Page 53 of Witchbane

She seemed satisfied with my answer and gave me a hug. ‘Nonsense. It was my choice to wait here for you. Anyway, I’ve caught up with some chores I’ve been meaning to do for a while. I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t stay up too late now, will you?’

I smiled and kissed her on the cheek. ‘I’m too tired to do anything but wash and sleep,’ I assured her.

Once clean and lying in my bed, I stared out of the window up at the new moon. It was a clear night, and I wondered what Rue was doing at that moment. Sleeping probably. I hoped it was a restful sleep. If I was going to upturn her world again tomorrow by reuniting her with her father, she needed all the rest she could get.

I closed my eyes. Was I doing right by her? Or was persuading her father out of his self-imposed exile the worst thing for them both? I had no way of knowing whether Rue would be happy to see him. Whatever their feelings, I needed him to address my father so that he would make good his promise to call off the investigation of Rue. And if bringing Rue and her father together ended any resentment between them and caused them to reconcile, all the better.

I turned on my side, unable to get comfortable. Was I just being selfish and using this opportunity to soften her feelings towards me? I had to admit, in the silent darkness with only an owl hooting in the distance, that nothing would make me happier. But this wasn’t about me. If this plan did make Rue want to get to know me better and think kindly of me, I’d be relieved. If it made no difference to her feelings but brought her and her father closer and thus made her happy, then it would be worth it to me.

Rue. I thought of the intensity in her turquoise eyes and how they had appeared so different each time she looked at me. Their brightness seemed as if there was a light shining from within them when she was happy – as she had been when she danced in my arms. I sighed. If only she would look at me that way again. Then I recalled, my heart aching, how they appeared when she glared at me, furious at my insisting I take her for an audience with my father. I had never seen eyes like hers before: her anger made it seem as if there were shards of steel glinting around her pupils – cold, furious and filled with loathing. I never wanted her to look at me that way again.

A cockerel split the early morning air. Had I been awake all night? Possibly. I didn’t feel as if I’d slept at all. I closed my eyes again, trying to fall asleep, but after a few minutes became far too restless to stay in bed. I sat up and pushed my hands through my hair. My eyes felt dry and tired, so I rubbed my face to feel more awake.

An unnerving thought occurred to me. What if Lord Thistlebury had changed his mind during the night? This man was used to a solitary life behind the walls of his home with just a few trusted servants for company. I felt sick at the possibility. I needed his help, as did Rue. No, I told myself, getting to my feet, he loves his daughter. He will go through with this.

Unable to bear the thought of wasting another moment, I hurriedly washed and dressed, and as soon as I had tacked up Warrior, began my ride to Oakley. My stomach grumbled loudly but I was too anxious to be able to eat. Today was an important day and one that I needed to be successful.

‘His Lordship is finishing a late breakfast in the dining room,’ his butler announced. ‘He said to invite you to join him should you arrive while he is still eating.’

‘Thank you,’ I said, grateful to him for his thoughtfulness and wondering whether he was also up this early because he felt the same anxiety as me.

The butler showed me into the dining room. ‘Master Theo Le Cerf, Your Lordship.’

As the delicious salty smell of eggs and meat hit my nostrils, my stomach growled loudly, betraying my hunger.

‘Ahh, Theo. I am glad you are here. I need someone to distract me from my rambling thoughts. Will you join me?’

‘Gratefully,’ I said, unable to ignore my hunger.

He indicated the array of dishes on a sideboard. ‘Please, help yourself … unless you would rather I call a footman to serve you.’

‘No,’ I said, shaking my head, eager to investigate the silver chafing dishes.

As I served myself it occurred to me that he might be shocked at the state of the manor house. Rue and her grandmother seemed to have little money. Neither wore fashionable garments and their appearance, as well as the state of the ancestral home, was going to come as something of a shock. I looked around me, wondering how it was that they had so little money and yet he seemed to be doing well. Was he unaware of their poverty?

‘This is delicious,’ I said, swallowing a mouthful of roasted pork. I hadn’t tasted it for a while, but the flavour was perfect.

‘I hope you don’t mind me saying, but from the dark circles under your eyes I deduce you didn’t sleep much last night.’

I pushed my fork into a potato and looked across the table at him. The shadows under his lined eyes probably looked like mine. ‘Am I right in believing we both struggled to get enough rest?’

He smiled. ‘I am impatient to meet my daughter again, but I can’t deny that the thought gives me mixed emotions. I worry she might refuse to see me.’

Before he could continue and maybe even talk himself out of going, I quickly interrupted. ‘Whatever Rue’s feelings towards you, at least you will give her the opportunity to understand your reasons for leaving. Hopefully she’ll finally understand why you’ve stayed away for this long.’

He lowered his fork to his plate. ‘There is that, of course.’

I was about to speak but he continued. ‘I can tell I’m not the only one who is hoping this meeting with Rue and Ophelia goes well.’

My anxiety increased once again, robbing me of my appetite. My hands trembled and, not wishing him to notice, I lowered them and rested my cutlery on the plate. ‘I admit I will be happy once we meet them and you’ve had a chance to explain everything. Perhaps then Rue will believe I have her best interests at heart, despite who I am and the job that I do.’

Her father gave me a knowing smile. ‘It seems we both have much to concern ourselves with today.’

‘Yes,’ I agreed. ‘Today is going to be an exceedingly important day for us all.’

Chapter Twenty-Six

RUE