A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes, #1)

by Brittany Cavallaro

The sun was rising in the distance, pulled up by its lazy, invisible string, and the sky was shot through with color. Her hair was washed in gold, her cheeks, in gold, and her eyes were as knowing as a psychic’s.

In that moment, I would’ve followed her anywhere.

“But tonight I’ll go alone. You’re about as stealthy as a lame elephant. See you later.”

She patted me on the shoulder and took off down the path, leaving me behind, both charmed and insulted. The side effects of hanging around Charlotte Holmes.

‘Wait, for now. Distrust everything, if you have to. But trust the hours. Haven’t they carried you everywhere, up to now?’”

I wanted the two of us to be complicated together, to be difficult and engrossing and blindingly brilliant.

I began wondering if there was some kind of Watsonian guide for the care and keeping of Holmeses.

“I’m sorry I picked a fight with you,” Holmes said sleepily. “But you should know that I had a good reason.” “I know, I was being an idiot.” I really didn’t want to do this now, I didn’t, but I would if I had to. “No. It wasn’t your fault.” Her voice was fading into a thin whisper. “The note said you’d be killed if you stayed, so I fixed it. I was horrible until you went away.”

“If you get yourself thrown in jail over this,” I told her, “I will never, never forgive you. You need to find another way, or I swear to God I will die on you just out of spite.” Her flickering smile. “Okay.”

I can tell he’s hiding a laugh when he curls his mouth in like he’s eating a lemon. Sometimes I say terrible things just to see him do it.

I’ve discovered that I am very clever when it comes to caring about him, and so I will continue to do so.