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“Uh, no…I wasn’t aware of that. She hadn’t told me.” Miss Talbot glanced at him over her shoulder. “Do you think Miss Paget is seeking Mr. Jacobs out for marriage purposes?”

He could see by her hopeful expression that this was what she’d wanted. Instead of going along with the idea, he decided to shake things around. Frederick might hate him, but it’s something Nic felt he had to do in order to get answers.

“Actually, I think she was just helping him out of the kindness of her heart. Not only that, but the other day, I noticed the way Mr. Jacobs was eyeing Miss Paget’s maid, so I think there might be a marriage soon between the blacksmith and the maid.

” He wagged his eyebrows. “That being said, I must confess that since Mrs. Burls’ birthday party, and since the song Miss Paget and I sang together, I have been thinking of her more and more.

And then when I rescued her from drowning, I felt differently about her.

Something special warmed my heart.” He sighed heavily for dramatic purposes, and smiled.

“I’m thinking of seeking her out for marriage, myself. ”

Slowly, Miss Talbot turned toward him. Her expression changed from light-hearted to sour in the course of a few seconds. Lines of anger creased her forehead, around her eyes, and mouth. Even the color of her eyes had changed, growing a darker brown.

Good heavens, if he wasn’t mistaken, he had finally found the words that brought out the devil in her. Literally!

“You don’t say,” she spat.

The tone of her voice grated on his nerves.

He watched her closely, wondering if her fingernails would turn into claws and horns would sprout from her head, but so far they hadn’t.

But her whole countenance had shifted. No longer did she appear the kind older woman he’d been visiting with these past few months.

Instead, she looked like a beast; evil and menacing.

“Is something wrong, Miss Talbot?” Of course, he acted as if he didn’t notice her sudden change.

“Wrong? Of course not, Mr. Woodland. What could possibly be wrong? After all these years, you are finally thinking of marriage once again. How lovely for you.”

The tone of her voice didn’t match the sweetness of her words.

But he still acted as if he didn’t notice.

“Indeed, it is. And Miss Paget is a very stunning woman. I have talked to her a few times, and she has been very perceptive to the subtle hints I’ve been dropping her about wanting to court her. ”

“I’m sure she is aware of your interest, and returns your feelings. What woman in their right mind wouldn’t find you attractive and charming?”

He forced a laugh, shaking his head. “Miss Talbot, you are too kind. But I’ve heard that about you. Miss McFadden mentioned to me how very generous and helpful you’ve been toward her. I’m so grateful there are women in the world like you, Miss Talbot.”

“Uh…yes, Miss McFadden is a most unfortunate girl. My heart goes out to her. But I must say, I’m very glad she never got the chance to wed that horrible Mr. Griffin’s son, David.” She turned back to the stove to prepare the tea.

“Really? And why not? David seemed like a fine man, and would have made Miss McFadden a good husband.”

“Then you didn’t see the man I knew him to be.

” She lifted her chin, stubbornly, bringing their cups of tea over to the table.

She placed his in front of him before taking hers to the other side of the table and sitting.

She continued, “David Griffin was a chameleon. He lied to our dear Sarah, leading her to believe he loved her when in fact, his eye was turned by another stunning female.” She gave a sharp nod. “Indeed, that man deserved his fate.”

“I’m sorry to hear you say that. In fact, I’m rather shocked to hear those words come from your mouth. It’s not very Christian of you to think in such a way.”

“Then forgive me for this sin, but I cannot forgive men like David. They care about no one but themselves.”

“Is it because the same thing happened to you?”

Her jaw tightened as she fisted her hands on the table. Yet her gaze wasn’t laced with malice. Instead, he saw sadness coating her eyes.

“Yes, the same thing happened to me. Kent’s actions ripped out my heart. The experience left me a broken woman, and I have truly never recovered.”

“I’m sure the experience was troubling, Miss Talbot.” He took a sip of the tea, but it was still too hot to drink. “Tell me, what did you do when you discovered the man you loved being unfaithful?”

Her eyes watered, and he almost kicked himself for being so mean and pushing the issue. Yet instinct told him this was the only way he was going to get answers.

“I made things right,” she said, staring at her teacup. “I will always make things right.” The tone of her voice had started out in a whisper but was growing louder the more she talked. “Men like David and Kent do not deserve happiness. I won’t allow it.”

She pushed away from the table and moved to the cupboards behind him. Once she was in back of him, he didn’t turn to see what she was doing. Obviously, he made her uncomfortable, but he’d keep on pushing for answers.

“Miss Talbot, did you have anything to do with David’s death?”

Silence stretched through the room. Occasionally, he heard her deep breaths, but that was all.

He lifted the teacup to his mouth and sipped once more.

The liquid wasn’t as hot, so he swallowed more.

A bitter taste coated his tongue. Grimacing, he set the cup back on the table.

This was the most disgusting tea he’d ever consumed.

Finally, she released a rush of air. “Mr. Woodland, you will never know what it’s like.

You are handsome and charming. I’m sure women have flocked to you, and you haven’t even needed to lift a finger to encourage them.

People like me are not anything like you.

We aren’t as attractive. We don’t possess any charm.

We must do all we can in order to win those we fall in love with.

And because we put so much effort into it, when we get our hearts broken, it turns us into monsters. ”

Once again, chills ran up his body. He still didn’t dare look at her, but her tone of voice let him know he was conversing with a half-crazed woman.

He should get out of here immediately, and summon the constable.

However, Nic needed more answers before he left.

He couldn’t leave without knowing where Tabitha was being kept.

Deep down in his heart, he knew something was wrong—that she was in danger.

“I’m sorry, but I must disagree with you.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My wife was not the most beautiful woman I’d met, nor was she the most charming.

But what drew me to her was her kindness and the way she loved unconditionally.

Her personality made her the loveliest woman in the world to me.

” He recalled his cousin speaking of his deceased wife this way.

“Most men look for those qualities in a woman, and if they don’t, then they aren’t good men at all.

What I’m trying to say, Miss Talbot, is that Kent might not have been a good man, but there are others out there who are.

If you hadn’t hardened your heart toward men, I’m sure you would have found the right one, just for you. ”

“I don’t believe you.”

Her tone of voice sounded foreign with so much anger behind each word. He turned to look at her, and she stood over him wielding a butcher knife high in her hand. Her eyes were so dark they were almost black as she stared at him.

Startled, he jumped out of his chair, knocking into the table. The teacup spilled over, but he didn’t care. He needed to stop this madwoman before she plunged the sharp blade into his chest. Yet, as he stepped back, dizziness assailed him and he stumbled. Why was he feeling this way?

As each second passed, the dizziness in his head worsened. The room tilted, and he grasped the counter to hold himself up. “Miss Talbot, what have you done to me?”

“I’m going to dispose of you the same way I got rid of Kent and David. Then once you are laid to rest, I will torture the women who are responsible for luring the men away from us. Miss Johnson and Miss Paget will soon die slow and very painful deaths.”

Nic fought the cloud of darkness trying to fill his head. He couldn’t let her get him. He had to save Tabitha!