Page 85 of Touch in the Night

Emory looked at Jesse and raised an eyebrow. “A ride?”

Jesse winced. “On some bloody animal named Thor.”

Emory gave him a knowing smile then looked back at his daughter. “So you had a good Christmas, then?”

“Best Christmasever, Daddy,” she said, flinging her arms in the air. “Can we have another tomorrow?”

“Well, I’m not sure if Father Christmas is free to visit every day,” he said, tapping her nose. “But I promise I will make every day here so special it will feel like Christmas.”

She grinned. “And once Christmas is over, it’s almost time for my birthday.”

“That’s right. Just seventeen sleeps until January tenth.”

“Can I stay off school this time?”

“Yes, darling. You’re off school until Aunt Helena and I have decided which school you’re going to. That’ll take a little while yet.”

Her face clouded. “Do I have to go back to Switzerland?”

“No,” Emory said firmly. “Whatever happens, you won’t be going back to boarding school. I promise.”

She flung her arms around his neck. Emory met Jesse’s eyes over her shoulder then set her on the floor. “Okay, darling, it’s your supper time. They’re preparing it in the kitchen. You run along and eat, then after dinner you can bring that puzzle down, okay?”

“Yay,” she cried. “Can we do it here, together?”

“We can,” Emory said. “Ah, Joanna…”

“Evening, sir. Miss Dimity.” A woman Jesse recognized from around the house had appeared in the doorway, holding out her hand. “Your supper’s ready, miss.”

Dimity continued chattering as she was led away.

“Helena sent her to boarding school?” Jesse shook his head. “Poor kid.”

“TheCollége Monta Rhinais one of the finest schools in the whole world,” Emory said levelly. “Helena had high hopes for Dimity’s future. I can’t help but approve of that. But I agree with you. I think she would be happier coming home each night, even if that home isn’t here.” His eyes had darkened, but he blinked and the look was gone. “Are you hungry, too? I could ask them to bring some food through.”

“No, I had a big lunch, thanks…” He glanced around the room, Dimity’s question still buzzing in his brain, making it hard to look Emory in the face. “You know cops are at the gates, right?”

“Yes, I know.”

“And you’re not worried?”

“Darragh is handling it.”

Jesse nodded, sliding his hands into his pockets and staring at the floor, trying and failing not to think of Emory’s hands on his body the night before.

“I hope you had a good Christmas, too.”

Jesse raised his eyes. Emory was watching him with an unreadable expression. “Yeah…” Jesse fumbled, bit his thumbnail and tried again. “It was great…really great. Last night, I mean.”

A corner of a smile turned up Emory’s mouth. “I thought so, too.”

“I, uh…” Jesse ran a hand over his hair. “I went to see my brother’s family today, for lunch.”

“That sounds nice.”

“I took Tom.” Emory didn’t answer. It seemed he was even more motionless than usual. “It wasn’t, you know…” Emory still didn’t speak. “He got me out past the police”—Jesse gestured awkwardly—“and gave me a lift. I couldn’t just leave him out in the street.”

“Of course not,” Emory said, sitting and starting to gather papers.

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