The room was the same one Noel had used before.
Tucked into a quieter corner of the upper floor, away from the main family rooms, the kind of room that had been a guest room long enough that no one thought of it as belonging to anyone. It was clean — someone kept it aired and dusted regardless of whether it was occupied. Noel exhaled as he left Bennett's side. The walk from the carriage to the room was one hectic one.
Noel dropped his bag on the floor beside the bed.
He stood still for a moment with his eyes closed.
He let himself be quiet for a few seconds — the first real quiet since standing on the pavement outside his father's company watching the police carriage drive away.
He thought about Rowan in a cell somewhere.
He thought about the photograph pinned to the mirror.
He thought about 'I'm sorry, Rowan, I'm going to use you' and the way Rowan had smiled after the kiss that morning without knowing what was coming.
He opened his eyes.
