Page 21 of From the Darkness

That had been his primary role for the past few weeks. He had kept to the shadows. Stayed hidden—unless something roused him to action. For a long time, he’d hardly cared what happened one way or the other. Now he felt different. More oriented to the scene playing out in the dining room.

Because of Bree. His gaze was drawn to her. He was entranced by the sight of the sunlight dancing off her golden hair and warming her skin tones. She was wearing a blue sweater and jeans that did nice things for her gentle curves.

He’d stroked those curves last night. Awakened feelings inside himself that he thought were dead. The contact had changed him in ways that he couldn’t begin to understand. And he’d come to the dining room this morning eager to see her.

Her tongue flicked across her lips, and his attention riveted to the small feminine gesture.

Did she believe that story about the ghost?

Maybe it was best if she did. He’d been drawn to her in the darkness of the night, taken liberties with her. Now he was thinking that he should leave her be. For her sake. Or perhaps for his, too. Because the questions she’d asked him had been disturbing. And he wasn’t prepared to deal with them. Not yet. Maybe never.

***

Bree moistened her dry lips, thinking that she couldn’t believe this outrageous conversation, even though she’d heard it with her own ears. “Stop,” she managed. “What are you trying to do?”

“Am I doing something?” Nola asked, all innocence, as they sat staring at each other.

Then in the hall, the sound of small feet hurrying along the wooden floor captured Bree’s attention.

Moments later, Dinah stepped through the door, her face slightly flushed, her gaze going immediately to Bree. She was still clutching the stuffed kitty that she’d been holding the night before. “I thought you might be gone,” she said, her voice slightly breathless.

“Of course I’m here. I’m going to be your teacher. I wouldn’t just leave.”

The child nodded. “Did you have a good night?”

Bree stared into the little girl’s anxious face. The question was startlingly like the one Nola had asked, and for a terrible moment, Bree was afraid that Dinah had heard the conversation. Would she have understood it? Bree didn’t know. And now, she didn’t want to find out.

Taking the question at face value, she answered, “I was so tired, I went right to sleep.” Then, switching the subject away from herself, she asked, “So what do you like for breakfast?”

Dinah glanced at Bree’s bowl. “Can I have cereal?”

“Of course. Let me help you.” Bree half expected Nola to object, but the woman only sat sipping her tea.

As if she knew the child had arrived, Mrs. Martindale bustled in again, a big smile on her face. “Good morning to you,” she chirped. “You look like a ray of sunshine.”

In response to the housekeeper’s greeting, Dinah’s face lighted up. “Good morning to you!” she returned.

Bree watched the woman and the child. Obviously, they enjoyed each other’s company—which was good. Probably Mrs. Martindale’s friendship was helping the little girl cope with life here.

The housekeeper turned to her. “I’ve been giving Dinah some lessons to do. Of course, I’m not a teacher, but I thought I could help her keep up with her studies.”

“Yes, that’s good,” Bree approved, then turned to the little girl. “After breakfast, you can show me what work you’ve been doing. Would you like to do that?”

“Yes.”

The housekeeper took away the dirty dishes, then exited the room.

Bree heard Nola make a humphing noise. Pushing back her chair, she stood up and said, “Well, you two seem to be getting along so well, I assume you’ll be having dinner in the schoolroom.”

“That would be fine,” Bree said.

“One thing you should know. Don’t turn your back on her,” Nola said as she marched out of the room.

Chapter Six

Bree turned quickly, her gaze going to the little girl.

For a moment, she caught an expression on the child’s face that chilled her. Then the look was gone.

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