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“What do you mean?”

His fingers brushed against my thundering pulse. “What else do you think I’ve seen, watching you in the moonlight? Watching you slither about these halls, like a little viper?” He tutted softly. “Oh dear, Evie. Have I rather ruined your plans?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, now let me go!” I shoved against his chest, and he released me so suddenly I stumbled forwards, not wasting a moment and racing for the door. But before I could reach it, he caught up to me, catching me again, like a cat playing with its prey. Heshoved himself against my back, his arms encircling me like a vice.

“You may be able to fool everyone else in this house with your pretty face, but not me, Evie.” His breath was hot against my ear. “I saw what you did.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, now-” I cut off with a gasp as his hand cupped my breast, his other hand wandering over my stomach.

“So beautiful.” He grunted as he ground himself against me, and I thanked God that the heavy skirts prevented me from feeling any hint of his arousal. “I could take you right here, right now, and no one would know.”

“Let me go this instant.” I wrenched myself away from him, knowing once again that he had simply let me go, because he was enjoying this game far too much. I spun to face him, and he looked like the Devil himself, disheveled and unruly, eyes glinting with frigid malice in the flickering lamp light. I raised a shaking hand and pointed a finger at him. “You do not touch me, ever. Do you understand?”

He shrugged off his jacket, leering at me. “I will do as I please with what belongs to me.”

“I do not belong to you.”

“Your secrets are mine, therefore, you are mine.” He shook his head and laughed. “You were a fool to think I would let you go.”

“You are mad.”

“Perhaps.” He shrugged, crossing the room to pour himself another cognac while fear kept me frozen to the ground. “My father often said I was touched by the same madness that plagued my mother.”

“He hated you,” I snarled at him, feeling the only weapon I had now was to hurt and humiliate. “He was ashamed of you. He told me every day how disappointing you were.”

“Aye, and he told every one of his business associateswhat a terrible fuck his pretty little wife was.” Azriel laughed out loud, the sound laced with cruelty. He turned back to me, the fire catching the venom that etched into every sharp line of his face. “Oh yes, every one of those men at his funeral had heard about his wife’s cunt, and how barren she was. How she’d no idea how to please a man.”

“How dare you!” I wanted to claw his eyes out. “How dare you use such language and speak to me this way! I am still the lady of this house!”

“You were sold off by your family because the only worth you had lay between your legs.” Azriel threw back all his cognac and smashed the glass into the fire. “You were a pretty face, and a sweet little cunt, and nothing more.” He snarled out a laugh. “You think my father hated me? He hated you, too.”

“Enough!” I spun on my heel, angry tears burning my eyes. I made for the door, but a fist slammed into it, stopping me from leaving, and Azriel was leering down at me.

“Tomorrow, at 9 o’clock, be ready. We are going on an outing.”

“I am in mourning, you idiot. I am only allowed to go to church.”

His hand shot out to grab my throat, and I let out a strangled shriek as he slammed me into the door. “If you want to save your wretched soul, beloved, you will be ready in the morning, and you will go where I say.” His grip tightened as I fought against him, and I froze in horror as he licked the side of my face. “Remember. I know what you did. Your life is mine.”

“Damn you!” The words were strange and foreign, but came flying out of me all the same. I shoved against him ferociously, and he laughed as he stumbled backwards, watching me frantically wipe my face. “You’re a monster!”

“That may be, but I am a monster who knows your deepest secrets - therefore, you will do as I say.”

“Where in hell’s name are you taking me?”

A triumphant smile broke across his face. “Somewhere you may make an informed decision about your future. Now go, get some rest.” He waved me off, and I did not hesitate before racing through the halls, up the stairs, and back to my room.

7

AN EDUCATIONAL OUTING

Idid not sleep that night.

How could I? I paced the floors until Mary emerged, alarmed by my distress and mistaking it for grief. She insisted on sitting with me, and promptly fell asleep in front of the fire, once again leaving me alone with the whirring thoughts in my head.

Azriel couldn’t know. He couldnotknow. It wasn’t possible. He was bluffing, trying to trick me into… well, I wasn’t sure. He’d not named his intent, not really. He’d not even named what he knew, and I had to be careful not to fall into a trap and give myself away.

And yet he had no care for the fact that I was not to leave the house, and it made me wonder what else he would have no care for.