“It’s for the best,” Cynthia said, putting a hand on Derrick’s shoulder. “You’re going to be the director at the Royal Agency. There are regulations to follow. We can’t allow you to be blinded to your duties by your feelings for Tessa.”
“No, Mother.” He shook her hand off and backed us up a step.
I looked past him, acknowledging the room had turned on me. Fear and accusation clouded the air, and nothing I could say was going to change anything. I had to give him the space he needed to investigate. With me out of the way, he could focus on getting answers.
I blew out a breath and released his hand, stepping out from behind him. “If it makes everyone feel better, I’ll go.”
Derrick grappled for me, but I danced out of his reach. “Tessa, no. You shouldn’t be alone. I don’t care if you’re behind lock and key—I refuse to leave you by yourself.”
“It’s okay. I trust you. It’s only until you figure things out and find the actual killer.”
“Tessa—” He scrubbed a hand through his hair, tormented by the decision.
Edward stepped forward and tapped his cane against the floor. “I’ll go with her. Derrick’s right—no one should be alone. Do your job, son. I’ll watch over Tessa.” He resettled his spectacles on his nose and gave me an encouraging smile. “There’s a pantry down the hall that can be locked from the outside. We’ll go there. It will be the safest place and the most secure.”
“Agreed,” Harold said.
Everything happened quickly after that.
They moved us down the hall, and when the door to the pantry opened, I peered inside. The room had a musty smell, but at least it wasn’t chilly. It was spacious enough, filled with boxes stacked along one wall and shelving units stocked with various essentials. One rack was loaded with bottles of wine, and suddenly, my makeshift prison didn’t seem so bad. If I was going to be accused of murder, at least I wouldn’t have to go through it sober.
I stepped inside before I could change my mind. Edward followed, dusting off a trunk and using it as an improvised chair.
“Can we get a few of those fluffy pillows from the parlor before we’re imprisoned?” He leaned his cane against a cabinet and settled back against the wall, completely at ease with his predicament.
Derrick stood in the doorway, then he closed the distance between us. He took my face in his hands.
“I don’t like this.”
I pulled him closer and whispered, “I threw the apple that was used as a murder weapon out the window this morning. Whoever killed Mae retrieved it from the snow. Also, she was clutching the haircomb in her hand when I found her. She told me yesterday that it went missing, and she lied about meeting Richard in the woods. I don’t know why, but it’s going to be up to you to figure it out.” I ran my fingers through the hair at the back of his neck and smiled. “But be quick about it. I’m not a huge fan of enclosed spaces.”
He pressed his forehead against mine. “I’m sorry this is happening. I’ll figure it out. Stay safe.”
“I’ll be fine. I have Edward and enough wine to fill a tub.”
Cynthia returned to the pantry and passed the pillows Edward had requested through the door. She also left us with a lamp and a pair of blankets. Her gaze met mine, and something flashed in her eyes. It seemed to border on respect, but that emotion was so unlikely coming from her that I chalked it up to the craziness of the moment.
“See—I have pillows too. All the comforts of home.” I went up on my toes and gave Derrick a quick kiss before nudging him toward the door. “Go. You have a job to do.”
His mother handed him a key while I fluffed a pillow and sat next to Edward.
Derrick’s eyes held mine until the door closed and the lock engaged. A strange silence fell as I tried not to contemplate the gravity of our situation. It was going to be a long night.
“What do we do now?” I asked Edward.
He considered my question, taking a moment to buff the lenses of his spectacles with the blanket. “I suppose we could play a game to pass the time.”
“A game?” Sarcasm dripped from my tone. “Derrick is out there hunting a killer, and you want to play a game? If that’s the case, why didn’t you ask for the chessboard instead of the pillows?”
Edward lifted a bushy brow and chuckled. “I didn’t think of the chessboard. But if you want to hunt killers that badly, we could do that too.” He snapped his fingers. “I have an idea. While Derrick has everyone convened in the parlor answering questions, you and I could go search Mae’s room.”
The man was insane. I rubbed my temples, but it did nothing to ease the ache pounding through my head.
“And how are we supposed to do that from inside the pantry? Or have you forgotten we’re surrounded by a pile of boxes and a cabinet full of flour?”
He frowned. “I thought you were a witch. Do something magical.” Pointing to the back of the pantry where the boxes were stacked, he said, “Go ahead—open the wall.”
I scoffed. “Has the storm addled your brain? I can’t just open a wall. That’s not how my magic works.”
