“I would never drop you.”
“Can’t risk it. I’d rather die by poison than be trampled.”
“You’re not going to die!”
I blinked, my lids closing far longer than they should. “If you say so.”
“I do,” he snapped. “Keep your eyes open, Tessa. For once, do as I say.”
Derrick’s hold tightened as the carriage lurched, arms anchoring me to him, absorbing the worst of the bumps in the road. He smoothed the hair out of my face while I stared up at him, trying to follow his orders. His features were pinched with fear, eyes stormy. People only looked at you that way when you were dying.
“There’s four of you,” I whispered, as his tormented face morphed into many. I struggled against the weight dragging on my eyelids. “Don’t be mad. I can’t handle four mad detectives. One’s bad enough.”
“I’m not mad.” His lips found my temple. Stayed there. A sharp breath expanded his chest, and he choked on it, gathering me closer.
“You never get mad. You get even. I remember.”
“That’s right, I do.” His voice was husky against the side of my neck. “You’re going to let me get even.”
“Maybe. But…just in case…give Vivian my share.”
The carriage seats spun like a top. Black vines slithered into the corners of my vision, spreading faster and faster, blocking everything else out.
“Your share of what?”
“The…reward.”
It was dark all of a sudden. Pitch-black. Like being underwater, Derrick’s frantic cry was a muffled echo in my ears.
Tessa? Tessa!
And then, there was light. Brilliant, crisp, and blinding white. The sensation of being lifted high, floating on air, leaving my body…
Dropping fast to oblivion.
I felt nothing at all.
Chapter 27
“There she is.”
Vivian’s face swam into sight. Easing my eyes open to take in my surroundings, I realized I was in her guest room, propped up on pillows, wearing one of her sleeveless shifts. My clothes had been discarded in a heap near the foot of the bed, blood and grime staining the garments. They needed to be tossed, or better yet, burned. A roll of bandages lay on the side table along with my reference book on poisons. My memory came back all at once, and I groaned.
“Am I dead?”
“Unfortunately, no.” Her lips crooked into a wistful smile. “It’s such a shame too. I’d already figured out how I wanted to spend your share of the reward.”
I scooted back against the pillow, surprised to find my dizziness gone. Even my stomach felt settled. It was a miracle I’d held on to my dignity. There was only a slight twinge in my arm where Helen had cut me with her knife.
“Were you planning to erect a vast monument in my name?”
Vivian blinked. “No, I was going to buy a horse farm.”
“Get out!” I shoved her off the bed with my good arm, and she landed on the carpet, her lips shaking with suppressed laughter.
“Come on, that’s funny. Only you would rant about horses when you’re delirious.”
I squeezed the bridge of my nose. Flashes of mine and Derrick’s woozy conversation made me cringe. Had I really accused him of talking to horses? Thankfully, I’d been on my deathbed, and you could say pretty much anything when you were about to die. That was a rule I was sure had been written down somewhere.
