“We’re down here,” Jack said. During the insanely hectic days of renovating and refurbishing the house, he and Kate had had no time alone. Jack often collapsed in the wee hours on a recently delivered mattress, the plastic still on it. He slept until his men arrived at 7:00 a.m. the next day.
But now that was over and as part of the reenactment of the week, he and Kate were to share a room.
He opened the door for her—and they both halted. Twin beds had been in the room, just as they were when Kate and her father had stayed there. But now there was one bed with crisp white sheets and a pretty comforter.
Kate turned away. “I’ll find a couch somewhere.”
Jack didn’t move until she’d taken three steps. Then it was as though he came alive, turning back into the old Jack. “No you won’t.” He took her hand. “Come with me.”
Kate smiled.Thiswas the Jack she knew. She worked to keep up with his long, quick strides. When she tripped on the stairs, he stopped and bent down in front of her. She put her hand on his shoulder while he removed first one of her high heels then the other. Standing, he tossed them onto a chair, then took her hand. Barefoot, she went with him, and his pace quickened.
He led them through the kitchen, then outside. She knew where they were going. Sara’s beloved cottage was at the end of the path.
“Do you have the key?” she asked.
It was dark, but there was enough light to see his expression. Implying that there was a lock he couldn’t open was insulting. When they reached the round topped door, he turned the knob and it opened.
Inside, the ground floor was one room, with a little kitchen in the corner. There was a marble-topped table and some cushions on the floor and a couch pushed against the wall. On the table was a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice and two flutes.
“You planned this,” she said.
“A bit,” he said as he opened the champagne and poured. “To us.” He raised his glass, then downed the drink.
Kate did the same thing. Jack refilled her glass and she walked to the big stained glass window that dominated the whole end of the cottage. “What did you think of them?”
“I agree with Sara. They’re all so sweet they make my teeth hurt.”
Kate finished her second glass and Jack refilled it. When she took a step, she wobbled a bit.
“That’s going to your head. You didn’t eat much tonight.”
“Neither did you. Are you worried about something?” She fluttered her lashes at him.
“Yes. I’m worried aboutyou.”
“Me?” She was flirting with him. “How could you worry about me after all we’ve been through?”
His face turned serious. “Kate?” he asked softly.
“Yes?” Her lashes fluttered so hard and fast the wind almost knocked over the bottle of wine.
Jack reached into his trouser pocket, withdrew what was unmistakably a ring, then went onto one knee. “Kate Medlar, will you—?” He didn’t finish because Kate jerked her chin up and stared over his head. Her eyes widened.
Jack knew the look. He instantly stood up and looked at what she was seeing.
Through a small window on the far wall, they could see the window at the apex of the big house. There was a light moving about. It had to be from a flashlight.
“Is it...?” Kate asked.
“The attic,” Jack said. “Yes. The locked and secured attic.”
“Where the body was.”
Jack started to put the ring back in his pocket.
“That’s mine!” Kate said fiercely and held out her hand.
With his eyes on the light, he absently handed it to her.
