Page 67 of His Wicked Charm

Con muttered a curse. “Lilah? Wake up. You’d best go back to bed now.”

* * *

LILAH AWAKENED THE next morning feeling almost lighthearted. It seemed strange, given that Con had discovered her sleepwalking. But, just as when Con had found about her aunt and the scandal, it was a relief.

He was privy to all her secrets now. She no longer had to pretend with him. And her secret was safe; she needn’t worry. She knew Con now—no matter how often he might break the rules, he held to his standards. He was, above all else, loyal.

To her dismay, she found Sir Jasper, not Con, in the dining room. “Ah, Delilah.” He rose and pulled out a chair for her, saying to the butler, “You may bring Miss Holcutt’s breakfast now.”

From the butler’s expression, Lilah guessed that he appreciated Sir Jasper issuing commands as little as she did. And what made Jasper presume that he could take his seat at the head of the table? She turned to the butler, defiantly waiting for her command. “Yes, that would be nice, Ruggins, but I’d like a cup of tea first.”

“It’s a lovely day,” Sir Jasper announced. “I took a stroll about the garden this morning. It’s been sadly neglected.”

“I rather like a rustic look.” Next he would be telling her what should be done to spruce it up.

Jasper smiled benignly. “Rustic, yes, but not, I think, wild.”

“That’s something you’ll have to take up with my aunt.”

“But surely Barrow House is your home.”

“Yes, but my aunt is living here. I leave the affairs of the house in her hands.”

He looked taken aback by the firmness of Lilah’s tone, but he shrugged it aside. “I thought, Delilah, given that it’s such a pleasant morning, you might show me about the estate.”

“Yes, Delilah.” Con’s mocking voice came from the doorway behind her. Lilah thought that she had never been so glad to hear his teasing voice. “That sounds like a capital idea. I’d love to get a closer look at the Levels, too.” Con gave Sir Jasper a toothy grin.

Sir Jasper scowled, but there was little he could say without being impolite. Later, as they rode down to the Levels, Con was at his most annoying, effectively managing to wedge his horse between Lilah and her cousin while he kept up a light, nonsensical chatter, needling Sir Jasper until Lilah almost felt sorry for the man.

Sir Jasper’s expression grew steadily stonier, and when Lilah suggested an early return to the house, he was happy to agree. Aunt Vesta was up by the time they came back, and she pulled Sir Jasper into a conversation, giving Lilah and Con a chance to escape.

“You are a terrible man,” Lilah told Con as he steered her back outside.

“I know. Aren’t you glad?” He grinned.

“Rather. Where are we going?”

“To the maze.”

“Why? Con, I’ve no desire to go back into the maze.”

“Just bear with me. I have something I want to try out. Besides, Sir Jasper can’t see us there. I don’t want him interrupting. I have something to discuss with you.”

“What?” Lilah asked, a frisson of alarm going through her at the serious look on Con’s face.

“I think I know why you’ve been walking in your sleep. You’re being called to the maze.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“WHAT? CON, REALLY...”

“No, wait, hear me out.” He raised his hands conciliatorily. “You said yourself you hadn’t walked in your sleep in ages, but it started after we arrived here. Maybe it’s because we’re searching for the key.”

“How could it possibly have anything to do with that?”

“What if you heard or saw something about the key when you were very young, and you’ve forgotten it over the years? You might not have realized it was important. But that knowledge is buried deep in your memory, and your sleeping mind remembers it.”

“My mind is sending me to retrieve your key?” Lilah asked skeptically.