Page 27 of Choosing Jenny
“It’s fine, Jenny,” Longshot said, his tone resigned. “There is much paranoia and myth about strigella. Not the first home she’s been denied entry to. I’ll put her in your quarters, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course. Make her comfortable,” she said, smiling at Rhonda, who bobbed her head ever so slightly, as if to thank her.
Once Longshot left, Jenny glanced back at Jac. “You’re being paranoid. I’m not kidding when I said she saved me.”
Jac wasn’t swayed. “And I’m not kidding when I say I want to keep all dangerous things away from Sarah.”
Before they could keep arguing, Longshot returned to us. “She is safely stowed away. Shall we?”
The flicker of mistrust in Jac’s eyes as they met Longshot’s made me wonder if he was one of the dangerous things Jac was reluctant to let inside. But he didn’t stop us, despite those doubts I could see etching my boss’ features.
“Deacon, can you take them in?” Jac said. “I’m going to wait out here.”
It was then that I noticed Deacon glaring at Mal, his body language tense. This was the first time he’d come face to face with the man he believed had executed his father.
I fully expected Deacon to deny Mal entrance into his home, but to my surprise he gave a curt nod. “Very well,” he said. Pivoting stiffly, he headed back into the manor.
We all followed him. The inside was still as pretty as ever, but now more interior walls had been torn down, opening the space to air and light. The oppression from Rex’s era was gone, and it was as though the building could finally breathe. Bright blue and green flowers decorated soft yellow walls, and the pale wooden floors warmed the place up.
Like our first visit, Sarah greeted us in her green and white garden sunsroom. She stood and hugged those of us she knew. Well, she tried, anyway. Her large pregnant belly made it awkward. She looked how I imagined Jenny would, if Mal and I were lucky enough to get her pregnant.
The two sisters were within an inch of each other in height, and had the same beautiful features, but Sarah’s long brown hair curled at the ends and her face was rounder. Her full lips arched upward into a smile. “I am so happy you’re here,” she said in a sweet, welcoming tone. “Sit, please, all of you.”
Jenny took the chair next to Sarah, and I settled in beside her. “How is the pregnancy going?” she asked her sister.
“Much better.” Sarah rubbed her hand over her protruding belly beneath her tunic. “Between Ode’s constant monitoring and an old conduit elixir, my strength has improved considerably.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.” Jenny breathed a sigh of relief, but didn’t waste any time getting to the reason for our visit. “So, now that we’re all here, there’s a lot to discuss. First things first, are you planning a war?”
Sarah blinked at her, clearly caught off guard. “What makes you think that?”
“Don’t deflect,” Jenny said, and I watched as something passed between the sisters. “Tell me. Yes or no.”
Sarah’s eyes flicked to the others, then back to her. “Jen, I don’t know your friends. I’m glad you trust them, but—”
“Sarah.” Jenny said her name firmly, and again, I was intrigued by that silent communication that passed between them.
But Sarah didn’t bend. “I have too much at stake to share my secrets with strangers.”
“Then there’s clearly a secret to share,” Mal said in a pleasant tone, but still clearly calling her out.
Sarah smiled at him. “Every woman has secrets, Mal.”
“My consort is not a fool, Malice Ripper,” Deacon said, his tone razor sharp. “She knows better than to tell her secrets to someone like you.” He all but spat the words.
Mal arched a brow at the implied insult. “Someone like me?”
“Justice Bateen’s lap dog,” he said harshly.
“I am no one’s lap dog,” Mal responded calmly.
Deacon’s jaw tightened. “You come here, uninvited. You lie to my face. You killed my father out of revenge because of Silence—”
“I did not touch your father.”
Anger lined Deacon’s handsome face. “Everyone knows you’re the Royal Executioner.”
“I had nothing to do with your father’s execution,” Mal said with admirable restraint, considering Deacon’s verbal attack. “I told Justice I wouldn’t do it. He wasn’t happy about it, but he gave me a pass.”
