‘Hey,’ he replied, plumping his pillow. He wasn’t really going to bed, but he would wait until everyone else had fallen asleep before creeping out.
‘Where do you go at night?’ asked Ethel, resting her chin on his mattress.
Jack sat up. ‘What?’
‘I’ve seen you leave every night, and I know you don’t have patrol duty.’
Jack froze. ‘Uh … really?’ His mind went blank. He wasn’t good at thinking on the spot.
Ethel looked at him sardonically. ‘I’m not an idiot, Jack.’
‘Erm … you’re right.’
‘So?’ she pressed.
‘I’ve just been going for a drink,’ he said with a shrug. ‘Relaxing with a pint. Is that so bad?’
Ethel crossed her arms, unimpressed. ‘I don’t believe you,’ she said.
‘Why not?’
‘Because I followed you last night,’ she said.
Jack felt his insides drop, as though he had missed a step while going down a flight of stairs.
‘You followed me?’ he repeated, his throat dry.
She nodded, a smirk playing across her lips.
‘Why would you do that?’ he demanded.
Ethel shrugged. ‘I wanted to know where you were going.’
‘And?’ he pressed. He feared that she had discovered his secret.
‘You didn’t go to any pub or Inn I know about. You vanished.’
Jack licked his lips nervously. ‘What does that matter?’
‘Look Jack … I like you, a lot. But you have to be careful what you do around here.’ Ethel looked over her shoulder to make sure no one else was listening. ‘So if you’ve got something to confess, say it now.’
‘Or what?’ said Jack, his face stony.
‘Or I go to my father,’ she said seriously.
Jack tried to keep his face impassive. ‘There’s nothing to tell,’ he said.
‘Are you sure?’ said Ethel. ‘Because I think there is.’
Jack needed to come up with a scapegoat, and fast.
‘All right,’ he said, feigning a distressed expression. ‘I’ll tell you. But you can’t tell anyone.’
‘That depends on what it is,’ she said, eyeing him warily.
Jack chewed the inside of his cheek as he thought up an alibi.
‘I’m seeing a woman,’ he lied, ‘on the side.’
‘A mistress?’ asked Ethel.
Jack nodded. The very thought of having a mistress behind Avalon’s back was enough to make him feel physically ill. But if Ethel believed it, the story would have to do.
‘I have to say, I’m disappointed,’ said Ethel, her defensive stance slackening. ‘And a little jealous.’
Jack raised his eyebrows. ‘J-jealous?’
Ethel smirked, eyeing him. ‘If you were looking for fun, you didn’t need to look so far.’
Jack shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what he should say.
‘Uh … well that’s … a nice offer,’ he said, avoiding eye contact.
‘Well, it’s an offer that stands,’ she said. ‘If I’d known you were up for it, I would have asked before.’
‘Right,’ said Jack, wishing this conversation would end. ‘Uh … well, goodnight.’
That night, Jack had no choice but to stay in bed, for fear that Ethel would corner him as he left. He didn’t like the idea of having to scorn her advances. While she was a beautiful woman, Jack was not interested in the slightest. At least she was no longer suspicious, for now. He would just have to be more careful when he went to the H.W.L meetings.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Camryn’s Scorn
AVALON REDDING
I stood, staring at the Forsythe manor, willing myself to take the first steps towards the stables. Hawthorne had deposited me in the woods adjacent to the stables, but that did not make me feel any better about being here. Fae stood next to me, giving me a small shove towards it.
‘What’s the matter?’ she asked. ‘Are you afraid?’
‘I don’t like being back at the manor,’ I admitted. ‘But I’m not afraid.’
To be honest, I was scared of what Camryn would say when she saw me. We hadn’t seen each other in months – not since Jack and I had stolen two Pegasi from her stable and flown to Frost Mountain.
‘She’s going to hate me,’ I said in an undertone.
‘What?’
‘Nothing,’ I shook my head.
‘If she lets us borrow those flying horses, then it’s worth it, right? We need transport to get everyone to Concord city. Terry said he was going to recruit as many people as he could along the way. Not to mention, they’ll come in handy when we attack.’
‘You’re right,’ I said, taking a deep breath. ‘I need to do this.’
‘Want me to come with you?’ asked Fae.
I shook my head. ‘I need to talk to her alone, first. I expect she is rather mad at me. I’ll call you if I need you.’
I made my way forwards, stepping out of the trees. Hawthorne started to follow me, but I shook my head.
‘No, Hawthorne. You stay here, too.’
I heard footsteps near the stable, and instantly hid behind a tree. I watched as a familiar redhead carried two saddles towards the stable doors. Resting them against the wall, she kicked the door open and disappeared inside.
‘Is that her?’ Fae whispered behind me.
I nodded.