The maid nodded and hurried toward the kitchen. “Lord Malcolm,” one of the guards called.
Alyssa nearly passed out in relief. Lord Malcolm walked toward her, a smile on his face. His brows were drawn together, though. Had he felt the fear that filled her before she knew who he was? She fingered her braid and tried to send any negative thoughts from her mind.
“Lord Malcolm, what brings you here?” she asked.
He removed his fur wrap and handed it to a maid. “The Rosemonts were worried, Alyssa. They thought I should stay here for a while.”
She bristled, no longer caring if he knew what she was feeling. “Kelwin was worried, you mean.”
“He and Donnic, yes.” He held out his hands. “Alyssa, please don’t worry I’ll get in the way. There’s no denying Lord Dalton is still out there. Somewhere.”
She gave a reluctant nod. “I know. It’s just that…” She flushed hot and slid a glance at Lord Malcolm. “I know what your gifts allow you to do. You and Kelwin.”
He leaned his head closer to her, lowering his voice so no one would overhear. “You have a gift too, Alyssa. It’s time you faced that fact.”
She pulled back. “Who are you to say that? Just because you and Kelwin have some sort of bond doesn’t mean you can come here and plead his case.”
“I’m not pleading his case. Besides, you and Kelwin have ‘some sort of bond,’ don’t you?”
She waved a hand. “He says so.”
Lord Malcolm smirked at her. “All right. May I stay here, then?”
“Oh, of course. But I don’t know why it’s necessary.”
Malcolm smiled at her. “Because you’re sixteen and Kelwin is seventeen, that’s why.”
Her mouth dropped open. How could he know what she was starting to feel for Kelwin? What he was obviously starting to feel about her? Her breath caught. Had he seen her latest dreams? “Stay out of my head!”
His dark brows drew together. “I don’t do that. I’m not Dalton.”
She could see he was very bothered by her comment. “I know that. I’m sorry.” She took a breath. “It’s all been so strange lately.”
He placed a hand on her shoulder and that familiar sense of comfort came from him. “I know. Kelwin told me about your father.”
Tears stung her eyes. “Oh.” She thought of something then. Something she shouldn’t but it was just too tempting. “Do you think you could help my father?”
His mouth opened, then he closed it. “My gift doesn’t work exactly like Kelwin’s. His is…stronger that way.”
Her lower lip trembled but she held back her tears. “Oh,” she said again. “It was just a thought.”
He smiled down at her, tenderness in his eyes. “Why don’t you have one of your maids show me to my room? I’ll go get ready for dinner.” He rubbed his hands together. “Both Kelwin and Donnic told me about your cook’s skills.”
“Yes…” She took in a steadying breath. “I’m sorry. Of course.”
She called a maid over who saw him upstairs. Thomas was happy to see Lord Malcolm. During dinner he peppered their guest with questions about Kelwin and Donnic and the other Rosemonts. Alyssa listened to everything Malcolm said, especially anything she could hear about Kelwin. She told herself again and again that it was good he was getting along just fine without her messing up his life. He should, since she was doing what she had to.
“Don’t you have to train Kelwin?” she asked Malcolm as the meal was almost over.
Malcolm shrugged. “He picked up very quickly, especially once he accepted his gift for what it was.”
She didn’t need to pick up anything quickly to get what he meant by that. “I’m glad for him.”
He put down his fork and folded his hands on the table. “Alyssa, it was his gift that helped him find you in that cottage.”
“I know.” She swallowed. “I’m very grateful to him, Lord Malcolm. For everything he did for me.”
He tilted his head. “Very well.”
There was a wealth of meaning in his words. She was sure of it. She just didn’t know him well enough to figure it out. And frankly she was too tired tonight to worry about it.
“Thomas, it’s time for you to get to bed.”
“In my bed?” her brother asked. She heard the unasked question in his voice. You don’t have to sleep with me tonight.
Thomas blinked, then nodded. It seemed like he’d heard her thoughts, but that couldn’t be.
“Tuck me in?”
She smiled and nodded. “Of course.”
He wished Lord Malcolm good eve and ran from the table. She stood. “Well, I’m going to say good eve too.”
Lord Malcolm rose and bobbed his head. “Good eve, Alyssa.”
Later, she folded her hands in front of her and took even steps to the curving staircase. It felt like she had to climb a hundred steps to reach Thomas’s room. He was already asleep when she looked in on him, curled up in his bed with a soft smile on his mouth. The little boy just wanted to sleep in his own bed. He must have missed it while they were at Rosemont, let alone during their journey there. She was selfish. She shouldn’t have used him to try to keep her dreams at bay. That wasn’t fair.
She turned down the one lit lamp near his bed and kissed his curly head. “Good eve,” she whispered.
As she stepped into the hall and closed his door, her eyes were drawn above. Up toward the little room where she knew her father still rested. She couldn’t bear to see him again tonight. Thin and pale and so very still. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.
Her room looked very lonely tonight. A maid had turned down her bed and the room was softly-lit by one lamp. No candles were lit, but she didn’t mind that. Without Kelwin or Thomas to keep the nightmares away, she worried that the flames and smoke of her dreams would bother her tonight if there were flickering candles in her room.
She dressed for bed and climbed under the covers. The bed felt huge and cold in spite of the fire crackling nearby in the small hearth. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to clear her mind and welcome sleep.
She was bone-tired. She wanted to sleep and forget her worries of the day. Her brother’s safety. Her father’s condition. Now Lord Malcolm’s unexpected stay. Her head was echoing with unidentifiable sounds, just loud enough to disturb her.
Maybe she should have asked Lord Malcolm to share a trick or two for calming her mind. Counting to herself, she slowed down her heartbeat and felt fuzzy as sleep began to claim her. She was warm and happy in her dream, holding tight to someone as he wrapped his arms around her. Her head was buried in the crook of his neck as she turned to face him, pillowing her cheek against his chest. His heartbeat was steady, his hands gentle as he stroked her back.
I’m here. His thought was as clear as if he’d said the words in her ear. I’ll always be here.
It was Kelwin. He held her close and she let sleep finally take her away. She’d worry about everything again tomorrow, but tonight?
Tonight she’d sleep in Kelwin’s arms.
About the Author
JoMarie DeGioia has been making up stories for as long as she can remember, and has spent years giving voice to the characters in her head. She’s known Mickey Mouse from the “inside,” has been a copyeditor for her town’s newspaper, and a bookseller. She writes Historical and Contemporary Romances, along with Young and New Adult Fantasy stories. She divides her time between Central Florida and New England.
Discover other books by JoMarie DeGioia
The Dashing Nobles series, including
More Than Passion
Pride and Fire
Just Perfect
More Than Charming
The Cypress Corners series, including
Finding Harmony
Connect with me online
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoMarieDeGioia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoMarie.DeGioia.Author
Website: www.jomariedegioia.com
JoMarie DeGioia, Gifted
Gifted Page 18