“I suppose it doesnae matter,” she murmured. “Let me tell ye what. Ye think we are witches? Why nae find out for yerself? I ken how to kill a man and leave nay trace. Nobody would ever ken for sure how he died, and they’d never know if they shouldblamea person or nae. What do ye think of that? Next time ye think to grab at me like that, just remember what I can do. And think about what yecannaedo.”
Andrew’s eyes were comically large. He quickly let go of Laurie’s hand as if it burned him and blindly groped for the cross around his neck.
“God protect me,” he gasped, half-prayer and half-hope, and turned on his heel, racing away down the corridor as if the hounds of hell were after him.
Only when he was out of sight did Nora let herself splutter with laughter. Laurie giggled with wicked delight.
“Ye scared him, Nora!” she beamed. “Andrew is funny when he’s scared.”
“I’m glad ye are amused,” Nora mumbled, staring after the man.
That was probably a mistake. This is only me second day here, and already I’ve made a firm enemy. One enemy—perhaps two, if Theo hears of this—and me only friend is a little girl.
To her surprise, her mind flashed an image of Creighton. She saw him sitting there, dark eyes fixed intently on her. She immediately dismissed the thought. Creighton wasn’t her friend. He wasn’t exactly an enemy either; he was... he was something else. Something she didn’t have a name for yet.
And then, as if she’d summoned him, the man himself appeared at the end of the corridor, long-legged and broad-shouldered, hands on his hips.
“Well, then,” Creighton drawled. “What’s all this laughter about? And why did Andrew just tear past me as if the Devil himself chased him?”
CHAPTER 6
“Nora made Andrew scared, Crey!”Laurie laughed, gleefully clapping her hands. “He looked like he was goin’ to wet himself.”
Creighton gave a quick smile, which Nora guessed was for his sister’s benefit. His eyes flickered to the door behind them.Hisdoor.
He couldnae possibly guess,she told herself, as firmly as she could manage.He’s got nay idea what I intended to do.
“Did she, now?” he murmured thoughtfully, his gaze resting on Nora. She forced herself to stand cool and calm, not looking away.
I am nae afraid of him,she told herself firmly.He might be tall and dangerous and perhaps a little imposin’, butIhave skills and secrets, too. I need to remember that.
It was hard to remember it, but when he stared at her so intently, dark eyes piercing into her soul, it made her shiver. In a good way, if that was possible.
“I think I’ll have a wee word with Nora, Laurie,” he said abruptly, flashing a smile down at his sister. “Go on back to the feastin’ room and finish yer breakfast, aye?”
Laurie pouted. “But…”
“None of that,” he chided, more gently than she would have thought possible from him. “Go on. Off ye go. We will see ye soon.”
Laurie sighed, glancing wistfully up at Nora. “Very well.”
Nora gave her an encouraging smile, and the little girl skipped off down the hallway, carefree and happy.
Once she was out of sight, Creighton turned slowly to Nora and gave a frosty smile.
“Let’s step into me rooms for a moment, aye?”
Before she could object, he placed a hand on her shoulder—the same warm, heavy hand he’d pushed against the small of her back, back at the Festival and propelled her toward the door. It clicked open, and she stumbled into a dark, dusty space.
The first thing that Nora noticed was that Laurie had been right. She would never have found those reports in this mess.
Books, maps, and trinkets covered every surface, with plates, cups, and goblets scattered among them, some still holding wine dregs. And papers! Piles of papers leaned against the wall, piled on desks, and stacked on chairs. Papers were spread across the bottom of his bed, rumpled and untidy, jammed into the corner of the room. The curtains were half-closed, letting in a beam of light. Daylight pierced through the gloom, illuminating dancing motes of dust.
There were even papers stacked against a door set deep into the wall. Her wall.Theirdoor, the one connecting their rooms. Nora reddened. There was no fear of him barging through in the middle of the night, then, not with all those papers piled up. There’dneverbeen any fear of that. The bolt wasn’t pulled across on his side, she noticed. But that didn’t matter, becauseherside was locked.
Which was a relief, wasn’t it? Of course it was. Of course, she was relieved. Entirely relieved.
“I assume the maidservants daenae visit here often,” she remarked.
