Page 93 of Reluctant Rogue

“Yes, I know,” he admitted, feeling oddly guilty. He didn’t want to tell her, be the one to get her hopes up. It was better to leave all this in Maroulla’s hands. “It’s Maroulla’s deal,” he passed the buck. “I’m leaving this to her to explain.”

She frowned at him. “Um, okay.”

The vehicle that pulled into the drive, however, wasn’t Maroulla’s silver SUV, but a black van with tinted windows. Liam’s gut clenched with nerves, but he stepped off the porch onto the walkway, Naomi beside him. She was peering at the van curiously.

“Who is it? I can’t see.”

“I don’t know, I thought it would be Maroulla, since she just texted. Maybe this is someone else, and she’s still on her way.”

A tapping sound had them turn, to see Flora, leaning on her cane, coming toward them.

“Miss Flora!” Naomi went up the two shallow porch steps to take the older lady’s arm. “Here, let me help you.”

“Thank you, Naomi.”

She leaned lightly on Naomi as they made their way to Liam’s side. The passenger door of the van opened and Maroulla stepped out, her sharp glance encompassing the small group waiting for her.

“Ah, you’re all here.Yasou.”

“Kalinichta, Maroulla,” Liam responded ‘good evening’ in Greek.

“Kalinichta,” Naomi echoed, her eyes bright with curiosity.

Flora inclined her head. “Maroulla.”

The side door of the van slid open, and Hector, the keeper from the Sanctuary, appeared in the doorway. He jumped to the ground and turned, helping someone down. Naomi gasped as she saw it was her sister.

“Beth!” She ran forward, hugging her sister tight. She drew back, looking first at Maroulla, then at Liam. He could see the dawning hope in her eyes, the sudden pounding of the pulse in her slender neck. “What’s going on?”

Maroulla didn’t answer, but instead turned to Flora.

“Lady Flora, this is Naomi’s sister, Beth.”

Naomi blinked, mouthing “Lady?” to Liam. He seemed as startled as she, and shrugged his lack of knowledge.

Flora came right up to them, leaning on her cane, her smile gentle.

“I’d like to have a few words with you both, if you won’t mind.”

“No, of course we don’t,” Naomi hurried to reassure her, shooting another questioning glance at Liam, who shrugged helplessly. Beth just looked confused, and Naomi gripped her twin’s hand tightly.

“Let us take a short stroll,” Flora suggested, nodding toward the strip of green lawn, now mostly hidden beneath the layers of red and golden leaves that stretched between the inn and the woods. She handed her cane to Liam. “If you’ll hold this for me, young man. I’m sure Beth and Naomi will lend me their support if I need.”

She turned away as he took the cane, but he was sure he caught the flicker of a wink. He gulped, and stepped back.

“I’ll take good care of it for you.”

Flora situated herself between Naomi and Beth, linking elbows with each, and led them off at a pace that wasn’t as slow as he would have thought for an elderly lady who needed to use a cane for walking.

Naomi gulped as Flora led them inexorably toward the edge of the woods. She hadn’t been in there, but she’d heard the tales. It took everything in her not to pull back as they stepped beneath the first branches.

“Ummm,” she stammered, her heart pounding. “Miss Flora?”

Beth looked at her over Flora’s silvery head. “What’s wrong?”

“These woods have a… a history,” Naomi said, shivering.

Flora withdrew her hand from Beth’s arm long enough to pat her hand. Oddly, a sense of comfort flooded through her from the touch, the feeling not unlike a warm, toasty fire on a cold winter’s night.