I continued to rub the stiff muscles of my neck as I followed him into the dining room. Mrs. Stirling had set a feast of steaming platters on the table.

I took my seat first, and then Phelan sat across from me. There were only two places set at the table, for me and for him, and when Mrs. Stirling bustled into the dining room with a pitcher of chilled cider, I asked, “Are you eating with us tonight, Mrs. Stirling?”

“Oh no, my dear,” she replied, filling our goblets. “Deacon and I return home early on these nights.”

The nightmares wouldn’t bloom until the clock struck nine, but I felt the anxious energy in the housekeeper as she set down the pitcher and smoothed the wrinkles from her apron. She was eager to be home with her shutters and doors locked against the night.

“Is there anything else I can provide for you, Mr. Vesper? Deacon and I have tended to all the windows, as well as the back door.”

“No, Mrs. Stirling. You have outdone yourself, per usual. Thank you.”

She curtsied and gathered Deacon and her cloak. “Good fortune to both of you tonight,” she said. “I hope it is an early and effortless night.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Stirling,” I said. “I’ll take good care of Mr. Vesper.”

I felt Phelan’s gaze on me, but I resisted meeting it, smiling at Mrs. Stirling and Deacon instead.

“Good, very good,” she murmured, scratching her eyebrow. “Don’t worry about the plates after you eat. Just leave them on the table. I’ll clean them in the morning.”

And she was gone, Deacon in her shadow.

I returned to my meal, eating in companionable silence with Phelan.

It took me a moment to rouse my courage, but I finally did. “Are you going to tell me what wounded you moons ago?”

“I’ve thought many times on this,” he said. “How to tell you of that night. But I can’t find the words, Miss Neven.”

“Oh.” I was disappointed with his response, but I hid my feelings and finished my dinner. Silence frosted the table between us.

“I want to prepare you, but I’m uncertain as to what we can expect tonight, Miss Neven,” Phelan said, breaking the quiet. “I apologize that I can’t tell you more. Because of that . . . stay close to me tonight.”

Stay close to me.

“I have already promised three of your friends that I will keep you safe tonight, Mr. Vesper,” I whispered. “I suppose that means I have no choice but to knit myself to you, to ensure I don’t break my own word.”