The door opened again, and I hoped to see Derrick, but it was Isabelle. She walked into the parlor with a pronounced limp and gingerly leaned against the back of the sofa. Placing a hand over her heart, she shook her head in an over-the-top display of distress, and a wave of glossy black locks fell over her shoulder. Dry locks that mocked the damp hair hanging down my back.
“Tessa, how terrifying. You almost died. You really should be more careful! First, you’re almost shot, then you’re nearly drowned. I hate to think what could happen next.”
My fingers curled into fists under the blanket. Her fake sincerity made my blood boil. How was I the only one who could see it? It was bad enough she tripped and fell right when Derrick was going to search the shed, possibly giving whoever had been hiding back there time to circle around the edge of the pond.
“How’s your ankle, Isabelle?”
She made a noise in the back of her throat and winced. “It’s still very painful.”
Cynthia moved to her side, but not before darting a hesitant look in my direction. “Come along, Isabelle. Let’s let Tessa rest for a while. I’ll have Mae get you some ice for your ankle.” She offered her arm, and Isabelle latched on, limping toward the door.
Mae followed, keeping her head low to avoid any further questions.
The door closed behind them, and I sat in silence, my head spinning. This trip was unbelievable. I couldn’t have made up this insanity if I’d tried.
I rested my head against the sofa and sipped deeply from the hot tea. It warmed my insides, and the constant heat from the hearth made my limbs feel heavy.
For a long time, I watched the flames flicker, replaying every minute since I’d arrived here in my mind. Something strange was happening. There were dangerous secrets hidden at Fairwood. And the question now was whether I could stay alive long enough to uncover them.
Chapter 7
Drowsy and content, I tugged the blanket closer to my chin and snuggled deeper into the warmth. The fire in the hearth flared, snapping and cracking and giving off a pleasant wood-burning scent. I had no idea how much time had passed or how long I’d slept, and I didn’t care. I was warm and safe, and I never wanted to leave.
Wake me up when the trip is over.
Gentle fingers smoothed the hair away from my temple, and I peeked through my lashes at the hazy image of Derrick curled up on the sofa beside me. His arm was wrapped around me, and my head rested under his chin. The blanket covered us both with its comfortable weight, though I’d pulled it off his feet when I gathered it around my shoulders.
“I know you’re awake,” he said softly, continuing to stroke my hair.
I turned my head to look up at him. Shadows played across his features, and his eyes were solemn pools that reflected the intensity behind his gaze. He ran his fingers along my jawline, warming a path across my skin.
“What gave me away?”
“Years of training and a finely tuned sense of others.”
The familiar words made me smile. “So modest and impressive.” I narrowed my gaze. “It was because I stopped snoring, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
I stretched my legs and then tucked my feet between his. “How long have you been in here? It’s dark out.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t know. A long time. I had to see for myself that you were okay, and then I didn’t want to leave.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling. How’s Richard?”
“He’s exhausted but fine. What about you? Do you need anything?”
“No, and don’t even think about getting up. You’re keeping me warm.”
“Tessa—” His voice lowered, and he had to clear his throat before he could speak again. “You scared me. When we pulled you out of the water, I thought you were dead.” He closed his eyes, and I knew he was reliving that moment. “I wasn’t even there when you fell. It was my fault—”
“Hey, no! I’m fine. I’m right here.” I tried to sit up, but he tightened his hold until I relaxed against him. “It wasn’t your fault. It was an…” I left the sentence unfinished. I planned to say “accident,” but I wasn’t sure that was true anymore. If the same person who’d shot at me in the woods had lured me to a vulnerable spot in the pond, how could I convince myself it wasn’t on purpose?
Derrick sighed and rested his head against the back of the sofa. “This trip has been a nightmare, and we’ve only been here for two days.”
“It hasn’t been that bad. I mean, dinner last night was quite good. Remember the bisque and the sorbet—?”
“You’ve almost died! Twice.”
