“I should say not, Mr. Barrow. Things are quiet, as always, here at The Chase,” Caroline replied evenly before Poppy had managed a response of her own.
Quiet as always. Captain Galbraith’s face appeared in Poppy’s mind. Wild visions and Promethean warlocks aside, The Chase was serene as any other home in Britain.
Poppy agreed with a nod of her head. “Quiet, indeed,” she lied.
Mr. Barrow released a beleaguered sigh. “I am glad to hear that, of course. I suppose I hoped you might have seen something, noticed something strange, something to explain how…”
Something to explain how he’d foundsomeof his colt? A memory from the night before flashed in Poppy’s mind. That ferocious dog, the one that had attacked Daniel’s horse. Had thatdogor another from its packkilled Mr. Barrow’ colt? As soon as the thought popped into her mind, she felt she was right. What else could it have been? Of course, she couldn’t say as much. She couldn’t ever admit to having seen such a thing in the dead of night. “I do hope you learn what happened,” she said.
“Honestly, I just want to keep it from happening again.” Her neighbor raked a hand through his light hair. “If you hear anything or see anything, will you let me know?”
“Of course,” Poppy lied once more, hoping she sounded sincere. The look in her stepmother’s eye, however, made her worry that she’d failed miserably in that regard.
“Perhaps I can escort you to services on Sunday,” Mr. Barrow said, focusing his attention back to Poppy. The corners of his lips tipped upward to a thin smile.
Was there a way to politely decline such an offer? Not that came to mind. So, Poppy smiled in his direction and said, “That would be lovely, Mr. Barrow. How kind you are to offer.”
She was not certain she sounded any more sincere with that lie than she had her previous ones. There was nothing wrong with Mr. Barrow, she supposed. However, there was also nothing terribly right about him either. And how could she think about anything when she was fairly certain that a rabid pack of killer dogs lurked throughout the Devon countryside?
Stormy sashayed into the parlor and across the Aubusson rug. Her cat leapt up onto the settee between Poppy and Mr. Barrow, rested his head on Poppy’s lap, and closed his eyes.
At that moment, Mr. Barrow sneezed and cast an accusatory glance in Stormy’s direction. “Well, I supposed I should be getting back to Summerwynds.”
Poppy scratched the top of Stormy’s head, relieved to say farewell to their neighbor. “It was nice of you to call, Mr. Barrow,” she said, as it was expected.
Just as soon as the man made his exit, Poppy made her own excuses and then bolted from the settee before Caroline could ask her about the previous night or any of the obvious lies she’d just told their neighbor.Besides, she and Laurel had much to discuss, starting with anything her sister may have learned about the handsome cavalry officer and what should be done to ensure the man held his tongue.
CHAPTER4
The crisp countryair filled Alec’s lungs, and gravel crunched beneath his Hessians as he limped slightly across the sprawling lands of Halwell Chase. Near the coast, the sky was cloudless and an unusual shade of blue, almost like the cornflowers back home in Derbyshire. Lost in the thought that he seemed to find himself walking amongst the serenity of a still life painting, Alec started when he heard something behind him.
Leaning on his cane, he looked over his shoulder and his breath caught in his throat. Poppy Elstone really was stunning as she followed briskly in his wake. Wisps of her dark hair were caught in the breeze and made her appear even more ethereal as she neared him, a gossamer wrap hung loosely across her shoulders.
“Miss Elstone?” he said once she was close enough to touch. “Are you following me?”
Her cheeks pinkened the tiniest bit. “I hope you don’t mind. My sister said you’d gone for a walk and I thought it would be safer to speak out here.”
Only a blind man would mind being pursued by her. Alec thought better than to admit as much out loud. Instead, he offered what he hoped was his most charming smile as he also offered her his free arm. “Happy for your company.”
“You said something this morning.” She slid her arm around his and tilted her head slightly to the side, spearing him with her hazel gaze while her magical touch warmed him thoroughly. “You said I’m a Seer.”
“I did not realize it was a secret,” he said as he guided her back toward the manor house in the distance. “I shall keep it that way, I assure you.”
“Thank you. I just—” She shook her head. “I mean, I am grateful for your discretion, Captain. I just don’t understand how youknew.”
That was simple. “The blue light, your protection spell,” he explained. “And your touch. I knew the moment you touched me.”
She swallowed a bit nervously. “There’s something strange about my touch?”
“Strange?” Alec shook his head. “Of course not, Miss Elstone.Magical.Your touch is magical if one knows what to look for.”
A staggered sigh escaped her. “You mean if one is a Promethean warlock?”
He couldn’t really claim that title any longer. “Dormant for a dozen years,” he surprised himself by telling her the truth of it. “But I remember well enough.”
If he surprised himself by telling her the truth, she seemed even more surprised by his honesty. The pretty Seer’s brow furrowed in the most adorable manner. “At the risk of sounding like an unparalleled dolt—” She shook her head. “The truth is I don’t know the first thing about anything you’ve talked about.” Then she drew him to a stop and looked at him with such sincerity, he felt it deep in his soul. “I didn’t even know I had any sort of magical abilities until last year, and since then, I’ve been navigating the waters blindly. I have no clue at all about what I’m doing, what I’m seeing, and no way to control any of it.”
Alec couldn’t help but frown. “You didn’t know you were magical?”
