Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Mallory had visited the riverside market in Danksville on several occasions; she couldn’t recall shopping there because it was out of her way, but her work had brought her into contact with people who frequented the area.
However, she was certain that she’d never spoken to the slightly odd creature wearing a narrow-brimmed hat that was turned up at the back.
She examined the eclectic variety of bits and pieces for sale on the stall, then picked up a small glazed jar that appeared to contain silvered clover leaves. She replaced it and gazed at the stallholder.
‘Mr MacTire,’ they said. ‘It’s been a long time since you’ve honoured us with your presence.’
‘Hello, Trilby.’
The stallholder doffed their hat and glanced at Mallory, who smiled nervously. ‘I’m Trilby,’ they said. Their eyes twinkled and Mallory immediately felt more at ease.
‘Mallory,’ she said, ‘Mallory Nash.’
Trilby’s smile broadened. ‘Ah! You’re Ms Nash! I’ve heard about your exploits.’ Mallory steeled herself for the inevitable squib comment. ‘You’re very skilled and incredibly powerful. There is much to be admired about your work.’
She felt her cheeks turning pink. ‘Thank you.’
Alexander took her hand. ‘I certainly admire her a great deal,’ he said softly and Mallory felt her stomach flip.
Trilby smiled, as if they expected nothing else. ‘Well, what can I do for you today?’
The warmth she was feeling faded, replaced by anxiety. ‘I desperately need a bellarmine jug.’
‘A real bellarmine jug?’
She nodded. ‘One that is empty and can still be used effectively. It’s really important.’
‘Indeed.’ Trilby stroked their chin and considered the matter. ‘Alas, I don’t have any in stock.’
Although Mallory wasn’t surprised, she still felt deflated. ‘I figured.’ Alexander’s hand tightened around hers. ‘Do you know anyone who might have one? Someone who would be willing to part with it for a fee?’
‘I’ll pay whatever it costs,’ Alexander added.
‘I don’t believe that will be necessary,’ Trilby told him. They looked at Mallory. ‘I can tell you where to find a bellarmine jug but I will ask for a boon in return for this information.’
‘Anything,’ Mallory said. ‘Anything at all.’
The stallholder raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s a rather dangerous promise.’
‘I know,’ she replied. ‘I don’t care.’ Mallory meant it. Finding a bellarmine jug meant much more than fulfilling her favour to Chester Longchamps; it meant she could guarantee Alexander’s safety – at least from the vampires.
Trilby gazed at her. ‘Well, I don’t expect this will be dangerous to fulfil. It should be rather easy, given your contacts.’
‘Go on.’
‘There is a ban sith who is having some … difficulties. She needs somewhere safe to stay for an undisclosed period of time.’
Mallory blinked: that was easy. ‘No problem. She can stay with me. I have a sofa bed and…’
Trilby was already shaking their head. ‘No.’
‘I have plenty of room,’ Alexander said. ‘She can come to the MacTires.’
‘No,’ they said firmly. ‘That won’t work either. The ban sith requires space and privacy. It would be preferable if you were to call in a favour with another client who has a self-contained flat to rent.’ They shrugged. ‘Or something like that.’
There was something that Trilby wanted specifically, but they weren’t willing to say aloud. ‘There’s an ogre on my books who owns several properties in Bellsworth,’ Mallory offered.
‘That’s an option,’ Trilby said. ‘But I think this particular ban sith is keen to reside somewhere here in Danksville.’
Kit McCafferty immediately flashed into Mallory’s mind. ‘Does this ban sith like cats?’
Trilby smiled. ‘Doesn’t everyone?’
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ she said.
‘That’s all I can ask.’ They returned a satisfied nod. ‘Very well. I can tell you both that many moons ago I sold a number of magical items to a werewolf. One of those items was a bellarmine jug.’
Alexander was already leaning forward. This was good news. He was perfectly placed to strike a deal with any werewolf in Coldstream. ‘And you think this werewolf still owns it?’
‘The werewolf in question is now dead.’
Goddamnit. What use was that? Mallory ground her teeth in frustration.
Trilby hadn’t finished. ‘As far as I’m aware, his heir has not sold any of his father’s items. He likely doesn’t realise what he has.’
If that were true, it would mean that this unnamed werewolf probably didn’t care about the jug. He might be persuaded to part with it.
‘Who?’ Alexander demanded. ‘Who are you talking about?’
Trilby’s smile widened. ‘That part’s easy. I’m talking about you.’ Alexander rocked back on his heels as the stallholder continued. ‘I sold your father a bellarmine jug almost eighteen years ago. Unless you’ve sold it after his untimely death, Mr MacTire, it should still be in your main residence.’
Back at the MacTire stronghold they burst through the gates, past the guards on duty in the courtyard and ran inside. Hannah was in the main lobby. ‘Is everything alright?’ she asked.
‘Fine,’ Alexander said. ‘Hunky-dory.’
She glanced at Mallory, undisguised hope flaring in her eyes.
‘We’re heading to the basement,’ Alexander told her.
Her optimistic expression faltered. ‘The basement? But…’
‘It’s fine, Hannah,’ Mallory said.
‘Should I come with you?’
Alexander and Mallory glanced at each other then simultaneously shook their heads. ‘No,’ Alexander said. ‘In fact, some privacy would be welcome.’ He pointed to an unobtrusive door behind the grand staircase. ‘It’s this way,’ he told Mallory.
She smiled uncertainly at Hannah and followed him. It seemed too much to hope that there really was a bellarmine jug in a dusty old box in the MacTire basement, but she felt hope all the same.
The stairs leading downwards were rickety, and their creaks bounced off the old walls until it sounded as if they were listening to an orchestra of strange sounds.
On another occasion Mallory might have paused to enjoy the oddly melodic cacophony but today she simply stayed hot on Alexander’s heels.
At the bottom he led her down a dusty corridor.
‘The wine cellar is that way and that room to the left has all sorts of old crap in it.’ They passed it.
‘This one is where all my father’s stuff was stored after he died.
I don’t normally come in here, but I did last month when his study was finally cleared out. ’
Mallory nodded mutely. He turned to look at her. ‘You do realise that I only changed the décor to impress you?’
‘You don’t have to do anything to impress me, Alex,’ she said softly.
His eyes darkened. ‘Yes, I do.’ He turned into the old store room and flicked on a light.
Mallory’s mouth dropped. She’d been expecting a lot of boxes but the piles of them were innumerable.
‘Yeah,’ Alexander said. ‘My father liked owning things. He saw everything as a possession, and the more he owned the happier he felt.’ He cast a critical eye around the room. ‘It might take a while to find the jug. Maybe I ought to get the others down here to help.’
‘No.’ Mallory couldn’t say why but it was important that she and Alexander completed this search. ‘Let’s do this together, just you and me.’
His eyes gleamed suddenly. ‘As you wish, honey.’
For a moment, they gazed at each other then she turned to the first box. ‘Come on,’ she whispered. ‘Where are you?’ She flipped open the lid and started to rummage.
The box was full of random objects. Mallory found a pair of antique candlesticks that appeared to be hundreds of years old and fashioned using druidic magic.
They were nestled next to a grubby teddy bear with glass eyes that certainly possessed no magic properties whatsoever.
There was also a collection of old coins in a battered tin.
‘I’d forgotten half this stuff existed.’ Alexander’s head was buried in another box. ‘I should have got rid of it all years ago.’
‘I’m glad you didn’t.’ There was no guarantee that they’d find a bellarmine jug – it might have been broken or sold off by Alexander’s father – but she felt deep inside that they would, and it would be intact. Everything was going to be fine.
She moved to the second box. Nothing there. She pushed it aside and grabbed the third one: again, no jug. She was stretching up to pull down a fourth box when Alexander cleared his throat. ‘Here,’ he said. ‘Here it is.’
Mallory turned. When she saw the jug in his hands, she closed her eyes for a second then she gently took it and turned it over to examine it. It was, without doubt, genuine.
‘You found it,’ she breathed. ‘You did it. It’s going to be a happy ending.’
‘No. Not yet.’ He took the jug from her, wrapped it carefully and placed it inside a smaller box. ‘For one thing, I didn’t do it. We did it.’ He put the box on the floor.
She smiled happily as the pain and trauma of the last month slid into oblivion. ‘It’s almost impossible to believe that jug was hiding in your basement all this time.’
‘It’s amazing what can hide in plain sight.’ Alexander wasn’t smiling; in fact, there was an intensity to his gaze that spoke of serious matters. He reached out and cupped her face. ‘I’m sorry, Mallory. I’m sorry for so much.’
She opened her mouth to speak but he shook his head. ‘I’m sorry because I knew I’d fallen in love with you the first time I saw you with that bastard Ferguson, and I didn’t tell you.’
Her breath caught. He’d said the words and made it real. She didn’t trust herself to react and instead seized on the one thing that didn’t seem important. ‘Liam’s not a bastard, Alex.’
‘I know that, too. That’s what makes it worse.
’ He stared into her eyes, his gaze gentle and fierce at the same time.
‘I tried so many times to tell you how I felt, but every time I got close you mentioned that damned contract! You were helping me to find my fucking First Mate when all I wanted was for you to be my mate. Everyone thought I was nuts for not telling you. Even Cathy West told me to man up.’
Mallory stared at him. ‘She did?’