Approaching the door, I hesitate for a long moment. Butterflies flutter in my gut, and my nerves are on high alert. I shake my head, telling myself it’s fine.
I push the door open and step in. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the rushlight's dim glow as I remove my cloak and hang it beside the door.
“Ah, Clara,” my father’s voice chimes as though he’s delighted to see me. Except, he’s never happy to see me. “There you are.”
My hands freeze in mid-motion as suspicion makes my blood run cold. He is up to something.
I quickly bunch my hands into fists and turn to face Father and his guest, forcing my face into a blank mask.
The man at Father’s side is tall and quite possibly the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on. His dark hair is perfectly cut and swept back, it’s not long enough to be tied but, almost. On anyone else, it would look unkempt, but it only adds to his sophisticated appearance. His clothes are tailored, and much finer than anything Xander’s family owns.
He must be from a neighboring town, most likely the cousin of one of the more well-off families here, no doubt one of their unwitting cousins who don’t know better than to stay away from Father. What is a man of his stature doing in our dirty little cottage?
Dread pools over me. That could only mean Father is getting us further into debt. It won’t be long until I can no longer keep up with his spending, it’s nearly impossible as it is. I don’t remember the last time his gambling did anything other than empty our already lacking accounts.
Our guest eyes me up and down, assessing me as if I’m a horse at market. His nostrils flare, and his eyes grow wide for a split second before narrowing. I straighten my back as he casts his judgment upon me.
I can only imagine what he’s thinking as he takes me in wearing men’s breeches and riding boots. I’ve obviously come back in from the forest. The mud on my boots gives that away. And without my bow, there’s no doubt he thinks I’ve been out trying to catch rabbits with my teeth.
His upper lip twitches.
Finally releasing me from his impenetrable gaze, he pulls a watch from his vest pocket and looks at the time, then replaces it. “I must be going.”
Father’s eyes go wide as he speaks in his friendliest tone, but I can still make out the desperation in his words. “Surely, Mr. Devereaux, you will stay a while longer and allow me the chance to regain what I have lost?”
The man stares down his nose at me as he adjusts his gloves, barely paying attention to Father. “I am afraid that will not be possible at this time. I have other business I must attend to.”
The longer he watches me with cold detachment and eyes that scrutinize and judge, the more my annoyance turns to anger. Surely after this evening, he knows the kind of man my father is, and he knows that I must be doing the best I can with this life I was born into…
Then I frown. Why on earth would I care what this man thinks? A man of so little honor that he would take the last of our money because of a stupid betting game… a man who could lose ten times as much and not feel its effects.
His nostrils flare and his eyes narrow. The howling of lesser demons starts up in the distance as the sun begins to lower.
“Very well, Mr. Devereaux, do be careful until you are settled for the night,” Father says, unaware of the strange exchange between us.
I remain rooted in place as the man sneers at me before turning to my father and giving him a dark smile. “It was a pleasure doing business with you. I will return soon to settle the debt,” he says in a rich, languid tone.
“It is a shame you came into town on the same day the vampires did.” Father shakes his head, sneering at his glass of wine before taking a large gulp and finishing it off.
Mr. Devereaux raises one dark brow, finally looking away from me to Father and says, “Indeed.”
They shake hands then he strides toward the door. His gaze cuts to me, narrowing with menace. His eyes look almost black in the dim lighting, save for the faintest hint of deep blue framed by thick, black, enviable lashes. Then he’s out the door and gone before I can begin to understand what his problem with me could possibly be.
“Close the door and get in here, girl. You’re letting all the heat out,” Father snaps.
I jump into action, closing the door after our guest. Then I look down at my hands smudged with dirt. He must think I’m nothing more than some lowly servant. I’m sure I have dirt on my face as well. I rub a spot on the side of my finger. Not dirt. But dried blood from when I pulled my arrow free from that beast.
“Where have you been? I thought I’d told you not to wander today,” he scolds.
My head snaps up. He acts as if we have all the money in the world, yet it’s only thanks to my ‘wandering’ that we still have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies most days. “I was out getting this,” I retort, flinging the small bag of coins at him then turn toward the room to check on Kathrine.
“That’s it?” he demands from behind.
“Yes, I had to get Kathrine’s medicine—” I keep my fists at my side to keep from clutching the small vial of liquid in my pocket, lest he take it from me to sell.
“You don’t worry about that. You know to bring home every coin. I am the head of this household, and I will take care of the necessities.”
“Then take care of them,” I bite out, rounding on him. “Quit gambling our money away. If it weren’t for me and what I can manage to bring home, we would have starved a long time ago.” There is so much I want to say to him. Though it’s the same every time. The same fight, the same words that fall on deaf ears. I am stopped before I can say anything more by a resounding slap across my cheek that sends my head snapping to the side.
“Watch your mouth. If it weren’t for me, you’d have died on the streets after your mother was taken.”
He says the words as though he’s some kind of savior who rescued me from that fate, and like I’m not his daughter.
My teeth cut the inside of my cheek and the coppery taste of blood touches my tongue. There will be a bruise by morning. My face burns from the strike, already swelling. I only pivot and head into the room I share with my sister.
Kitty sits up a little straighter in bed when she sees me enter the room. A smile brightens her face until it’s stolen by a cough.
“Come, sit,” she says, holding out her hands and beckoning me to her side. “Tell me, is that strange man gone?”
I sit next to her and brush her hair back behind her ear. “And what do you know of him?” I ask.
“Well…” She clasps her hands together and leans forward, whispering in a hushed voice even though we are the only ones in the room. “I know he’s been here all day. He showed up shortly after you left. He brought a chill in with him, so I had to excuse myself to rest, but from what I’ve gathered, he is in town for business that must be of a demon’s making because he would not speak a word of it to Father.”
I smile and pat her leg. “Don’t go getting yourself riled up. Mr. Devereaux is gone. I don’t think we’ll be seeing him again.”
The grin I wear strains across my face, and I hope she can’t tell. Her superstitions about demons playing a role in people’s everyday lives are going to get her worked up until she falls ill again.
Standing, I head to the small armoire we share and rifle through it for fresh clothes to change into—ones not covered in a layer of dust and mud.
“Clara,” she scolds gently. “What aren’t you telling me? How much did Father lose this time?” Her words are as bitter as I feel.
“I don’t know.” I slowly turn to face her. “Enough that Mr. Devereaux will be back in a few days to settle.”
Her pale cheeks turn pink, then red. “We will never be married at this rate if Father continues to spend every penny! What dowry does he expect to give?”
I already know the answer. He's not. He thinks it as a waste of money.
Marriage is our only escape from this hell, the only way we can ever be well and truly safe away from Father’s wrath and senseless spending. I think about the stash of money I have hidden under the floorboards. It will take a while yet to obtain what I need for us both.
I must plan this just right. First, Xander must obtain his family’s blessing, then I can find a suitable match for Kitty. Perhaps we could even have a double wedding. She would love that.
“Do not stress yourself over this. You’ll make yourself sick.” I cross over to her and cup her cheek. “I will take care of you. Never forget that.”
Once we are away from here, Kathrine will finally have a chance at living her life as a true lady, just like she deserves.