Lacybourne Manor (Ghosts and Reincarnation #3)(116)

“Good, honey, now go and get your things,” Sibyl urged gently.

The minute the girl ran off, Sibyl turned to Colin and belatedly asked, “Do you mind?”

Her tone, her face, the way she held her body indicated her barely contained fury.

He did the only thing he could do in the face of her oncoming wrath, he shook his head.

Then, letting some of her anger seep through, she snapped, “What would you say if I told you I was adopting that girl?”

“I’d give you the name and telephone number for one of the solicitors I have on retainer,” Colin drawled.

Sibyl’s eyes rounded in disbelief then, scant seconds later, they melted with something else entirely. He took note, for future reference, that his comment made the rage slide out of her.

“She has three brothers,” Sibyl said quietly.

“You’ll need a bigger house,” he informed her drily.

“Luckily, Colin, you have a huge house,” Scarlett put in, always of assistance.

Scarlett was saved from the edge of Sibyl’s tongue by Flower’s arrival.

“Let’s go, kiddo,” Scarlett said, deftly affecting her escape by propelling the girl forward.

Colin took his chance to give Sibyl a quick kiss, “I’ll be back to take you home.”

She nodded, still lost in her thoughts for Flower. “I can’t wait to sit down, I’ve been on my feet for hours. They’re killing me. Are we going to Lacybourne?” she asked distractedly.

“Is that where you want to go?”

She nodded.

“Then that’s where we’re going.”

She gave him a weak smile of gratitude and walked toward her friend Jemma.

Colin walked to a waiting Scarlett and Flower then he escorted them to his car.

Scarlett slid in beside him after she made sure Flower was buckled in the back and they took her to her Nan’s, which was further away than he expected. Colin was pleased Sibyl wasn’t with them, if she knew the distance the girl had walked alone, she’d likely abduct the child and her brothers from their Nan’s house.

After receiving their dutiful wave, on the way back to the Hall, Scarlett spoke, “She’s not of the earth, you know?”

“I’m sorry?” Colin asked, surprised at her tone which was sedate and earnest. Since she shined the light of her approval on his union with her sister, Scarlett had been her usual drily humorous just not caustic. He’d never heard her serious before.

Still, he had no idea what she was talking about.

“Sibyl, she’s not of the earth but of the air. She’s like a kite, all her life, darting about in the wind with no one holding onto her string.”

Colin remained silent, patiently waiting for further explanation.

“You’re of the earth,” she carried on. “You have your feet firmly planted on the ground. She’s lucky to find someone like that, like you, willing to let her dart about happily in the wind but still keeping her tethered to the ground.”

Colin couldn’t help but be moved by her compliment, especially coming from Scarlett, however, she wasn’t finished.

Quietly, she said in a near whisper, “All my life, I thought she’d get swept away. Get herself helplessly tangled in some trees and be torn to shreds when someone yanked her free. It was terrifying.”

“I can imagine,” Colin murmured and he could.

“Please protect her, Colin.” It was now a whisper and even though he barely knew her, Colin knew how much it cost her to make this request.

“I will.”

“You must promise,” she pushed.

He pulled up outside the front doors of the Community Centre, fixed the emergency brake, turned to Sibyl’s sister and promised, “I’ll protect her.”

It was a vow and she knew it and for the first time of their acquaintance, she gave him one of her spectacular smiles.

Then she whispered, “I believe you.”

And without another word she turned to her door so Colin did the same.

They walked, both lost in their own thoughts, into the Hall together where they saw volunteers were cleaning up, Sibyl’s mother and father helping to stack chairs against the walls.

“Where’s Sibyl?” Colin asked Tina who was tidying the small kitchen to the side.

“She went to her office to get her handbag,” Tina responded. “I’m doing cuppas for everyone. Would you two like one?” Her kind gaze drifted from Colin to Scarlett.

“I’d love one and I’ll help,” Scarlett replied but Colin moved toward Sibyl’s office just as a young boy came flying into the Hall and slid to a halt beside Jemma.

“Mum, there’s an old lady lying out back in the grass. She isn’t moving.” His words were rushed with panic and his brown eyes were filled with fear.

Colin froze and caught Bertie’s frightened eye.

Bertie made a dash out the front door.

Colin went in the opposite direction, to Sibyl’s office.

He threw back the sliding doors and immediately heard the muffled noises coming from behind the office’s closed door. He ran to the room, threw open the door and was momentarily stunned motionless by what he saw.

A black-clad figure wearing a ski mask was holding a struggling Sibyl in the corner of the room, one arm gripping her about the waist, one hand held over her mouth.