Page 8 of Crown of Wings and Whispers

The clearing of a masculine throat ended it for us. Colm stood sideways in the doorway. “Ye’re to come down for brunch,” he said, then disappeared.

Griffon’s teeth worried at his bottom lip.

“What’s wrong?”

He shook his head once. “Just wondering what he might have overheard. You remember what I told you when we landed. We mustn’t speak of anything whilst we are here.”

“We were talking about lifespans.”

“Aye. He kens my age, but we’ll not discuss mineor yoursagain. We have much to discuss, but we must put the wake behind us first. The house will be full of eyes and ears, and my sister’s friends were rarely friends of mine. And I worry…”

“About what?”

“When Archer arrives. He won’t know to call you Lucy.”

“He’s coming for sure?”

“No doubt my mother has already called him home again. We can’t hold Daphne’s wake without him.”

“Yeah? Well, maybe I shouldn’t be here. I mean, considering…everything…I’m probably the last person who would be welcome--”

“My brother knows you’re not responsible, despite how he acts. Maybe tonight we can bury some hatchets.”

“Let’s not bury them, let’s hide them before he gets here, along with any other sharp cutlery we can find.”

* * *

There wasno more time to piddle around. We’d been summoned. And like so many grown men, Griffon seemed to revert to his boyhood, anxious to make his mother happy. He took my hand and headed for the door, but I resisted one last time.

He frowned at me, then sighed. “What is it?”

“Do you realize you haven’t even told me where we are?” I thought of the pastel buildings in the harbor. “Is this some sort of fairy land?”

He grinned. “Some people call it that. Most call it Wales. A place called Tenby.”

“Oh.”

“You’re disappointed again.”

“No. I’m not. I should have known. I knew you were from Wales. Uh, oh. Myfriendsknow you’re from Wales!”

He stepped close, reached for my face, looked into my eyes. “I meant it. They cannot find you here.”

“And what if Archer kicks me out?”

“Archer is no threat to you, love. If he hasn’t earned your trust just yet, you can at least trust me in this.”

I forced a smile. “All right.”

“Good lass.”

“Lass?”

He shrugged. “My mother’s influence is powerful.”

“I’ve noticed.”

He tugged on my hand. “Come now, before I’m tempted to lock the door and disappoint her.”

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