On the floor beside the wall, she discovered three drops of blood—still wet.
Lyssa fell to her knees, frightened. She touched the blood with the tip of her finger. Then she saw the edge of his knapsack strap hidden behind the bed curtains.
Ian didn’t go anywhere without his knapsack.
Grabbing the strap, she pulled the leather bag out and came to her feet. Slowly, she walked the perimeter of the room, hunting for other clues as to what may have happened.
The water basin and pitcher were bone dry. She knew her man. If he had a chance to shave, he would take it.
Against her chest, she could feel the shape of the pistol in the soft leather of the knapsack. She had to believe Ian was all right. He was a big man and a clever one. He could not be taken easily. For a moment, she tested her senses. She did not feel he was dead—certainly she would know if he was!—but he had to be in danger.
Lyssa sat on the edge of the bed. What would Ian do in these circumstances? How would he react?
He’d get out of the room before he was discovered.
She didn’t hesitate but hopped up and ran to the door. Outside, the hall was still empty. Taking care to quietly shut the door to the White Room when she left, she raced for her room and didn’t breathe again until she’d safely closed the door behind her.
Turning, she was startled to see Anice standing by the dresser, studying the tarot card.
Lyssa choked back a gasp of surprise. Finding her voice, she managed to ask, “What are you doing here?” while carefully lowering the heavy knapsack to the floor behind the door with one hand. She prayed her skirts would hide what she was doing.
Anice didn’t offer apology or explanation. Nor did she seem to notice the knapsack. Instead, she looked at Lyssa with bright eyes and said, “What is this?” She held up the Knight of Swords.
“A tarot card.”
“What is that?”
“A fortune-telling scheme.”
Anice restudied the card and then laughed lightly. “So this card holds your future?”
“My fate. There is a difference,” Lyssa corrected, before asking bluntly, “Is there something I can do for you?”
“I came to escort you down to dinner…but you weren’t here. The maid should clean up your bath.”
“I dismissed her before she had a chance. She can do it later.”
“Yes.” A cool smile curved her cousin’s lips. “Where were you?”
Lyssa felt her heart beat slow down and replied with equal serenity, “I was looking for you. I thought you’d already gone downstairs.”
Anice raised delicately arched eyebrows, appraising Lyssa’s answer and she knew Ian’s suspicions had been right. She did not trust anyone under this roof.
“Well, now that we’ve found each other,” Anice said, “shall we go down to dinner?”
“After you, cousin,” Lyssa answered, conscious of the knapsack lying close to her feet behind the open door. If Anicehadnoticed, she didn’t say a word. Instead, she swept past Lyssa as if it were her due to go first.
Lyssa shut the door behind her, praying the knapsack would be all right. The maid would be up to clean the room. She prayed the lazy girl would not find its presence amiss.
Her heart in her throat, she forced a smile. “Thank you for letting me wear your dress.”
Her cousin gave her a critical eye. “It looks well on you. But then,youare accustomed to beautiful clothes, aren’t you?”
“I suppose.”
“It must be enjoyable to have all the money you could wish for,” Anice allowed, starting toward the front staircase.
Lyssa didn’t answer. Instead, she paused in front of the door to the White Room. “Shouldn’t we wait for Mr. Campion?”
