“Yes. I consulted the crystal this morning. Darkness still surrounds you.”
“Did it offer any further clues from where it might come or from whom?”
Madam Boswell shook her head. “It is the same. Danger lurks for someone who you care for.”
“Who?”
“It is not clear who, but they are important to you.”
The only people important to him and also in Bocka Morrow were his mother and nieces. Therefore, he had to agree with his mother—they needed to be on alert for a witchfinder.
“Guard those you care about, Lord Bentford. If the danger passes, I will send word.”
“Thank you.”
For now, he must keep his mother and nieces at Nightshade Manor. However, that didn’t mean that he could not visit the village. If he were to truly watch for danger at home, he needed to know when it arrived in Bocka Morrow and with those thoughts, he walked to Hollybrook Park. He came upon the estate through the back fields and gardens as he’d previously done when he escorted Miss Cordelia home.
Damon paused for a moment and took in the sight of Cordelia sitting on a bench with the sun casting golden highlights through her hair. He took in her gentle profile, the slight quirk of her lips and the blond curls that danced on the breeze.
There was nobody more beautiful than Cordelia Vail and Damon suspected that she wasn’t even aware.
“Good afternoon, Miss Cordelia and Edward.”
She turned abruptly then stood, her eyes wide and eyebrows drawn together as if curious.
Damon supposed his coming upon them in this manner was a surprise as most gentlemen would have arrived by the front and been announced.
Why was it that simply looking at Cordelia eased the tension that had accompanied him from Nightshade Manor?
“Is Ianthe with you?” Edward asked.
“She is at Nightshade Manor, where shemustremain.”
Edward blew out a sigh and kicked a stone off the path.
“You may visit her if you wish,” Damon offered. “I’m certain she would like a distraction from her lesson.”
Edward immediately cheered.
“You need to use the back gate. The one you used yesterday,” he continued.
“I will.”
“If there are roses in the way, they should part.”
Edward frowned. “Why?”
Damon looked to Cordelia, held her eyes and wondered if he should confide in them both. If he didn’t tell Edward the truth, the lad may find a way to help Ianthe escape if she had a wish to and that would never do. All he could hope was that he had an ally and not a foe.
He then looked to Edward. “It’s important that Ianthe not be allowed to leave Nightshade Manor.”
“It’s not fair,” Edward whined. “Nothing bad happened when she walked into Bocka Morrow.”
“This is different.” Damon blew out a sigh.
“Why, because she might accidentally perform magic?”
“That is exactly the reason,” Damon answered. “And I don’t wish to see her killed.”
