Page 39 of Ever After

“The task?”

“You know. The reason we’re here. What about that?”

“Who the fuck knows? If he thinks I’m interrogating a mullered butler, he can think again.” He raises his chin suddenly, pausing. “Can you smell something?”

I sniff. “What?”

“Like cologne. Men’s cologne.”

“Oh, maybe it was—” I turn and my eyes go wide. The chair is empty and the room is the same.

“Maybe it was what?” Blue asks.

I shake my head. “Nothing.”

The man probably went out through another door. Although, this explanation isn’t at all comforting when I notice there is no other door to the library.

CHAPTER 6

LEVI

An hour later, I open the door to the cottage and step back so Blue can go through.

He smirks. “Such a gentleman.”

“Oh, shut up.”

“Lovely. Harsh words from my beloved. And on my honeymoon, too.”

“I can’t help noticing that it only appears to be your honeymoon. What am I doing here?”

“Mainly dragging us off on stupid quests, but you can’t always be perfect.”

I follow him into the kitchen and walk straight into his back when he suddenly stops. “Ouch,” I say plaintively as my nose rebounds off his head.

“What are you doing here?” he demands.

I blink. “Erm. Having my honeymoon.”

He turns to me, his face agitated. “Not you. Him.”

“Who?” I step around him and my mouth drops open as I see a man sitting on the rocking chair by the fire, a little dog at his feet. The stranger is dressed in a long coat and knee-high boots and has a harsh, craggy face with very blue eyes. “Who are you?” I ask.

The man shrugs and looks at Blue. “Would you like to field this question, Mr Billings?”

Blue meets my gaze, his face becoming pale. “Wait. You can see him?” he demands.

“Yes,” I say tentatively. “Shouldn’t I? What is going on here?” I glance at the man and he raises a very sardonic eyebrow. I notice now that his clothes are quite old. Old, old, like from the regency period. The penny drops and the blood drains from my face. “Oh my god. Is this the ghost?”

“That you can see?” Blue steps over to me and puts his hand on my forehead.

“What are you doing?” I jerk back.

“Checking if you have a fever.”

“Well, I haven’t. What is going on here?”

The man clears his throat. “Am I to gather that your spouse doesn’t usually see the spirit world?”