Page 36 of The Beast Of Gloomenthrall

“There’s only one solution. I’ll have a couple of the orderlies move him to your suite, Perri, and you can monitor his status throughout the night.”

“Me?” Okay, that had come out way higher in pitch than had been intended. Clearing her throat quickly, Perri tried again. “Me? Why me? Wiselle is working this evening, she’s very capable.”

“Nothing wrong with Wiselle, but she doesn’t have your touch when it comes to mixing potions. And in your quarters the Lordling can make as much noise as he likes without disturbing anyone. It’s a good solution. Unless there’s a problem? Something… personal going on between you and the pretty boy?”

It was difficult to interpret that twinkle in Mary’s eyes. She liked to cause mischief. And Mary made no secret of the fact she thought Perri hid herself away in the infirmary too much, using it as an excuse not to mix and mingle with the Lair inhabitants.

It was insane though to think her elderly relative was plotting something… yet Perri couldn’t shake her suspicions. But nor could she think up a good enough argument that would prevent this nightmare from occurring. Lord Brandth De’Luca in her chambers… the two of them alone together for an entire night… the Gods really were testing her fortitude and patience.

“No. There’s nothing… personal between us other than I’m his healer and he’s my patient.”

“Good. Good.” Mary patted Perri’s hand, the gleam in her eyes sparkling even brighter. “Just try and keep the mayhem to a minimum.”

“There will be no mayhem.” Perri could guarantee that whole heartedly.

Heaving a sigh, Mary shook her head. “Pity, you could use a little mayhem in your life Perri. You give… him too much power, there are plenty of good men out there… or even right under your nose.”

No… Mary was not proposing that Perri have a fling with Lord Brandth De’Luca, was she? Never in a million years. The two of them? Together? The pretty glib man and her? In what world would a man like Brandth want anything to do with the likes of her? Mary was tasting too many of her own potions, there was no other explanation.

Still, a memory from earlier in the day rose up, her lying across Brandth’s chest, one of his arms around her, his heart thumping rapidly against her own, his thumb idly caressing the back of her hand. A moment filled with so much potential… of promise. Promise? Honestly, the only certainty Perri could be absolutely sure of was the look that would eventually fill Brandth’s eyes when they removed his blindfold and he finally saw her… horror, pity, relief that he could walk away.

Straightening her spine, Perri took a deep fortifying breath. Brandth was her patient. She was his healer. Certainly nothing untoward would take place with just the two of them alone together all night in her suite. Although, if ever there was a man likely to be up to no good, Brandth De’Luca was that man. It would pay to be on her guard. Brandth was a worldly man. All smiles and oozing meaningless flattery. Clearly not to be trusted.

Well, if he did try anything overtly underhanded in Perri’s chambers, then he would swiftly discover the novel experience of being smothered to death by a pillow.

Chapter Twelve

“We have a problem.”

Baron Gloomenthrall looked up from his seat by the fire in his personal chambers, attempting futilely to hide his startlement behind a deep foreboding frown. “Alia? Don’t tell me the latest bunch of mead was left on the heat too long. You know we have orders-”

“The mead is fine.” Alia moved boldly through the shadowy space to sit across from him on an ancient but thankfully comfortable velvet settee.

“What is it now then? Not another one of your sisters back with a wagon load of brats, is it?” There was no real rancour in her father’s tone. And truth be told, his Lordship had a tendency to let his grandchildren crawl all over him and tug on his beard to their hearts content. For all his bluster, her father, in his own gruff manner, loved all his kin.

“I received a report from Deacon this evening. Do you know a Yaullen Geddes? He was one of the hunt suitors. Climbed into a bottle the moment he dismounted. Dark hair. Freckles. Wants money to build a small theatre in West Sunreach.”

“Bah, you know those lads all look the same to me.”

“He wasn’t a big drinker until yesterday eve following the hunt. In his cups, he had quite the story to tell. His mother it seems is a Soutner, or she was before she cleverly arranged herself a marriage at a young age and moved across the Realm. Although she keeps up a correspondence with her old nanny. Regal Soutner is back.”

“The Gods pity that poor family.”

“It appears the Deities above have forsaken the Soutner family. Regal is Baron Soutner, as of about two months ago… hardly three weeks after returning to these shores.”

“That was quick work on his part.”

“It probably didn’t feel like it to Regal after ten years of exile. You know his father died last year. Regal’s nephew, who took on the title, bid him to come home. It seems the new young Baron couldn’t believe the rumours that his Uncle was in any way responsible for any or all of his brothers’ deaths.”

“And was in turn murdered for his lack of imagination.”

“Him and his three younger brothers, a sister, and a visiting cousin… bad seafood I believe was to blame.”

“Cruddy hell. Now Regal’s Baron Soutner. Does Perri know?”

“Not yet… there’s more.”

“Of course there is, he’s a blight that man. Weather. Crops. Animals. Everything he touches shrivels and decays soon after.”

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