“We went to the next town over. Henry’s condition worsened overnight, and I had to leave at once to find an herb for the remedy. I need you to tell him that.”

She made no immediate reply. Then, quietly, “How do I know you’ll come back?”

“I promised you I would cure this disease. I promised no one else would get sick. I kept those promises, didn’t I?” Wren met her eyes steadily. “I know it’s hard to trust me right now, but I swear I’ll be back, and I swear no one will hurt you while I’m gone.”

She hated to prey on Hannah’s trust and her hope, but what else could she do? She and Hal couldn’t stay here.

After a beat of silence, Hannah lowered her head and sighed. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

The resignation in her voice might haunt Wren forever.

Hal followed her back to her room, no doubt eager to hear her grand plan. In front of Hannah, she’d sounded confident. As if it were simple to slip out of this house without Lowry knowing and bide their time until they were prepared to strike. But really, she had no idea what to do, no idea where to go. Wren was no investigator. She was only a frightened girl who’d wandered too far out of her depth.

Tossing the wanted poster on the ground, Wren collapsed into her bed and pulled a pillow over her head. It smelled of her lavender soap and the indelible must of this place. Although she wanted to shut out the world—shut out herself—the sound of rustling paper caught her attention. Wren lifted the pillow from her head to see Hal smoothing the wrinkles out of the poster.

He scanned it with a raptness befitting some newly unearthed apocryphal text. “You’re wanted for assault and desertion?”

“It was hardly assault.”

Together, they listened to the groan and hiss of the house in the wind. “Did you know that girl?”

Sighing, she said, “Yes. I know her. She’s my commanding officer and my best friend. Former on both counts, I suppose.”

Hal sat beside her on the edge of the bed, his features washed in shadow. “What are you really doing here?”

“I never lied about that. Lord Lowry hired me to heal you. I just didn’t know it was you when I said yes.” She rolled onto her stomach. “The problem is, the queen never gave me clearance to take this job. So I kind of … left.”

“But she knew where you were going,” Hal said slowly.

“I know, I know, I know. I don’t need your criticism right now, Cavendish.” She buried her face in her pillow again. “I had my reasons, alright? Lowry made a lot of promises.”