Mystery in the Darkest Shadow by Byers Beth

Author:Byers, Beth [Beth, Byers,]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Severine and Charles looked at each other and then back to Bernadette who shook her head. “Come Severine, dress. I’ll think on this, and I’ve some ideas.”

“Where are we going?” Charles asked with the air of a man who wasn’t going to carry another of his friends inside to be doctored.

Bernadette considered him for long, long moments before she said, “I suppose you can go.”

“Can I?” he asked with a laugh.

“We’ll be acquiring the things that Sister Sophie and I need for my stay here.” Her gaze challenged him to fade out now that he knew they were going shopping, but he took the news manfully.

“Oh good,” he lied. “That does sound like a delightful day.”

Bernadette lifted a brow and then glanced at Severine. “You have until I am done caring for Lisette.” She then lifted a tray and walked up the back stairs.

“So,” Chantae breathed out. “I didn’t realize when your nuns arrived that they would take over, Severine.”

“Just Bernadette,” Sister Sophie said sweetly. “Severine knows the secret of Bernadette.”

“What is that?” Chantae and Charles asked in unison.

“Do what she wants,” Severine laughed. The look on their faces was priceless and Sister Sophie shook her head.

“Don’t tease, Severine. They think you’re serious.”

Severine rose, yawned deeply and said, “Can’t I just have one cup?”

“Your headaches won’t stop if you do.” This time Sister Sophie’s voice had the thread of iron.

“Headaches?” Chantae demanded.

“She has them all the time,” Charles added. “She just doesn’t say anything.”

“They were quite the problem when Severine first came to the nunnery. We worked it out then, but she stopped all of the things we taught her.”

Severine rolled her eyes. “Chicory coffee is the nectar of the gods.”

“Not, darling one”—Sister Sophie’s sweet voice was cool and even—“when it makes you ill.”

“Maybe the fact that my brother is trying to kill me and my cousin wants to love him anyway is why I have them.”

“I’m sure those things are contributing,” Sister Sophie agreed.

Severine slammed up the stairs of her house as though she were twelve years old again and it was perfectly normal to throw a fit. Almost spitefully, Severine locked the door of her room. She drew herself a bath, threw in a random assortment of salts and oils and slid into the water.

She knew she was throwing a bit of a tantrum and had to admit there was comfort in it. She’d thrown more than one tantrum when she’d arrived at the nunnery and never been more surprised when they loved her all the same. She had been, Severine realized, entirely different for the nuns than she’d been for her parents. They’d given her enough room to be a child, and Severine had pushed the boundaries. Severine dunked her head and grinned under water. She couldn’t believe they had arrived.

She left the water before long, lingering over dressing despite knowing that, instead of being put out by the wait, Bernadette would simply busy herself with the list of things she had given herself to do until Severine appeared.

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