Page 34 of The Lord's Compass
Then she was practically racing from the room, the flaps of her dress opening and closing like wings behind her.
* * *
Faith couldn’t sleepthat night and it was all Eric’s fault.
It was primarily that he had practically invited her to see him naked. Why the man couldn’t cover himself, she had no idea, although she supposed that with a body like his, he was happy to show it off.
She wished she could be so open herself, so unashamed to reveal unapologetically who she was.
The noises didn’t help ease her to sleep.
The house creaked and groaned. A wind had stirred up outside, and a tree branch continually banged against her window. She wondered if Eric’s room was similarly loud.
Then she started to picture him naked again, which made matters even worse.
She was in the middle of chastising herself when the howling began.
At first, she thought it was just the wind whistling. But then it began to crescendo in earnest until it sounded like someone was standing outside her room, moaning in pain.
Her first instinct was to flee her bed and run to Eric, but she refused to be that woman who needed the help of a man at the first sign of trouble.
Even if that man’s arms were strong and quite comforting.
“Faith?”
She jumped, throwing back the covers she had just burrowed herself under.
“Eric?”
The shuffle of feet sounded from their connecting door, which he closed behind him – and then, in what she could only describe as a sprint, he was crossing the room and diving into bed beside her as though the devil himself was chasing him.
He reached out and hauled her in close to him, holding her so tightly against his body that she could feel his rapidly beating heart.
“I came to see if you were scared,” he said, his voice breathy, and despite her fear, she couldn’t help the laughter that was bubbling up inside of her.
“Why, Eric,” she said, “are you… afraid?”
“No,” he said quickly – too quickly. “I just told you. I needed to see if you were all right.”
“I am just fine,” she said, “although that noise is awfully disconcerting. Do you think someone is injured? One of the servants? Oh no, perhaps it is Lola. What could have happened?”
“It could be a ghost,” he said in a whisper, as though the ghost could overhear him. “It’s like I said when we arrived. I’m sure this place is full of all kinds of terrible, creepy creatures.”
“Eric. There is no such thing as ghosts.”
“How do you know?”
“I just know.”
“You may not believe, but you do notknowthat. No one does.”
“Very well,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I am not scared of nonexistent ghosts.”
“You should be.”
“Would it make you feel better if I was?”
“Yes.”
