crush my bones.
“Have you lived here all your life?”
A nod this time, and a shy smile in my direction.
“You’re brave for saving Rose from that fire,” I say. “Were you scared?”
Norm seems to ponder this for a few seconds. Then he twists in his chair, still not looking at me but at least now facing in my direction. Then he shakes his head.
“No?” I glance at the closed door separating us from the massive furnace outside. “No, I guess not. You’re around that thing a lot, aren’t you?” I point at the door, taking another sip of tea.
Norm nods, shrugs.
“Was the baron there?”
He frowns, his gaze still stuck to the floor.
“When you saved Rose.” I duck my head, doing my best to get him to look at me. “Was the baron in the room?”
At first, I think Norm won’t answer. But when I take another sip, he glances up at me, and then gives a reluctant nod.
My stomach turns over. “Did he…was he the one that started the fire?”
Again, Norm nods. His eyes latch onto my mouth, as if he’s mesmerized by my words. Then he slaps both hands over his face.
I finish the tea, and begin to stand to put it back on the desk. Norm reaches out and snatches it from my hand, then looks almost abashed as he puts it down for me.
My heart is beating slow but hard.
Of all the places I could have found occupation, I root out a manor where the man of the house is intent on murdering his little girl.
Sounds like you’re soul mates to me, Howard cuts in with a wicked chuckle. Made for each other.
The room swims for a moment as my eyes fill with tears. Norm happens to look at me, and draws back as if he’s not sure what’s happening.
Hell, neither am I. I’m not one to start sobbing at the drop of a hat, but suddenly I can’t seem to keep back the sadness that’s been welling inside me for so long.
“I’m so sorry,” I mumble to him. I use the hem of my cloak to blot my eyes, but the tears keep coming. “I don’t know what’s come over me.”
Norm gives me a sympathetic nod. For the first time, I notice his eyes are as bright and blue as the baron’s. No, Mrs. Potter’s. He’s her son. She’s his mom. Couldn’t get his eyes from Brandon.
I cup a hand over my mouth, but my giggle escapes anyway. Norm smiles at me, and stands.
“Gosh, you are tall.” I have to lean back to see him. “Why do you stay down here?”
Norm glances away, shifting his weight as he considers the question. Then he points at the door and mimics dancing flames with his fingers.
“Oh, of course.” I shake my head.
God, I’m such an idiot. Tears leak from my eyes again, and this time I just use my hands to swipe them away.
Norm makes a crooning noise, but I can barely see through my tears. I wave at him, trying to tell him it’s okay.
The next moment, the mattress beside me sinks down as he settles on it. My heart thuds into my throat when he slides an arm over my shoulder. The motion is gentle, hesitant, as if he’s not sure how I’ll respond to the touch.
Despite the smell of ash that lingers about him, despite the strange warmth of his body, I sink against him and let him hold me close.
A sigh escapes me as my body melts. He begins to stroke my hair.
Tension leaves my body. My eyes flutter as I try to keep them open, but they’re too heavy.
I’m too heavy.
Too tired.
All I want to do is sleep.
Norm starts rocking me from side to side, still smoothing down my hair with his big hand. Never realized how big until now, with the other draped over his thigh. Big, strong hands. Smooth skin.
“Were you wearing gloves?” I don’t know what the question means, and perhaps Norm doesn’t either. He shrugs, and starts making shushing noises. “When you ssssaved her.”
Why am I slurring?
“When you saved Rose.”
I reach out and stroke my finger down the back of his hand. He flinches away from my touch, his hand darting out of sight.
“Ssh.”
My eyes slide shut. The mattress shifts beneath me. I’m dimly aware that I’m laying on my back, and that feels wrong. But I can’t even open my eyes, let alone sit up. I hear Rose let out an unhappy sound, and that makes my heart patter