“Just like Edwin? I have questions about his death, too. You can’t keep the truth from coming out.”
“I won’t run,” Graden said quietly. “No matter what you ask. No matter what you think you know.”
“Where did you go the night of your father’s illness?” Ella asked, tilting her head like a predator before pouncing on its prey.
Graden stared at her, but in his mind’s eye he saw white eyes. His chest constricted with the memory. “I would have done anything to save him.”
“And you did, didn’t you? I have a theory. After speaking to some of the villagers, there really was only one place you could have gone.”
Complete dread washed over him. He’d heard of men being stoned for dabbling in black magic. He’d been surprised that hadn’t happened to him. He knew the rumors were out there. He knew the villagers suspected. But it wasn’t him he was suddenly concerned with.
“There is a witch who lives not far from your castle. I think you went to the witch to save your father’s life.”
God’s blood! Not only was the woman beautiful, but she was persistent and astute. He could never let her know that was the truth. He could be hung for witchcraft. He laughed. “A witch? You believe that gossip?”
“The only question I have is what she asked in return. Your soul?”
“There is no witch near my castle. She would have been driven out long ago.”
“Your people fear her. They stay away from her.”
Graden straightened as a sudden horrible thought came to him. “Did you go to her? Did you visit her?”
“Not yet. But I will.”
“No!” Graden said and grabbed her arms. He was shocked at how fearful he was. But not for him, not for what she could discover about him; the fear was for her. “Stay away from her.”
Shocked by his vehement response, her mouth dropped open, her gaze sweeping over his face.
The touch of her arms, the nearness of her, caught Graden off guard. His anger, his guilt and secrets all vanished. He dropped his gaze to her lips. The only thing he could think of was kissing her.
She pulled away, frowning in confusion. Disconcerted, she crossed her arms. She looked as flustered as he felt. She took a step away from him and then another until she turned and hurried from the garden.
Graden stared after her for a long moment. He couldn’t get the feeling of intrigue and desire from his hazy mind. He had wanted to kiss her! He mentally shook himself. That was never going to happen! Not with Ella.
It took a moment more for him to realize that he was alone in the garden.
Ella raced into the kitchen, her fists clenched tight. The servants backed out of her way quickly. She took the stairs to the upper hallway. She was so shaken that she couldn’t think straight! What had he done? Just touching her made her lose her trail of thoughts. She had been on the right path, she knew it. Then, he had touched her.
With a heavy sigh, she leaned back against a hallway archway. She frowned and shook her head. He was trying to… She didn’t know what, but he was up to something. He wanted something. He might have Miles fooled, but she would never forget Edwin.
She thought back to that day. The last day she had seen her brother alive. It was a bright day. It was warm, the middle of the summer. Edwin was handsome, daring, and brash. He was the youngest male in their family, wanting to prove himself in the shadow of their father and their oldest brother.
Ella remembered that Edwin and Miles had argued about jousting in the upcoming tournament. Edwin had been pacing in the inner ward when she found him. He had been angry and he had seemed desperate. She tried to speak with him, begging him to have sense. He wasn’t ready for the joust. That had been the last thing she had ever said to him. She remembered the look he bestowed on her. A crestfallen look of betrayal and hurt shimmered in his brown eyes; a gentle breeze sweeping a lock of his dark hair over his forehead. He had left without another word and gone to the Boar’s Head Inn to drink heavily where he ran into Dumount.
She had nothing to remember him by except her memory. The way his eyes lit when he was playing a prank on someone. The way that one strand of hair stuck up insolently at the back of his head. The look of hurt that glimmered in his dark eyes before he left for the Boar’s Head Inn.
Ella shook her head, wringing her hands, regretting that decision. Every day. Wishing she could do it all over again, wishing she could take his side against Miles. Maybe then he wouldn’t have gone to the Boar’s Head Inn. Maybe then he wouldn’t have fought with Dumount. And the worst part about it was that while Dumount had delivered the death blow, she was as responsible for Edwin’s death as much as he.
Tears rose in her eyes. She would never forget or forgive. Dumount or herself. She turned to look out the window. A soft breeze touched her hot cheeks. The sun’s warmth reached her fingers as they curved over the cold stone window ledge. With a sigh she leaned forward on her elbows.
That’s when she saw Graden in her garden. He hadn’t left. He stood absolutely still, looking down at one of the rose bushes. Then, he turned this way and that as if inspecting it. She hadn’t known he liked roses so much. Not that she cared.
And then he moved to the next rose bush, bending to look beneath it and all around it.
Strange.
He moved to the next one and did the same, even gently moving the thorny branches aside. It was almost as if he were searching for something. What was he doing? What was he searching for?
Ella watched him move through the entire garden, inspecting each bush carefully. When he reached the castle wall, he stood straight and turned, his gaze slowly sweeping over the grounds. His stare lifted until he saw her.
Ella met his gaze with confusion and suspicion. What was he doing?
