Kelwin watched his mother’s face as she thought through what Chelsey said. Her fair brows drew together. “Kelwin, are you involved with that new maid?”
“No!” he said. “Ah, this is ridiculous. Donnic thinks I have a crush on Lisa.”
“Do you?” Chelsey asked.
Kelwin took a breath. He didn’t have a crush on the girl, no. He needed her somehow and she needed him. He didn’t know why and he couldn’t come up with a reason right now. Not with Donnic staring him down and his sister and mother watching so closely.
“I don’t have a crush on her.” Donnic wore an expression of smug doubt that Kelwin wanted to knock off his face. “What did you do to her in the garden, Donnic? She came running in here, terrified.”
“Did you touch her?” his mother asked.
“God, no!” Donnic shouted. “Look, fool,” he said to Kelwin. “I was concerned about you so I told her to back off.”
Relief struck Kelwin. “You didn’t touch her?”
“No.” Donnic’s eyes narrowed. “But you did.”
“You touched her?” his sister and mother asked at the same time.
Kelwin faced them. “Yeah. I wanted to know what was bothering her so I…touched her.”
His mother reached out toward him, but she pulled back when he involuntarily flinched. “Are you all right?”
Kelwin nodded. “She’s afraid of something, Mother. She’s running from something terrible. I felt it.”
“So what?” Donnic said. “You put yourself at risk for a maid?”
“She’s not a maid!” a small voice cried.
Kelwin looked down to find a little boy staring up at him. He recognized the amber eyes, and read the anger in them.
“You must be Lisa’s brother,” he said.
He nodded, then shook his head. “I’m her brother, but her name’s not Lisa.”
“Her name’s not Lisa?” Chelsey asked.
“I told you she was up to something,” Donnic said.
“What do you mean?” his mother asked.
The little boy took a breath. “She told me not to say but you gotta know. I’m Thomas Merrick and Alyssa’s my sister. Alyssa of Merrickwood.”
Chelsey gasped. “She’s a noble? Then why is she a maid?”
Thomas clutched his hands together. “We ran away from Merrickwood. Lord Dalton tried to hurt her and the room caught fire and we ran away.”
“Merrickwood?” his mother asked.
“Do you know it?” Donnic asked.
She shrugged. “A bit. I know the estate sits about twenty miles to the west, and…” She bit her lip and crouched down to the little boy. “Your father died recently, didn’t he?” she asked softly.
Thomas nodded. “Papa drowned and Lord Dalton took over.”
Kelwin tried to make sense of what the boy said but he couldn’t get past the fact that Lisa wasn’t a maid. Not Lisa. Alyssa. That Alyssa was noble like he was. There was something more, though.
“Is she gifted, Thomas?” he asked.
“I…I don’t think so,” Thomas said. “She told me we have to leave here but I don’t want to leave. I don’t think it’s safe.”
Kelwin absently nodded as he struggled to breathe. Alyssa was hiding here. Her brother was obviously as frightened by what happened at Merrickwood as she was.
“What about this Lord Dalton, Mother?” he asked. “Do you know him?”
She shook her head and stood. “No. Your father never mentioned him.” She turned to his sister. “Chelsey, take Thomas to the servants’ rooms and fetch Lisa. I mean, Alyssa.”
Chelsey nodded and waved Thomas ahead of her. “Come, sweetie. Let’s go get your sister.” The boy ran and she followed, headed in the same direction Alyssa had run.
Kelwin turned to his mother. “She can’t leave.”
She tilted her head, regarding him closely. “No, she can’t leave. She’s not safe, and neither is her brother. We’ll keep them here at Rosemont.”
“Wonderful,” Donnic grumbled.
“Why, Donnic?” Kelwin demanded. “What objection can you have to her staying?”
“Now that she’s not really a maid? What’s there to stop you from chasing after her?”
Kelwin pushed at Donnic’s chest, earning a stab of pain for his efforts. He curled his arms to his sides. “Knock it off, Donnic.”
Donnic looked worried as he stared at him. “You’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing, but if you stay here I might punch that smirk off your face and I’m sure I won’t be the only one in pain.”
Donnic frowned. “Fine! Take care, Kelwin. I’m done.”
He stalked off and Kelwin didn’t give a crap where he went. He rubbed his hands over his thighs as the lingering pain lessened. It wasn’t much, really. Just a burst of heat when he’d pushed Donnic. No impressions had come from the brief contact.
“You like her?” his mother asked.
Kelwin turned to find her staring at him, her mouth open. Irritation flooded him.
“God, is it so shocking that I’m interested in a girl? I might be screwed up but I’m not a total freak.”
Hurt flashed in his mother’s eyes. “You’re not a freak and you’re not screwed up either, Kelwin. You have your father’s gift.” She gave him a soft smile. “It made him strong.”
“Not strong enough,” he muttered.
Her brows drew together. “Your father was a good man. I don’t believe what they said.”
“About what happened in Lotherin? That he was drunk? I don’t, either.”
Obvious relief smoothed her forehead. “Good. I want you to be careful, Kelwin.”
“Are you going to echo Donnic now? Tell me to stay away from Alyssa?”
“That’s not my place. But she’s in trouble.”
“I know.” He blew out a breath. “I felt it.”
“When you touched her,” his mother said with certainty.
Kelwin nodded. “She’s afraid that whatever happened at Merrickwood will find her here. That must mean Lord Dalton, whoever he is.”
“I will echo one thing Donnic said. Take care.”
Kelwin gave her a nod of silent agreement. He’d find out who was after Alyssa and her brother. He might not have Donnic’s strength but he wasn’t a weakling. He had his gift, after all. Maybe the reason he was drawn to her in the first place was that she needed him.
No matter what, he’d keep her safe.
***
Alyssa folded her meager collection of clothes and stuffed them into the pack that had been her pillow on their escape from Merrickwood. Now she and Thomas would once more be out in the wilderness, looking for shelter. Did she have the strength to do that again?
“Alyssa!” her brother called.
She turned to him. “Thomas, you know you can’t call me that.” She stilled when she saw Chelsey Rosemont. “Lady Chelsey,” she said, dropping a curtsey.
The girl laughed and waved a hand. “No need for that, Alyssa. You can call me Chelsey, now that we know who you really are.”
Her chest pulled tight as she sank down on the cot beside her. “That’s it.”
“I had to tell them, Alyssa,” Thomas said. “We’ll be safe here.”
“It’s true. My mother and brother won’t let you go, no matter what.”
“Really?” She thought of her recent argument with Donnic in the garden. “What about your cousin?”
Chelsey laughed again. “Kelwin put him in his place.”
Alyssa covered her face with her hands. “I’m so sorry.”
She felt the cot dip as Chelsey sat next to her. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. Kelwin knew there was something about you. And now so do we.”
“What?” Alyssa lifted her head. “What do you know now?”
“I told them about Lord Dalton,” Thomas said in a small voice.
Terror tightened her throat. “He can’t find us,” Alyssa rushed out. “If he does…” She couldn’t imagine what he would do i
n retaliation.
“What did he do to you?” Chelsey asked.
She just shook her head. She couldn’t say what his plans were that night, just that he was intent on frightening her for some reason beyond the threat of touching her. “It doesn’t matter.” She dashed away the burning tears gathered on her lashes. “It’s enough to know that we’ll be safe here. Thank you, Chelsey.”
Chelsey smiled and stood. “Come to the hall, Alyssa. It’s nearly dinner time and won’t it be nice to be served instead of doing the serving?”
She found a smile for Kelwin’s sister. “Yes, it will.” She faced her brother. “I’m glad you told them, Thomas.”
His little shoulders sank in obvious relief.
“Now go wash up and get ready for dinner. You’re eating with us,” she went on.
Thomas grumbled as he left the little room. She and Chelsey shared a smile.
“After you talk to my mother, let’s go to my room.” Chelsey tugged Alyssa to her feet. “You’ve worn these clothes long enough, although mine are only slightly better.”
The girl’s tunic was plain but made of fine wool in a pretty shade of pink and trimmed with embroidered flowers around the square neckline. Her gray leggings were smooth and fit to her legs, not like the loose-fitting ones from the Merrickwood servants she was wearing.
“You look very nice,” Alyssa said.
Chelsey shrugged. “I saw a girl at the harvest festival wearing a dress that was all shiny. It looked like it was made of silver and gold. It was gorgeous.”
Alyssa thought of the many dresses Dalton made her wear at Merrickwood. “You’d love the wardrobe I left at home, then.”
Chelsey’s eyes lit. “You have some of those new dresses?”
Alyssa nodded.
“And tights?”
“Yes, though I can’t say I miss them.”
Chelsey wore that worried expression as she nodded. “Come on.”
Alyssa and Chelsey left the servants’ rooms. Alyssa recognized that worried expression as one she’d seen often on Kelwin’s face. Kelwin! What must he think of her now? A noble girl posing as a maid. Lying about her name. Possibly bringing danger to Rosemont. As she followed Chelsey up to her room, she realized that Donnic would get his wish.
There was no way Kelwin would have anything to do with her now.
Chapter 7
Kelwin stood beside the hearth, waiting for his family as usual. Tonight Alyssa would eat with them, though. She and her little brother were under Rosemont’s protection, and that made him feel a little more at ease.
“Waiting,” he heard Donnic say. “Why am I not surprised.”
Kelwin turned to find Donnic walking toward him. “Don’t start up with me again,” he said. “You said your piece more than once, and I’m through listening to you.”
Donnic held up his hands. “I was talking about waiting for girls to get dressed, Kelwin.”
“Oh.” His cheeks felt hot. “Yeah.”
Donnic frowned. “You know, she hit me in the garden. Sort of.”
“What do you mean? You told me you didn’t touch her.”
“I didn’t. I said she was coming on to you and when she shouted that she wasn’t it was like she slapped me.”
Kelwin puzzled over that for a second. “Like she slapped you?”
“Yeah, my cheek stung but she hadn’t touched me.”
Kelwin blinked as he processed what Donnic said.
“She guessed I was gifted, Kelwin. And there’s that slap that wasn’t really a slap.”
Donnic stared at him for a beat and Kelwin knew what he was thinking. “She must be gifted, no matter what her brother says.”
“Maybe she doesn’t know,” Donnic said.
Kelwin thought about the instant connection he’d felt toward her, that pull that drew them together. She struck Donnic without touching him? “If she’s gifted, then—”
His mother joined them at the hearth then, so Kelwin shut his mouth.
“Did you two boys make up?” she asked. “I don’t like to see you fight.”
“We never fight,” Donnic said. “Until recently, anyway.”
“I’m sorry, Mother,” Kelwin said.
“Here we are!” Chelsey called.
He turned to find his sister grinning as she tugged Thomas along beside her. Alyssa trailed along behind them and he leaned to the side to get a better look at her. She’d washed her face and combed and braided her hair, and both shined. She wore one of Chelsey’s tunics, a dark green one, over fitted leggings. She didn’t look lost in the clothes, like she had in the rough servants’ wear. He could see that her body was curvy and…
He glanced over at Donnic, finding his eyes running over her. “She cleans up nice,” he said.
Kelwin fisted his hands, once more seized by the urge to punch his cousin.
“Alyssa, you look lovely,” his mother said. “Come. Let’s go to the table.”
Kelwin hung back, waiting for her so he could walk beside her. “You look good,” he managed to say. “I mean, you look nice.”
Her cheeks reddened but she met his gaze. “Thank you.” She ran her hands over the hem of her tunic. “Your family has been very kind.”
He felt that tremor of fear within her, which was a surprise since he hadn’t touched her tonight. “You’re safe here.”
She nodded but her eyes looked worried. “I know.”
There was so much he wanted to ask her, to find out just what her little brother was talking about. This Lord Dalton, whoever he was, had tried to hurt her. The room had caught on fire? That couldn’t be right.
“Sit next to me, Alyssa,” Chelsey said.
There was some shuffling but Kelwin sat across from his sister and Alyssa, with Donnic beside him. Thomas sat on Alyssa’s other side. He saw someone had seen to the little boy’s face and hair too, but he didn’t look pleased with it and kept running his hands through his curls.
“I told Cook that you won’t be serving any longer,” his mother said from where she sat on Chelsey’s other side.
“Your staff is very kind, Lady Jayne,” Alyssa said. “They remind me of the servants at Merrickwood.”
“Do they miss you?” Chelsey asked.
“I guess. They helped Thomas and me after…” She bit her lip. “They helped us escape.”
His mother reached across Chelsey and patted Alyssa’s hand. “Will you tell us what happened?”
She started to shake her head, then nodded. “I will, but not tonight.”
Donnic snorted and she shot him a dark look.
“Yes, Donnic?” she asked. “Did you have something to say?”
Donnic pulled back, shaking his head. “Nope. I can’t wait to hear this story.”
“Oh, I won’t be telling you,” she said.
“I will,” Thomas said. “Lord Dalton came to Alyssa’s room, and—”
“Thomas, don’t,” she said. “Please, sweetheart.”
The little boy frowned, then shrugged. “Fine. You tell them. I don’t like thinking about it, anyway.”
Kelwin could feel the tension ease from her body and relaxed as well. The meal was served and, aside from Chelsey talking about the harvest fair that was now over, there was little conversation at the table.
“You’ll sleep in one of the family rooms, Alyssa,” his mother said as the meal ended. She smiled at her little brother. “You and Thomas, of course.”
“In a bed?” he asked.
“Of course, silly,” Chelsey said.
“I haven’t slept in a bed since we left,” he said.
“How did you get here?” Donnic asked.
Kelwin wanted to know that, too. “How long did it take you?”
Alyssa looked from Donnic to him. “We traveled on foot, mostly. It took nearly a week.”
“You poor things,” his mother said. “You had nowhere to go?”
“My father was all Thomas and I had left,” she said softly.
Thomas was
watching intently, but his eyelids were dropping.
“Chelsey,” Kelwin said, tilting his head toward Alyssa’s brother.
She blinked, then stood. “Why don’t I take you up to bed, Thomas? Alyssa will come up later.” She looked at Alyssa. “Would that be okay?”
Alyssa nodded. “Yes, thank you.” She kissed her brother’s cheek. “Off to bed, sweetheart. I’ll be up in a little while.”
Chelsey and Thomas left the hall and his mother stood.
“Let’s sit beside the fire a while,” she said.
Alyssa nodded and the two of them left the table. Kelwin watched her go, feeling that rumble of thunder again. He couldn’t join them. He never sat with his mother and Chelsey, and they’d think it was weird. That, and he doubted he could sit there and not touch Alyssa again. He hadn’t missed how her hands trembled during dinner, or the tug of the invisible rope that seemed to pull him toward her.
“I’m going to bed,” he said, coming to his feet.
Donnic smirked. “You don’t want to sit around and stare at her a little while longer?”
“You were staring at her, too,” Kelwin said.
Donnic shrugged. “She’s pretty. I can’t look at a pretty girl?”
Once again, anger curdled his belly. Kelwin never fought with Donnic, and in the space of a few days he’d wanted to punch his face in more than once.
“Yeah, you can look,” he told Donnic, leaving the rest unsaid. But you can’t touch her.
Donnic caught his unspoken command and grinned. “I’m not going to do anything, Kelwin. I’m a Rosemont, too. You have my word.”
Kelwin saw he meant what he said. “Good eve.”
“Good eve,” Donnic said.
Kelwin went to the hearth and bid his mother and Alyssa a good eve too, then climbed the stairs to his room.
He came awake sometime in the middle of the night, his lungs burning. Gasping for breath, he sat up in his bed expecting to find flames filling the room. Coughing at the smell of nonexistent smoke, he threw off his sheets and placed his feet on the floor. The stones were cool beneath the soles of his feet, and helped root him in the present. There was no fire in his room. Fear clutched at his throat though, choking him. What was going on?
He heard a cry, a smothered sound of fear. “Alyssa,” he gasped.
He moved through his room by memory, as the one candle on his nightstand had apparently sputtered out some time during the night. He wore a long cotton shirt, so he put on a pair of pants he’d left on the floor before pulling the door open. The hallway was lit by a few sconces, and he made his way toward Alyssa’s room. He didn’t know which room his mother put her and Thomas in, yet he felt that invisible rope tugging him toward her.
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