“His memory is back, but he’s still having problems.Hedrek said the knocks on his head were taking a toll, and he needed quiet and rest.”
“No.”Sienna clapped her hand to her mouth.“I should go to him.”
“No,” Jamie said.
“No,” her mother said at the same time.
“But—”
“You need to stay here and continue working.You’re our eyes and ears.”
“Mama, I meant to tell you, but you distracted me.The mayor is the one who called the hunters.I learned that today.”
“The mayor?”her mother asked, her tone bewildered.“We were friends when I was your age.After I met your father, he and his family refused to speak to me.Are you certain?”
“Yes.I overheard quite a bit about Edwin Smith.The mayor knows him.”
“At least Cormoran didn’t point the hunters directly at us.”
“The bank manager also met with the mayor.Have we heard whispers of financial problems?”
“I heard rumors maybe three or four months ago, but I didn’t believe them.Cormoran’s family has always had money.”
“But what if he has spent it?He doesn’t have a gambling problem, does he?”
Her mother scowled.“Cormoran has always pushed to get ahead.”
Jamie’s gurgling stomach interrupted the conversation.His cheeks turned pink.“Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about,” her mother said.“You’re a growing lad.We’ll eat, and you can help us prepare the hearts for sale.We want to be inside before the hunters do their rounds.”
“Did you see any while you were walking here?”Sienna asked.
“No, but they’ll be everywhere tonight.”
“I saw one in the village, but he kept to himself,” her mother said.“Also, two passed me when I was walking home.They looked tired and dusty as if they’d been out all night.”
“We’ll have to get used to them being around.From what I overheard, they’re not leaving soon.They’re furious with the mayor, but I didn’t understand why.Molly told me he was in London and only arrived home this morning,” Sienna said.“Perhaps he’s distancing himself and pretending none of this is his fault.It could be guilt.”
Her mother tut-tutted.“It’s a terrible thing he’s done—if he’s responsible for the hunters.Some of the older residents enjoy shifting whenever the whim takes them.This enforced time in two legs might affect their mental health.Surely the mayor knows this.”
Sienna snorted.“Mama, you see the good in everyone.”
The throbbing in his skull shifted, and suddenly he was fourteen again, lying in twisted metal, his father’s voice cutting through the chaos.“I’m proud of you, son.Always remember that.”
Liam’s breath caught.He’d buried that memory so deep he’d forgotten his father’s last words weren’t about blame—they were about love.
“Lad, is there something wrong?”Hedrek edged closer, and when Liam didn’t react to his sudden appearance, he sat nearby.“Something on your mind?”
“Sienna.”Liam had to talk to someone because he was confused.He hated the uncertainty.Or maybe that was the recent jolt to his head, still causing problems.
“Ah,” Hedrek said after a pause in which he scanned Liam’s expression.“You like her, and you’re not sure what to do with this when she essentially upended your life.”
“Yes,” Liam said, glad he didn’t have to put his tumultuous feelings into words.
“Only you can decide.You’re still with us, which tells me you’re torn.”
“My friends will be worried.”
