resting as well.â
I waved her reprimand away. âHe isnât safe. Not in his condition. They might come back. I overheardââ
âNot now.â With a stern look, she held up a hand, forestalling my outburst, and turned to our guest. Our odd Mr. Sinclair had the presence of mind to stand when Miss Stranje and Sera had entered. He stood quietly watching her, alert, reacting to every nuance of her speech precisely the way a curious otter might.
Georgie introduced him. âHe arrived with a message from Lord Wyatt.â
âWelcome to Stranje House, Mr. Sinclair.â Miss Stranje extended her hand and, as he had done to Georgieâs, he pumped her hand up and down as if it were the handle of a water spigot.
Jane thrust the letter of introduction at Miss Stranje.
Miss Stranje ignored Janeâs interruption, even though I knew she must have a mad itch to look at that letter. Nor did she let on that she noticed anything objectionable in Mr. Sinclairâs appearance. She treated him with the same respect she would have given a peer of the realm, graciously gesturing for Mr. Sinclair to take a chair. âPlease be seated. You mustnât let me interrupt your tea. Youâve had a long journey Iâm sure.â
Only after he took his seat did she accept the letter from Jane, who was fairly frothing at the bit for her to read it.
I clutched the arm of the settee because suddenly the room began to swim before me. The lump on my head must be worse than I thought. But then I glanced at my teacup on the table and remembered the bitter herbs. âYou gave me a sleeping draught?â
Madame Cho had been watching me. With a curt nod, she stood. âCome. We must take you to your bed.â
The very last thing I wanted to do was sleep, but what choice did I have? If I didnât go with her to the dormitorium, I would collapse. Before accepting Choâs help, I leaned over and whispered sternly in Janeâs ear, applying enough grim warning that she knew better than to refuse, âWake me at nightfall.â
Â
Six
SHADOWS
Jane jostled my shoulder and awakened me from a remarkably dreamless sleep. âI hope you appreciate us disobeying orders. We were told to leave you sleeping.â All four of them stood next to the bed, surrounding me in the dark.
Wary. Worried.
Sera thrust a crusty roll stuffed with meat and cheese at me. âHam and cheddar. It was all I could slip into my pocket.â
Maya laid an offering of grapes in my lap.
âThank you.â My throat was dry, so it came out sounding garbled and croaky.
Georgie handed me a glass of lemon water. âYouâre planning something. What is it?â
I gulped down the contents. âItâs best if you donât know.â
Jane crossed her arms. âTell us anyway.â
âItâs something I must do alone.â
Georgie took the glass from me, refilled it from a pitcher, and set it down with a firm plunk. âWe work together. Remember?â
Even in the dark, I could see worry dampening the fire in her features, and it needled me worse than anything she might say.
âExplain your plan, so that we may help.â Mayaâs soothing voice almost lulled me into confiding.
âDonât use your tricks on me, Maya. Not tonight.â I took a bite of the sandwich, hoping food would help awaken my groggy limbs. âGo to bed, all of you.â
Sera sat down on the covers beside me. âYou intend to check on him, donât you?â
âPerhaps. Someone has to protect him. Daneskaâs men could come back.â I took another bite, chewing vigorously to hide my defensiveness.
Hands on hips, Jane gave an exasperated huff. âIf they dared return, and Iâm not saying they wouldâ¦â She straightened to her full height as if towering over my bed might lend her more authority. âBut if they were foolhardy enough to come back, what makes you think