Page 36 of Tears of Glass

I level him with my most evil side-eye. “There is no apology you will ever say that will make this better. If you knew me at all, you would already know that.”

I fold my arms over my chest, and glare right in his damn face as he watches me without blinking until I fall with a huff into the passenger seat.

He pushes into first gear and we ease out into the traffic for what extends into the most awkward and silent car journey in the history of the universe.

When the MG glides to a halt outside a reasonably sized suburban detached house in Kingston, we both sit for a moment, the silence crackling in the air between us.

“Faith—” His voice is soft, but I cut him off and point to the house.

“Looks nice.” I turn a little. “I guess I assumed they couldn’t afford to buy your services, and that’s why you were working Melanie's case for free.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about Lewis’ mother since Brighton. I’ve been thinking more and more about the woman who couldn’t get justice and didn’t think she would be believed, and how I felt when my own dad didn’t believe me when I told him the secret of my abuse as it ate away at my soul.

“It’s not that they can’t afford justice.” His voice is low and mellow, like he’s whispering sweet nothings. “Just that I believe they deserve it and I want to give it to them.”

Fuck.

I twist to face him, my pulse thudding painfully in my throat. Those blues that have taken me apart from just one look settle on my face.

“Let’s go and tell Mr Duncan his woes aren’t over yet.”

Elijah shakes his head. “Having a baby isn’t a woe, Faith.”

I look at him aghast. “She’s eighteen, with her whole life ahead of her.”

He shrugs and my gaze drops to the shape of his shoulder beneath the soft wool of his jumper. “Maybe this is what she was meant to do.”

“What were you meant to do, Elijah? Be a lawyer?” I can’t hold my words in. I don’t even want to talk to him, but somehow, he pulls words from deep inside. It’s one of his gifts, to make me talk and spill everything I have locked inside.

He shrugs again and I sigh and turn for the door.

Clumping up the drive to Lewis’ house feels like walking along death row. I’m the executioner who’s going to lay more bad news at this poor man’s front door.

We knock and I keep my eyes firmly averted from the dwarfing figure of Elijah next to me. “Why do we both need to be here?” I ask as footsteps fall on the other side of the door.

“Because they need us both,” his answer is tight and restrained and it takes all my willpower not to look into his eyes.

The door opens and a man in his, I’d guess late forties, answers. He’s handsome, although I’m not surprised. Lewis is a good-looking chap and his good looks must have come from somewhere.

“Elijah!” He almost folds Elijah into a bear hug before releasing him and pumping his hand with a warm double-handed shake.

“Hello, Philip.” Elijah smiles at the man and claps him warmly on the shoulder. It reminds me of when I first saw him and Jennings, the Bowsley butler, together. Elijah is on a level with everyone—no matter their station or his own.

Shut up, Faith.

I glare at him for good measure. I won’t have him worming his way back in, just because he looks gorgeous in the jumper and he’s so nice to everyone, and he isn’t getting married at all...

“Faith!” Tabitha darts out of a door off the hallway. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve cooked lasagne.”

Philip meets my eyes and holds out his hands. “Faith. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Lewis has told me a lot about you.” His gaze holds mine for a moment and I wonder what Lewis has been saying.

“Only good things, I hope.” I laugh awkwardly which is totally lame. Elijah’s lips twitch a bit at the corners, but he doesn’t try to make eye contact with me—good. I’d stab them out.

Tabitha slips her arm around my shoulders and leads to me where a delicious scent is wafting through the air. My stomach grumbles loudly and this time I do catch Elijah sending a searching glance in my direction.

“That’s not embarrassing.”

“Have you not eaten all day because your hangover was so bad?” Tabitha asks with a smirk that’s all her brother.