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“How old you?” I asked, suddenly realizing I had no idea how long he had walked the earth.

“Close to a thousand years old,” he admitted. “Horrified to be with such an old man?”

“It is rather shocking. I don’t know. Our age difference is quite extreme. ” I playfully pretended to mull the situation over.

Chuckling, he kissed my throat. “I may be old, but with age comes the wisdom that only time can grant. And that wealth of knowledge tells me that I have never loved anyone like I love you. ”

“It is my fabulous fiery hair and personality. ”

“Perhaps. All I know is that when we first spoke, I was captivated. As I observed you from afar I became even more intrigued. And when we finally met, I was smitten. I do believe that the more I learn about you, the more I love you. ”

With a wicked smile, I kissed him, pressing him back down onto the bed. When Magda returned to prepare my bath, we ignored her.

Later-

It was several more hours before we ventured downstairs. Laura was sitting in the library reading a book near the fire. Katya sat near her sloppily mending a petticoat under Magda’s watchful eye. It was obvious from my maidservant’s frustrated expression that Katya was not very adept with the needle and thread.

“I was beginning to wonder if we would ever see you again,” Laura said, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Ignatius leaned against the back of her chair and peered down at her work. “Very pretty. Your stitches are quite neat. ”

“You should see Glynis’s work. ” Laura giggled.

I frowned at her. I rush at times and my stitching tends to be uneven.

Katya grumbled under her breath as she shoved the needle through the fabric.

“Has Csilla been about?” I had yet to feed and I supposed I should seek her out.

“She had some soup sent up to her room, but has not come down tonight. I believe the weather is adversely affecting her health,” Magda responded.

“Go feed. I will make do with one of the guards,” Ignatius said.

“You can take from me!” Katya tossed her sewing aside and stood up excitedly.

“No!” I snapped.

“Sit,” Magda ordered, shoving the girl down by her shoulders. “Work on your mending. If we are forced to tolerate you, you can at least attempt to be useful. ”

“But I am!” Katya touched her throat and smirked in Laura’s direction.

Laura tittered and bowed over her embroidery, a deep flush washing over her face. I wondered if much had developed between the two young women in my absence.

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Leaving the warmth of the library, I walked swiftly through the cold corridors to Csilla’s room. I found Brice and a maid leaving as I arrived. The maid carried a full bowl of soup upon a silver tray. She bowed her head and rushed past me.

“Is she awake?”

“Does it matter, Countess?” Brice’s voice was edged with a bitterness I found disquieting. “Why are you taking so long to kill her? Did you not promise that one day you would release us from her cruelty? Yet, you allow her to live. Are you any different than her after all?

Shocked, I stared at him. “I am doing what I should to protect all of us. Actions committed in haste often do not have positive results. Trust me, that is a lesson I am continually being forced to learn over and over again. I am sometimes far too quick to action, but in this case, I must take my time. ”

“Even though she murdered Laura?”

“What?”

Brice withdrew a small bottle from his pocket. “I discovered this in the kitchen. The baroness asked the cook to add it to the tea we were brewing for Laura when she was ill. The poor woman thought it was medicine. But it’s not. It’s belladonna. ”