But he went out in the sun and made himself sick to saveme.
I haveto see him. I need to tell him that … that he’s saved me in more ways than one.
I rise to my feet. “Please take me to him.”
“You cannot see him, Ms Preston, I’m sorry. He will not allow it. He needs complete rest and cannot be disturbed.”
My emotions jam in my throat.He’s hurt because of me.“Is there anything I can do?” I ask.
“You focus on staying warm and feeling better. Let me take care of Lord Valerian. I know what he needs. I shall bring you some hot soup.”
As Reginald reaches out to take my empty hot chocolate, I notice a bandage on his wrist. Blood has soaked through the gauze. Did he hurt himself rescuing me, too? I feel so guilty.
But the two butterflies in my stomach dance a waltz as I think about the times Lord Alaric Valerian has swooped in to rescue me.
And then suddenly I think of Danny O’Hare murdered in the alley behind the pub.
What else would Alaric do to keep me safe?
No matter how many times I beg Reginald over the next few days, he won’t tell me where Alaric’s room is. “My lord will not wish you to see him in such a state, Ms Winifred.”
So I get back to work. Some of my supplies were delivered this week, so I set about assembling the shelves in Alaric’s study and packing his various projects into their corresponding project boxes. His winter scent clings to everything I touch, and when I place the first box on the shelves, I discover I’ve installed them all crooked.
I can’t focus. I can’t stop thinking about his cool, steady arms around me, dragging me from the water, or the fact that he’s somewhere in this castle,hurt, because of me.
I forget the shelves and move on to Alaric’s desk. His paints and palette I leave out on the table. As I’m arranging his pots in colour order, I notice that he’s turned his latest artwork towards the wall. I respect his privacy and don’t turn the painting around, although I’m more tempted than I’d like to admit.
I think far too much about the kiss at the pub, and about the other day when Alaric caught Gideon flirting with me, and the way he reacted. I thought at the time that maybe he felt something for me, but then he did nothing about it. Gideon left and Alaric went back to his same aloof self.
And now …
You’re imagining his reaction. You want to believe that Alaric might be interested in you. But he thinks of you as the annoying professional organiser his manservant hired to tidy up after him, the one he has to constantly rescue from disaster.
And you’ve gone and set yourself up for another broken heart.
As I touch these objects and projects that Alaric has collected, treasured, and obsessed over, I wonder if maybe I’m not the only one who is nursing a broken heart. As if living in an actual castle is not enough, Alaric has walled himself off with stuff. Perhaps he’s trying to keep his heart safe.
I can’t believe he’s allergic to sunlight. I hope he’s going to be okay.
I’d better not tell the ladies in the Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven about this, or they’ll be even more convinced that he’s a vampire.
THE NEVERMORE MURDER CLUB AND SMUTTY BOOK COVEN GROUP CHAT
Mina: I added Winnie to our group chat since she’s here for another few weeks.
Winnie: Hi everyone!
Komal: Hi Winnie!
Dora: So happy to see you in the chat, Winnie!
Beth: Hey Winnie! Don’t forget that Nevermore Murder Club members get twenty percent off facials and beauty elixirs at Zen and Tonic.
Arabella: About time you got here.
Maisie: Hi Winnie!
Celeste:Welcome, Winnie!
