“Nothing will change my mind.”
He looked at me with an earnestness that made my insides shiver. “What about all of Ireland? If I could drive the English away, would that turn your heart in my favor?”
I laughed outright. “You might as well promise me the moon.”
“I’ve no interest in the moon.”
My smile faltered at his seriousness. “Do you ever give up?”
He shook his head. “Appease me in this, Selah.”
Oh, for pity’s sake. “What would you have me say?”
“That you will at least consider my offer.”
“Fine. Chase the English away, and then we’ll talk.” I pushed to my feet. “We need to get back soon.”
At the spring, we drank our fill, alternating use of the silver cup. Once finished, I dried my hands on the front of my sheath and glanced around the garden.
“Are you looking for something?” Julian asked.
I didn’t want to get into the particulars of how I had run away from London and was now being pursued by my very angry and very powerful great-grandparents. “Just not in the mood for company, I guess.” I looked over my shoulder toward a group of trees that hugged the rim of the mist. “We really should return. Justine is waiting.”
Julian didn’t argue but neither did he hurry. Thrusting his arms high in the air, he arched his back for a full body stretch. Then he meandered to where my cape had been left in the grass. Folding it over one arm, he looked back at the spring longingly. “I hate to leave so soon.”
“Yes, yes. So do I.”
He didn’t move at once, and I willed myself to be patient, tapping my foot in the grass to vent my growing anxiety. Just another minute or two, and we’ll be back at the tavern...
A sound drifted out from the mist. I tensed, ready to flee. “Did you hear that?” I whispered.
“Hear what?” Julian asked, matching my tone.
Laughter came next, soft and musical and definitely feminine.
I grabbed Julian’s hand, yanking him hard. “This way,” I hissed, making a beeline toward a group of bushes near the edge. Julian followed without question. We ducked down just as a woman emerged from the mist.
“Who is it?” Julian asked in a low whisper.
A glimpse of deep auburn hair nearly stopped my heart. Cate!
Someone else emerged from the mist behind her, most likely another set of hands to wrestle me into submission. Standing, I made to slip away unnoticed.
A branch snagged on my sheath. I froze, one foot suspended over the ground as I prayed the rustle of leaves had gone unnoticed.
The man turned slightly. “Who’s there?” he asked good-naturedly.
This time, Julian moved first, tugging me backward. I gasped as the man’s profile swept through my line of sight. Then he disappeared behind a veil of mist.
It can’t be!
I forgot how to move, and if not for Julian, I would have remained rooted to the spot. He dragged me like a bewildered child until the darkness took hold, and we were swept back to Bristol. My eyes flew open the very moment I smelled burning herbs. Julian came into view, a deep crease between his brows.
A wooden chair scraped the floor next to us. “Glad you’re back,” Justine said. “You were gone so long, I was beginning to fear you had fallen into Cate’s hands.”
Julian kept his eyes pinned to mine. “Is that who we were running from?”
I nodded.
Justine pulled in a sharp breath. “You saw Cate?”
“I... I’m not sure.” Everything happened so quickly, the scene hadn’t had time to fully form in my mind. “A woman came into the garden when we were leaving. Her hair was the same color as Cate’s, so I just assumed it was her.”
“Didn’t you see her face?” Justine asked.
“Not very well. We heard laughter and hid behind some bushes before she came out of the mist.”
Julian adjusted his knees on the hard floor, and I realized we were still holding hands. “Did you recognize the man?” he asked.
I shook my head, pulling my hand away. No, because that would be impossible. Goose bumps prickled beneath the sheath, and I wrapped my arms tightly around myself. Julian passed my cape to me, which I hurriedly donned.
“Was it Tom?” Justine asked.
“He had dark brown hair,” I told her. “Like Julian’s.”
And mine...