Page 28 of Court of Shadows
“It’s only me.”
Chijioke called back, a note of pain in his voice. I climbed up slowly, giving him the chance to shoo me off. But I reached the top and hoisted myself into the loft without him saying another word, and I found him pacing the low-ceilinged attic, a sheen of tears still sparkling on his cheeks.
“I could use the company,” he said with a sigh. He stopped near one of the low triangular windows and leaned against the beams. “I’ve no idea what I did wrong, Louisa. Or if... Sod it, why must this all be so confoundedly complicated?”
“What is?” I asked gently.
He touched his forehead to the broad beam above the window and his shoulders heaved, but he did not cry. “Mary... I know not what I did to vex her.”
“I only saw her last night in the woods,” I said. “What happened? God, I can understand if she’s cross with me after all I did, but you had nothing to do with it!”
Chijioke shook his head and ran a hand over his black hair, resting his knuckles against his nape. “This morning after breakfast I went to see her. I gave her the fish carving, aye? And she... Oh, Louisa, she said she didn’t want it, and that she was too tired to see me just then.”
Now he sounded on the verge of more tears, and I rushedover to him, putting just my fingertips on his arm. He leaned ever forward, as if curling up into a ball, wiping at his face as silent tears coursed down his cheeks.
“I had no idea you two were so close,” I said. “I suppose I don’t know a lot of things. But perhaps you should simply believe her, mm? If she is too tired, then... Well, shedied. One can hardly blame her for wanting a rest. I’m sure she will come around when more time has passed.”
He shook his head fervently, pushing away from the window and turning to face me. His brows furrowed and he stared at the space over my left shoulder, as if too shy to meet my eyes. “No.... No. I looked in her eyes as she said it, as she gave me back the gift. There was nothing there. Nothing. Like... like she couldn’t even see me.”
“I’m terribly sorry,” I said, feeling pressure build in my chest. This was my fault. They had been finding some kind of joy in each other, and then I had come along and selfishly stolen it away by agreeing to a bargain I did not fully understand. Now she was back, but quite obviously changed. “Do you want me to speak with her? Let me help, please; if there is anything I can do, I’ll do it.”
Chijioke took in a great, spluttering breath and then let it out, at last nodding his head and looking away toward the window. “If youdidspeak to her, don’t tell her I asked you to. It would help to know... If it’s all past hope, then I’d like to know.”
“I’m certain it isn’t,” I told him, and he walked with me back toward the ladder. His tears had slowed. “You did not see the beast that attacked us, Chijioke, I’m hardly in my right mind after it, and it was intent on hurting Mary. She must be in shock.”
“Aye,” he said, helping me down the ladder. “I had thought to comfort her.”
“We all face fear so differently, she may be trying to spare you. You lost her once, and almost lost her again last night.”
“Indeed, lass, I heard you fired a gun at the mad creature that came after ye. Very brave.”
“Hardly brave, just desperate,” I replied with a shrug. “It was Finch who frightened the fell thing away.”
Chijioke gave a snort of derision at that and followed me nimbly down the ladder. Together we walked toward the open barn doors, where the cloud-dampened sunlight poured in. Poppy’s hound was waiting for us, snuffling in the hay curiously with his big brown ears flopped over his eyes. He looked up at us and sat, giving a quietboof.
“Mrs. Haylam must be looking for us,” I sighed. “I’m to meet with Amelia, but not before a bath.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything,” he teased. “If you wait a moment, I can distract Haylam so you can slip by. I’ll make up some— What the devil?”
Chijioke trailed off, taking one step out of the barn and into the yard. I had heard the footsteps and panting, too—littlePoppy ran across the yard toward us, braids bouncing, hands still dusted with flour from the kitchens. She nearly collided with the dog as she skidded to a stop, looking between us with huge eyes.
“Slow down there,” Chijioke said, patting her back. “What’s all this haste about?”
“You both must... You both must come now.” She gulped for air, then flung her hand back toward the house. “Amelia is dead,” she whispered. “Dead.”
“An accident?” Chijioke asked. “How?”
“No accident; it must be murder.” Poppy shook her head. “You must both come inside and quick.”
Chapter Seventeen
It was more than grim to find that Poppy had not exaggerated. Miss Amelia Canny was in fact dead, lying on her back in her bed, hands curled up on her chest as if she were an insect, her skin an oddish gray color. I had never seen anything quite like it. It was as if every drop of moisture had been squeezed from her body, or sucked out through her mouth somehow. That same mouth was open permanently in terror and her eyes were shut, though thick liquid oozed out of the creases.
As I looked at her, my guts twisted sharply, that ghostly woman’s voice filling my head again, emerging as if it were my own thoughts and not that of an unseen, unwanted interloper.
This will be you, it said.Run.
“Her eyeballsexploded,” Poppy whispered. I couldn’t tell if she was horrified or impressed. “I don’t think we’ve cleaned up something like this before.”
