Lenora’s flight had ended in the parlor, where her screams gave way to slightly more muffled hysterics as everyone converged on her to see what had happened.
Nicholas told the servants hovering outside the parlor that they weren’t needed with a shake of his head and entered.
Helen sat on the divan with an arm around Lenora as she tried to get a coherent answer about what had happened. Beatrice had lowered her book. Sadie and Nicholas’s mother stood near the divan, both of them stepping toward him the moment he entered the parlor.
“What—” Madeleine’s question was cut off as Abigail ran into the room.
Abigail took in the tableaux and demanded, “What happened?”
“A bat attacked Lenora,” Nicholas said, more to his mother and Sadie than Abigail.
“You took her into the forest?” his mother asked in exasperation.
“No. We were in the gardens, and a bat flew out of the woods and directly at Lenora.”
Abigail shuddered, then moved over and took Lenora’s other side on the divan. She began to speak in a low voice to the distraught woman.
Beatrice placed her book on a side table and joined Sadie and his mother. “That makes no sense. Bats are nocturnal. Even if one were awake at this time of day, it would certainly stay inthe relative darkness of the forest rather than fly out into the sunshine. Where is this bat now?”
“I blocked it from following Lenora into the manor with a ward, and it flew back to the forest. I agree that its behavior was out of the norm.”
The parlor door opened once more, and Jane stepped in hesitantly.
Sadie waved her over to their little group. “Jane, Lenora has had a scare and would benefit from a calming potion. Do you think you could brew one for her?”
“An excellent idea.” Madeleine nodded encouragingly.
Jane swallowed. “I—I don’t know a recipe for a calming potion. I could look through the grimoires in the brewing room, but it might take a while.”
“It’s—” Sadie pressed her lips together, her eyes closing for a long moment. “It’s not as good as a potion, but perhaps some chamomile and lavender tea, then? Mixed with valerian root, if it is available.”
That was not what she had started to say. Wondering what she had intended to say distracted Nicholas from the crying behind him for a moment.
“I know we have lavender,” his mother said.
“I’ll go ask in the kitchen.” Sadie moved toward the door.
“I’ll come with you.” Nicholas followed her into the hall. If anyone had asked, he wouldn’t have been able to say if he cared more about getting away from Lenora’s sobs or keeping an eye on Sadie.
“I can find the kitchen myself,” Sadie muttered when he fell in step next to her.
“More easily than the front door, apparently. But I’m still coming with you.”
“Why?”
The challenge in her question had Nicholas raising a brow. She seemed to suspect him of a far darker reason than he had, which made him even more curious. But he answered honestly. “Because at least this way I can feel like I’m doing something without actually having to comfort Lenora.”
She snorted, her defensive posture easing. “Why are men so afraid of tears?”
“I’m not afraid of tears.”
She gave him a look.
“What I’m afraid of,” he continued, “is setting false expectations when all I’m trying to do is be a decent human being.”
“No one is going to confuse a pat on the back with a marriage proposal.”
“You’d be surprised,” he grumbled.
