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“They want to take me back to Aunt Helena, don’t they?” she asked quietly.
“Yes,” Jesse said, easing his grip. “But they won’t get to.”
“Promise?”
“They’d have to go through your dad first,” he said grimly. He managed a crooked smile for her. “That’s not gonna happen, right?”
She smiled and some of the care fell from her face. Shadows lengthened between the trees, and the fairy lights started to wink to life.
“It’s so pretty,” Dimity said, pulling on her reins so Ruby ambled to a stop. “This is where Daddy was born, you know.”
“Yeah. I’d heard that.”
“His family are from Saxony.” She sent Jesse a proud smile. “That’s in Germany. But he lived here, on this very spot, hundreds of years ago.” She looked around her with a dreamy look in her eyes. “I’d like to grow up here, I think.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded then grimaced. “I just wish there didn’t have to be guards and stuff.”
“Me, too, love,” Jesse said. “Even though I’d be out of a job.”
Dimity sent him a curious look. “Do you and Daddy love each other?”
Jesse opened and closed his mouth a few times.
“Uncle Jesse? I saw him kiss you.”
“He’s my boss. So, it’s not… I mean—”
“I’ve also seen the way you look at him—and the way he looks at you, too. He doesn’t look at the other people who work here like that.”
Jesse again groped for words. “We’ve, uh… Well, we’ve not known each other that long, love.”
“Why does that matter?”
“Well, we’re not… I mean.” He shook his head. “I’m human. He’s not.”
“I’m human, too, and I love him. So why not you?”
“It’s a bit of a complicated question.”
“No, it’s not. I love my daddy, and I love you, too. It just makes sense that you should love each other as well. Then that’s all of us.”
Jesse blinked. “You love me?”
“Of course I do. You rescued me—twice.”
Jesse’s pulse was fluttering in his wrists. He blamed the icy wind for the burn in his cheeks.
“Hey, it’s nearly dark,” he said. “Let’s get back. Your dad’ll want to see you.”
Dimityhmphedand turned her pony’s head back toward the stables. “Fine…if you’re really not going to answer my question. But I won’t forget.”
Chapter Thirteen
By the time they were back in the warmth of the house, Jesse had sore legs and the chafe in his arse was worse than ever. But the only thing that mattered was a strange flutter in his chest.
Emory was in one of the sitting rooms. There was a laptop open on the coffee table and papers and files strewn around him. Darragh Kelly was in the chair next to him. They were conversing in low tones but stopped as Jesse and Dimity entered. Kelly said something in a low voice, nodded to Emory and withdrew. Dimity raced across the room. Emory got to his feet, swept her into his arms and kissed her curls, answering all her questions about the house, how he slept and listening intently as she told him about their ride.
