obligated to continue.”
Jane hurried down the stairs.
“Verra well.” Kilkenny sounded tired. “I’ll go with her. I’ll rig up a whistle. Ye blow it, if ye need me.”
“I doubt you could get here fast enough to do any good, Mr. Kilkenny,” Jane said, pushing through the kitchen door. They were sitting at the long table. Her father had a cup of tea, and Kilkenny a tankard of ale. She was struck immediately by how haggard Kilkenny looked. His hair was a tangle of dark curls, his shirt was stained with sweat, and there were faint circles under his eyes. His fight with the vampire must have taken more out of him than he let on. There was a half-empty bottle of blood on the chopping block. Her father must have gotten it in the daylight. That should have refreshed Kilkenny.
“I’ll get here, as long as we’re nae farther than five miles,” he said grimly.
How? He was hiding something again. However would she get him to answer all her questions? The man was stubborn: a very unattractive trait. “I’m more than capable of getting whatever you need, Papa. Haven’t I walked all over these hills and valleys?”
“Carns and glens, if ye dinnae want ta sound foreign.”
Maddening man! “I have no desire to blend in with the locals,” she said with some asperity. “As soon as Papa finds the cure, we will be shut of this dreary place.”
Kilkenny chuffed a scornful laugh. “I would no’ be packing just yet.”
“Well, then, I should think it important to get Papa whatever he needs.” She turned to her father. “I don’t need any help from this … person, Papa. What shall I search out?”
Her father stood. “I’ll not tell you Jane, unless you give me your solemn word that you won’t stir from the yard without Kilkenny. I can’t be worrying about you. It distracts me.”
Her father would never believe any objection Jane might make to Kilkenny’s company on account of propriety in light of the way she had always railed against the restrictions placed on females. Jane sighed. Walking the hillsides alone with Mr. Kilkenny would be difficult for more reasons than she could count. “Very well, Papa.”
He slapped the table with both palms, rising. “Excellent. I think … Amanita virosa and Amanita phalloides . Either or both. As many as you can find.”
That made Jane open her eyes. Those were probably the most poisonous mushrooms in the British Isles. She forced a smile. It wouldn’t do to let Mr. Kilkenny know about that. Why make him fearful of the cure he wanted so badly? She nodded to her father. “Let’s see. They need damp but acid soil, and they grow in the leaves under trees. Perhaps by the river or … up at the Falls of Divach?”
“I’d try the falls. The moisture in the air would make a good environment for Amanitas . And can you find me some Atropa belladonna ?”
Deadly nightshade? What dreadful concoction was he brewing? She nodded. “First thing after dinner, then,” Jane said shortly, glancing to Mr. Kilkenny to dare him to protest. He only lifted his brows.
“I’ll take dinner in my room, my dear. It’s been quite a day.” Her father sighed and rose.
She stood on tiptoe to kiss his forehead. “I’ll bring it in directly.”
She tied on an apron and bent to check the pot of hare stew she had left simmering all day on the coals as her father headed upstairs. She could feel Kilkenny behind her. She stirred it. Good, it hadn’t stuck to the bottom. It had parsnips and carrots in it. With some roasted potatoes that would make a fine meal. She went down into the root cellar, relieved to escape Kilkenny’s eyes. When she came up with an apron full of potatoes, he was sipping his ale, considering.
“Where did a lass like ye learn housekeeping?”
“Oh, it’s a question now, is it? You who don’t answer anything want answers?” She lifted her brows, mocking.
He looked down at his tankard. He seemed embarrassed or ashamed. As well he should. She had already
Jane hurried down the stairs.
“Verra well.” Kilkenny sounded tired. “I’ll go with her. I’ll rig up a whistle. Ye blow it, if ye need me.”
“I doubt you could get here fast enough to do any good, Mr. Kilkenny,” Jane said, pushing through the kitchen door. They were sitting at the long table. Her father had a cup of tea, and Kilkenny a tankard of ale. She was struck immediately by how haggard Kilkenny looked. His hair was a tangle of dark curls, his shirt was stained with sweat, and there were faint circles under his eyes. His fight with the vampire must have taken more out of him than he let on. There was a half-empty bottle of blood on the chopping block. Her father must have gotten it in the daylight. That should have refreshed Kilkenny.
“I’ll get here, as long as we’re nae farther than five miles,” he said grimly.
How? He was hiding something again. However would she get him to answer all her questions? The man was stubborn: a very unattractive trait. “I’m more than capable of getting whatever you need, Papa. Haven’t I walked all over these hills and valleys?”
“Carns and glens, if ye dinnae want ta sound foreign.”
Maddening man! “I have no desire to blend in with the locals,” she said with some asperity. “As soon as Papa finds the cure, we will be shut of this dreary place.”
Kilkenny chuffed a scornful laugh. “I would no’ be packing just yet.”
“Well, then, I should think it important to get Papa whatever he needs.” She turned to her father. “I don’t need any help from this … person, Papa. What shall I search out?”
Her father stood. “I’ll not tell you Jane, unless you give me your solemn word that you won’t stir from the yard without Kilkenny. I can’t be worrying about you. It distracts me.”
Her father would never believe any objection Jane might make to Kilkenny’s company on account of propriety in light of the way she had always railed against the restrictions placed on females. Jane sighed. Walking the hillsides alone with Mr. Kilkenny would be difficult for more reasons than she could count. “Very well, Papa.”
He slapped the table with both palms, rising. “Excellent. I think … Amanita virosa and Amanita phalloides . Either or both. As many as you can find.”
That made Jane open her eyes. Those were probably the most poisonous mushrooms in the British Isles. She forced a smile. It wouldn’t do to let Mr. Kilkenny know about that. Why make him fearful of the cure he wanted so badly? She nodded to her father. “Let’s see. They need damp but acid soil, and they grow in the leaves under trees. Perhaps by the river or … up at the Falls of Divach?”
“I’d try the falls. The moisture in the air would make a good environment for Amanitas . And can you find me some Atropa belladonna ?”
Deadly nightshade? What dreadful concoction was he brewing? She nodded. “First thing after dinner, then,” Jane said shortly, glancing to Mr. Kilkenny to dare him to protest. He only lifted his brows.
“I’ll take dinner in my room, my dear. It’s been quite a day.” Her father sighed and rose.
She stood on tiptoe to kiss his forehead. “I’ll bring it in directly.”
She tied on an apron and bent to check the pot of hare stew she had left simmering all day on the coals as her father headed upstairs. She could feel Kilkenny behind her. She stirred it. Good, it hadn’t stuck to the bottom. It had parsnips and carrots in it. With some roasted potatoes that would make a fine meal. She went down into the root cellar, relieved to escape Kilkenny’s eyes. When she came up with an apron full of potatoes, he was sipping his ale, considering.
“Where did a lass like ye learn housekeeping?”
“Oh, it’s a question now, is it? You who don’t answer anything want answers?” She lifted her brows, mocking.
He looked down at his tankard. He seemed embarrassed or ashamed. As well he should. She had already
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