Secrets & Sacrifices by Cath Lauria

Author:Cath Lauria [Lauria, Cath]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Media Tie-In, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Historical
ISBN: 9781839082924
Publisher: Aconyte
Published: 2024-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

“Do I need to call for the doctor once we reach the inn?” Thomas asked, his jaw set as though he was braced for the worst.

Cassandra chuckled weakly. “Do I truly look that bad?” she teased, but he was not having it.

“You look like a woman who has not slept a wink. You look like someone who has been pushed to the very edge of what she should be expected to endure, and farther than you should ever have to. I am worried for you, so please… tell me something to set me at ease or allow me to follow my instincts and fetch the doctor as soon as we arrive at Tarryford.” He bit his lower lip for a moment. “Is it your wound? Has it become infected?”

“Oh.” In light of everything else that was weighing her down, Cassandra barely felt the scratch that she’d gained yesterday. “No, you need not worry about that, it is very minor and healing well,” she assured him. “I… you are correct that I did not sleep well last night, though. I read my father’s journal, and the things it confirmed to me were nothing that I had hoped for.”

“I am sorry to hear that.” He sounded truly sorry, too. “It is never an easy thing to have our illusions dispelled, especially when they concern our parents.”

“Apart from that…” Cassandra had to remind herself that she had promised she would be honest with Thomas about this. She had to unburden her heart to someone, or else she would break under the weight of it. “I was attacked in my room last night.”

“What?”

It took the rest of the drive back to Tarryford for her to explain, showing him the slight bend in her hatpin as proof and assuring him that it had not been a dream, that she would not have dreamed up such a strange creature, and that she was certain it had come from Harston Hall after what had occurred to first her and then Miss Getty in the library.

Only once they pulled to a stop outside the inn had Cassandra finally exhausted her store of words. She felt wilted, like a cut flower left out in the sun, and slumped back in the seat, unable to meet Thomas’s gaze. “I know it sounds mad,” she whispered as Old John ambled over to take control of the horses. “But I swear to you I am telling the truth.”

“I believe you,” Thomas replied almost as quietly. “I think we have much to discuss, Miss Wright. Will you allow me inside with you?”

“Please,” she said with relief. She did not want to be alone. She had no idea how she was going to make it through the night, she was so ready to jump at shadows.

Young Garrett welcomed them in while Mrs Copeland fussed over Cassandra’s obvious fatigue. “Let me help you up to your room,” the older woman said. “You can take a rest, get some more sleep. You look like you need it, lamb.

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