Chapter 24 #3
“Verity told me what happened, but I would like to hear it from you. And please, do not lie, and do not stretch the truth. I like to believe that I can trust you, but if I sense that you are trying to mislead me …” He looked down at her, his expression a warning. “It will not end well for you.”
“What are you saying?”
“What were you doing in my wife’s writing room?”
Her eyes widened, and even before she spoke, Alaric sensed the lie. “Nothing. I was just … I was just passing by, is all.”
“And Lord Crispin?” he pressed her. “Was he there before or after you entered the room?”
She did not answer him. She did not look up. Her body shook, her hands fidgeted, and Alaric knew that whatever she might say would be a lie. In that way, it was somewhat of a relief that she said nothing.
“My sister claims that she came upon you and Lord Crispin in an argument,” he continued. “She claims that you had the dog set on him. Is she lying?”
Miss Kavanagh hesitated. “I did not … Muirne was attacking him, but only because she thought that I was in danger.”
“In danger? From Lord Crispin?”
She nodded carefully, but still she did not look up.
“And why did she think you were in danger? What were the two of you arguing about?”
Again, she said nothing.
“Miss Kavanagh, I suggest that you answer me. You have been accused of a most heinous action, and unless you give me a reason to think otherwise, I will have no choice but to believe my sister’s accusations. Now, what were you and Lord Crispin arguing about?”
“Please.” Her voice was so soft that he hardly heard it. “I cannot tell you that. But I promise, it has nothing to do with what happened.”
“And why can you not tell me?”
She said nothing as she continued to look down at her lap.
Alaric groaned inwardly. He had not wanted to believe his sister. In fact, he was desperate to find her in a lie – if Miss Kavanagh had offered him anything at all, the barest morsel of an excuse, he would have taken it.
She gave him nothing, and that was as good as admitting the truth.
“What of after?” Alaric pressed, his tone turning sharp. “When my sister was pushed from the window?”
“Pushed?” Her head snapped up in surprise. “She was not pushed. She fell.”
“Did she? My sister claims that she was pushed.” He continued to look down at her in accusation. “She claims that you pushed her.”
“No!” Miss Kavanagh cried. “That is a lie! I would never! Lady Verity was standing by the window’s edge and she … she fell.” She bit her lip, chin trembling, unable to meet Alaric’s gaze. “It was an accident, is all. You must believe me.”
“And why was she by the window? What reason could there have been?”
“Please …” Tears started to fall from her eyes. “I cannot say. It is not my place to tell you.”
“Say something,” Alaric growled as the anger started to rise in him. “You have been accused of attacking my cousin, as you have been accused of pushing my sister from the window. I am giving you a chance to explain yourself, Miss Kavanagh, which you are refusing to do. Tell me what happened.”
“I cannot.” She looked down again, and her body seemed to shrink as if she was trying to become invisible. “All I can do is ask that you believe me. That you … that you trust that I would never do such a thing.”
“And why should I?” Alaric asked darkly. “Why should I trust you at all?”
She winced. “That is for you to decide. But know that I would never lie to you, Lord Thornwyck. All I have done … since I came here … you are the one person I have trusted, who I have … I would never do anything to hurt you.”
God, how he wanted to believe her!
Alaric stood back from where Miss Kavanagh sat, as if to come close might see him break and be pulled to her. She looked so fragile on that bed, so broken, in need of comfort and care. She needed him.
Alaric wanted to go to her. Even now, with all that had happened, he felt that same desire build inside of him that was commonplace whenever he was with Miss Kavanagh.
But his sister’s warning echoed in his mind. She claimed that Miss Kavanagh was a witch, and that everything Alaric felt was because of this. Had any of it been real? Or was it all part of some spell? Some plan she had enacted to lower his defenses and take control of him?
It made him sick to consider. His insides roiled. His body trembled. The anger battled against the sadness, the need to be strong against the desire to believe this woman who was so much more to him than he could admit.
“Very well.” Alaric turned his back on Miss Kavanagh, unable to look at her for fear of what that might do. “If you will not explain yourself, I have no choice but to believe my sister’s claim.”
She wept behind him, and the sound crashed upon Alaric so that he felt its suffocating weight.
“You are to remain in Thornwyck Hall, Miss Kavanagh, until I decide what is to be done. If you wish to tell me what really happened, send for me, and I will listen. But until then …” He grimaced through the agony of the moment. “Do not think of leaving the estate.”
With that said, Alaric stormed from Miss Kavanagh’s room and slammed the door closed behind him. It felt prophetic in that way, as if he was not just closing the door on the room, but on her and his relationship. And whether it might open again … that will be up to her.