She looked at me, her head tipping to the side, causing her transparent curls to fall over one shoulder. “I’m curious. What changed your mind?”
“Frank and Lydia were implicated, so I felt obligated to look into it.”
“Frank? Oh yes, I get it. I thought there was something there when you spoke of him.”
“We’re dating,” I said, still amazed that I was able to say such a thing after all these years of assuming he was unattainable for someone like me. Frank Churchill was mine.
Isabella inhaled, gazing upward at the sun. “This feels… right. Thank you, Mary. Now that I know that my killer has been found and imprisoned, I’m at peace.”
“So, no more unfinished business?” I asked. “Do you think you’re ready to move on?”
“Ibelieve I am.” She offered me a smile. “Tell Frank he better treat you well because if he doesn’t, I’ll come back from the grave just to haunt him.”
I smiled in return. “I’ll tell him.”
“And take good care of Duchess. Heaven knows whatherunfinished business may be.”
I released a high-pitched laugh, more than a little unsettled at that disturbing thought.
“Oh, and one more thing. I know my body will be buried here soon. But perhaps the reason that we could meet here had nothing to do with where my body was, but that this is where your connection to the dead is the strongest, so this is where my spirit manifested.”
I blinked in surprise. “Perhaps you’re right.”
She scooped up Duchess, who’d abandoned the butterfly to snuggle against Isabella’s side. “Don’t give up on us, Mary. There will be others who need your help. The living and the dead.”
“Frank met the other werewolves after he changed back on the full moon. He knows who they are. And Lydia has promised to teach me lessons in potion-making. With Frank’s assistance, we’ll work to make sure that thewerewolves of Austen Heights get their wolfsbane potions on time.”
She patted Duchess’s head and shut her eyes. “Then I can truly rest. It was a pleasure getting to know you, Mary Bennet.”
“The pleasure was mine, Isabella. Rest well.”
She set Duchess on the ground. The air was cool, carrying the sweet scent of lavender and fresh earth, and the sound of rustling leaves whispered like a gentle lullaby. As the last rays of sunlight kissed the horizon, Isabella, clothed in mist, gave one final, contented sigh, her form dissolving into the embrace of the twilight. There was no fear now, no yearning, just a peaceful surrender to the stillness of the cemetery where the gravestones stood, quiet guardians in the soft afternoon glow.
Chapter 18
AsIwalkedfromthe cemetery, I found Brexton waiting outside it, his lips pulled into a frown.
“I heard what happened to your mom,” he said, worry clouding his expression. “Is there anything you’d like to talk about?”
I shook my head a little too quickly. “No.”
He shot me a knowing look but didn’t press. “If you change your mind, remember that the chapel doors are always open.”
The wind lifted his sandy locks, his reddish-brown eyes somehow looked even more red as the sun shone off ofthem. “You’re a good assistant pastor. What you said helped me.”
“I strive to do that every once in a while.” His grin widened, and then he sobered. “And if things end up not working out with Frank, be assured there is a half-fae, half-dragon shifter who would gladly take his place.”
My mouth fell open, a blush creeping up my cheeks. “Oh.”
He held up his hands. “No need to respond. I understand that was hugely awkward, but now that you know the truth about me, you should be aware that dragons aren’t always tactful. And it’s clear to me now that I should have made a move sooner rather than waiting.”
My teeth sank into my lip. How did I go from being unnoticed by men to having two interested in dating me simultaneously?
But Brexton didn’t seem put off by my lack of response. He presented me with a small smile. “Have a good one, Mary. I’ll see you tomorrow.” And with that, he turned and walked back to the church.
That night, Lizzy and Jane came over. Lydia was unusually tight-lipped, and I wasn’t in the mood to giveanother rundown, so Kitty was left to explain the news about Mom.
“This is silly,” Lizzy stormed. “They really think Mom killed someone again?”
