She looked back over to the rock. “There?” she asked, moving over the rocks towards it, and then reaching it, she stood on the top and play-searched, looking into the depths. She tried hard to not look further right at her mermaid pressed against a rock like he was trying to become one with it. “Yes, Mr. Runington”—she tried to really look like she was looking—“I really don’t see a thing or I would dive in.”
“Oh, no, no, that won’t be necessary, Miss Wains. If you say you see nothing…”
“I really don’t.”
He looked perturbed. “But I thought…”
“Mr. Runington, I believe hallucinations are not at all uncommon with severe blood loss. That’s why we must get you to a doctor as soon as possible.”
Now he looked all too ready to comply. “Yes, yes, and I need to see the crew.”
“Exactly,” she said as soothingly as possible as she hopped back over the rocks, one hand out to direct him to the boat. “In fact, why don’t you lie down? You were feeling lightheaded earlier, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was. How did you know?” He was all too cooperative now and he lay down in the front.
“Oh, I’m very perceptive,” she said, pressing out another smile, trying to make it as warm as possible.
“It must be the second and third aid you know so well,” he said, teasing, but his voice sounded weak, as if now he was truly concerned with his health.
“Yes, that’s it exactly,” she said, so, so thankful he had lain down or otherwise he’d be facing Kallias when they exited the cove. Either way, she hoped Kallias had gone back under just on the off chance he sat up again.
“Here. I even brought a blanket,” she said tenderly, unfolding it and draping it over him before he had had a chance to say a thing. “With less blood, it’ll be harder to stay warm.”
She had no idea if that was true or not, but he nodded like it was. “That makes sense.”
“Now, let’s get you to the doctor.”
Perhaps she should go herself for her heart still seemed to be spasming and her chest felt near to erupting from stress. But it was fine. All she had to do was take him back to town. Simple. Very simple. She would row him back and out of her life forever, and he would be nothing but a distant memory.
And on those calm seas, she prayed—oh, how she prayed—that he’d never think of Kallias—or her—again.
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—soperhaps 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.”
