Chapter 60
“I’m sorry. I’m being such a…such a baby about this.”
“Hush.” I took a flask from my jacket pocket and unscrewed the cap. I carried it to prove to myself that I could and that I wouldn’t drain it at the least provocation. “Take a sip, but just a sip, mind. You don’t want to start choking. This should soothe your nerves.”
In spite of my warning, she did cough a little. She wiped her eyes. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to go on,” I told her.
“I do. I’ve never told anyone, and it’s been preying on me.”
“All right, then.”
She took another sip, then continued. “My nerves overcame me, and I broke into a terrified run. I reached the lane behind our house, but before I could gain the safety of home, an arm reached out and caught me around my waist. I was thrust up against a tree, and he leaned against me. His breath was in my face. I expected it to be sour, or…I don’t know…fetid, but it was sweet. He was wearing some kind of furry waistcoat.”