Page 95 of Winterset

“However,” Reed continued. “They found several of the old lord’s journals there, as well as another couple of masks. It seems that Miles had also emulated de Winter by writing a journal of his own. I imagine there will be more than enough evidence in that to convict him of killing Estelle Akins and Frank Johnson.”

“Thank goodness,” the doctor said. “This has been such a terrible thing. It will be good for everything to get back to normal.” He looked over at Reed. “Will you continue to live at Winterset, my lord? After all that has happened?”

“At least part of the year,” Reed answered, and his gaze slid over to Anna. “It is a lovely house, despite the tragedies that have happened in it. And I would like to fill it with new, better memories.”

“Very good.” Dr. Felton nodded approvingly. “I am glad that you are remaining.”

“We all are, I’m sure,” Kit added.

Anna said nothing. She was afraid she could not speak without tears overcoming her. Once the elation of capturing the killer had worn off, she had realized that nothing had really changed between her and Reed. All the reasons why she could not marry him still existed. She didn’t know how she could bear to live with him so close by. Nor did she know how she could bear to have him move back to London, either.

“Well, I had better get back to the village,” the doctor said, rising. “I imagine I will have twice as many patients as usual, simply to gossip.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Kit said, standing up as well.

Anna and Reed bid the doctor polite farewells, and he and Kit left the room, pulling the door to behind them. Anna shifted a little uncomfortably in her chair. She had not expected Kit to close the door on them; it was most improper.

She glanced over at Reed and found him watching her intently. Her heart picked up its beat, and she looked back down at her hands in her lap.

“Your brother has a purpose in leaving us alone,” Reed told her.

“What?” Anna’s eyes flew to his face. “What do you mean?”

“He knows that I am about to ask for your hand in marriage. I already spoke to him about it.”

“Reed…no. Please.”

Reed stood up and crossed the room, going down on one knee beside her and taking her hand. “Once again, with the full approval of your brother, I am asking you to become my wife. It is not often that a woman gets asked three times by the same man,” he added, smiling.

“Reed…” Anna’s voice caught.

“But I have to warn you, if you refuse me, it won’t be the last time I ask. I intend to keep at it until I wear you down.”

“Reed, you know I cannot. Nothing has changed.” Anna looked at him with sorrow. “There is nothing more that I would rather do than marry you.”

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Really?”

“Yes, of course. I love you. But I cannot—”

Reed held a finger up to her lips, stopping her words. “Then the de Winter madness is the only impediment? If it did not exist, you would say yes?”

“Yes! You know I would. But it does exist, and I cannot marry you.” Tears glittered in Anna’s eyes.

Reed kissed her hand again and released it, rising to his feet. “I want you to talk to someone.”

“What?” Anna looked at him, confused. “Who? What are you talking about?”

He simply gave her an enigmatic look and walked to the door. He opened it and looked down the hallway, gesturing with his hand. Anna waited, trying to suppress the spark of hope that was rising within her. She could not let Reed talk her into this, she reminded herself.

To her surprise, when Reed stepped back from the door, Nick Perkins walked through it.

“Nick!” Anna stood up, surprised. “I—come in. Sit down. I am surprised to see you.”

“Yes, miss, I’m sure you are.” Nick came closer to her, twisting his cap between his large hands. He looked highly uncomfortable. “I’ll just stand, if it’s all the same to you.”

Anna cast a puzzled look toward Reed.

“I was on my way to see you yesterday when Miles attacked me,” Reed told Anna, coming over to stand beside Nick. “I had been visiting with Perkins, here, about a matter that had come to my mind. You see, after Mrs. Parmer told us about Lord Roger’s insanity, I began to wonder. I went to the cemetery and looked at your mother’s tombstone.”