Page 5

"Oh, Lydia," Jane said, her voice hushed. "Haven't you heard the rumors?"

Before Lydia could respond, Jane produced a crumpled sheet of paper from her pocket. "Look," she said, smoothing it out on the bedspread. "It's from last month's scandal sheet."

Lydia leaned in, her eyes widening as she read the lurid headlines:

"BEAST OF FYRE STRIKES AGAIN: WILL MYSTERIOUS DUKE'S LIST OF VICTIMS GROW?"

"SERVANTS FLEE FYRE MANOR IN TERROR: 'HE'S NOT HUMAN,' CLAIMS FORMER MAID"

"MYSTERIOUS HOWLS HEARD FROM DUKE'S PRIVATE CHAMBERS: WHAT DARK SECRETS LURK WITHIN?"

"This... this can't be true," Lydia stammered, pushing the paper away. "It's nonsense. Pure sensationalism."

"But Lydia," Diana said, her voice trembling, "they say he never leaves his estate. That he's hideously deformed, or... or cursed. Some even claim he's not human at all, but some sort of monster in a man's skin."

"And now he wants a wife," Jane added, her eyes wide with absolute terror. "They say his last three brides all died under mysterious circumstances. No one knows what became of them."

Lydia felt her head spinning. Could this be true? Could it be that her parents would truly let her marry some hideous monster? And why would the monster want to marry her?

"This is ridiculous," she said, forcing a note of confidence into her voice. "You can't possibly believe any of this. It's nothing but idle gossip and wild speculation."

"But Lydia," Marian pressed, "why else would a man like the Duke of Fyre want to marry you? No offense," she added hastily, "but you're hardly the sort of bride one would expect for such a powerful nobleman."

Lydia flinched at her sister's words, stung despite the lack of malice behind them. "Perhaps," she said slowly, "he simply wants a wife who won't be cowed by his... reputation. Or someone who is a bit… older, who will not pay mind to these rumours."

Even as she spoke the words, Lydia wasn't sure she believed them. But she couldn't bear to see the fear in her sisters' eyes, couldn't stomach the thought of them worrying for her safety.

"Listen to me," she said, gathering her courage. "I'm sure these rumors are greatly exaggerated. The Duke may be... difficult, but he's still a man. A nobleman, at that. He would never harm his wife. He would not get away with it."

Her sisters didn't look entirely convinced, but some of the tension seemed to ease from their shoulders.

"You're probably right," Marian said, though she didn't sound entirely certain. "And perhaps... perhaps once you're married, you can help improve his reputation. Show people that he's not the monster they believe him to be."

Lydia managed a small smile. "Exactly. I'm sure that's all this is - a chance for the Duke to rehabilitate his image. Nothing more sinister than that."

As her sisters began to chatter about wedding plans and what Lydia might wear to meet her betrothed, she found her thoughts drifting back to the mysterious Duke of Fyre. What was he like? Would he be cruel, like the rumors suggested ? Or would he merely be introverted and shy?

But as night fell and her sisters finally left her alone, Lydia couldn't quite shake the chill that had settled in her bones. She thought of Fyre Manor, of the dark secrets that might lurk withinits walls. And for the first time in her life, Lydia Brandon found herself truly afraid of what the future might hold.

Unable to sleep, Lydia slipped out of bed and padded over to her her sisters' bedchamber. To her relief, both Marian and Jane were still awake, though Diana was fast asleep. They looked up as she entered, their brows furrowed.

"We don't want you to leave, Lydia," Jane muttered, tears forming in her eyes. "What if…"

Jane did not need to finish her sentence. Lydia knew what she thought, she understood.

"I am afraid too," she admitted now, her voice but a whisper. "What if…"

Marian now nodded as well and it was she who uttered the words they all feared to do. "What if you do not ever come back?" she said at last and Lydia let out a shuddering sigh.

It was true that the Duke had a fearsome reputation.

"I hear he murdered his first wife," Jane let out now, her voice coming out in almost a wail. "What if he murders you too?"

"Oh," Lydia whispered, trying her utmost best to hide her own fears about this. "Do you really think I'll let myself be murdered that easily?"

Jane sniffed in response and Lydia leaned forward, pressing her hand against Jane's cheek.

"I will be fine," she said. "I promise."