Seeing Danger (Sinclair and Raven #2)(13)

“What plans do you have for the day, Essie?”

She looked better with each week that passed since that bastard had broken her heart. The dark purple bruises beneath her eyes had faded and the strain in her pretty face had eased. The sadness was still there, Dev could see it in her eyes, but her color was stronger, healthier. He checked his siblings over at least once a month, had done so since he was old enough to understand his gift. He knew what color they should be and knew if they were sick or troubled. Essie was a bright pink, but for a while, some of her color had lost its strength.

“I'm going out, Dev.”

“An enjoyable entertainment, depending on where it is you go to.”

He watched Essie as she put jam on a piece of toast, pushing it to the corners slowly, avoiding his eyes.

“Oh, I thought to purchase some new gloves.”

She was still not looking at him, and he knew her well enough to know she was not telling him the truth. He just needed to push a little harder. Like Cam, Essie could not lie worth a damn.

“Gloves, now that is an exciting prospect. Is that all you plan to purchase?”

“P-perhaps a bonnet.”

“For which occasion?”

Her knife landed on her plate with a clatter as finally she looked up at him.

“I cannot tell you where I'm going, so don't ask.”

“Are you in danger?”

“No, of course not!”

Relieved, he continued, “Are you meeting someone I have no wish for you to meet?”

“Um... well, as to that, I am not entirely sure.”

“Even more intriguing.”

“Could we discuss the weather instead?”

She gave him a pleading look that failed to move him.

“Just tell me, Essie, you know I'll get the information eventually.” Which he would. She could never keep anything from him.

“No.” She shook her head. “I cannot, as I have promised.”

“Then I shall simply forbid you from leaving the house, or follow you, and you know with my sight I will find you.”

“You cannot forbid me from leaving the house,” she scoffed. “I will simply ignore you and leave anyway. Besides, you do not usually need to know what I do during the day.”

“Not entirely true,” Dev said. Since she'd had her heart broken, he'd been much more diligent.

She picked up her toast and proceeded to break it into bits on her plate.

“It is not that I do not want to tell you, but that I have promised not to speak of it to anyone.”

“Because it will put someone at risk?”

She nodded, and a small kernel of thought entered his head.

“Risk of exposure to society or another kind of risk?”

“The first.”

“So it is a person of noble birth that you are protecting?”

“I have no wish to discuss it further.”

“However, you will.”

Her sigh was loud.

“It is a good deed this person is doing, and I simply wish to help her. I assure you there is nothing nefarious at foot here, Dev.”

“You don't have a nefarious bone in your body; however, there are plenty of people who do. Now, as, if my hunch is accurate, this outing concerns Miss Braithwaite, then let me assure you I would not feel comfortable if you are visiting somewhere that houses her children,” he lied.

He had no problem with his sister seeing Lilliana; the problem lay in the fact that he wanted to see her too.

His sister chewed her lip.

“Let's hear it.”

“I am going to drop some things to her, and as I know of her house, I am taking them there.”

“Her house?”

“Well, she did not directly tell me of her involvement, other than acknowledging that she visits there, but I believe there is more to it than that. She certainly seemed knowledgeable about it when we spoke on the matter.”

“And where is this house, and what will you and Miss Braithwaite be doing there?”

He was subjected to a very frank appraisal from his sister, her green eyes telling him his casual question was anything but. However, she chose not to needle him, a heroic gesture for a Sinclair.

“It is in Temple Street, the house I told you I saw her at. It is a place for sick or injured children who have nowhere else to go. I told her I knew of it and she was not pleased. But after I explained I wished to help in any capacity, she organized for me to visit today.”

“Essie, I—”

“I am not proposing to leap recklessly into danger, Dev. I asked Miss Braithwaite, or rather Lilliana, as she told me to call her, if I could help with caring for the sick children. Dev, I want to do this. I miss healing like I did at home.”

“You know it's only because I worry about you that I am concerned.”

Again he was subjected to a steady look. He wondered when she had perfected that, as it hadn't had quite that degree of penetration before. Perhaps after that bastard broke her heart? Did having your heart broken mean you found determination in the face of so much pain? The idea of her suffering made him feel sick.

Her sigh was loud and long and it made him smile.

“I know it is and I love you the more for it, brother. Yet I need to do things, Dev, and I truly care for these children, as it seems does Lilliana. I have our little ones, yet they do not need me all the time, and when Aunt and Uncle get back they will want to spend time with them also.”