We followed the path that led around the oak wood to the gap in the hedgerow—the same one I passed every day. I had never expected to find myself on this side of the hedge and wished I could take everything in. Instead I kept my head tucked against the rain.
After a few minutes we reached the road—deserted in the violent weather—and started for Carbis. When finally we arrived at our cottage door, it felt wrong not asking Mr. Tregarrick to step insideout of the weather. But of course I couldn’t, and he was already taking his leave anyway.
“You feel well enough to remain here on your own until your brother comes home?”
“Yes, I’m much recovered, and I must thank you again, sir. I believe you may have saved my life.”
“I believe I may have, too. I know I have no right to ask you to do anything, but please—for my sake if not for your own—take more care, Mina Penrose.”
The chill brought on by my wet clothing fled as he spoke my name.
He was turning to go, but then he stopped and said, “Might you have a cross you can wear?”
Across? I frowned. “My mother wore one that I still have, though I’ve never worn it myself. You don’t mean for ... forprotection?”
“I know it may sound strange, and I confess I don’t think of myself as a religious man, despite the fact I live in a chapel. But would you ... would you wear it forme?”
For him! My heart skittered to a stop. The request so surprised me that my wits fled, and I didn’t ask what I really should have—what did he know about the creature that had killed Mr. Roscoe that made him think it might be bothered by a cross?
Instead, I replied, “If you like.” Then, on impulse: “May I knowyourname, sir?”
“That’s just whatI’dlike to know.”
I gasped at the sound of Jack’s voice. He stood a few yards behind Mr. Tregarrick, on the road in front of the cottage.
Stories
Mr. Tregarrick turned as Jack approached. How I hoped he wouldn’t notice Jack’s slight sway—but he didn’t seem to miss much.
“Mr. Penrose,” he said politely, “I am Harker Tregarrick.”
Jack’s eyes widened. “Tregarrick!” He looked our neighbor up and down. “Not the Tregarrick of Roche Rock?”
“The very one. Your sister had a fall out on the heath. She hit her head, and I walked her home to make sure she got here safely.”
I wondered at him not mentioning the attack, though I was in enough trouble as it was and certainly hadn’t intended to tell Jack myself. Thankfully he had also left out the detail of my brief stay under his roof.
My chest tightened as Jack’s head swiveled in my direction. “On theheath, you say? I think you must be mistaken, sir, since I told her she was to stay near the house.”
“I ...” began Mr. Tregarrick, eyes moving from Jack to me.
“Thank you for seeing me home, sir,” I said, trying to hurry him along before Jack could cause trouble. “I’ll be all right now.”
Taking the hint, he tipped his hat and said, “Good evening, Miss Penrose. Mr. Penrose.”
Jack glared after him as he turned for home. The gentleman’s figure dissolved quickly in the twilight, rain, and fog.
My heart thumped against my ribs as I turned and went inside the cottage. I took a match from the box by the cookstove and lit the oil lamp and candles.
“Mina,” said Jack in a cold, hard voice.
Waving the match out, I closed my eyes and mouthed an oath before facing him. “You’re home early, Jack. Is The Wolf’s Head still standing?”
Though I hated fighting with my brother, I had never been afraid of him. But until now I’d never seen him so angry he couldn’t form words. His watery, bloodshot eyes seemed to bulge from holding it all in.
Best to have it out and over with.
“Well?” I goaded.
