by Kari Edgren
Henry pinched the bridge of his nose. “We can start this afternoon by visiting some of the cottages in the outlying areas to get a better sense of the land. But come dark, we will have nothing to do other than worry ourselves sick. I would like to use that time to make you my wife, and to stop those like Sean from saying otherwise.”
A smile threatened at the corners of my mouth. “So regardless of the awful circumstances, you wish to rush our vows in order to spite my brother?” The idea had merit, though it would probably lead to another sword fight.
Henry leaned back in the chair and studied me for a moment. “Sean is vehemently opposed to our union. How do I know that he won’t use the confusion of the next few days to whisk you away from me? As an unmarried woman, your brother has every right to claim guardianship.”
“He wouldn’t dare.” I would kill him first. Or knock him senseless at the very least.
“What if you’re mistaken? I would have little recourse unless we were married. Only then would my claim come first.”
I sniffed. “You make me sound like a piece of baggage.”
“It’s a matter of the law, Selah, as you well know.”
He had a point, though I despised it all the same. “And that is your argument? We must wed right away or risk Sean’s interference?”
“His interference could cost him his life.”
From what I’d felt earlier, I knew Henry was telling the truth. Still, I couldn’t let the comment go unattended. “How romantic. ‘Marry me or I may have to kill your brother.’”
“That is only part of it.”
“Pray tell, what is the other part?”
His stare seemed to grow a thousand times more intense, until the predator gleamed anew in his eyes. My heart thumped in response, a small breath that gave life to a shower of sparks.
“It took every ounce of self-control not to take you in the bathing chamber this afternoon. The next time, I will not be able to hold back.”
I swallowed hard. The next time...”Then I shall avoid baths while we are here.”
“Dammit, Selah!” He shot out of the chair and stalked toward me. “Do you not understand a word I’m saying? We are to be married tonight or so help me God, I’ll not answer for my actions.”
My eyes widened with alarm. “You would never...”
“No, I would never force you.” He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned so close our foreheads nearly touched. “But I wouldn’t have to, would I?” His green eyes burned as he tucked a thick lock of dark hair behind my ear. He then traced a slow line to my jaw where he gently cupped my chin. “I need only kiss you again, and you would come to me willingly.”
A shaky breath poured from me.
“Isn’t that true?” He moved even closer until his lips hovered just above mine.
I nodded like a shameless hussy.
“And so you will marry me.”
“Not tonight.” My voice came as a whisper.
“Tomorrow then.” The two words brokered no question.
He still held my chin, and I felt myself yielding to his touch. I nudged closer, desperate for the softness of his lips.
He pulled back a fraction of an inch. “Tomorrow,” he repeated.
“Yes,” I whimpered.
Brigid’s fire rushed forward, as though beckoned by the wildness Henry had left behind. The moment they converged, my whole body trembled as the sparks burst to flames inside me. Heat blurred my vision, muddled any chance of rational thought. I needed him. Right now. Regardless of the consequences.
I leaned forward to kiss him, prepared to finish what had been started downstairs. Our lips brushed, a mere shadow of touch, and I shivered with anticipation for the moment his mouth would claim mine.
Henry edged back again. I started to follow when he released my chin. Then he was on his feet, breath constrained as he towered over me. “Very well, Selah. I shall wait until tomorrow.” He returned to the chair to scoop up his belongings from the floor. “Be ready to ride at half past.” With coat and waistcoat tossed over one arm, he gripped his hat and stormed from the room.
The bang of the door shook in my ears, and I blinked several times at the large wooden expanse. Disappointment cooled the fire while my mind fumbled over what had just happened. Each action came back, each word we had spoken.
Tomorrow...
My mouth popped open. Had I really meant to capitulate so easily?
I must have, for despite everything else, I didn’t regret my decision. We would search for Nora and Deri while even a speck of daylight remained in the sky, but Henry was right about our needing to return each night. Why not get married and put everyone’s interference to rest? That way we could stop fighting our natural urges to be together. And neither of us would have to kill my brother. Really, I couldn’t think of a better outcome.
Pushing from the bed, I moved to the hearth where I hung my head and started finger combing the many tangles. The heat infused the thick locks, warmed my scalp till it tingled.
Sharp knocks sounded on the door. “Come in,” I called.
The latch clicked open, and I tilted my head to the side. Lead filled my spine from the unfortunate discovery of fair skin and dark curly hair, much like my own, except shorter.
“Hello, Sabie,” Sean said, in a solemn voice that was much lower than I remembered.
I stared at him for a few seconds before dropping my head back toward the fire. “I told you not to call me that. Now get out.”
He stepped closer. “Please, sister, we need to talk.”
“You’ve no right to call me that either. My brother died three years ago in the West Indies. You, sir, are a stranger to me.” Anger heated my blood, and the fire suddenly felt stifling. I stood, avoiding any form of eye contact as I marched over to the dressing table for my hairbrush.
In the mirror, I caught a glimpse of Sean near the door, arms crossed over his chest. “Do you intend to marry the Englishman?” he asked.
“That’s none of your business.” Starting at my crown, I yanked the brush downward with no amount of gentleness. Hairs snapped in the process, but I continued on, repeating the motion several more times.
Sean released a long breath. “It is my business whether you like it or not.”
I turned toward him, the brush temporarily forgotten at my side. “Oh, really? After all this time, you’re going to feign the protective brother?” My scathing tone dared him to try. “Well, it’s too late. You gave up that role the day you abandoned me.”
“I didn’t mean...” He swiped a rough hand over his face. “I never meant to abandon you.”
“That’s interesting. Were you being held captive?”
He shook his head. “Nothing like that. I—”
“Stranded on a deserted island?”
“No—”
“Suffered severe amnesia?”
“Of course not—”
“Then you must have forgotten how to post a letter, for I can think of no other reason to explain your behavior.”
He heaved another long breath. “Will you please stop being difficult?”
“Oh, I’ve earned the right to be difficult, and then some, so spare me the suffering Job.” I arched a mocking brow at him. “Or did you hope I would forget everything and just come running into your arms? So overcome with joy at seeing you alive, I would just forget the pain from the last three years. Is that what you expected?” For having nothing to say at first, I apparently had a mouthful.
“You of all people should understand why I had to leave.”
Furious, I stood, nearly upsetting the chair. “Don’t pretend that you had no choice in the matter. That it was something you had to do. No one chased you away, Sean. You left willingly after Mother died.”
“Father and
I fought—”
“We were all grieving and felt responsible for what happened. But you didn’t see me running away.”
“Aarrh!” The air exploded from him this time. “How can you be so pigheaded? It wasn’t your responsibility to keep her safe! I had no other powers, Selah. No ability to heal or make swords. As goddess born, I had one task, to protect you and Mother. I failed. And I couldn’t stay anymore with the constant reminder of that failure. It was tearing me apart.” He dropped his head as though the weight of his grief had become too much.
A large lump formed in my throat. Silence settled between us as I just stared at the top of his dark head. Seconds passed and I didn’t know what to say.
Did Father know all of this?
Was that why he never spoke ill of Sean? Or why he refused to fight the sickness the second time around? Because he also felt that he had somehow failed our mother, and then in turn, failed Sean when word of his death arrived from the West Indies. Over time, did he come to view himself as unworthy to continue as my protector?
My forehead scrunched over the thoughts. It made sense in a defeatist sort of way. Which meant my father had seen the sickness as a form of godly punishment—with his life being offered as the final penance.
Had I judged my brother too harshly? Did his actions merit a second consideration?
All the time Sean’s been here, he never talked of any sisters. Never talked of anyone for that matter, other than his dead mam.
Brian’s words struck again with the force of a slap. I gave my head a hard shake, clearing away any sentimental feelings or thoughts of forgiveness. Sean didn’t deserve pity. He deserved the truth, same as I had faced it months ago.
Squaring my shoulders, I smoothed my expression to stone. “Father is dead, you know. He died last May.”
Sean started. He jerked his gaze back to mine, pain filling his pale blue eyes. “How did it happen?”
“He succumbed to a prolonged illness.”
Confusion pulled at my brother’s face. “He got sick?”
I nodded.
“Then why the hell didn’t you heal him?”
The accusation clanged like a judgment bell in my ears. To keep calm, I clamped the brush handle until the wooden edges bit into my flesh. “Because he wouldn’t let me.”
“Good Lord, Selah, you reattached my hand without asking permission.” He splayed the effected fingers for emphasis. “Couldn’t you cure a simple ailment without his asking you outright? Surely he wouldn’t have wanted to die.”
“Don’t you dare judge me,” I hissed. “I tried every argument to get him to see reason, and when that failed, I tried to heal him against his wishes. But he wouldn’t have it. He refused to stay when he believed it was God’s will that he die.” A sob broke in my throat. “You have no idea what I’ve been through these past months. If not for Henry, I would be dead or destitute right now.”
“You met him in the Colonies?”
“The day after Father died.”
Sean seemed to ponder this for a moment. “It’s passing strange that we would meet in Wexford. Did you receive word that I was in Ireland? Is that why you’re here?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I came solely for Nora’s sake.”
“Nora Goodwin?” he asked, clearly bemused by my best friend’s name. “She’s here as well?”
“We started together in London, but Nora got mixed up with an insane little wretch who goes by the name of Deri. Are you familiar with Cailleach?”
“More than I ever wanted to be.”
“Well, Deri is Cailleach’s descendant, and she somehow gained control of Nora’s mind and coerced her into sailing to Wexford.”
“So you are here to save Nora.”
“Mostly, though I also intend to kill Deri if possible and look into some legend about a witch.”
Sean released a slow breath. “You’re looking for Carmen, then. That’s the same reason I’m here.”
“You don’t live in Wexford?”
He shook his head. “I live near Kildare in a small community of other goddess born. Several months ago an old druid came to us with talk of strange signs. We didn’t do anything at the time, but then Marin started having violent dreams that bespoke of Ireland’s destruction. This time we sought out the druid, and he sent us here to search out a witch named Carmen.”
My knees wobbled and I leaned against the dressing table for support. “So it is true,” I breathed.
Deri seemed to have formed an odd attachment to Nora, which I had hoped would keep her safe for the time being. But an ancient witch? She would kill without compunction if it served to escape her prison.
“We don’t know for certain. Could be the talk of a crazy old man, but in one form or another, Marin’s dreams almost always come true.” Sean rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ve been searching the area for days, and have found no signs of Carmen. Until we ran into your Englishman, we’d planned to leave for home tomorrow.”
Home... Sean spoke the word with a natural ease that belied any doubts about where his heart lay.
“You will stay now? Henry and I need all the help we can get to find Nora.”
“Yes, we will stay.” He paused for a moment. “But you should know that I won’t allow you to marry him.”
My shoulders stiffened. “You’ve no say in the matter.”
“Under the law you are my ward.”
“Don’t even go there, Sean. I’m not the little girl you left in Pennsylvania. My power has grown a hundredfold, and if you dare try to stop me from marrying Henry, I’ll drop you without a second thought.”
He gave me an incredulous look. “He’s an Englishman, Selah. Do I need to remind you what our ancestors suffered under their hands? They stole our lands and hunted our father like a common criminal. It’s a miracle he even made it out alive.”
“Save the history lesson. You will not hold our family’s past over me, nor will you dictate whom I shall marry.”
Pushing away from the wall, he jabbed a finger at me. “Mark my words, sister, I will not allow it.”
Angry blood rushed to my face. “Get out!”
“Promise me first that you won’t marry him.”
“Never!” I hurled the brush at him. It missed the mark, catching the edge of the door as it swung open.
The maid peeked into the room, and looked nervously between Sean and me. “Shall I come back later, miss?”
“No. He’s leaving.” I looked at my brother. “Aren’t you? Or do I need to call for assistance? I’m sure Henry wouldn’t mind removing your other hand if you give him enough cause.”
Sean’s face turned white with fury. “We will discuss this later.”
“We’ve nothing more to say,” I yelled back, but he’d already stormed from the room.
Retrieving the brush from the floor, the maid eyed the wild curls that fell to my midriff. “Pardon me, miss. His lordship thought you might like some help.”
“Can you dress my hair?”
She nodded and started to close the door when a loud squeak stopped her mid-motion. “Goodness me, I almost caught yeh there. Come in, come in.”
Ailish scurried into the room, looking rather wild with flushed cheeks and her hair blown this way and that.
“That brother o’ yours near trampled me on the stairs.” She closed the door and leaned against it. “Ill-tempered, that one be. Did you two cross words?”
The maid moved to the dressing table, brush in hand. I sat in the wooden chair and shook out the still-damp tresses. “It was nothing,” I lied.
“Your brother don’t have the fire like you do, but he sets me blood steaming all the same.” Ailish fanned her red cheeks with a bare hand. “Felt better outside in the cold.”
“Where have you
been?” I asked.
“Snooping about for your friend and Deri.”
I looked at her in the mirror’s reflection. Without a horse, she couldn’t have gone far, probably not even beyond the city walls. “Henry’s been all over Wexford, and no one has seen them. Once I’m finished here, we’re going to start searching the outlying woods.” I tried not to think about the immensity of the task.
She gave me a sly smile. “Won’t be too hard from what I’ve learned.”
My heart thumped into my ribs. “Did you find them?”
The smile grew bigger to reveal two rows of small white teeth. “Not just, but I got us a clue.”
Chapter Sixteen
Into the Woods
I whipped my head around so quickly the brush flew from the maid’s hand and clattered to the floor.
She yipped in surprise. “Beg yehr pardon, miss.”
“What have you learned?” I asked Ailish.
“Where Deri’s da lived afore he went to the grave. His widow lives there still, and I’ll bet she knows where the little demon be hiding if’n anyone does.”
I started to rise, ready to be off. Partway up, the maid caught hold of my shoulder. “Yehr hair, miss. People will think yeh’ve gone mad going out like that.”
A quick glance at the unruly curls, and I saw she was right. “Please be quick about it,” I said, sinking back into the chair.
“Two shakes and we’ll be done.” Having retrieved the brush a second time from the floor, she began to run it with lightning speed over the remaining tangles.
Since Deri had inherited Cailleach’s blood through her father, reason stood that the man’s widow could be the same. I used the mirror again to make eye contact with Ailish. “This woman we’re going to visit, is she...” I paused to check my words. “Is she the same as you?”
Ailish shrugged. “Don’t know. Chances be good that she is, though.”
With both of us suspecting the same thing, I had to prepare for the worst. “Do you really think Deri will be there? I mean after what she did to her father, I wouldn’t imagine the stepmother all too welcoming.” As the girl had cut his throat, I expected the woman wanted nothing to do with the wretch unless it involved hanging from a rope.