House of Salt and Sorrows(46)

“I never saw her with one.”

His pale eyebrows creased together. “The more I think about it, I’m certain the shadow was Roland,” he said, circling back. “He never liked me. If he somehow found out we were eloping…”

“Wouldn’t he try to stop you, then, not Eulalie?” I asked. Edgar’s accusation didn’t feel right to me at all. It had too many holes. Even if Roland had been wildly in love with Eulalie, he must have known nothing would ever come of it. She was the heir to Highmoor. Papa would never have let her court one of its servants.

Besides…he was just so old….

One by one, the clocks’ gears turned, chiming out the quarter hour. The cacophony set my teeth on edge, reminding me I’d been gone too long already. I reached for the door.

“Miss Thaumas, wait! I—I need to know…You do believe me, don’t you? About the shadow? Eulalie didn’t trip, and she would never have hurt herself. You know that.”

After a beat, I nodded.

“I want to find out who did this to her. Who…murdered her.” His said the word with an intense precision, as if trying not to stammer over it. “Will you help me? Please?” His eyes, suddenly bright with righteous fervor, fixed me in place like a butterfly pinned onto a shadowbox board.

“Yes,” I whispered.

He toyed with his spectacles again. “I know you don’t think Roland was involved, but promise me you’ll look into it? Ask around. Even if it wasn’t him, he must have seen something. He sees everything.”

The final clock chimed, its notes slightly sharp, giving a strange importance to Edgar’s idea.

“He does,” I echoed in agreement.

“Good. Thank you. Will your family be coming to any Churning events?”

The festival was only a week away. Soon Highmoor would be turned inside out, readying for the ten-day affair.

“We always go to the pageant after First Night.”

A floorboard creaked above us, and our eyes darted to the ceiling. I’d assumed we were alone. Was someone listening in on our conversation?

“What’s up there?”

“Just storage…Mr. Averson?” Edgar called out.

“Yes, Edgar? Just taking off my cloak,” a voice called out from the workshop behind us. “This rain won’t be letting up any time soon.”

“Meet me here before the play,” he whispered.

I promised I would. “I have to get back to my sisters now.”

Edgar brushed his hair back, a smile warming his face. “Good. I’m glad that…Thank you for believing me, Miss Thaumas.”

“Annaleigh,” I offered, extending a small token of friendship.

“Annaleigh.”



* * *





I hurried down the road, taking the fastest route back to the tavern, puddles be damned.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I opened the door and spotted the Graces at a table, then stopped in my tracks.

They were not alone.

“Annaleigh!” Honor called out.

A young man stood up from their table and turned at her greeting. Cassius. His face broke into a smile as he spotted me. “We meet again.”

His cheeks were pink from the cold, and his dark curls sprang out from beneath a knit cap.

“What are you doing here?” I immediately wished I could take the question back. It sounded too accusatory, too brusque. “How is your father?” I tried again, softening. I’d forgotten to ask at the ball.

“The same, I fear. I actually came to Astrea for some supplies. Roots and herbs. There’s a healer down the road who says they’ll help.”

“Is it true if you catch scarlet fever, you bleed out of your eyes? That’s why they call it scarlet, right?” Honor asked, leaning across the table in ghoulish glee.

“Honor!” I exclaimed, mortified.

Cassius seemed unfazed. He bent in close to her. “Even worse!” He straightened, catching my frown as they giggled. “I had a bit of lunch here and was on my way out when I saw these lovely ladies struggling to be seated. I thought I might step in and offer my assistance.”

“They couldn’t see us over the counter,” Mercy explained.

“That’s very kind of you.”

“The pleasure has been all mine. I had no idea how delightful a— What is this I’m drinking?”

“Caramel cider!” Verity chimed in.

“How delightful a caramel cider could be. You look in need of one yourself,” he offered, pulling out a coin.

“Oh, can I order it?” Mercy asked, snatching at the money before he agreed. “Please?”

“Me too!” Honor jumped in. “They let you sit in the big stools while you wait.”

“And me!” Verity cried, not to be outdone.

They skipped off in utter delight at being allowed to perform such a very grown-up task.

“How are you?” he asked once the girls were out of earshot. “There’s a weariness here,” he said, gesturing around my eyes.

I brushed aside his concern. “Nothing a good night’s sleep won’t solve. And you? How is your father, really?”

“Not good.” Cassius offered me a half smile. “It will be a blessing when it’s over.” He bit his lip. “That came out wrong.”