Page 68 of Winterset

“I will be more than happy to do that,” Kit told her fervently. “I feel as if someone has taken a hammer to my head.”

Anna went to the table and unwrapped the paper the doctor had left, shaking a fourth of it into a glass and filling it with water. As she stirred, she turned back to her brother. “I trust that whoever it is will not try anything during the daylight hours. He seems to confine his activities to the nighttime. But, please, try to make sure that you are around other people as much as possible. And look out for danger. Take a groom with you.”

“Take a groom with me?” Kit repeated, outraged. “Like a child?”

“Like someone with sense,” Anna retorted, handing him the glass.

Kit took a drink and made a face. “This is bitter.”

“It’s medicine. It’s supposed to be bitter. Drink up.”

Kit obediently drank the rest of it, and Anna took the opportunity to press her point. “At least take a groom with you if you go out at night. Personally, I think you should stay in in the evening, but I know you well enough to assume that you will make it a point of going out at night, just to prove that you are not afraid.” She directed a pointed look at him. “So if you do, take a groom with you. Do not go alone.”

“And how long am I supposed to do this?” Kit asked, setting down the empty glass and adding sarcastically, “For the rest of my life?”

“That won’t be very long if the killer gets hold of you again,” Anna replied acerbically.

Kit groaned theatrically and flopped back against his pillows. “Anna…”

“Reed and I are trying to find the killer. With luck we will be able to do so, and then you won’t have to keep looking over your shoulder.”

“What?” Kit bounced back up from his pillows. “You are telling me to be careful, and all the while you are actually trying to track down the killer? Good Lord, Anna, are you mad?”

“No, I’m not mad. I am sure he doesn’t know we are trying to find him. It isn’t as if we advertised that we were looking into the murders.”

“Is that what you have been doing lately?” Kit went on. “Obviously I should have been spending less time on the estate and staying here to keep an eye on you.”

Anna cast him an exasperated look. “Don’t try to turn this around on me. We are talking about your safety. I haven’t been doing this on my own. I have been with Reed the whole time.”

Kit frowned. “Anna…how much time are you spending with him? Do you really think it is wise? You took me to task for seeing Rosemary too much, yet it seems to me that you are putting your heart into worse danger.”

“It is in no danger,” Anna replied, somewhat untruthfully. “Reed knows that we can never be together. I told him why.”

“You told him about Uncle Charles!” Kit exclaimed, then glanced toward the door to make sure it was closed and no one had overheard his hasty words.

“Yes. He will tell no one,” Anna assured him. “I simply could not hide it any longer.

Her brother looked at her searchingly. “Are you sure? A man in love—”

“He does not love me,” Anna interrupted. “Not any longer. How could he, after my refusal three years ago? He has spent the last three years disliking me, I assure you. He was upset that I had not told him the truth, but he told me that he understood.”

“Lord Moreland seems to me to be a man who does not give up easily.”

“Of course not. But he sees the impossibility of tying his line to mine.” Anna’s throat closed a little, the pain of her lost love welling up in her, but she swallowed hard and went on. “How could he not? His father is a duke, after all.”

“I suppose you are right,” Kit replied, but there was still skepticism on his face. “Still, it cannot be good, the two of you working closely together like this, seeing each other so often….”

“Kit, don’t,” Anna said sharply. “Don’t tell me I should not see him. Reed and I can be friends, at least.”

There was pity in her brother’s eyes as he looked at her. “Anna…I don’t want to see you hurt. That is all.”

“I know.” She gave him a smile. “I won’t be. I will be quite careful with my heart—as you must promise me you will be with your life.”

He smiled faintly. “All right. I promise.”

He held out his hand, and she took it, squeezing it tightly.

In truth, she was well aware that she was placing her heart in danger. But she could not bear to stay away from Reed. Even though she ached inside whenever she looked at him, wanting him, wanting a life with him, and knowing that could never happen, still she was willing to endure that pain. However much she hurt, however much she yearned, there was a greater pleasure in looking at him and talking to him, simply being with him. It was foolish, she suspected, but at the moment, she didn’t really want to examine her actions.