A crack of thunder hit the horizon, and the blackened clouds that had seemed far away were now overhead.
“We need to—” he called out just as the sky burst open and all the water in all the world crashed over their heads.
Chapter Four
For one flinchingmoment, Siân attempted to cover herself from the deluge of water battering against her. But one look at Mr. Payne’s hat flying off, and his failed attempt to catch it, and she laughed at the futility.
Her laughter stopped when Mr. Payne froze mid-stretch to look her way. A peculiar zing went through at his arrested gaze. He didn’t laugh with her, although for one desperate moment she wanted him to, but there was a quirk to the corner of his lips that changed his rather intense visage into something…engaging.
“We need shelter,” she called out.
He held his hand above his eyes to look about the sodden field. “You know something around here?”
She did, but did she dare?
A rumble of thunder let her know they must. “Follow me!”
She pressed in to urge her horse to continue. Visibility was poor, and it had been years since she’d dared near Anffawd Keep, but everyone who lived near the ruins crossed themselves before they ever told its tragic story.
So, she knew where they would go. What she didn’t know was what to make of Reginald Payne. He was a mystery.
Siân lowered herself over the horse’s neck and guided it toward the crumbling keep until it realized its destination and surged forward.
The keep wasn’t much of a home anymore, but in one particular spot a good bit of roof remained with considerable overhang, and though local people tended to avoid going inside or anywhere near the keep, animals had no such wariness.
All a horse cared about was a good bit of grass and shelter. They didn’t care about disembodied sounds of mourning, or cold chills that raised the hairs on the back of necks.
After all, what did a horse know of unrequited love and revenge? It wouldn’t care about one moment of folly that turned into a lifetime of regret and agony for a ghost. And for those unfortunate to visit afterward…fright and terror.
Siân had stopped for shelter here before. But save for one moment when she was very young and foolishly brave, she’d never stepped inside again. It wasn’t someplace she cared to go.
Yet with Mr. Payne following her, it felt different coming to the keep. Not safe, exactly, although there was some security with his company. Perhaps she felt comfort not because he was a man, but because of his willingness to follow her. It was an ease her family wouldn’t have entertained. Of course, he didn’t know the keep’s story, and that was on her, but there was a chance nothing would happen, and why have him worry or think her mad?
Yet she knew her ease of coming here, even though the keep was haunted, was because he was willing to listen to her.
Even if Charles didn’t know of a shelter, he wouldn’t have asked her opinion; he wouldn’t have been so trusting or respectful. Mr. Payne followed her as if she mattered.
Another burst of lightning, another clap of thunder, and Siân shook her head.
“It’s just a little further!” she called over her shoulder.
She needed to rein in her thoughts when it came to Mr. Payne, because Charles had asked for her, and she would tend him while he recovered. Their marriage was arranged, and yet the moment Mr. Payne had stood awkwardly on her doorstep, her thoughts were constantly straying toward this man who stumbled over his own words.
But once he did finally advise her why he came for her, she’d stumbled over her emotions. Relief to escape her sister’s predatory husband. Shock that Charles was asking for her at all. Grief to leave a farm that had been her home all her life, and sadness to leave Mary, a loyal servant who was more a friend, behind because of her ill mother.
If there was anything that could be done for Mary, Siân would. But she didn’t know if Charles would approve of taking on any additional help. In truth, she’d never expected him to ask forher.
Nor had she expected Mr. Payne. If she was honest, some of her tumultuous emotions were because of him. He was so…unexpected. His taking off his great cloak and fastening up his sleeves to work in the fields was surprising.
For every chore she completed, he was there. As she’d helped the stable master with the horses, Mr. Payne was changing out the straw, then preparing the hay.
Maybe it was simply saying goodbye to her home, of writing a letter to her sister and letting her know she was leaving, or maybe it was the suddenness of it all, but she couldn’t seem to simply dismiss Mr. Payne.
He was Charles’ friend, and to her, merely a man who would journey with her and deliver her to her betrothed. Yet there was something about him she couldn’t ignore.
Maybe it was the way every time she looked at him, he seemed to be looking at her—
“Watch out!”
