Kate didn’t wait to hear any more. She left Tina wallowing in her grievances and made for the stairs.
‘You could have him for assault!’ she heard Julie say.
‘I’ve a good mind to. And all I said was?—’
Kate was at the foot of the stairs but turned back and marched up to Tina. ‘Whatdid you say?’ she demanded, forgetting to be intimidated by her.
Tina regarded her coldly. ‘I just said I didn’t see why he was making such a fuss. Will hated his father when he was alive. He’s just being a hypocrite, playing the drama queen now that he’s dead.’
‘Yousaidthat to him?’
‘Oh come on, it’s the truth – you know it as well as I do. He wouldn’t give the man the time of day when he was alive so it’s a bit late to be playing the dutiful son now, don’t you think?’
‘I’m not surprised he threw a vase at you.’
‘He lost it because he knows it’s true,’ Tina snapped. ‘Everyone knows he hated his father.’
‘God, you’re so stupid!’ Kate said scornfully, turned on her heel and made for the stairs.
As she approached the door of Will’s room, Kate started to lose her nerve. She wasn’t any good at this sort of thing – she never knew what to say or if it was better to say nothing. She wished Lorcan was there. Still, worrying about feeling shy and awkward at a time like this was selfish. She should think of Will and what he must be going through.
She knocked timidly on the door of his room. When there was no reply, she pushed it open tentatively.
‘Who is it?’ Will was sitting on the bed.
‘Just me,’ she said apologetically.
At the sound of her voice, Will’s body relaxed and his features softened. She took in the lines of strain in his face.
‘Kate.’ He stood up, plunging his hands deep into his pockets. ‘What can I do for you?’ he asked. It broke Kate’s heart that he even mustered a weak smile.
‘Nothing!’ She was appalled that he thought she was coming to him with some problem.
He was looking at her expectantly.
She took a deep breath. ‘Will, I’m so sorry about your father,’ she said softly. ‘I’ve just heard.’
Will pressed a fist to his mouth and swallowed hard. His face crumpled and a muscle twitched in his cheek.
‘Come in.’ He frowned when he had regained his composure as Kate hovered in the doorway. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t throw any vases at you.’
As she moved into the room, Kate’s eye was caught by the huge blue vase that lay shattered in the corner.
‘I could have hit her if I’d wanted to,’ Will said, following her gaze. ‘I didn’t throw it anywhere near her.’
‘I’m surprised youdidn’twant to. I heard what she said.’
‘I suppose she’s making the most of it?’
‘Yes,’ Kate said. ‘She’s downstairs telling her coven what a brute you are.’
‘Probably wondering how best to spin it to the papers. I think she’d be happier if I hadn’t missed – it would have made a better story.’
‘Mmm. I did get the impression she was a bit miffed not to have any scars.’
‘Well, the night is young,’ Will said grimly.
Kate had never seen him like this before. He seemed dangerously on edge, pacing agitatedly around the room like a caged tiger. In this mood, it was easy to see how Tina had come a cropper by saying the wrong thing.
