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Because it was too much of a coincidence that his parents would be killed when Lord Malcolm was so intent on bringing Derrick into the fold.
But I didn’t voice that. Somehow, I doubted I needed to.
A spark of rage ignited through me as I remembered the sneer in Mark’s voice when he’d spoken of Ms. Maureen’s insurance against Derrick’s cooperation.
Derrick’s eyes met mine, and he gave me a sad smile. “No, Nora. I’m sorry. None of this is your burden.”
There was something so lonely in those words that my heart ached. I tightened my fingers on his arm. “It is now,” I told him.
He released a breath, and his smile lost a little of its sadness. He touched my cheek with his thumb again, and I felt the rough callouses of his palm against my face.
“You are a wonder, Nora.”
He leaned forward and there was his breath on my cheek as he kissed me there. I inhaled, smelling forest and wildflowers and autumn. Voices sounded nearby and he drew away. His hand slipped from my face, his expression suddenly guarded, and the spell was broken. He pulled in another deep breath and slanted a wry smile at me.
“Once more into the fray,” he said.
With a steadying breath of my own, I stepped with him.
Chapter Eleven
The forest opened to a wide, pebbly beach. Several people were stacking wood and kindling for what promised to be a large bonfire by the lakeshore at our right. Children were running about, squealing in delight as they chased a ball through the shallows, their parents close by, chatting amongst each other. The charming scene included a badminton set where some of the older children and adults were playing, and a series of open pavilion tents housing many tables with food.
Out on the lake were a handful of small row boats, some with sun-umbrellas in various shades of purples and pinks and whites being held by genteel ladies, as though they’d been transported out of a watercolor painting for the event. The garments on display would make any human look twice, all fanciful frills and lace in pastels, with the men in jackets with kerchiefs at their pockets. The younger gentlemen kept things simpler, but their trousers were a far cry from jeans and T-shirts.
It was a startling contrast to the afternoon’s revelations, and I found myself blinking at one small boy in particular. He had shockingly red hair and a riot of freckles over his nose and when he grinned up at Ms. Maureen, standing ramrod straight on the shoreline in a layered white dress, I could see that he was missing his front teeth. Ms. Maureen smiled back at the boy, though her chin remained high, and she handed him an apple in one lacey-gloved hand. He took it and bit down, turning toward the lake so that I lost sight of his face.
Derrick and I lingered at the edge of the forest, watching the festivities for a minute. Unease niggled at my gut, the familiar warning that I was about to enter a crowd and needed to put some defenses in place before every emotion bombarded me.
Except, I had no magic. Those emotions couldn’t touch me, not like normal, and somehow that was so much worse.
Maureen noticed us and the smile she gave was so frosty I nearly recoiled, but Derrick’s hand remained steady in mine, and I found the will to hold my ground. We walked to Maureen when she beckoned us closer. Dirt gave way to pebbled beach and I blessed my shoes for keeping me upright.
“Nice of you to join us,” Maureen said by way of greeting.
Derrick grinned unrepentantly down at her. “You can’t blame a man for enjoying a quiet walk with a pretty girl, can you?”
How did he sound so casual?
Ms. Maureen’s eyes slitted into a glacial glare but he merely winked, unfazed by her ire. I was glad I was on the periphery of her view because I most certainly would have cowed under that gaze.
“How did your grandfather learn you would be here?” she asked Derrick.
He shrugged. “I haven’t the foggiest. But when you find out, I’d like to know too.”
“So that you can give your personal thanks to the informant?”
His voice got dangerous. “Something like that.”
The two stared at each other for a moment, neither bending. I remained silent at Derrick’s side, trying to read the woman’s posture but she was all regal poise, betraying nothing. She would give Daphne a run for her money in a game of poker.
Imagining the two women at a poker table was so absurd that I found myself relaxing and, in spite of the situation, fought back a smile.
Maureen took a deep breath. “His presence is troublesome on several counts. I don’t suppose you can convince him to go away?”
“Sure I could. All I need to do is accept his offer and become heir to the King clan.”
“Would that be so terrible?”
