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“And is it known amongst allversipelles?” This was knowledge she could have used. How was it that O’Mara was not aware of this? Or had she withheld it on purpose?
Mr. Padmore laughed. “We don’t be knowing what the Quality knows.”
“Even though you are connected to your Alpha, and through him, the pack?”
“That’s in the heart, not the head, miss,” Mr. Beckett corrected. “There’s no words in thesentio,only feelings.”
Feelings.“Gentlemen, I have learned much today. I am very grateful,” Tabitha said. “And now I must ask more of you.”
“We are at your service, miss,” Mr. Giles said.
“You are aware gold is used to entrapversipelles,” she began. She explained the threat presented by the lady author; it was all supposition and frankly sounded like a fairy story. She had no real evidence to support any of it, but the three fellows listened carefully and did not seem to find it outrageous. She impressed upon them the unease she felt at the sight of the pendant Asquith had made to appear and disappear, like a conjuror. “Please do take care. I believe she uses that chain for nefarious purposes.”
“The likes of us aren’t what she’s after,” Mr. Padmore said.
“I’d like to see her try for me.” Mr. Beckett puffed out his narrow chest.
“I can be right stubborn when the situation calls for it,” Mr. Giles boasted.
“I am sure your Alpha has alerted you to his discomfort through thesentio,” Tabitha said.
“Discomfort is right,” Mr. Padmore groaned. “If only O’Mara were here to temper it. We do miss her something fierce.”
“I am sorry I didn’t get to know her better.” Tabitha truly did regret it. “We did not agree on how to help His Grace, and I tread on her patch. I am going to go even further and tread on that of your Alpha and ask you to spread the word of my concerns throughout the village and anywhere else on Lowell lands you think is best. And please, keep a weather eye on the Humphries cubs.” The three easygoing gentlemen suddenly looked as fierce as any wolf or bear or lion.
“I expect we will meet everyone from the pack at the performance,” Mr. Beckett said. “Once there, we shall split up and do as you ask.”
With one last woeful glance from Mr. Padmore, the threeversipellesmade for the Close, and she turned toward the cottage.
Tabitha would have to revise her thoughts about feelings, if that was not a contradiction. Had discomfort with her own emotions prevented her from being as helpful as she could have been in the past? She admitted to impatience with the ladies who only ever wanted to talk about gentlemen and now saw she had not been as compassionate as she might have been.
How did it feel to be connected to asentio, as the Lowell Pack was? It must be a relief to know that another’s heart was not one’s sole responsibility, and conversely, to know one’s own was held in reverence, in community.
Ought she to have told the Lowell Alpha of her plan to alert the pack? She was so unused to consulting with anyone apart from Timothy. She at least should send a note to Mr. Gambon. This was in the Third’s remit, going between the greater body of the pack and their Alpha. Tabitha would let him know what she’d done. It was better to have the process started sooner rather than later. It was better to have done something rather than nothing.
At least O’Mara’s absence could not be laid at her door. That Irish mister-lord must have erred prodigiously to inspire such fury in the cool and calm Omega. Now that Tabitha felt like less of an outsider, it would have been good to try working with O’Mara again, each to the best use of their talents. That thing the Omega did, themoohooor however it was called—drove Tabitha wild with curiosity; but otherwise, O’Mara was as close to a colleague as she was going to come across in these environs. Particularly given Tabitha’s departure into the world of fantasy and speculation, populated with vile lady authors and their chilling pendulums.
She was living in a world of fantasy, for the love of Palu—to the degree that she had begun to invoke foreign goddesses! She had always followed her instincts, only to be ignored; here, amongst theversipelles, she was sought out even if her usual cures were not needed. Little she had ever relied upon had come in useful with Llewellyn, bar the hair tonic; and yet, how far he had come in almost no time at all.
Tabitha sniffed her wrist: How was sheredolent of lion? She had washed quite thoroughly last night, given the events of the afternoon, and scented nothing but the almond of the soap she made. Her senses were most likely not elevated enough to, to smell him on her. Her comparative matrix had no data when it came to the scent of another, as she’d never paid it mind before, beyond being part and parcel of the act. She had rolled herself in her sheets after Alwyn had left so precipitously and reveled in them but had not lingered and now regretted it. She’d bustled the sheets into their little laundry and set them to the boil. Luckily it was her dedicated chore, even though Timothy gave her a look, as it was not even close to washing day.
Maybe if one took a Shapeshifter as a lover, some of the essence was shared? If so, it was a wonder he could share it if, as they explained, his lion was…away. How far away? And for how much longer? Did the largerversipellesknow what the smaller knew? One would think so, as any good predator must know the mind of its prey.
Lost in thought, she was steps from her door when Mr. Quincy charged into her path.
“My lady!”
“That is not the proper address—”
“Your Grace!”
Neither was that, by a long chalk; nevertheless, it gave her the tingles. “Mr. Quincy, I have already introduced myself as Miss Barring—”
“You are needed in the wood! This wood, this deep, dark expanse of, of trees! For the Wild Lion of Wales has returned and is running amok!”
Her first thought:He has Changed and will not die!Her second:Has he? Really?For Mr. Quincy’s gaze was unfocused, as though he were not fully present in the moment. His movements, for a seasoned performer, were unconvincing and awkward, his speech overblown and halting.
It was entirely possible he was a poor actor; either way, Tabitha was not convinced.
