“Yes.” Claire chewed on her lower lip and looked away. “And so can I, I'm afraid.”

Ellie watched the younger girl closely. Claire was clearly agitated and upset. Ellie desperately wanted to comfort her, but she wasn't certain that her overtures would be welcomed. After all, Claire had made her antagonism clear over the past few weeks. Finally Ellie simply patted the empty side of the bed and said, “Would you like to sit here beside me? I should enjoy the company.”

Claire hesitated, then took a few steps and sat down. She didn't say anything for at least a minute, just sat there plucking at the blankets. Ellie finally broke the silence by saying, “Claire?”

The girl was jolted out of her thoughts, looked up, and said, “I haven't been very kind to you since you arrived.”

Ellie wasn't certain how best to respond to that so she remained silent.

Claire cleared her throat, as if summoning the courage to continue. When she finally began speaking, the words fell from her lips a mile a minute. “The fire in the kitchen was my fault,” she burst out. “I moved the rack. I didn't intend for there to be a fire. I just wanted to burn the toast so you wouldn't appear so bloody smart, and I ruined your stew as well, and I've been poisoning your garden, and…and—” Her voice broke, and she looked away.

“And what, Claire?” Ellie prodded softly, knowing what was coming, yet needing to hear it from Claire's lips. More to the point, she rather thought Claire needed to speak the words herself.

“I moved the pot of jam to the hot spot on the cooking surface,” she whispered. “I never thought anyone would be hurt. Please believe that. I only wanted to burn the jam. That's all. Just the jam.”

Ellie swallowed uncomfortably. Claire looked so miserable, so unhappy, and so damned sorry that Ellie wanted to comfort her, even though she'd been the cause of so much pain. Ellie coughed and said, “I'm still a bit thirsty. Could you…”

She didn't have to finish the sentence, for Claire was already picking up the cup of tepid tea and holding it to Ellie's lips. Ellie took a grateful sip, and then another. The laudanum had made her throat terribly dry. Finally she looked back up at Claire, and asked simply, “Why?”

“I can't say. Please just know I'm sorry.” Claire's mouth was quivering, and her eyes were filling with tears at an alarming rate. “I know that I've behaved terribly, and I'll never do anything like this again. I promise.”

“Claire,” Ellie said, keeping her voice gentle but firm. “I am willing to accept your apology, because I do believe that it is sincere, but you cannot expect me to do so without a reason.”

Claire squeezed her eyes shut. “I didn't want people to like you. I didn't want you to like it here. I just wanted you to go away.”

“But why?”