Page 3 of The Courting of Bristol Keats
Tyghan went back to scrubbing. “Any more responses to your inquiries?”
“A few. I’ve expanded my search. I have someone coming in from Paris, and another from Lon—”
“Paris?Dammit, Eris! There must be someone closer!”
“The meager skills we need have become distant and rare, through every fault of our own.” Eris knew it was not what Tyghan wanted to hear, but it was true.
Tyghan shoved his face back into the stream of steaming water. The marble basin swirled with dirt and blood. “Not rare enough, unfortunately.”
Unfortunately.It was an understatement of epic proportions. Eris understood his frustration, but it was more than today’s loss that seethed through him. Betrayal was a bitter wound that still held Tyghan captive, a wound Eris feared he would never recover from. He weighed his next words, unsure if it would be welcome news or not. “I’m meeting with another potential candidate today—if she shows up. She ignored my previous two letters, although I provided ample incentive.”
“If she’s too stupid to take advantage of a valuable gift, she’s useless to us. Search elsewhere.”
“Or it could be she is too clever.”
Tyghan turned. He wrapped a towel around his waist and dried his face with another, his hair still dripping onto his shoulders. “How so? You haven’t even met her.”
Eris swallowed, taking his time to answer, trying to word his reply in the most artful terms he could muster. “Our inquisitors have been watching her and reporting back to me. We can’t be certain, but we think she may have what we’re after.” The rest wasn’t going to go well, but it had to be said sooner or later. “She is Kierus’s daughter. And Maire’s.”
Tyghan froze, molding his features to stone. “You found Kierus?”
“Dead. An accident.”
The color drained from Tyghan’s face. Eris had known the news would shake him.
“You’re sure?” he asked.
“He was going by another name, but very sure. A car hit him. I heard the gruesome details.”
The muscles in Tyghan’s neck rose in tight cords.
Eris wasn’t sure if he was angry because he’d been cheated out of killing Kierus himself, or because there would never again be words between them.Answers.Their pasts together would remain forever unresolved. It was impossible to move forward when part of you was trapped in the past.
“They had a child so soon?” he whispered.
“It’s been over twenty years. She’s not a child. She’s a grown woman.”
Tyghan shook his head. Eris understood his disbelief. He’d been struck too at how much time had passed, but time was always a capricious thing, speeding fast or slow at will. It was the one thing not even Tyghan could control.
“How long have you known about her?”
“A few weeks.”
Tyghan gaze shot up. “And you didn’t think to tell me before now?”
“Because I knew you would respond like this. These matters are delicate. You can’t—”
“I want her here by tonight. Do you understand?Tonight.”
“She has to choose, or it’s all for naught. The giving of a gift is a tricky thing. And we don’t even know for sure if she’ll be of use. You know how these matches are.”
“No, Idon’tknow how they are! This match was never supposed to happen. Where is she? I’ll—”
“No! These matters require finesse, a courting if you will. Let me handle this.”
“Are you saying I’m tactless?”
Eris replied with silence.
