Surely, someone would have rung me instead of coming in person to a remote castle to tell me that Mum’s in trouble again?
But then, what’s the alternative – isAlaricin trouble?
The dent between Alaric’s eyes becomes a chasm. “Send them away.”
“You can’t send them away without talking to them. They’re here to ask you about the murder in the village.”
What?
“Hang on, someone was murdered in the village?” I leap to my feet. “How did I not know this?”
Being at Black Crag is like stepping out of time. I’m still getting used to all the normal, everyday things (Taylor Swift and Netflix) that Alaric has absolutely no clue about. My phone reception here is so bad (and the castle wi-fi is rather temperamental) that I haven’t been checking the news. Or my emails. Or my mother’s texts, although that last one is more about self-preservation than shoddy internet service.
“A man’s body was found in the alley behind the Rose & Wimple,” Reginald explains.
At the mention of the pub, my treacherous brain immediately replays my memory of Alaric’s cool lips against mine, his long fingers pressed protectively into the small of my back as he tilted my head back …
My cheeks flare with heat, and my hand flies to the small graze on my neck from his teeth. What might’ve happened if he hadn’t run away? “The same night that we …”
“Yes,” Alaric says stiffly.
It’s as close as he’s come to acknowledging that night. I search his face for a reaction, but Lord Alaric Valerian is made of stone.
So I guess if I was wondering if he felt anything when he kissedme, I have my answer.
Not that I was wondering. At all.
“Should I show them to the sitting room?” Reginald asks.
“They’re not coming in. If they insist upon intruding, they can stand in the hall. And don’t you eventhinkabout offering them tea.” Alaric shoves the box aside and unfolds himself from the floor, unfurling like some kind of dark, exotic plant. I dust off my favourite jacket and follow him and Reginald to the Stabby Chic hall. Two detectives stand in the doorway, peering at the weaponry and teddy bears with pursed lips and wide eyes.
An older man with salt-and-pepper hair and kind eyes holds up his warrant card. “Lord Valerian, I’m Inspector Hayes, and this is Detective Sergeant Wilson. We’re grateful you can give us some of your valuable time. We’re investigating an unfortunate crime in the village and we’d like to ask you about your movements on Sunday evening.”
“If you must.” Alaric lets out a beleaguered sigh. “My personal secretary, Reginald, drove me into the village so I might have dinner at the Rose & Wimple. I went inside. Nothing on the menu took my fancy so I had a glass of wine and left. That is all.”
He whips around on his heel and storms off down the hall.
“I did have some more questions,” Inspector Hayes says.
“I think what Lord Valerianmeansto say is that he didn’t see or hear anything strange at the pub, but he’ll be happy to assist with your inquiries,” Reginald squares his shoulders. “However, now’s not a good time. Perhaps an appointment?—”
“I’d like to make it a good time. I have eyewitnesses who saw Lord Valerian speaking with a woman at the bar?—”
“I might be able to help.” I give a little wave. Wilson’s eyes snap to mine. “I’m Winnie Preston. I was the woman Alaric—er, Lord Valerian was talking to at the Rose & Wimple.”
She raises a slightly bushy eyebrow. “Eyewitnesses report that you were doing more than just talking.”
“Er … yes. Lord Valerian kissed me,” I mumble.
Reginald’s eyebrows shoot waaaaay up.
Wilson scribbles on her pad. “You and LordValerian were on a date?”
“N-n-no. He was sitting at the end of the bar, and I was in the middle. I was having a drink when a guy came over. I think he said his name was Danny?—”
“Danny O’Hare?”
“That’s him. Danny was getting too close, making suggestive comments, just making me feel uncomfortable. Lord Valerian pretended to be my boyfriend so that Danny would leave me alone.” I rub my neck, my cheeks flushing with heat as Reginald studies me. “The bartender, Lilac, can confirm that story. She saw the whole thing.”
