“This way,” Jessica replied briskly. “It isn’t up to our usual standards, you understand, but it is the best we can manage at short notice.”
It was clear from the tone of her voice that she still wasn’t happy at having to accommodate him. Marcus wondered if she was usually this surly with people, or whether it was just him.
Did she object to having a stranger in the house because she knew her brother had something to hide? Did she have something to hide? Or was it just that she was tired and incredibly worried about something?
Oh, you are most definitely worried, Marcus mused as he eyed the deep grove between her eyes her smile wasn’t able to erase.
His fingers itched to smooth it away. He wanted Jess to tell him about what was troubling her. It wasn’t that he could help her. In fact, he knew that he could very well prove to be the one person in the world who could make her life considerably worse. It was just that he knew she was carrying a heavy burden and, for the sake of his investigation, he needed to find out if it involved stolen jewels or not.
“This is it,” she said as she pushed open a door to a room at the back of the house.
Good, it affords you a good view of the woods her brother uses, Marcus thought as he stepped across the threshold and took a look around.
The bed was large, and located against the far wall, a few feet away from the window overlooking the back gardens. An aged but well-loved dresser sat opposite, the top of which contained a wash bowl and jug. There was very little in the way of décor. The walls had been whitewashed some time ago but had now turned a dark cream colour. The only spot of colour within the rather brown and white room was the small rug beside the bed, and the floral curtains clinging desperately to the window.
It was just like the rest of the house. Well worn, but clean.
Jess was desperately sad to leave her old room and turned her gaze away from it before she started to cry. She had left a candle lit inside. It bathed the room in a homely glow that made her want to lie down on the bed and rest for a while. But she couldn’t. Not only did she have chores to do, but this was not her room for the time being. It belonged to him.
“I have placed a bowl of fresh water on the dresser and found a nightgown that was my father’s from the attics. It is old, but it is clean, and should be serviceable enough until your luggage arrives. I meant to ask how long you will be staying.”
Marcus looked at her. At first, he wanted to apologise for kicking her out of her room. He had no doubt this was her bedroom. It reminded him of Jessica; gentle, soft, and fragrant yet feminine and homely. He rolled her name over in his mind as he wandered around the room.
“I don’t know yet. A couple of weeks, maybe longer,” he replied absently.
Night had already fallen. It was impossible to see much outside apart from his reflection, and that of the delightfully intriguing woman behind him. Marcus tried to remind himself that he was in the house for professional reasons, but it was difficult with such sweet temptation standing so alluringly behind him. Bathed in candlelight, she stood in a golden halo that emphasised her very feminine curves. She looked darkly mysterious, but also sultry and alluring. It was so tempting to turn around and uncover all of her secrets that Marcus had turned to face her without even realising he had moved.
Before he could speak, Jess took the opportunity to leave.
“I will say goodnight, Mr Cauldwell. There is plenty of ale in the jug downstairs if you get thirsty. Just help yourself. Breakfast will be at eight. Goodnight.”
Jess didn’t bother to wait for him to respond, and quietly let herself out into the darkened hallway with a sigh of relief. Without a candle, the shadows were darker, but she knew her way around well enough to be able to find her way back downstairs blindfolded if she had to.
“Maybe it was something I said,” Marcus muttered around a yawn as he eyed the closed door. He was tempted to rattle her a little, but the sweet temptation of the freshly laundered bed was too much for his tired old bones to resist. With another huge yawn, he lay down, still fully dressed, and promptly fell asleep.
Jess slammed her way into the kitchen and glared at Ben, who was still in the process of washing the dinner pots.
“How much did he pay you?” she demanded before he could speak.
Ben shrugged, dried his hands, and dug around in his pocket. Before he could answer, Jess’ attention was caught by a small package resting beside the hearth.
“What’s that?” She didn’t wait for him to reply and hurried over to it.
Ben didn’t speak as she unwrapped it, but he winced when she turned to glare accusingly at him.
“Please tell me that you purchased this from the butchers,” she pleaded as she held the package out. Her hands physically trembled as she wrapped it back up carefully and put it back where she found it before Ben could answer.
“I have,” Ben replied. “Well, not the butchers exactly, but this was from someone who won’t get me arrested.”
“Where did it come from?” Jess dropped the joint of beef back onto the hearth and stepped cautiously away from it as though it carried an infectious disease.
If the meat had been stolen, she was going to throw it into the fire and hope all trace of it vanished. In spite of her best intentions to ignore it, her stomach rumbled hungrily. Her mouth began to water at the thought of being able to eat roast beef for once. It had been so long since she had tasted any that she had forgotten what it tasted like. Still, her conscience wouldn’t allow a morsel to pass her lips if it was from the kitchens of the Priory, or something.
“It didn’t come from the big house, did it?” she gasped in horror.
“No, it didn’t. You aren’t going to get arrested or stuck by lightening if you eat some,” Ben assured her. “We can cook it in the morning. For now, leave it there. I don’t know about you, but I am tired, and I need my bed.”
“Your bed, I hope,” she warned darkly.