Page 66 of Tis The Season for Secrets
Running his hand through his damp hair, Will tried not to overthink about whatever had caused her to call Margot. The night they’d met, she’d left the party opting for the bar and a book; whatever had driven her to Alexandria and away from the estate where her sister was must have been especially painful. He gripped the sink. He didn’t want to assume the worst of Mr Frost, but seeing her so disheartened and worn-out tugged at his heartstrings.I shouldn’t have left her there.Even if he risked coming across as controlling and possessive, he wished he’d been there when she left the meeting, just to hold her hand. Hetried to remind himself that he couldn’t control the situation – not when he’d been part of lifting the veil on her life.
A thud outside broke his train of thought. He smiled, wondering what on earth she was up to now.
“How’s that hand doing?” he asked, closing the bathroom door behind him so the steam wouldn’t escape. He was surprised to find Juliet still sitting on the couch and everything apparently in its place.
“Throbbing, but better.” She lifted her head from the back of the couch to look at him. Her tired eyes told him she was sobering up.
Carefully, he removed the ice pack. “The bruising looks normal, and thankfully the swelling isn’t getting any worse.”
“I’m not going to the hospital, but I’ll admit it does hurt more.” She winced, trying to extend her fingers.
“I’m not going to toss you over my shoulder and drag you there if you don’t want to go,” he promised. “As long as you tell me what that sound was.”
“Sound?” Juliet diverted her gaze to the TV, confirming she’d been up to mischief while he was indisposed.
“You know, Iamfeeling a caveman urge coming over me.” He sighed, resting his hand on her bare thighs. Fuck, if he hadn’t noticed how short her little black skirt was before, he had now. Judging by her flushed cheeks as her eyes lingered on his hands, she was on the same wavelength. He swallowed his desire, reminding his lust that now wasn’t the time.
“I wanted to get the chest out of the wardrobe,” she explained, surprising him.
Will glanced at the wardrobe beside the bed behind them. He waited for her to explain, wondering why it was here and why she’d wanted it at this precise moment.
“I want you to take it back. I want you to put it back in the hall of guardians before anyone knows it’s missing.”
“Where is this coming from? It’s yours.”
She wouldn’t look at him. Gently, he tipped her chin up so she couldn’t hide those beautiful brown eyes. “Is this about the meeting with Mr Frost?”
She swallowed, and her little sigh confirmed his suspicions. “He knows about the chest. He knows about you and the bell. He wants me to give it to him.” The fear in her confession was tangible.
“How?” was all Will managed to get out, as the air disappeared from his lungs.
“I don’t know, but I do know that we shouldn’t underestimate him.” Juliet rested her face in her hands as though she couldn’t believe it either. “Please just take it. I don’t want everyone getting in trouble because of me. He’s heartless when it comes to getting what he wants, and he wants the bell most of all. He’s given me until Christmas Eve to hand it over, or he’s going to report us to the council.”
“You’re so close – just a few more days. Mason is going to start petitioning the council!”
Juliet shook her head as though she didn’t want to hear it. “As much as I want to meet her, to finally have the last piece of this puzzle… there are others I care about.” She hesitated. “You.”
He pressed his lips together. He’d never thought he’d be one of the factors getting in the way of her reunion with Eloise. As much as he ached to be a part of Juliet’s life, their chemistry had become an obstacle in the task he’d been given.
But it was too late to change paths now. He couldn’t let her go. Even the thought of being separated from her woke a fear in him he’d never experienced before.
“I don’t want to have to pick between the people I care about and someone I’ve never even had the chance to know – to love. The only thing I can think to do is give the chest back to you and we agree not to see each other again. Maybe one day, we can findanother way to meet. For now, the only evidence my dad has is information about the chest being stolen and in my possession. I don’t want to put anyone or anything at risk, including my own heart.”
The heartbreak in her words told him it was too late for that.
“I’m sorry you had to face your dad alone. He never should’ve known. And I’m sorry I didn’t do more to protect you.” Will wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
“It’s not your fault,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder. “He said there are people who still believe the Frost family deserves a place in Yule. He’ll always find a way to get what he wants, but this time I won’t let him. I left the estate because it was a miracle he didn’t find the chest in the cottage. He had his security search the place while we were in Yule.”
“I love how ferociously you want to protect us, but we can sort this out. Trust me and have a little faith.” Will brushed the hair from her face and wiped smudged mascara from under her eyes.
“I trustyou– it’s him I don’t trust. I doubt he’ll even wait until Christmas Eve before he reports us. He won’t like that I’ve left the estate. He even sent Beth off to stay with a friend for the holidays to keep her from me.”
Will kissed her hair, kicking himself for underestimating Mr Frost. He’d known letting her keep the chest in the cottage was a risk, but he hadn’t known the Frost eyes and ears travelled so far. If the family did have allies in Yule, they were lucky his greed had delayed him from reporting them the minute he found out about Eloise’s plan.
“Let’s worry about all this tomorrow. Today has been hard enough; you need to get some sleep.” He didn’t want her to make any rash decisions out of a desire to protect him or her mum.
She sat up abruptly, resting her injured hand on his chest. “No! Please, we can’t keep the chest here. I need you to take itback to Yule before he discovers I’ve checked in here. I used one of Margot’s fake IDs at the desk, and paid in cash to buy myself some time. I won’t be able to sleep if I know he’s searching for it, and me. Once it’s back safely with the guardians, then we’ll have plausible deniability.”
