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“Come, Angelique, we’ll wait inside, and Uncle Zeke can walk Isabelle in,” says Leontine.
But the little girl shakes her head, drags her gaze from my brother and looks up at me. She tugs at my hand.
“Go on,” her uncle tells her. “You have to toss rose petals at the bride’s feet. Don’t you remember?” he asks but this time I hear the strain in his tone.
“Oh,” she says, gaze warily landing on my brother. “I forgot.” She looks up at me again.
“Will you come home afterwards? To live with us?” she asks me.
“Home?” Carlton asks and I see him watching with some amusement.
“Of course, she will,” Leontine answers, stepping in to take her hand and lead her away, but again, the child tugs to remain in place.
“Promise?” she asks. “You and daddy will come home? I’m not allowed to stay after the wedding.”
“I’m sure it won’t take that long,” I say, thinking her bedtime is eight o’clock. It’s only a little after six now.
Leontine gives me a disapproving look but Ezekiel steps in. “There’s a second ceremony. Then they’ll both be home,” he says, that second part spoken in Angelique’s direction.
“Come on now,” Leontine says to Angelique.
“Promise?” she asks me again. There’s something earnest in her tone and I remember what Leontine said. How she’s been living like a fugitive. I wonder what that does to someone’s trust, especially someone so young. And I think about how they think Carlton had a hand in her mother’s murder. But it makes no sense. Why would they allow him here, near her, if that’s true?
“I promise. I’ll kiss you goodnight when I’m home…when I’m back,” I add, just catching myself, thinking of what her father is doing. Of how it could hurt his daughter when it’s over. When I’m gone.
The image of the well followed by the one of Nellie Bishop’s grave seem to call up a sudden chilly breeze.
When I’m gone.
A gong sounds then and I’m so grateful for the intrusion.
“You’ll kiss her goodnight?” my brother asks as we watch Leontine lead Angelique away.
Once Angelique is safely inside the chapel, Ezekiel steps up to Carlton. Like right up to him, his chest butting up against my brother’s.
“You’re not welcome, Bishop,” he says. Extending his arm to me, he nudges me away from Carlton and behind him.
“No, I suppose I’m not. But she is my sister. And I wanted to wish her happiness and a long life and all that crap.”
“How thoughtful of you,” Ezekiel deadpans. “You come that close to my niece one more time and I’ll break both your legs, you understand?”
“What are you? Your brother’s bloodhound?”
“No, I’m my own. Disappear, Bishop, before I make you disappear.”
“It’s what the St. James’s are good at, isn’t it? Nellie and who knows how many others?”
Others?
Carlton glances at me. “I just hope you don’t plan on adding my sister to that list of disappeared Bishop girls.”
Before Ezekiel can answer the chapel door bursts opens and Jericho is in the courtyard, face ablaze, eyes darker than I’ve ever seen them. He stalks toward us, taking a look at me, half-pausing when he does before resuming his progress toward my brother.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Jericho asks, taking Carlton by the collar and shoving him backward into the wall. I hope Carlton is smart enough to realize he is no match for this man in size and brute strength, much less in rage.
Carlton holds up his hands in mock surrender. “I came to see my sister wed but I see I’m not welcome.”
Councilor Hildebrand approaches, two guards following, and it takes one lift of his finger for those guards to pick up their pace and take Jericho’s arms. They can’t budge him though.
