Guilt stabbed at her like a knife. While she dreamed of going back, Edward had been worried sick for her. But where was he now? When she had fainted, he had been resistant to leave her side, but she hadn’t seen him once she returned.
Miss Larson put her hand on Catherine’s shoulder, and she raised her eyes to meet Miss Larson’s gaze in the mirror. “There’s no need to apologize. You didn’t intentionally run away or get lost. And it’s not as if you’re the first person to get turned around in that forest after all.”
Miss Ashton had said much the same. “Have you ever?” Catherine asked, feeling uncommonly bold.
Miss Larson froze, and her eyes darted to the door. “Once...”
Catherine turned around in her chair, eager to ask her more.
“What happened? What did you—” Catherine couldn’t finish the inquiry because her chamber door opened. They both turned to see Mrs. Morgan filling the threshold, her expression grim.
“My lady, Lord Thornton awaits you with his aunt in the dining room,” she said as she looked from Catherine to Miss Larson.
Her heart thumped in her chest. She felt as if she were standing on some sort of precipice. Miss Ashton had said she’d gotten lost in the forest as a child. If only she had gone to speak with her that day. But Miss Larson might know something; perhaps she’d stumbled into Faery as well. What if there were others like her, people who saw as the fae, who refused to speak out of fear of being labeled insane. If she were braver, she would have asked Mrs. Morgan for a few minutes more, just a moment to ask Miss Larson what she’d seen. But the dour expression on the housekeeper’s face broached no challenge. Catherine rose from her seat and cast one last look at Miss Larson before following Mrs. Morgan out. She bowed as if she’d been scolded.
Catherine followed after Mrs. Morgan in chilly silence. It felt wrong to put on a gown and go about her life as usual. There was a killer on the loose. Was it that wolf who’d followed them into Faery? Or some other uncanny creature? The wolf had to be what Edward had mistaken for a wild dog that had been killing his farmer’s stock. She should warn him—but how could she when she had tried to tell them about Miss Ashton’s murder, and no one believed her? If she pressed the issue, would they call her mad and send her away as her parents had?
The footman stood beneath the sconces just outside the dining room. Flickering light cast shadows on their faces. Mr. Hobbs greeted her with a brief nod and opened the door for her to enter. At the far end of the room, Edward and Mrs. Rosewood sat side by side, heads pressed together as they spoke in low tones. When she entered, Edward lifted his head and came rushing toward her, Mrs. Rosewood on his heels.
“Catherine, darling!” Edward exclaimed.
Mrs. Rosewood swept between them and grasped Catherine by each shoulder.
She tensed in her grip, and Mrs. Rosewood’s face was momentarily stricken before she let her go, instead stepping back to look her up and down.
“We’ve been worried sick for you. It’s good to have you returned to us unharmed.” She shook her head.
“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to worry anyone.” Catherine wrapped her arms around her as she shifted from foot to foot.
“No, it was us who were remiss to not warn you better. That entire forest should be burned to the ground. It’s nothing but a tangled mess,” Edward declared.
Catherine’s head shot up. “But, you can’t!” What would happen to Faery if they did so and all those lovely old trees.
The pair stared at her brows raised, and Edward’s mouth slack.
Edward cleared his throat. “I know you love plants, darling. I wouldn’t really take such measures. But I was out of my mind with worry for you.” He reached for her hand and grasped it, squeezing it.
She wanted to ask him where he had been all afternoon that he had not come to her side straight away. But it felt too presumptuous when she was the one who’d gone missing in the first place.
“Shall we?” Mrs. Rosewood gestured to the table, and they all took their seats.
Edward would not let go of her hand and clung to her even as they took their seats at the table. She wanted to pull away, but guilt held her in place. When the first course was served, he let go of her at last, and Catherine sipped at her food. Everything tasted bland after being in Faery. The colors of the wallpaper looked faded, and even the bouquet at the center of the table looked wilted and gray.
The footmen took away her barely touched soup. Something brushed against her hand, and she yanked it away. She looked up to see Edward watching her with a puzzled expression. She blushed and lowered her gaze.
“Catherine, you must be starved. You should eat more,” Mrs. Rosewood said.
Catherine nodded.
Neither of them asked her what happened in the forest. Weren’t they curious? The main course was served: a whole roasted goose served with potatoes and roasted carrots. Mr. Hobbs carved at the table and served her up a slice slathered in brown gravy. Just the salty scent of roasted meat made her stomach twist. Was this normal for someone who’d been to Faery? Mr. Thorn had warned her against eating any of the food, but she remembered the scent vividly, and this food smelled putrid in comparison. Catherine pushed her food around her plate to appear to be eating. A tense silence filled the room. The only sound the gentle clink of forks against china.
“Are you sure you’re not unwell?” Mrs. Rosewood asked, peering into Catherine’s face.
“I’m fine,” Catherine replied. She stabbed into a minuscule bite of goose and pushed it past her lips. She choked it down. Should she ask them or bring up the topic since they wouldn’t? What if they suspected and didn’t want to talk about it? Were they trying to hide something from her?
“Did something happen out there, should I call for the doctor?” Edward half rose from his seat.
Catherine looked up at him. “What do you think would happen?” she asked cautiously. Even now, she hesitated to ask outright.
