Page 66 of The Artist and the Dragon

The little hope and optimism in the room seemed to slip away like rain into a gutter. “So, the paintings here in the castle won’t identify anyone connected to the dragons?” Jaina said.

It wasn’t her fault, but the connection between her art and failure still made Bronwyn frown.

“Not if the person hasn’t reached for darkness recently,” replied Malik. “But any recent usage or active spells will trigger them.”

“Then the castle is still well-protected,” Gerard reasoned, “in the sense that we’ll know if they try anything here.”

“Yes, but we’ll need to hurry some of our other plans along, and we can’t be too quick to rule things out.” Malik’s gaze shifted to Bronwyn. “Did you tell them about last night?”

Instantly, her cheeks heated, and her words dried up.

His eyes widened ever so slightly. “About our potential suspects,” he clarified.

Bronwyn’s father cocked his head as he looked between them but said nothing.

“Not yet,” she said, finding her voice again.

Bronwyn and Malik spent the next few minutes bringing her family up to date on what they’d learned. They were just finishing up when a knock sounded at the door. At once, everyone stilled. The sound seemed to suck the air out of the room.

Then came a voice through the thick door. “It’s Jackoby. Is anyone in?”

Bronwyn let loose a sigh. Thank goodness it was someone they could trust. Even so, Drystan slipped off to one of the bedchambers as she went to unlock the door and let the butler in.

“Ah, Miss Kinsley,” he said before she’d fully opened the door. “Exactly who I was looking for.”

“Me?”

He waited until he’d shut the door and locked it once more before continuing. “You have a guest to see you, a Lord Griffith.”

Oh. Oh, no.It felt like her body was trying to shrink in on itself. She’d really thought she would have more time before she had to face him again after last night. Malik had told her to keep the ruse going with him, but pretending to be interested when she’d just been kissing another man, one who wanted her, too… It had been hard enough at the party, but all the confessions in the carriage ride and the stark light of day made everything worse.

It had been easy, almost comfortable, to be with Griffith before the party, but now?

Damn it all, no wonder Malik worried about being able to keep up his own act. The thought was terribly painful once the reality of it had time to fully sink in.

“Should I tell him you’re out or not receiving?” Jackoby asked. “I left him in the blue room and asked a maid to bring him tea while I searched for you, but I can send him on his way.”

“No.” She needed to face this. “He’s likely concerned since I left the party suddenly last night.”

It would work if I said I’m ill. He’d believe it.But then word might get to Charlotte, and she’d already sent a letter asking to meet for shopping and afternoon tea tomorrow. Worse, Lord Griffith might learn of their outing and think she was avoiding him.

“Have you gone off him, dear?” Bronwyn’s father asked. “I thought you liked the man?”

She turned toward her father—and damn it all if Malik wasn’t standing behind him with the hint of a smirk on his face.Bastard.How she wanted to snap at him, but that would raise even more questions she didn’t want, which he well knew.

“I do,” she replied as evenly as possible. “It was merely a bit of an awkward evening with what I told you about earlier.” She turned back to Jackoby. “I’ll go and meet him now.”

But first, she had something else to see to.

Bronwyn stalked toward Malik. “I trust you’ll have some new papers ready for me?” She arched a brow at him. “And if you’re still planning to stop by the opera house today, perhaps pick up the two paintings I still had drying there, as well as my paints? There will be a lot of activity with the last-minute preparations for new show, and I don’t want them to get misplaced.”

“As my princess commands.” He gave a mocking bow.

She barely stopped her eyeroll.Should have known that kissing him would only make him more obnoxious.

*****

As Bronwyn neared the blue room, a footman rushed to open the doors. She stopped just inside the room, strings of tension coiling within her chest.

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