Page 57 of The Last Knight

Chapter Nineteen

Aubrey was at BreYea. The studio had been bustling with activity all day, brimming over with the excitement of those attending their first classes. Although it was gratifying to see and to sense the positive ambience, sadness circled her, and she allowed it, doing her best to put on a happy face when it was required.

Aubrey blew her nose and wiped her tears from her cheeks. Looking into the mirror, she carefully removed the last remnants of her mascara away. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and walked out of the bathroom, a smile in place. It wouldn’t do for the owner of the newest hot spot in the village to be seen with swollen eyes.

It had only been five days since she’d returned from the other realm, and the ache in her chest felt as fresh and raw as if it had happened moments ago.

The first two days had passed in a haze, her body present but her mind still caught between two worlds. Upon reappearing in the garden and being spotted by Erin, her cousin had whisked her to the castle, where she recounted every painful detail to the five knights and their partners, each word like tearing open a wound that hadn’t had a chance to heal.

When she spoke of Gunther…when she said the words out loud, that he was gone, her composure shattered, and she was unable to keep from crying.

The men listened without emotion, not showing one bit of empathy.

Her voice had cracked when she lashed out. “You may not care what happened to him, but I do. He was kind. He protected me. Until the end.”

Tristan, bless him, had tried. “It is clear Gunther was a valiant man,” he’d said gently. “None of us wished that fate upon him.”

Someone else, she didn’t even look to see who, had murmured, “At least his death was swift.” As if that was supposed to bring her peace.

Only Erin had cried with her. Her tears spilling over as she reached out and gripped her hand. “It’s not fair,” she whispered. “After all those years…he was never truly free.”

That struck like a bell in a still room. The truth of it silenced everyone.

And in that hush, Aubrey felt it, that quiet, aching realization in their eyes. Not regret, maybe, but recognition. Of how cruel fate had been to a man who had once dared to love, to fight, and in the end, to sacrifice everything.

The last beginners’ yoga class ended, and people began passing by the front desk on their way out. Some stopped to make small talk, but most of them continued on with nothing more than a wave.

Matt, the new yoga instructor appeared next, a bag over his shoulder. “Gotta run, my boyfriend is taking me out to dinner.” He gave her a kiss on both cheeks and hurried out the door.

Within moments, the studio was empty, the only sounds the serene music and gurgling of the tabletop water feature.

Aubrey jumped when her phone rang.

When she answered, a no-nonsense voice replied. “Is this Aubrey Maguire?”

“Yes, who’s calling?”

“This is Detective Sergeant Willerton from Livingston CID. I need to speak to you. Are you available? I am about ten minutes from Linlithgow.”

Aubrey paced the length of the reception area in the yoga studio, racking her brain, trying to figure out why the police needed to speak to her. She’d called Erin to ensure all was well, then her parents. Not wishing to alarm them, she used the excuse of planning a dinner at the estate. Everyone was thankfully unharmed, so the police coming to visit was troubling.

A woman approached the entrance and Aubrey unlocked it, letting her in. Just a bit shorter than her, at first glance one could call DS Willerton to be an average looking woman. But one look at her sharp eyes and everything changed. The woman commanded attention. She wore blue slacks, a button-up white blouse and a light blue zip-up jacket. Aubrey guessed they were about the same age, early thirties. Willerton’s brown hair was cut bluntly at jaw level, a cut that flattered her square face.

“Miss Maguire?” She held up her credentials. “Detective Meg Willerton.”

“Yes please come in, sit down. Can I get you some water? A cup of tea?” Aubrey motioned to the two chairs on the left side of the studio. The blinds were closed so they would not be easily seen from outside.

“A cup of tea would be great,” the detective replied. Her cell phone rang, and whilst Aubrey made the tea, the detective took a call, replying with one word, two at the most.

“Yes.”

“I know.”

“Will do.”

Aubrey placed two cups of tea on a small table between the chairs, then went and fetched creamer from the small refrigerator and a sugar dispenser.

The detective added cream to her tea, nothing else. Aubrey added extra sugar to hers, hoping it would calm her nerves.