Page 96

"Unfortunately, they're not going anywhere."

I supposed I could offer to pay them for her, considering that the Blackthorn family had accumulated a considerable fortune over the centuries. But somehow, I suspected Celeste would find such an offer insulting. She was a proud woman, and I'd already learned that she didn't care to be told what to do.

So I simply nodded.

"Very well, sweetheart. You must do what you think best."

"But I will come back as soon as I can," she said firmly. "Definitely before Halloween. I don't want you facing whatever's happening with that Gateway all by yourself."

I felt as though my heart was fisting in my chest.

"You are very kind, Celeste."

She smiled at me.

"Well, somebody has to look after you, you big grouch!"

I couldn't help chuckling.

"Indeed? And here I thought I'd managed rather well on my own for the past century."

"Uh-huh." She gave me a skeptical look. "And how's that working out for you?"

Confounded woman! I opened my mouth to answer, but Bartleby chose that moment to interject.

"Well, I'm certainly looking forward to going back to Tampa!" he announced.

I looked down at him in surprise.

"You are?"

"Of course," he replied. "I'm Celeste's familiar now, after all. Where she goes, I go."

For one glorious moment, I felt a sense of relief—the cat was leaving! No more sarcastic remarks. No more ridiculous interruptions. No more having to listen to that infernal creature making jokes about my love life!

Blackthorn Manor would finally be peaceful again.

But then I looked at Celeste and the relief vanished. Because she was leaving, too. And somehow, the thought of being alone in my enormous house again seemed infinitely worse than putting up with Bartleby's irritating commentary.

"Well," I said, trying to sound cheerful. "I suppose the two of you will have a pleasant journey."

"Oh, I'm sure we will," Bartleby replied. "Though I hope Celeste has some decent food waiting for us in Tampa. I've become accustomed to the excellent tuna here in Hidden Hollow and it’s hard to top."

"You'll survive," Celeste told him dryly.

"One can only hope," he replied loftily, waving his tail lazily in the air.

“Oh, Bartleby!” She laughed and bent to pick him up, settling him comfortably in her arms. He purred and snuggled against her, curling against her chest affectionately.

I watched her for a moment, feeling that strange ache in my chest again. She looked so natural standing there with Bartleby in her arms, her long brown hair tumbling over her shoulders and her pretty face lit by a warm smile.

For a fleeting moment, I imagined her standing in the front hall of Blackthorn Manor every morning, the two of us going down to breakfast. I imagined her filling the rooms with laughter and conversation, tending Lucinda's old garden, and making my empty house feel like a home again.

The thought was so appealing that I had to look away, because none of that was mine to ask for. Not yet and maybe not ever.

"Well," Celeste said at last, looking around the attic. "I guess we'd better get downstairs. It's getting late, and if I'm going to try to straighten out my life tomorrow, I should probably get some sleep."

"Of course," I said at once. "Allow me to escort you." I offered her my arm, and she took it with a smile.