Chapter 4: What He Called It

I did not answer Imogen.

I walked out of the Stone Hall and across the lawn, and I did not look back.

By the time I reached the cottage, my boxes were already going back inside.

Bess was directing two guards with a wooden spoon.

"Careful with that lamp," she said. "It's her grandmother's. Break it and I'll put you in the soup."

Darek Wardell stood in the doorway holding my desk up by one end.

He set it down in its old spot and straightened.

"Elder's order," he said. "The Gamma keeps the house until the new moon."

"You didn't have to do that," I said.

"I know."

He wiped his hands on his jeans.

"My offer is the same as it was," he said. "A post at Ironwood, with your own title and your own table. No strings, and no one gets to search you."

"I haven't said yes."

"You haven't said no, either." He glanced at the guards. "Think about it. I'm at the guest lodge until the new moon."

He nodded to Bess and left.

My shoulder still hurt where the guard had gripped me.

I rubbed it, and I thought about his hand in the ballroom, steady and slow, holding that ring up to the light.

Bess shut the door.

"I like him," she said. "He looks straight at you when you talk. Nobody here does that."

"Bess."

"I'm just saying."

She made tea and left me alone.

I sat on the edge of the bed until it was dark.

At night, there was one knock on the door.

I knew who it was before I opened it.

Jarrett stood on the step with his hands in his pockets and his jacket open.

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