Allegra Fairweather_ Paranormal Investigator - Janni Nell [71]
I smiled at him. “You showed the girls your wings and told them you were an angel. They told their parents about you and they were all punished for making up lies.” I laughed at the memory. “That was very naughty of you, Casper. I’ll bet the Powers-That-Be didn’t approve.”
“I got a reprimand,” said Casper, “but it was worth it.”
“To get back at those kids?”
“To make you smile, Allegra.”
Avoiding his eyes—how could I look into them and not rush straight into his arms?—I stood up and brushed woodchips off my jeans. “I’ve rested long enough. Better start searching for this skin again.”
“I’ll come with you,” offered Casper.
“There’s no need. It’s not like you can help me or anything.”
“No,” he agreed, “but I could use the exercise.”
Yeah right. I ran my eyes over his splendid physique. If he had an ounce of fat I couldn’t see it.
He must have noticed my skeptical glance because he asked, “You don’t mind if I join you?”
Mind? My heart soared at the prospect.
Retrieving my heart from the stratosphere, I said with feigned nonchalance, “You can come with me. I don’t mind.”
Chapter Eighteen
After searching all afternoon without experiencing even a tickle in my toe, I finally called it a day. Casper flew off to do whatever he does when we’re not together and I returned to Mac’s.
“Any luck?” asked Douglas as I walked into the bar.
I shook my head.
“We’ll have more luck tomorrow,” he said confidently, “when the whole village is involved in the search. I’ve organized a public meeting for tonight. We’ll let them know that we’re looking for—”
“You can’t do that. I promised Lady Justina I wouldn’t tell anyone she was a selkie.”
“The villagers don’t need to know who owns the skin, but just between you and me, they’ve probably guessed she’s a selkie. And most of them take the treaty seriously. They’ll want to help.”
“Okay,” I said, “but you’ve got to promise not to mention Lady Justina. Even if the villagers have guessed the truth, it’s best we don’t confirm it.”
“Done.”
Once we’d got the details out of the way, I was touched that he’d gone to the trouble of organizing the villagers.
“Thanks, Douglas. I thought I’d be on my own with this.”
“Did you really think I’d refuse to help?”
“Of course not.” Liar, liar pants on fire. I hurried on. “I’m going to have a shower. I’m filthy.”
Leaving Douglas to organize a meeting of the villagers, I hauled myself upstairs to my room. After dropping my dirty clothes on the bathroom floor, I stepped under the scalding shower. Bliss.
I was toweling myself dry when I heard a knock at the door. It sounded urgent. Clutching the towel around me, I hurried to see what was wrong.
When I opened the door, Douglas stared at my towel-wrapped body in surprise. “Och. Sorry.” He didn’t look sorry. He looked like a kid on Christmas morning.
Ignoring his complimentary gaze, I asked, “What’s up?”
“Lady Justina’s here.”
“Give me a minute to dress,” I said, “and I’ll come down.”
“I think it’s better if I send her up.”
“Okay. Whatever.”
“Allegra, she doesn’t look good.” Before I could ask what he meant, he hurried away.
I shut the door. Wondering whether Sir Alastair had beaten her up, I threw on a pair of jeans and a sweater. She arrived a moment later. I couldn’t see any evidence of a beating but she was even paler than usual. Her hair had lost some of its luster. Her habitually sad face seemed to have sunk in upon itself.
Instinctively I reached out a hand to support her. “Come in. Sit down.”
She shook her head. “This won’t take long.” Pressing her hands nervously together, she murmured, “You must stop looking for my skin.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t want you to find my skin.”
“Oh please, you don’t seriously expect me to believe that.” Then comprehension dawned. “Sir Alastair put you up to this, didn’t he?”
She nodded slowly.
“Well it’s not going to