The Glass Casket Read Online Free PDF Page A

somewhere before—as if she were a girl from a dream, or a story told to him long ago.
    Tom was staring at her, his jaw gone slack, when the girl lifted her face to him. Her gaze now upon him, their eyes locked, each seemingly unable to look away. It was as if he were seeing an old friend for the first time in years.
    Her face was gentle, confused, as she looked at him, and then suddenly the ridiculousness of their staring match was upon them, and they both broke into startled, unrestrained laughter. The intimacy of the moment—the shared intensity followed by the shared foolishness—did something strange to Tom’s heart, and he found himself in thrall to the mysterious creature.
    But then the girl’s cheeks flushed crimson, and lowering her eyes, she turned away.
    “Her name’s Fiona Eira.” A voice at his elbow startled Tom. He turned to see Rowan’s big eyes peering up at him, and he had to smile.
    “She’s breathtaking, isn’t she?” Tom asked, returning his gaze to the girl, who was now running her fingers along the smooth stones that lined the well.
    “She’s my cousin,” Rowan said.
    “Really?”
    “Apparently,” she said, her bluebird eyes squinting up at him through pale lashes.
    Looking at Rowan, Tom found that despite the differences in coloring, he could see a definite family resemblance. Perhaps that was why the girl seemed so familiar.
    “What’s she like?” he asked.
    “I don’t know. My father’s forbidden me to speak to her, but that doesn’t mean I can’t spy on her, does it?”
    “It seems strange of your father to tell you to avoid her. That doesn’t sound like him.”
    Rowan raised her eyebrows. “It’s the whole family. He won’t see them. He’s instructed Emily not to let them in, and I’m supposed to ignore them should I meet them in the square. He thinks they’re after money.”
    “But the girl is your cousin. Surely she can’t bear you any ill will.”
    “Surely not,” said Rowan, watching her cousin, black tendrils of hair framing her luminous face.
    “Then you should speak with her,” Tom said.
    “Yes, Tom. I’m the one who wants to speak with her,” Rowan said, and then she grinned at him with such knowing that he felt a blush rising in his cheek.

    That evening, when Tom returned home to his mother, who was pouring ale for the men of the village, he found his brother reading in the corner, chestnut hair falling over his dark eyes.
    “Jude,” he said. “Helping out as usual, I see?”
    “I caught your dinner.” Jude grinned. “What else do you want from me? And while we’re doling out criticism here, where have you been?”
    “Out,” Tom said, avoiding eye contact.
    “Taking the air, then?” Jude asked, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “Just having a walk down to the well? See something you fancied, did you?”
    Tom laughed. “Fine. You’ve got me. I went to the square, and there I happened to see Rowan’s mysterious stranger. She’s quite beyond description.”
    “There’s no need to describe her. I’ve seen her myself. What’s more, I saw you and Rowan staring at her like she was one of those insects you two used to trap in jars.”
    “If you’ve seen her, then you know what I mean,” Tom said, his voice soft, reverent. “A man could hardly look upon such a creature and fail to have his heart stolen.”
    Jude shook his head. “Alas, the slant of her cheek does nothing to move me. Rowan, on the other hand …”
    “You don’t even like Rowan.”
    “That doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate her beauty. Don’t tell her I said that, by the way.”
    Tom rolled his eyes. “I’ll ask you please not to speak so of my friend. She’s a proper lady, one not meant for your wandering eye.”
    “Don’t I know it.” Jude smiled and returned to his book.
    Tom turned to see that his mother was looking especially harried, her blond curls hanging limp to her chin. Concerned, he moved to help her.
    “What can I do, Mother?” he