I stood and glared at her. “Are you kidding? You think I’d accuse someone of murder because they didn’t want to dance with me?” I sliced a hand through the air, not giving her a chance to respond. “This has nothing to do with Darcy turning me down. He could be the prince himself and I still wouldn’t be interested in him. He’s nothing but a stuck-up, know-it-all highborn fae who thinks he can get away with killing someone and framing a witch for his crime.”
“Okay,” she said softly.
“And for the record, I recognized him the moment I saw him in the VIP room, which was well before he was a jerk to me.” I started to storm off.
“Lizzy, wait.” Jane caught my hand and pulled me back down beside her. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m a little overwhelmed by everything that happened, and I worry about accusing someone of murder based on your Portent.”She didn’t repeat her earlier concern about how I’d never really learned to use my fae power, but the words hung unspoken between us.
“I know.” I sighed and forced myself to let go of some of my tension. Most of it wasn’t directed at Jane anyway. “Which is exactly why I’m going to look into this.”
“You are?” She gave me a hopeful smile.
I squeezed her hand. “I promise to have Mom back home in no time. And I can almost guarantee that the first thing she’s going to want to know is if you and Charles exchanged numbers.”
Jane’s shoulders slumped. “In that case, take your time. I don’t want to have to be the one to tell her he didnotask for my number.”
Neither of us said anything, but it was obvious we were both wondering if Mom’s police escort from the club had ruined Jane’s relationship before it even had a chance. I thought of Darcy warning Charles away from my family and scowled.
“Why do you think the police wanted to speak with Mom? They must have had some reason, but I can’t imaginewhat it was.” Jane bit her lip, something she’d done so many times tonight that she’d worn her lipstick clean off.
“I don’t know.” I couldn’t think of any reason besides the fact that Darcy must’ve put them up to it, but Jane didn’t want to hear that. “Mom has nothing to gain from killing a total stranger, and they’ll soon realize how wrong they are.”
“You’re right.” Jane gave me a relieved smile. “It must be a misunderstanding.”
She said it as if the whole situation, including Easton’s death, was a simple mistake. I ground my teeth but folded my hands in my lap before I caught myself waving them around again.
Jane stood and patted my shoulder. “We better go check on everyone. I’m sure they’re worried.”
“Yeah, let’s go inside.” I needed to look up whatever I could about Netherfield Park, Easton Hancock, and Darcy.
Chapter 6
WhenMomstillwasn’thome the next morning, I peeked into Dad’s room to bring him a steaming cup of pumpkin spice tea and let him know Jane and I were going to the station. We’d filled him in on the situation last night.
“Dad?” I whispered, setting the mug down on the bedside table.
“Lizzy?” His scratchy voice wasn’t much better than his ragged breathing. His eyes fluttered open and slowly focused on me. His face, once robust and filled with life, was now pale and drawn from his prolonged battle with the Moonrot ravaging his magic.
Hurriedly, I blinked back the tears trying to escape.
“Is your mother back?”
I tucked his fuzzy blanket more firmly around him, then took his trembling hand. It used to feel so large compared to mine—a hand that could shelter me from the world. But now I only wanted to protect him.
“Not yet,” I said. “Jane and I are going to the station now.”
“How do you think it was?” he asked.
“Mom’s night… away?” I wasn’t sure what to call it. “I’m sure she’s fine.”
“It wasn’t your mother I was worried about.” He gave me a ghost of his old sardonic smile. “I imagine the officers on duty had no idea what they were signing up for when they brought her in. They probably heard more about her nerves and her five single daughters than they cared to.”
I giggled, and the laugh lines around Dad’s eyes deepened as his smile strengthened.
“I should go with you.” He tried to get up but erupted in a fit of coughing.
My chest tightened, and I put a hand on his shoulder and gently pressed him back into bed. “Stay here, Dad. The most important thing you can do is rest.”
“Bring her home, my Lizzy girl.” Dad’s hand gripped mine feebly.
