The gun rose again, though it was not quite pointing at her. No, rather it lolled to the side, but it was only inches away. If he tightened his grip even a little, it’d be at her again. “Don’t even pretend, Daria.” At her surprise, he said, “I asked around town for your name. You know, no one quite likes you, the strange girl that would rather live alone than marry a man. More than one tried to convince me otherwise about my intention to wed you.”
“Is that so?”
“A few even guessed at your lack of chastity. Who would have guessed it was not mindless slander from uncultured dogs?”
She snorted in incredulity. “Do you think so little of all life then, Mr. Runington?”
“Should I think higher of unlearned peasants in some backwater town?”
What of the sacredness of all creation? What of the beauty of life? Why, she had found friends with the crabs before; she’d sat beside one amazed as it dug its little hole in the sand and made its home. Yet he thought so little ofhumans, his own kind?
“But you did not answer the question,” he persisted. “Have you had that beast inside you, Daria? Because with that expression of outrage, I might dare think you love it.”
“Do you think I wouldn’t be outraged at such vile jabs at my person? First Mr. Wilson, nowcreatures. Am I supposed to remain calm at such accusations?”
He laughed and lowered the gun. “You know, I’m relieved to see you’re so good an actress, my dear. It makes me feel better that you so easily deceived me last time. Otherwise, I, too, would have had to blamethe blood loss.” He eyed her like it was a running joke.
She didn’t care. She didn’t even care to figure out where he was going with this. She started to storm away. She had the perfect excuse to. “Think what you like of me, but I’m going to find Mr. Wilson. You can delay me no longer!”
But apparently he could, for he once again gripped her upper arm with startling strength, like a chain, like a vise.
“I told you he’s dead.”
“And I told you we can’t know that.” Unless he really could. Unless heknewhis shot had killed him. “My God, did you truly kill him?”
“I’m telling youIdidn’t.”
“Then he’s still alive.”
“Because you trust that beast.”
She glared at him. “Because—”
“No,” he said, grip tightening. “I know you do. No need to lie to me anymore.”
“I’m not lying. Now let go!” But he would not budge.
“My dear, that’s all you’ve done.”
“It is not. Let go!”
“It is. I suppose that means you are that monster’s whore. Disappointing, I admit. But seeing as you could never bear its child, I suppose I can accept it.”
“Let go!”
“Never. Daria, be flattered. Be flattered that you’re the one thing I’d choose over that mermaid.”
“Don’t you—” She stopped herself from finishing with ‘touch him’. She didn’t know why, but it felt dangerous to admit she knew him.
But he yanked her so close, smiling at her with a grin like the devil. “What? Hurt him? Oh, I won’t. Or at least not too much. You know, I’m glad, dear, that you love him so. Because that means I can practically bet that he loves you too.”
“No—”
“Don’t bother, darling.” He smiled. “Because I saw the necklace around his neck. And I know where I saw it before.”
CHAPTER 89
Her shock was so strong she jolted back, breaking his hold, though she suspected that was only because he let her do so. She had to stop herself from saying ‘I hate you,’ for he raised the gun once more. “Your shock is so cute,” he said, smiling, but it was wicked on his face. She wondered if he even had another way to smile. “Did you take me for a fool?”
