He turned away and started walking again. Augusta followed, slower this time, studying him openly. Duncan could feel her gaze like a hand on the back of his neck.
After several steps, she said, guarded, “I haven’t figured you out fully yet.”
“Don’t worry,” he replied. “That’s not something you need to think about.”
“It is if my sister is marrying you….”
His stride didn’t change.
“Your sister is alive, and that matters more.”
Duncan lifted the lantern slightly. The postern gate was closed. Beyond it, the castle walls rose, black stone against the sky.
They had finally arrived.
CHAPTER 13
Charity had searched for nearly an hour before she admitted what she already knew.
They were not in the castle. At first, she had told herself they were only wandering and would be back soon enough. But when she was unable to locate them, a sort of panic struck her.
If they were gone, they had gone out at night.
Then three figures appeared from the dark.
Duncan came first, lantern in hand, and Augusta was beside him, stiff and pale. Matilda shuffled between them, wrapped in something far too large. Charity’s heart lurched with relief so sharp it almost hurt, but then she saw the sack on Augusta’s shoulder.
Oh.
They had tried to run.
Still, she composed herself as much as it was possible and hurried over towards them.
“Wherehave you been?”
For one thing, she was happy that they were with Duncan and not alone. She trusted him to take care of them.
“We went for a walk,” Duncan cleared his throat and stepped in.
Charity wanted to believe him, but the expression of guilt on her sisters’ faces was enough to make her certain that he was only lying to cover for them, for some strange reason. She felt curious as to why he felt the need to do that, and then felt angry.
“A walk, really?” she questioned. “At this hour?”
“Yes,” Duncan replied. “I did not know that there is a time frame to take walks.”
“There isn’t. But I find it highly unlikely that both Augusta and Matilda would ask you to accompany them,” she narrowed her eyes at him. “So, clearly, you were not going on a walk.”
“Why wouldn’t they?” he shrugged, as though she was the one who was being ridiculous. “They have decided that they trust me now.”
Charity felt her mouth drop open.
Something had changed that she was not privy to.
“And how did that come about?” she pressed on.
“A sheer stroke of luck, perhaps,” Duncan was grinning now, “but I would advise you to not be so hard on them. It’s been a long… night of walking. And all of us could use some rest.”
“Yes, you should listen to him,” Augusta said. For once, she was not arguing. In fact, she appeared rather timid. “He has a point, and all of us are tired. Besides, you were the one who was saying that patience is a virtue. So maybe let’s patiently let this go till the morning?”
