Page 161 of Immortal Rose

Dobbin finder’s fee for contract to be drawn:

Up front: Nectar of the Afallach tree—oil; heatherbore—oil; moonflower—oil; silverbranch—oil

Upon completion: Widow’s Veil—oil or raw; morningleaf—dried

“Why in the world would he go to Greystone for anything?” I asked. “And why would Greystone agree to help him find something, for that matter?”

Realization dawned on Hugh’s face as some unknown threads knotted together.

“Not something,” Hugh said softly. “Someone.”

I paled.

“He went to Greystone thinking he would be motivated to find you,” Hugh said.

Meaning Greystone had known of my existence—or at least the existence of a living child—before the newspaper had revealed it. I could take some pride in the fact that he apparently hadn’t learned my identity. Or maybe he hadn’t looked at all and simply bilked the old man of valuable oils. It was what I would have done.

“We don’t know that,” I began.

“I do,” Hugh said, almost contrite. “Rosebourne was looking for you before his death. He asked me to find you a day before he died, in exchange for creating Immortal Rose—perhaps not realizing he’d already traded away the most vital ingredient.”

I stared at him, feeling as if the room’s shadows were circling around me. The theory had already existed somewhere in his mind if he leapt to it this quickly. “And you didn’t think to mention this?”

“I . . .” he began, a bit weakly. “There wasn’t an opportune moment.”

“Is there anything else about my life you’ve kept from me?” I asked.

“The way you kept your true father’s identity from me?” he shot back. “The way it never occurred to you to mention why those men tried to take you?”

“These situations are nothing alike,” I protested.

“You’re right,” he said. “Can you honestly say knowing Rosebourne wanted to find you would have made a difference to any of the choices that have led us here? Because if I’d known Greystone would take interest in you—”

“You’d have locked me in the house?” I finished. “Made me a prisoner in truth?”

He drew back at that. “That’s not what I meant, damn it!”

“Tonight and the”—my stomach turned at the memory—“the delivery of Madame Audette’s hands were his way of showing he could reach me anywhere, including here.”

Hugh was furious now. “You knew he was the one to send them, not Glenmoor, and you said nothing?”

“I realize now I put everyone here at risk,” I began raggedly. “And I’m sorry for it.”

“Perhaps,” Mrs. Keyes interrupted, “we might table this discussion for after we’ve rested, when clearer heads and cooler tempers will prevail?”

Mrs. Silver’s essence carried down the hall, along with the sound of her soft, padding footsteps. “Come with me now, ma chère—no, no leave that there,” she added, when I moved to take the porcelain basin. “I’ve brought more water up, and there’s a fresh night rail awaiting you.”

“All right,” I said, craving her gentle smile of encouragement. She wore her sympathy heavily over her essence, adding a peat-like note.

I cast one last look at Hugh as we left the room, feeling more fraught and unraveled than ever before.

One thing, however, was certain. I knew it by the terror that coursed through me, but the resolve, too. I had spent years looking back over my shoulder, fearing every shadow. If I didn’t do this now, I would never be truly free to step into the future I was making for myself.

It was time to stop running.

Part Four

Immortal Rose