Rosemary Thorne's Arc

Chapter 12 of 24

Damien's hand stayed closed around hers for a long moment. Then he let go and set the half-pendant on the table. The cats came in from the garden and settled by the hearth in a tight knot of orange fur, three of them watching the door as if they already knew. A boy from the village came up the path before noon. He held his cap in both hands and would not step onto the stone walk. Rosemary met him at the gate. "There's a man at the inn," the boy said. "Tall. City coat. He's asking after somebody called Ashford. Says he'll pay for word of him." Rosemary gave the boy a coin and told him to say nothing. She went back inside. Damien was already standing. "Who would come looking?" she said. "My father's steward." Damien pulled his shirt closed. "They think I'm dead. If he sees me, I go back. There's a marriage waiting. A seat at a table I left." "Then don't be seen," Rosemary said. "He won't leave until he has an answer." Damien looked at the door. "I'll go to him. I'll tell him myself." "He'll drag you into a carriage." "Not if I tell him the man he's looking for died two years ago." Damien picked up his coat. "Come with me to the edge of the village. No further. I need you close but not seen." They walked the path together. The cats followed to the gate and stopped there in their tight little row. Rosemary waited behind the hedgerow at the last bend before the inn. She could see the door. She could see the man in the grey coat standing under the sign, gloves in one hand, watching every face that passed. Damien crossed the square alone. He did not hurry. He spoke to the man for a long time. Rosemary could not hear the words. She saw the steward's face change. She saw him take a folded paper from inside his coat and hold it out. She saw Damien shake his head once. He did not take the paper. The steward put a hand on Damien's sleeve. Damien pulled his arm back. He said something short. He turned and walked away. The steward watched him go. Then he tucked the paper away, mounted his horse, and rode east out of the village. Damien reached the hedgerow. His hands were shaking. Rosemary took one of them. "What did you say?" "That the son he wanted is gone. That I live here now. That if he sends anyone else, I'll deny the name to their face." He breathed out. "He believed me. He'll tell them what I told him." "And the paper?" "A summons. My father is dying." Damien looked at the road east. "I didn't take it. But I heard it." They walked back to the cottage together. The cats were still waiting at the gate.