“That will never happen.” My voice comes out as more of a growl than I’d anticipated. “If he so much as comes onto the property, I will take care of him for good.”
Her head tilts as she looks up at me. “Don’t kill him, Rupert.”
I say nothing in response. I would easily murder that man and cover it up if I needed to. I would claim he was attacked by an animal while trespassing, and that would be the end of Andy.
“I can’t express how sorry I am,” I say after a few moments of silence. “That you endured this. I am impressed that you were able to escape. And I’m glad, so that you could be here now.”
I think that her cheeks grow redder, but I don’t know if it’s from the cold or something else. I’m still walking with one arm around her, and I don’t move it. Neither does she seem to mind, and so we continue like that through the trees.
“You still haven’t told me your story,” Peony reminds me, a little cheekily.
I sigh, because I was expecting this. “It is a sordid tale.” I cringe just thinking about the man I was. “Are you sure you want to hear it?”
Peony nods, gazing up at me with an innocence in her eyes that won’t last.
“Of course I do. I want to know all about you, Rupert.”
She says that now.
“Are you sure it can’t wait for another time?” I attempt a final Hail Mary. “We’ve had such a pleasant walk.”
“If you’re not ready, then you’re not ready.” Peony reaches up and sets her hand lightly on top of mine where it rests on her shoulder. “You can take your time.”
Her words soothe me. Am I ready to expose that part of me to her? To reveal how sick and greedy I was?
No. I’m not. I want to savor this pleasant moment while I still can. I know that nothing good lies for me at the end, as the old man sealed into his spell.
And you will never find true happiness.
“If it’s all right, I would much rather talk about your shopping excursion,” I say. It is too soon to ruin her image of me, to reveal the truth.
Peony nods in understanding. “Well, there’s not much to tell.” She talks about how surreal it was to drive around in Kellen’s car. “I had to be careful with the gas pedal.”
We discuss cars for a short while, and then our conversation diverges to Kellen, a subject that is still a mite tender after Peony called him “good-looking.” I know it’s a poor mark on my character to be jealous of such an off-handed comment.
“He’s around all the time,” Peony says with a huff. “Does he not have friends? A girlfriend?”
I snort a laugh. “I don’t think women are his topic of expertise.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Oh. I see.”
“Indeed. And even then, he has rarely ever expressed interest in dating. But I encourage him from time to time, and he has some friends he visits with on occasion.” I don’t know much about them other than they seem to enjoy having a pint and playing shuffleboard, an American game I still don’t understand.
We spend the rest of our walk back to the manor in a companionable silence. When we finally reach the rear doors, we disengage, and I already miss her warmth under my arm.
“Thank you, Peony,” I say as we step inside, removing our coats and hanging them up in the entryway closet. “This was very, very pleasant.”
“I hope we can do it again.” She lingers before departing to her room. “Tomorrow is Sunday, so I wouldn’t mind another walk. And I would enjoy getting your input on next week’s menu.”
I grin a wide grin, pleased that she’s as eager to spend time together again as I am.
fifteen
. . .
peony
I’m still thinking about the warmth of Rupert’s arm around me long after we’ve parted ways. I bared my soul to him.
