CHAPTER 66
“Miss Wains,” Mr. Runington started. He had been blissfully silent for the last ten minutes. “Do you believe in ghosts?”
“I do not.”
“Nor I,” he murmured. “You’ve never seen one then, at the lighthouse? I imagine if there ever was a place for them…”
Why? Because of the souls that didn’t get saved?
Was that what he was saying? Because if so, she didn’t like it.
She could feel her guilt stabbing her with the thought of those men she had lost, but it was hardly like she deserved their ire.
She had tried the hardest she could to save them, so even if there were such things as ghosts, why should her lighthouse be a place for them?
And yet, she could think of no other reason that could fuel his words, and he didn’t finish his sentence so she couldn’t know if he had intended anything else. Ass that he seemed to be, she couldn’t imagine it was anything but insulting regardless.
Still, she kept her tone calming. “I’ve never seen a thing,” she assured.
“No? No, no, but of course not.”
Why did it sound as if he was trying to convince himself?
She hated herself for asking, but if it was about Kallias, maybe she could direct his attention elsewhere. “Is something the matter, Mr. Runington?”
“No, I was wondering if that man could have been…no, it’s nothing.”
“Well, I’m sure if he was, I would’ve seen him by now.” Except that she had. Since when had she become such a liar?
She wasn’t convinced her tone was quite right though—so perhaps she was not quite the liar she needed to be—for it came out as almost motherly.
He nodded again. “Yes, forgive me. This is rather unlike me. This perturbation. It must be the blood loss, for Zadock Archibald Runington is not the type to fear anything!” Again, she wondered if he was trying to convince himself.
“I will visit you again once I recover to properly extend my thanks, and then you’ll see the real me. ”
She was absolutely sure she did not want to. “Oh, Mr. Runington, that really isn’t necessary.”
He cut her off. “No, I absolutely insist. I must repay you back in some way, and if you will not leave the lighthouse”—he eyed her again as if looking for a reaction to the contrary, which of course there was none—“then I will have to find some other way to repay you.”
At least he was no longer speaking as if he planned to get her fired. Perhaps after her firmness, he realized that would not work to his favor.
“If you insist,” she said, unable to deny him further without being truly rude. “How about next Tuesday?” She needed him to say a time so she could ensure Kallias would not be around. “As long as the doctors approve it. And of course, if you need to move on before then, I understand.”
He seemed to hesitate for a moment. She wondered if it had to do with shipping and scheduling. No doubt a merchant had deadlines they must meet.
“Again, it is fine if that does not—” she started, but he once again cut her off.
“It will work,” he said, smiling—a smile that was almost evil, though she wasn’t sure why. “Yes, that will work perfectly.”