AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I groaned inwardly. The last thing I needed now was another argument with Celeste about her feelings towards John. She’d made her point. I wasn’t asking her to like him or forgive him. Just leaving him alone would be enough.
‘With John,’ I corrected her. ‘And yes. That’s the plan. I’ve had enough of today, and to be honest, I don’t think we Pendragon children are particularly popular right now.’
To my amazement she linked arms with me, and we continued our walk back to the house.
‘That will pass,’ she said. ‘It’s a shock, and feelings are running high. Everyone’s feeling sad about Zephyr and scared of the future. When things have calmed down they’ll start to see things more clearly and realise that the return of the Pendragon triplets is a good thing.’
‘You think?’ I asked doubtfully.
‘Of course.’ She ducked slightly as wet branches brushed against her head. ‘Can I ask you a favour?’
I wasn’t sure. I mean, she could ask, naturally, but whether I’d want to grant her that favour was debatable. The way she felt about Johnnie I couldn’t take anything for granted.
‘It depends,’ I said cautiously.
‘Would you mind if I talked to—John?’
I pulled her to a halt. ‘Are you serious?’
She gave a heavy sigh and hauled me on. ‘Come on, it’s too wet to hang around here. Yes, I’m absolutely serious. I—well the truth is, Romy, I haven’t been sleeping too well lately. Bad dreams keep waking me up. Dreams mixed in with memories. I’m exhausted if you want the truth, and it finally dawned on me that the only way I’m going to have any hope of peace is if I face this challenge head on.’
‘What challenge?’
‘Seeing that man face to face. Sitting down and talking to him. I need to find out for myself. I need to be sure that he is who he claims to be, and who you’re so certain he is.’
‘And you think just talking to him will achieve that?’
‘I don’t know,’ she admitted. ‘Thing is, it’s all I’ve got right now. It’s a start, though, and I need to start somewhere. Do you understand?’
I tried hard to put myself in Celeste’s position. I knew everything that Blaise St Clair had put her through, and I could imagine how traumatised she felt by the whole thing. She deserved closure. Even so, knowing John had no memory of her or of Blaise’s actions, I couldn’t help but feel hesitant. I didn’t want her to upset him. Yet even as I thought that I knew I was being selfish. Celeste needed this. How could I refuse?
‘Okay,’ I said slowly. ‘But do you mind if I sit with you? I don’t think it would be fair to leave you alone with him.’
‘To be honest,’ she said, ‘I’d prefer it if you did sit with us. I don’t fancy being alone with him, thanks very much.’
I wiped rainwater from my eyes. ‘You’re really scared of him, aren’t you?’ I asked her, feeling desperately sorry for her.
She sighed. ‘For a long time Blaise St Clair was the most important person in my life. I was obsessed with him. I—I thought I was in love with him. I know now that it was all part of a great plan to allow him to focus on me and pull himself through time to a certain date, but back then… Look, I trusted him, one hundred per cent. I was the only one who was fully on his side. And then he—well, it turned out he’d used me and lied to me.’
We paused at the garden gate, and she gripped the wet gatepost as she gave me an impassioned look. ‘He wanted to kill Hector! And he almost succeeded in killing Benedict, too. I can’t get past that, Romy. I know you say he’s a different person now. Hector says the same. But somewhere deep inside I can’t quite believe that. I need to face him, talk to him, look into his eyes. I’ll never be free of him if I don’t deal with my fear.’
‘I understand that,’ I said gently. I’d dealt with enough traumatised people in my counselling sessions to know that she had to do what she felt was best for her. I was sure that, once she’d actually sat with Johnnie for a little while, she’d understand that he was no threat to her any longer.
We entered Peloryon House soaking wet and cold. It didn’t, however, take Celeste more than a moment to make herself warm and dry, and she very kindly did the same for me. That sorted, we took out a large plate and loaded it with some of the tasty sandwiches and snacks that Mum had prepared, then carried it upstairs.
‘Do you want me to go first?’ I asked her, as we approached John’s bedroom door.
She hesitated, then nodded. ‘If you wouldn’t mind. I just need a moment.’
‘I’ll explain what’s going to happen,’ I said. ‘Don’t worry. You have nothing to be afraid of, I promise you.’
John was lying on his bed, reading. It was his favourite pastime, so it didn’t surprise me. He glanced up as I entered the room and smiled.
‘Back so soon? I thought it would be ages.’
‘I brought you some food,’ I told him, settling myself on the bed beside him. He laughed.
‘Some food? That would feed an army!’
