Page 94 of The Thief
Alastair chuckled again. “Yes, we have. We also have other information to tell you as well.”
“As do I.”
They all agreed to lay everything out on the table at dinner. Once that was agreed, everyone headed to their separate quarters to get ready.
Everett was first down to dinner, which was a shock since Elsa was always first. Considering she now had other things to occupy her mind, he wouldn’t be surprised if that would cease to exist. With a chuckle, he walked around the downstairs hall outside the dining room. As he walked, his thoughts turned to the redheaded woman who haunted his dreams often. He smiled as he thought of the cheeky things she would say, and the way her lips tasted in the moonlight.
With a start, he realized that he had almost walked out the front door, his heart leading him places he shouldn’t go. However, his heart was not leaving him back there. It was his job, just like it had been the first time. It had been his job that had taken him away too.
He sighed and headed back to the dining room, happy to have his thoughts averted when he saw the others now waiting for him.
“There you are,” Elsa said, coming over and hugging him.
“I was wondering. There was no one else here yet, so I decided to have a look around.”
She smiled at him and sat down next to Owen, who sat at the head of the table. Alastair and Scarlett sat next to one another, unable to keep their eyes off one another for very long. There was so much love in the room and Everett couldn’t help but be a little bit shocked by it all. It seemed that love could blossom any time, even when the future was uncertain. His only hope was that it could withstand any future hardships.
He sat opposite Scarlett at the table next to Elsa and listened as they talked about the letters. They basically revealed everything Everett already knew, but did reveal where Catriona was being held.
Next Scarlett and Alastair let him know that the poisoner had been killed, and that Scarlett was on the road to recovery.
“We are also anxious to see your plans, if you have any, for a rescue attempt,” Alastair said. “However, we’d like to speak to Brigid and find out where she stands on this and whether or not she will help us.”
Everett looked him straight in the eye and said, his voice almost a snarl, “She will help you. She will not side with a kidnapping murderer.”
“Murderer?” Scarlett asked, her face paling even more than it already was.
Everett chastised himself for his harsh words.
“I’m sorry, My Lady. He only employs murderers. Someone was murdered yesterday at the purification lab. The original purification serum has been stolen.”
“Is Brigid all right? Has any information been recovered?” Owen asked.
“I don’t know yet. My orders came in this morning with the report. I leave for Cobalt Lagoon tomorrow.”
“Well, we’d like to accompany you,” Alastair said.
“I don’t think that would be wise with Scarlett in the state she is in,” Elsa pointed out.
“Next week,” Everett said, drawing their gazes. “Give me until next week to get settled and obtain more information. I will let Brigid know about your visit and that would give her time to prepare.”
“Next week then,” Alastair said.
A few hours after dinner ended, Everett walked the castle, his general restlessness keeping him awake. He heard footsteps behind him and he turned to find his sister there.
“Are you thinking about seeing her again?” she asked, twining her arm to his. They started walking and he nodded.
“For the first time in a very long while, I am nervous for an assignment. It is not the actual assignment, but the people involved.”
Elsa smiled, rubbing his arm gently.
“It will be difficult, but it is your job. Did you not tell her that?”
He nodded again. “I did tell her. I left a note, but I doubt that would appease her stubbornness.”
Elsa chuckled, becoming excited now to meet the one woman who according to Everett, was his match.
“The best thing you can do will be to ask for her forgiveness.”
