Carlisle stood. “I suppose if he couldn’t get to my father, he decided to find a way to get to me.” He paced away. “For decades, he’s been lying in wait. Is this the end of it, do you think?” He turned back to her. “He’s taken my estate and my town house. I lost most of the rest of my fortune on my own. Will he let the grudge go now?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “It’s been an obsession of his for years. I’m not certain he can let it go.”
Carlisle rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Between your father and the witch, I have my hands full.”
Katie blinked. “Did you say witch?”
He waved a hand. “Nothing to concern you. I think I need to better understand this land in France and the exact circumstances surrounding its dispensation.”
Katie stood, pulling her robe close around her throat. “Well, good luck to you.”
“Oh, this isn’t farewell. I’ll need your help.”
“Myhelp? I’ve told you everything I know.”
“And you’ve given me an idea of where to find the answer. Katie, will you be my partner?”
*
“No!”
The vehemence in her voice made Henry take a step back. “So you won’t?”
“Absolutely not.”
Henry had to admit that he was surprised. No one had ever said they didn’t want to be his partner in something. Men and women usually clamored to be around him. Whenever Henry had an idea, everyone knew it was bound to be jolly good fun.
Well, except for the time he’d had the idea—at least, it had been partly his idea—to steal a cask of whiskey from the witch. That hadn’t turned out so well.
But even then, all the boys at St. Andrew’s Preparatory for Boys had wanted to be part of the caper. Were any of them cursed? Was Henry really cursed, or was it, as Katie said, that he’d simply played into the marquess’s hands? Regardless, he was in a bit of a prickly place now, and if the marquess had some sort of feud with his family, he at least wanted to understand it. After all, he was the head of the family. He had siblings and his mother to protect.
You’ve done a brilliant job of that so far, said the headmaster’s voice in his head.
“Oh, stubble it,” he muttered.
“You should leave now, Carlisle,” Katie said.
Henry gave her a long look. He liked the nameKatiefor her much better than Katherine.Katherinewas strict and severe.Katieloved laughter and adventure. She needed a little prodding to become more Katie and less Katherine.
“I can’t leave yet. I need your help.”
“I’ve told you what I know. I cannot be of any further help to you.” She tried to usher him back toward the window as one might a stray cat.
“I need you to let me search the library.”
She looked about. “Fine. If I give you a quarter hour, will you leave?”
“I require more than a quarter hour. I may require several hours, or even days.”
“Severaldays?”
“I must discover what really happened to that land in France. Only then will I know how and if I might approach your father about the return of my holdings.”
“Approach my father? No. He wouldn’t give you so much as a greeting on the street. He’ll never return Carlisle Hall or your town house.”
“I have to try.”
“It’s a waste of time, and it’s dangerous for you to spend even a minute here—forget hours or days. Someone will discover you. I cannot be found with you.”
