The knock came again, firmer this time.
Chapter 20
Cormac wasn’t strong enough to hurry, but he tried anyway. Rolling off the bed, he hit the floor with a soft thud and a groan of pain.
“Is everything all right?” came a man’s voice from the other side of the door.
Aoife glanced at Cormac, checking he was hidden from sight before she nodded to Clara. Clara cracked the door open an inch.
“Everything’s fine,” she said.
There was a pause. Alton’s voice again. “It sounded like something fell.”
“We’re fine.”
In the silence that followed, Clara shifted her weight from foot to foot.
“Was there something you needed?” she asked finally.
“I think I should check everything is all right for myself,” he said, and pushed the door open before she could stop him.
Clara tried to hold him back, but he was stronger. The door swung wide.
Aoife leapt from the bed, still in her night robe. “You can’t barge into a lady’s room!” she said sharply.
Alton ignored her. His gaze swept the room, landing on the bed, the dishevelled sheets, the bloodstain. He stepped forward, and Aoife moved to block him, but he moved her gently aside.
His eyes fell on Cormac.
For a long moment, no one moved.
Then Alton took a step closer.
Cormac struggled upright, reaching blindly for the nearest object. He found the fire poker and lifted it with both hands, holding it out in defence.
Alton stopped at once. “Easy,” he said.
Cormac’s breath came shallow, sweat standing out on his forehead. He leaned against the wall to stay upright. “Close the door,” he said.
Clara obeyed.
“I can’t let you leave,” Cormac said, his voice shaking with effort. “You tell him I’m here and you’ll doom them both. They didn’t have a choice.”
The poker trembled in his grip.
Alton took a step forward. He reached out with one hand and easily pushed the fire poker aside. He took another step towards Cormac and caught him as he wobbled. “Sit down before you fall down,” he said, and eased the poker from Cormac’s hands. Cormac resisted for a heartbeat, then sagged.
Alton helped him lie on the bed, lifting his legs carefully. “I’m not going to tell him,” he said. “For the same reason you don’t want me to.”
Cormac looked at him, understanding dawning. He let out a long breath and sank into the pillows.
Aoife spoke first. “You’re not going to tell Lord Halverton?”
“You know I can’t,” Alton said. “Not without dragging Clara down with you. But listen to me, if he finds this boy here, it won’t be lashes. It’ll be the gallows. For all of you.” His voice caught as he looked at Clara.
“I’ll leave tonight,” Cormac said, eyes closed.
Aoife shook her head. “You’re not strong enough.”
