Fairest of Them All (Marriage by Fairytale Book 4)

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  She couldn’t blame him. She didn’t have any proof. All she had were suspicions, but she was sure she was right. The problem was that she couldn’t prove it.

  “I love you, Evander,” she finally said. “Nothing’s going to change that.”

  He reached out to touch her then, and his hand was gentle as it caressed her back. “I love you, too. I don’t know what I’d do without you. With you, I’m whole again. I didn’t realize how isolated the curse had made me until you came into my life.”

  Her heart ached for him. The curse hadn’t been the thing that had isolated him from the world. His mother had done that, but he couldn’t accept the truth. At least not now. Maybe once he had time to think over everything she said, he would. But right now, everything had come too hard and too fast at him.

  She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. She wouldn’t spend another night in this townhouse. When it was dark, it was too easy for his mother to sneak around and hide. She’d probably been the one who took her candle earlier this evening. Had she not carried a lit candle down from the attic, his mother probably would have attacked her.

  Viola had no way of knowing where his mother was hiding. There were plenty of rooms for a person to wait for the right time to strike. All Viola was sure about was the fact that his mother wasn’t here with them right now. Evander had been here waiting for her when she went to the attic. This was the safest room in the townhouse. Unfortunately, she couldn’t hide here forever. Tomorrow, she’d have to leave and stay with her aunt and sisters. There was no other way to ensure her safety.

  It was hard to know when she’d get to be with Evander again, especially since he’d never go to her family’s townhouse to spend time with her. So, she’d have to make the most of this night.

  She helped Evander remove his clothes and then helped him remove hers. They spent considerable time kissing and touching each other. She did her best to memorize every part of him. Even if she couldn’t see him, she could think back on how he felt and tasted, and that might help ease the loneliness she was bound to face in the near future as she waited for his mother to be exposed for what she was doing.

  She didn’t rush their lovemaking, and it seemed to her that Evander wasn’t in any hurry, either. It was only when they neared their release that their movements became more anxious. She clung to him and whispered his name as his thrusting grew more urgent. In the past, she’d never climaxed when he was inside her, but on this night, she felt the familiar ache in her core give way to a burst of pleasure that consumed her entire body. She cried out and tightened her legs around his waist. He groaned and grew taut. Together, they lingered in the heights of bliss until their bodies relaxed. Once they were left feeling weak and satisfied, her mind cleared. She let out a contented sigh as he kissed her cheek.

  “I wish it could always be like this,” he whispered. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

  “It won’t,” she replied. “I won’t let it.”

  He didn’t say anything in response. He just continued kissing her, and she, in no hurry to break their intimate contact, kept him inside her so she could savor the fact that they were united in every way possible.

  Chapter Twenty

  It was morning. Even without the sunlight, Evander knew dawn had broken across the horizon a couple of hours ago. But he was reluctant to wake Viola up.

  Viola was curled up on her side. Her back was to him, and he was holding her. He could smell the sweet scent of her hair. It was the perfect blend of honey and milk. It was simple, much like her. She wasn’t given to extravagance or boldness. She was quiet and soft. Most people would pass her by and think nothing of it. But she was the kind of lady who could sustain a gentleman all through his life. She made the perfect companion.

  He’d never forgive himself if something bad happened to her. As much as it hurt to let her return to her aunt and sisters’ residence, he had to do it. He couldn’t let her stay here as long as there was a possibility that what she’d told him about his mother was true.

  He hated to think she might be right about his mother. He hoped she was wrong; he prayed she was wrong. He loved his mother. His mother had devoted her life to raising him. But she hadn’t been happy when he married. It’d been the one point of contention in their relationship.

  What if his mother had faked her death and murdered all of his wives in order to have him all to herself?

  The thought made his stomach churn. He swallowed the lump in his throat. Viola had to be wrong. The ghost had to be a real apparition. But he had to touch it to be sure. He had to know if Viola was right or not.

  The ghost was here. The mirror had been in the attic yesterday. It always appeared before the ghost did. He would have to wait for it, but it wouldn’t come until it was dark. As much as he didn’t want to see it again, he would have to.

  It was ironic that he should have good thoughts of his mother but detest her ghost so much. One would think he’d welcome her spirit since he had fond memories of her. He sighed. Maybe, deep down, he knew something was wrong. He just hadn’t wanted to face up to it. Because if he did, it would change the way he’d have to think of her.

  But he had to confront this situation. He couldn’t hide from it. He owed it to Viola and their child to find out the truth.

  He remained lying next to Viola for another hour, wishing the moment could last forever. If it was up to him, time would cease to exist. Then he’d know she was safe, and he could go on thinking—hoping—his mother was innocent of the things Viola had accused her of. But, of course, time never did stand still, and before he was ready, Viola stirred from her slumber.

  He brushed her cheek with his fingers then brought his mouth to hers. She responded to him with such tenderness he knew she wouldn’t do anything to hurt him. It hadn’t been easy for her to suggest his mother had done all those things.

  He ended the kiss and let out a resolute sigh. “I think you’re right about going to your family’s residence and staying there until I figure out what’s going on with the ghost.”

  He couldn’t bring himself to say ‘mother’ because a part of him just couldn’t accept it. It was much easier to think of her as a ghost who was unable to pass over to the other side because she worried about him.

  “I don’t want to be away from you. You know that, don’t you?” she asked.

  “I do.” He gave her another kiss. “I don’t want any harm to come to you or our child. Your safety is more important than how much I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you, too.”

  “In case you’re wrong about my mother, I can’t let you see my face. Wait here until I leave.”

  “All right.”

  Despite the fact that she sounded surprised, she didn’t prompt him to explain where he was going. But maybe she already knew. He was going to have to go to the one place the ghost would want to visit him. He needed to return to the attic.

  Neither spoke as he dressed. Afterwards, he fumbled his way over to the door of the bedchamber and felt around the wall until he found his cloak. He slipped it on and made sure he pulled the hood up around his head so there was no chance she’d see his face.

  “I’ll send the butler to you when I find out if the ghost is really an apparition,” he said. “I’ve decided touching it is the best way to find out the truth.”

  “Thank you for doing this, Evander,” she replied.

  “You’re welcome.” He turned his back to her and opened the door.

  It was so strange to walk the halls in the daytime. Sunlight from downstairs filtered up into the hallway. His eyes were more sensitive to the light than he remembered, for even in the dimness of the hallway, he found himself squinting. It’d been too long he’d been confined to the darkness. Strengthening his resolve, he headed up the stairs to the attic.

  ***

  “Allen told me you were leaving, but I had to see it for myself,” Tabitha said

  Viola turned from the trunk she was pu
tting her things in. It’d only been an hour since Evander had left the bedchamber. She’d lit the candles so she could see what she was doing. She hadn’t bothered removing the coverings on the windows in the slim chance she was wrong about his mother. She had every intention of coming back, and she hoped she would be coming back sooner rather than later, but in her uncertainty, she’d opted to pack her things in a large trunk instead of a small valise.

  She finished setting some gowns into the trunk then turned to Tabitha. “I was going to talk to you before I left. I didn’t think the butler was going to tell you anything.”

  Tabitha crossed her arms. “Were you really going to tell me? It looks like you’re in a hurry to get out of here. None of the other servants even know yet.”

  Viola frowned. Just how often did Tabitha and the butler talk to each other? Deciding it didn’t matter at the moment, she went to the armoire and retrieved a few more gowns. “Yes, I was going to talk to you. I was going to ask you to go for a walk while the butler delivered my trunk to my family’s residence.”

  “Why did you want to tell me you’re leaving during a walk? Are you afraid I’ll do something unladylike?”

  “No, that’s not the reason.” Viola put the gowns into the trunk then she shut the door of her bedchamber. She went straight to Tabitha and lowered her voice. “I don’t want your step-father’s mother to overhear in case she’s nearby.”

  Tabitha stared at her in disbelief. “Are you talking about the ghost?” she whispered.

  “I don’t think his mother died. I think she took a body from the family cemetery, put it in her bed, and then set fire to her bedchamber.”

  Tabitha gasped. “That’s impossible. She couldn’t have done it. I remember seeing the robe she wore that night when I took a peek at the body.”

  Viola’s eyes widened as another piece of the puzzle fell into place. “She was wearing a robe? But wasn’t she found in the bed?”

  “She could have been wearing the robe while in bed.”

  “But if she was wearing a robe, doesn’t that mean she was awake? If she was asleep, she wouldn’t have been in her robe. She would have taken it off.”

  This time when Tabitha gasped, her hand went to her mouth and her eyes grew wide. “And if she was awake, she would have run out of the room as soon as the candle hit her bed.”

  Surprised that Tabitha seemed to be making the connection easier than Evander had, Viola asked, “Did you see her face after she died?”

  “There was nothing to see. It was mostly a skeleton. We all just assumed the fire burned right through her skin. But if you’re right, then that means she brought in a dead body without anyone finding out and then put the robe on it.” She gagged.

  “It’s worse than that, Tabitha. She faked her death for a reason. She wouldn’t have done it unless she had something to gain from it.”

  “What could she possibly have to gain?”

  “You told me she would argue with your step-father about all the attention he gave your mother. I think she realized she couldn’t compete with your mother. At the very least, she had to share his time.”

  “But how was pretending she was dead stop that? If anything, it meant my mother would have him all to herself.”

  Viola hated to bring up her next point, but Tabitha was an adult, and as such, she deserved to be told everything. “No one suspects a ghost of murder. If his mother killed yours while alive, people might suspect her of the crime. But if she was dead and she came up with a story of a curse, then who would believe she killed your mother?”

  Tabitha stared at her for a long moment as she processed everything Viola had just told her.

  “I don’t have proof,” Viola hurried to add. “It’s just a suspicion. I think she did it to your two step-mothers, too. I think his mother doesn’t want him married to anyone. That’s why I’m leaving. I don’t feel safe here. Your step-father told me the ghost is here, and if that’s true, it means his mother’s here. She found out where he is and followed him from the country estate.”

  “You really think his mother killed all of his wives?”

  Noting the tears in Tabitha’s voice, Viola drew her into her arms and held her. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. But I can’t find any other reasonable explanation for what’s happened.”

  Tabitha started shaking as she gave into the urge to cry. “I loved my mother,” Tabitha said though her voice broke. “I’ve missed her every day since she died.”

  “I know. I don’t think we ever fully get over losing someone close to us.”

  “I can’t understand why his mother would want to kill her. She didn’t do anything bad to her.”

  “Sometimes jealousy makes people do horrible things.”

  This only made Tabitha cry harder.

  Viola wished there was something she could say to comfort Tabitha, but she was at a loss for words. She’d just brought up old hurts, and she didn’t think anything she could say would help. After Oliver died, people had offered words meant to comfort, but the words rang hollow. They meant well. Viola knew they did, and that was why she appreciated their efforts. But there were no words that could take away the pain of losing someone.

  Several minutes passed before Tabitha’s sobs subsided. Finally, Tabitha released her and wiped her eyes. “You think his mother is in this townhouse right now?”

  “Your step-father moved from the attic to this bedchamber.” She gestured to the heavy drapes blocking out all traces of sunlight. “He put those up yesterday while I was with you and my family. He said he didn’t want the ghost coming for him. He expected it to go to the attic. This was the safest place he could think of to go to.”

  “But you don’t believe in the ghost.”

  “I don’t. He does.” She couldn’t be sure if Tabitha still believed in a ghost haunting the estate or not, but at least she seemed willing to accept the possibility that Evander’s mother had faked her death. Viola went to her dresser and pulled out a handkerchief to give her. “I know this whole thing isn’t easy.” Indeed, it was heartbreaking. Viola had grown to care for Evander and Tabitha, and there was no doubt how painful this was for them. “I don’t know what I’d do if I were you or your step-father. I don’t envy your position.”

  Tabitha sniffed and wiped her cheeks. “But we’re not in any danger, are we? You’re the one you think she’s going to kill next.” Her lower lip quivered. “Just like you think she killed my mother and two step-mothers.”

  “I can’t take the risk. Maybe if it was just me, I’d stay here, but it’s not just me anymore.”

  “You couldn’t take the risk even if you weren’t with child. You can’t go through the trouble of making me care about you and then let his mother harm you.”

  Despite the grim situation, Viola found herself laughing. She gave Tabitha another hug. “I won’t put you through any more pain than what you’ve already been through. I love you too much to do that.” When she parted from Tabitha, she offered her a comforting pat on the back. “Would you like to come with me? You might find it less lonely if you’re not here.” Considering how much Evander kept to himself, she couldn’t help but wonder if the poor girl should be stuck here.

  Tabitha shook her head. “If his mother had wanted to kill me, she would have done it already. I’m guessing I’m not a threat to her because I’m only her son’s step-daughter.”

  “Yes, you’re safe. The relationship he has with you is different. You’re meant to get married and leave. Anyone your step-father marries is meant to stay with him for life. Marriage unites two people so they are one.”

  Unfortunately, that was something his mother refused to accept. She was supposed to let him go, but, for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. And that created the mess they were all in right now. Viola didn’t know what she could do about it except make sure she didn’t end up in an early grave like Evander’s other wives did.

  A knock came at the bedchamber door. After making sure Tabitha was fee
ling better, she opened it.

  Though he glanced at Tabitha in concern, the butler directed his question to Viola. “The carriage is ready. Should I take your trunk now, or do you want me to wait?”

  “I’m done packing everything I need.” Viola gestured for him to follow her and went to the trunk. She shut it. “You may take it.”

  He nodded and picked it up. He gave another glance at Tabitha, but she was too busy wiping her eyes with the handkerchief to notice. Viola could only imagine what he thought was going on. She hadn’t told him her suspicions. This was something that could easily spread like wildfire among the servants, and servants could then tell their friends who would further spread it through London. There was enough gossip going through London about Evander and the curse. She didn’t need to add to it.

  She waited until he left before she told Tabitha, “I’ll come by tomorrow, and we can get some more of those chocolates that you like.”

  “You’re still planning to see me while you’re living with your family?”

  “Of course, I am.” Then, hoping to lighten the mood, she added, “I still have to make sure you find a suitable husband. How can I do that unless I’m lecturing you on how you’re supposed to act around titled gentlemen?”

  As she hoped, Tabitha chuckled. “You do have a way of being annoying when it comes to social propriety.”

  “Once you’re married, you don’t have to worry quite so much about all the rules. It does get easier.” She smiled. “I’ll come by here tomorrow morning at eleven.”

  Since Tabitha agreed to the time, Viola left the bedchamber. She paused when she came to the junction in the hallway that would take her to the stairs leading to the next floor. Her gaze went up them. Evander was in the attic.