Page 183 of Ashen Torment

Isobel starts, her hands brushing the rim of the cup as her eyes go wide. “Dorian—”

“Forgive me, Lady Brownell, I must go.”

I cut the sentence short without fully turning, already heading for the door. Then I turn slightly.

“Thank you for coming.”

I walk out of the room. Rage bites at my chest.

It isn’t for him.

It’s for me.

For thinking that staying still was enough.

For believing he would come back.

And instead, he was hurt.

And I wasn’t there.

I descend the entrance stairs with rapid strides, not looking around, until I reach the carriage. I climb inside. Laurence leans toward the window.

“I’m coming too, my lor—”

“No. Attend to Lady Brownell.”

I put on my gloves.

“To Rochefort Manor!”

The carriage lurches forward, pulled by the horses. The cold air hits my face, but it soothes nothing.

Isobel’s words creep into my mind, slimy and slow.

While I was thrusting my hands among the bones of the past, he was falling from his horse.

That damned blind horse. I shall buy him a new one.

My hands are sweating, I rip off the gloves and hurl them onto the floor of the carriage.

Nathaniel and Richard were there.

Did they hold his hand?

Did they comfort him?

The thought tightens my stomach, twisting my vitals.

Did he touch him? Nathaniel?

I bring a hand to my face, clenching my fingers to contain the fury boiling within.

Then I strike two sharp blows against the wood of the carriage, the signal for the coachman to accelerate.

The horses gallop faster, and we reach the driveway leading to the gardens of Rochefort Manor.

The carriage proceeds toward the main house, but my gaze falls on another: the Brownells’, parked in front of a side pavilion. Standing there, Evander’s valet is arguing with some of the Brownell servants.