Page 36 of The Curse of Penryth Hall
He hadn’t shaved, I realized as I looked up into his face. Though he smelled clean, of rain and herbs and man. Pity he was such a brute.
His cheeks flushed for a moment, and his grip on me tightened, sensing my turn of thought.
“I think it’d appear that I am the only person in this town with a lick of sense.”
“You’d look guilty of something, you little fool. Like you’re running away.”
“Well, they would be correct on that score.”
“Miss Vaughn.” Another crack of thunder shook the inn.
“Mr. Kivell.” I snapped back, “Speaking of which, I’d like you to tell me how you knew where to find me.”
He ignored my query. “Care to talk about what’s really bothering you?” He let go of my arms, but he didn’t step back. Neither did I. The fire was warming the room considerably,cutting the chill and damp from the air. It popped and cracked in the hearth.
“Not particularly.”
“Oh, come on, I can tell you’re in love with her. Why don’t you tell me the rest of it? What happened? If you don’t, certainly someone around here will if I wait long enough, but I’d rather hear it from your lips.”
“How—” Feeling light-headed, I sank down onto the mattress, picking at the woolen blanket with my thumb and forefinger.
“You walk around looking as if she’s ripped out your heart and is carrying it around in her pocket, and you can’t decide whether to go fetch it back or leave it where it is. Anyone can see that.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. How dare he? I reached into my bag and pulled out a cigarette case and lit one, moving to the window. I opened the ancient latch and shoved it open enough to let in the fresh air. “An apt metaphor. Are you going to judge me then? Assume that I killed her husband because my feminine passions have run rampant?”
“Of course not.”
The embers nipped at the paper casing of the cigarette as I twisted it in my fingers.
“Unless you did kill him.”
I jerked my head to face him.I most certainly did not.
“Didn’t think so. But I had to ask.”
He’d done it again. “That’s unfair of you. Just because—”
“Because what? You were in love with a woman, return to town, and her husband shows up dead the very night you arrive. You don’t think that sounds suspicious? It makes a great deal more sense to me than the idea that you summoned up a demon to strike him down, or some thirty-year-old curse has resurfaced. Youarethe rational explanation here.”
My throat grew thick. “You don’t believe me then?”
“I would be a fool not to consider it, especially after the ill wish under your bed. It’s why I was in your room, but no, I don’t think you killed him. I do think whoever did, placed that wish beneath your bed and meant to kill you as well.”
I crossed my arms tightly beneath my chest and shot him a cross look. “Well, I suppose I should be relieved you don’t think I’m dabbling in the occult in my spare time.”
The edge of his mouth quirked up. “Even if you were, Old Nick has no power over me. Seventh of a seventh. Or so they say. Though I wouldn’t know, as I don’t recall ever meeting the fellow to have put the issue to the test.”
I laughed, tugging my legs up beneath me on the windowsill. “Oh, come now, you can’t tell me you’ve never been tempted by the devil. A big brute like you?” I studied him for a moment. His damp shirt clung to every ridge of his remarkably formed shape. The maids at Penryth had the right of it. He was rather pleasing to look at, if sad.
He kept his eyes dutifully averted from me. How very chivalric.
I could have sworn he grew pink.
He grumbled something beneath his breath and sat down heavily in a chair. “Not tempted by Ol’ Nick, that’s for certain.”
“And you call yourself a witch.”
He gave me a slight smile, eyes still downcast. “And me a witch.”
