Page 28 of The Curse of Penryth Hall
I wrapped my arms around myself, curled up onto the ground in a futile effort to shield myself from the blows.
A hard kick came from behind. Then a second.
Spittle and dampness spinning farther and farther out of control.
I was going to die here.
The roar grew louder and louder around me, vibrating with their screams, growing into a crescendo until right before they reached a peak, when the voices all died away save one. One distant sound over all the rest, like a faraway mountain shrouded in fog.
“I said enough!”
Someone was angry. So was I. But my eyes wouldn’t stayopen anymore. It was too late for that. I was too damnably tired.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, Freddy,” the angry voice shouted again.
“But she summoned the demon. Jago saw the books at your cottage! Saw the devils on the page!”
I struggled to open my eyes to see what was going on. Jago must have been the boy. The other man shuffled on his feet, sweat beading up on his pink forehead, and then bowed his head. “Apologies, Ruan… Apologies…” he stammered out, but the Pellar gave him no quarter.
“It wasn’t me that you attacked with your sodded fantasies.”
“—B… b… but—” he stammered.
Ruan hushed him with a glance. “Do you really think thisgirlcould harm me?”
Suddenly I was flying. No, that wasn’t right. I was being carried. Scooped up and held against him like a small child. It had to be Ruan, but I no longer cared. The pain was ebbing away. I settled my head against his chest, listening to the eerily slow thrum of his heart, or perhaps it was mine. Either way, I fainted dead away.
WHY WERE THEwind chimes silent? I blinked up at the ceiling as my vision came into focus. They weren’t wind chimes at all. They were herbs. Bound and hanging from the dark beam stretching across the ceiling above the settee in Mr. Kivell’s cottage. They swayed gently in the breeze coming through the open windows. The birdsong chittered as the wind ruffled through the trees outside, like the sound of water. The air was sweet and herbaceous. Lavender. Lemon. Mint. Rosemary. Something else. Something I couldn’t identify. Sage perhaps? But not quite.
“You’re awake.”
Fawnlike, I turned my head to the sound of the voice. Neck stiff, but not terribly sore. I startled to see the young constable sitting across from me, his elbows on his knees, with his jacket flung carelessly over the back of a worn armchair, leaving him in his rolled-up shirtsleeves. The skin on his forearm had its own mottled map of scars, much like his jaw.
“I told you she’d wake soon enough,” Ruan grumbled. I tried to sit up, turning to the sound of his voice, but my head pounded with the movement. He loomed behind a large workbench, angrily mashing something with a pestle.
“Yes, but I’ve been waiting hours,” the constable quipped.
“The human body does not run on your timetable, Enys.” Ruan raked his unruly hair back with his hand, then gestured to me. “Well, you have her now. Ask her what you came for and be off with you before she falls back asleep.”
The constable cleared his throat, a deep frown settling across his scarred jaw. “Miss Vaughn. Do you recall what happened?”
I started to shake my head, but thought better of it. “No. I’m afraid I don’t recall much at all. I was attacked, and then I woke up here.”
Ruan cleared his throat. “He’s a boy, Enys.”
“I’ve come to see precisely what started the attack, Miss Vaughn. I’ve heard three different stories this morning and your savior here has been less than forthcoming.” He shot Ruan a cross look. “I’ve come to see what you have to say for yourself.”
“Me? Say for myself?” A sharp pain kept me from raising a brow. I sucked in my breath, lifting my hand to the spot. Ah. Stitches. Lovely. “I didn’t start it, if that’s your insinuation. I was just outside the Hind and Hare and was—” Suddenly Ruan’s words dawned on me.He’s a boy.“Why did you come here, Constable?”
“There’s talk of a strange woman in the village. She’s been all about asking after Ruan, but no one can recall precisely what she looks like other than she has dark hair. Do you have any idea who they’re talking about?”
“No. I hadn’t even been into the village before today. Do you think they confused us?”
He gave me an uncomfortable nod. “I think partly. Strangers to town. The books. Sir Edward’s death. It all spiraled out of control.”
“Then why are you even here if it’s just some badly timed misunderstanding?”
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and folded his hands in his lap. His gaze went to Ruan briefly before settling back upon me. “A young socialite was almost murdered by an angry mob in broad daylight. I came to see her side of things before I went and collected the instigator.”
