Viktor Sturmhart, in addition toyour father, are to ensure no harm comes to Cinnamon Saunders. Keep him here, and out of trouble. You know the stakes that are at play here. Do not fuck this up. Especially with your application to MEET about to be reviewed.”
Pressing his tongue to the roof of his mouth, Julien nodded. He’d play along if that’s what it took. “I’ll keep an eye on him, but he hardly seems like the hardened criminal you described.”
“I told you that he spent a year in juvenile prison as a teenager, not that he was a common thug.”
Julien shrugged. “Just saying, I doubt he’ll be a flight risk now.”
With a parting nod, Eleanor slid into her car, and Julien stomped all the way back to the front door. Laughter burst out of the living room entrance. Startled by the sudden change in dynamic, Julien paused.
“Then we’ll take you to this bar we love,” said Darcy.
“Darcy loves it. We just tolerate it,” Elliot sniped.
He’d been gone all of five minutes and they were already making weekend plans?
He rounded the corner, lifting his coat from the rack. “I’ll drive you home, Cinn.”
“But it’s not on your way.” Elliot stared at Julien intently, but Julien only stared back, daring him to make a scene.
