Page 84 of Potions & Prejudice
“It was too expensive,” I said. “We couldn’t afford something like that, not after my father left.”
He shot me a look filled with anger. “Your father left you?”
Damnit. What in the world was happening between my brain and my mouth? They couldn’t connect, and I just kept blurting things out I hadn’t meant to. I was normally so guarded, so careful, but something about Draven cracked me wide open, all my secrets spilling out.
“He decided we weren’t what he wanted after all,” I said quietly, remembering how gutted we’d all been when we discovered he’d left.
“Scum,” Draven growled. “I know it doesn’t make it better, but he never deserved you. Not any of you.”
I sniffled. “Thank you.”
The sound of rushing water echoed in the distance.
“It doesn’t surprise me that you wanted to go into herbal remedies.” Draven stopped in front of a wall of vines and parted them.
“Why is that?” I asked as I walked toward the vines.
“Because you take care of people,” Draven said. “You’re a natural at it. And you would make an amazing herbal healer.”
Tears sprung to my eyes. “How have you gone from always saying the wrong thing to always knowing exactly the right thing to say?”
He gestured for me to walk through the vines, and I did, my breath catching in my throat when I saw where we stood.
A waterfall rushed down a tall cliff, feeding into a pond where steam rose in the air. The warmth of it beckoned me. The entire area was enclosed by tall trees and wide-spread canopies, making the air so much warmer. The chill lifted from me, and I turned to face Draven.
For the first time since we’d started our walk, I wondered where we were and what we were doing out here.
“Is everything okay?” I asked. “With Georgie?”
Draven’s eyebrows drew together. “Why wouldn’t they be? Do you know something I don’t?”
I shook my head. “Why else would you ask me to accompany you on a walk unless you needed something from me?”
He cocked his head. “Because I like you, Elspeth, and I want to spend time with you.” I stopped, mouth agape. Draven hooked a finger under my chin and closed my mouth. “Is it really that shocking after the other night?”
“Th-that was just lust,” I stammered. “It was something we needed to get out of our systems.”
“And is it?” he asked. “Out of your system?” He stepped closer, so close his warm breath grazed my cheek. “Because it’s not out of mine.”
I stared at him, heart pounding.
“I brought you here because you said you hate the cold. I thought you might like this place. A way to get outside but still stay warm.” He gestured. “Or take a dip in the pool.”
The gesture was so unexpectedly kind. “When did I say I hated the cold?” I asked.
He rubbed his stubbled jaw. “You said it at my manor, the night we...”
I didn’t even remember saying that. But he did.
“Do you like it?” he asked, and I nodded.
“It’s amazing.” I looked longingly at the steaming pool.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it.” He turned to go.
Before I could think through all the reasons why it was a bad idea, I reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him.
He went deathly still as I watched him, taking in this man who I’d somehow gotten all wrong. I didn’t want him to leave. And I didn’t care about what Helena said, my fight with Mama and Adelaide, all the reasons why this shouldn’t happen.
