Page 137 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
“No, that isn’t going to happen.” She paled at the idea. “Evan isn’t guilty.” She paled at the picture he painted. The ghost’s goal at once clear to her. Evan would risk eternal wandering to save his family.
“And how do you know that?” His eyes were hard and piercing. She met him blink for blink.
“One of the servants told me, in confidence. Evan didn’t taint the grain nor did he kill Angel.”
“And you believe this person?” His voice dripped with sarcasm as if he spoke to a child.
“Yes. Why would Evan taint the grain? What would he gain? He had a new advanced position in the household. He was excited about getting married. His family supported his decisions. He was a staunch Maxwell man.” She touched the beads at her neck. Warm. Besides the beads’ confirmation, her conclusion was logical. Why couldn’t Jamie see that?
He stared into her eyes as if he tried to pull her reasoning out of her head. In those few moments she noticed a glimmer of doubt pass in his eyes and her hopes soared.
“I understand what you mean. He doesn’t have any reason. Just because we don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. I’ll let you speak to them.”
“I wasn’t asking your permission. I was telling you what I was doing.”
“Yes, I know. However, in case you’re not right and he does have some reason to do kith and kin harm and his family is involved, I’d rather be with you. If something happened to you, Wesley would have my head, and other parts of my body that I truly enjoy, and Darla would never forgive me.”
Her arms were crossed. “Let me understand you. You’re not accompanying me because you think I may be right, but rather to protect your own sorry skin.”
The man bit the inside of his cheek in an obvious attempt not to laugh. It drove her to the brink of doing him bodily harm.
“I wouldn’t characterize it that way.”
No, not a smirk. She misread him. He was angry. His green eyes turned so dark they almost looked black. She didn’t care.
Did he have any idea the powder keg they sat on? If Evan’s ghost didn’t find rest the consequences could be greater than the family simply living with an apparition. The drive for justice is a powerful one. She couldn’t let Evan’s ghost take matters in his own hands. There could be dire consequence for the family. It wasn’t only putting Evan to rest that drove her. It was protecting her family. Their goals were the same.
The woman hadno idea the powder keg they sat on. A traitor. Anything could happen. He had no idea where to start his search. Instead, he was her nursemaid following a ghost story.
Here logic was clear and sound, the same as he and Sean discussed. He had to protect her and The Maxwell. At least Herbert would be at Parliament where he would be protected. The situation with the ghost had to be resolved before Herbert returned.
“There are only five days left. I have no choice, but to act quickly,” Laura said as they took their seats at the table.
“We’ll make arrangements to speak to both families tomorrow and follow where that leads us. The sooner we put your ghost to rest the sooner I can help Herbert with his pressing issues.” A page poured wine into everyone’s cup.
Her unladylike snort told him exactly what she thought. He reined in his growing temper. If he hadn’t mentioned the ghost at Glen Kirk, he wouldn’t be in such a pickle. Nor would Laura be here. He brought the wine to his lips, but didn’t sip. What if this traitor seized on Laura being here? She’s English. Anything that happened to her here could be used as a reason to start an uprising.
He gulped the wine and drained the cup. He gave her a sideways glance. When did her features become so refined? Her face so beautiful. She had always played his squire when they battled with Gareth. He looked away before she would feel him stare. He didn’t think of her as his squire. No, Richard would have his personal parts for the thoughts that ran through his head. He half-heartedly put up a barrier to taking her with him. He had looked forward to her company.
