Julian got to the room and slipped in the door, smiling when he saw that Nikola was sitting up in bed and sipping a glass of water.
“How are you?” Julian asked her, studying her features. She was drawn and pale, much too thin. She had lost too much weight while she’d been ill, and Julian vowed that he would make sure she ate her fill at meals. He couldn’t stand seeing her so weak, not when she’d been such a strong presence his entire life.
“I’m fine, my lord,” she said, looking at his face. “Now that the girl’s gone—“
“Who?” Julian asked, raising an eyebrow.
“E—Elise,” Nikola said, and then she looked nervous. “She’s gone, right? Potts said that she left.”
“I brought her back, Nikola,” he said gently. Her eyes widened, almost bugging out of her head.
“You let her in this house again?” she screeched, pulling the blanket up to her chin. “After—after what she did to me…”
“What did she do to you, Nikola?” Julian asked. “What happened?”
“She nearly killed me. You saw it,” Nikola said, her voice thin and high. “She attacked me. She’s going to kill you too.”
Julian reached for her hand and took it in his, his face etched with worry. She wasn’t making any sense.
“Nikola, Elise was with me when you were attacked,” Nikola said.
“I know. That’s why she’s a demon. She has some sort of curse on his house, mark my words. She’s got powers, that girl, and she’s going to kill us all. You have—you have to get rid of her.”
Julian shook his head. “I can’t, Nik.”
“Why?” she asked. He didn’t answer. The truth was that the thought of letting Elise walk out and never seeing again sent a physical pain through his body. He couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing her red hair glow in the sun, her beautiful green eyes on his.
“She’s very good at what she does,” Julian said, hoping that she wouldn’t ask him to elaborate.
“Julian,” said Nikola,. “You cannot fall for that girl. She is evil. She’s a commoner and a whore.”
“Nikola—“
She sat up in bed, though she wobbled and fell back again.
“Sit down, Nik,” Julian said in a gentle voice. “Elise is not a whore. She never was a whore. And I’m not—I’m not in love with her. She’s simply a good girl who stays out of the way like she’s supposed to. I’ve been hard-pressed to find a suitable maid lately, as you well know.”
Nikola peered at him, then shook her head.
“You’re going to regret this when you find out her secrets, Julian,” Nikola said.
“What secrets?” he asked. She shook her head.
“You should find out if she’ll tell you. Ask her about where she came from.”
“Nik—“
She leaned back then, closing her eyes. Alarmed, Julian stood up, putting his hand on her face. She opened her eyes.
“I need to sleep,” she said. “Lock my door. Tell Elise to go. Please.”
Julian didn’t answer that, but told her good night. He left the room, trying not to slam the door in frustration. He wondered why all the women in his life were so damn cryptic—things would be easier if Nikola just told him the truth, and easier between himself and Elise if she told him the truth about what she wanted. Julian couldn’t tell with her—she had agreed to go with him to the ball, but he didn’t know if she would go through with that now.
Julian hesitated outside her door, ready to continue what they had been doing before, but found himself stilling his hand, instead going to his own room. Something nagged at him about what Nikola had said, that Elise had powers, that she was somehow in two places at once. It was ridiculous and absurd, yet a small part of Julian’s mind imagined the possibility that maybe the aura he had always sensed around Elise was something powerful and dark.
Julian took a walk around the grounds then, relishing the feeling of his legs carrying him forward. He would never spend that long in bed again—it had been torture, and the only light during the days had been seeing Elise’s face when she walked through the door.
That night, Julian was in bed when he shot upright. He could feel somebody in the room in his sleep, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Elise standing at the window with her back to him, her long red hair hanging in her face. He couldn’t see her features in the dark, but he could see the color of her hair in the moonlight.
“Elise,” Julian said. She didn’t turn around. “Elise?”
She didn’t move. Julian got slowly out of bed and was about to go to her when she turned, her back to him, and let out a scream. Her hands began to rip at the canvasses on the walls as she howled. Julian tried to go to her, to hold her still by grabbing her from behind, but she kicked her legs out and fought feverishly until he was forced to let her go. She ran then without looking back at him. For a moment, all he could do was stand there in shock. Then he ran out of the room, catching sight of Elise’s dress as she flew up the stairs. He followed, her but before he could reach the door to the third floor, she slammed it shut in his face.
“Elise,” he said, banging on it with his fists. “What are you doing?”
There was a growl on the other side, low and inhuman. Julian shivered at the sound, which seemed to creep along his spine. He felt around for his key but cursed when he remembered that it was hanging on the wall in his office. Julian flew down the stairs, running into his office and grabbing the key off of the hook. He walked back up the marble steps and unlocked the door, stepping carefully through and looking down the hallway.
“Elise,” he said softly. There was no noise other than the sound of his uncle tapping lightly on the floor with his cane. Julian started checking the rooms one -by -one, searching everything including the wardrobe and under the mattress. He was growing more frustrated as he searched, remembering what it had been like the last time he’d lost Elise, how hard it had been to get her back. He took a deep breath and tried to stay calm, looking around the rest of the rooms. Mary’s was empty, and he didn’t see her when he went into his uncle’s room, peering in. The old man’s voice raised.
“Julian?” he said, his voice creaking from disuse. “That you, boy?”
“It’s me,” Julian said. “What do you want, Uncle?”
“I want you to take me downstairs,” the old man said. Julian gave a dry laugh, and walking over to his uncle. He leaned over and put his lips near the old man’s ear.
“You are never leaving this room,” Julian said, just loud enough for his uncle to her. His teeth gritted as he spoke, unable to control his anger in his uncle’s presence. “You will die in this room. And then you’ll be buried in a mass grave somewhere, along with the whores and beggars.”
The old man turned his head and spit on the floor. He didn’t say anything else, but sat there shaking in his chair. Julian left him there, then searched all the rooms on the third floor one more time. He felt hopeless as he went down the stairs, sure that Elise had gone up there. There had been no time for her to come down the stairs in the few seconds it had taken him to fetch the key without running into him.
Julian started back to his room. He wanted to forget about it, but he found himself lingering outside of Elise’s door, knocking on it softly. She answered it, looking up at him through her thick lashes. Her hair was pinned up on her head, unlike the way it had been when she’d run from him. She looked perfectly normal to him—her eyes were bright with interest as they always had been, burning into his own.
“Hello, my lord,” she said, staring at his face. “Um—what can I do for you?”
“How long have you been in this room?” he asked her. A confused look passed over her face.
“What do you mean? You told me good night.”
“You’ve been in here since then?” Julian asked her. He was trying not to sound suspicious, but he was confused; he had no idea what was going on or, how it w
as possible that Elise had been in his room and upstairs.
“Yes, my lord,” she said, cocking her head at him with a question in her eyes. She reached forward then and touched his arm, closing her eyes for an instant before they fluttered open. The look on her face was one of fear and confusion.
“What’s going on?” she asked him.
“Nothing,” Julian said. “Go to bed. I—I just wanted to say good night again.”
She gazed at him suspiciously but told him good night, then went inside her room and closed the door. Julian stood there a moment, unable to move, thinking about the monstrous way she had screamed. He shook his head and went into his bedroom, knowing it was a long time before he’d be able to sleep again.
Chapter 18
Once Nikola was on her feet, she took to changing Julian’s bandages. He had stopped asking Elise once the older woman had woken up. In fact, Julian had barely spoken to Elise since the last time they’d been together, and every time she thought about it she felt overwhelmed with shame. Elise thought about how wanton she’d been with him, how shameless, and she didn’t blame him for losing interest in her. Elise had always known that men were only interested in women for their bodies and their innocence, and now that Elise was no longer innocent, Lord Ashton wanted nothing to do with her. The feeling stung all day and night, especially when she saw him in passing and he wouldn’t meet her eye. The ball was coming in two days, and she had no idea whether she was going or not.
Her question was answered when she was reading in the library, finished with her work, her legs draped over the side of the chair. She was wrapped up in her novel, a tawdry romance that she had laughed about when she’d found it on Lord Ashton’s bookshelves. The door opened and she looked up to see him in the doorway. He met her eye only for a brief instant before looking away.
“Are you busy, Elise?” he asked.
“No,” she said, holding up the novel. “But this is quite sexy.”
She caught a small smile flash over his lips. “I’ve never had the pleasure of reading it myself.”
“You’re a liar,” she said, and he raised his eyebrows.
“You think so?”
“Look at the state of this book,” I said to him, holding it out. “It’s been read over and over. Don’t tell me that wasn’t you.”
He laughed, unable to help himself, and handed the book back to her.
“Fine,” he said. “I love it. That’s where I learned all of my skills with women.”
Elise gave him a playful look, rolling her eyes. “You do not have skills with women.”
“I beg to differ,” he said. “I just haven’t demonstrated them to you.”
Elise felt her chest tightened thinking about that, but didn’t say anything in response.
“Did you need me to do something for you, my lord?”
“Yes,” he said. “The seamstress is waiting for you in town to have a dress made. I know it’s short notice, but she assures me that she will have all of her girls working on it to have it ready for the weekend.
Elise’s mouth fell open. “My lord, I can’t possibly—“
“For once in your life, Elise, do not argue with me,” he said firmly. The tone in his voice made her squirm where she stood, her thighs rubbing together slightly. “I want you to have a dress for the ball.”
“I have suitable dresses,” Elise pointed out. “I took some from Lord Bishop’s estate.”
“You hate those dresses,” he said. “It’s time to get you a new one. Once she fits you, she will make you more. But for now, she only has time for one.”
“You really don’t have to do this,” Elise said. She knew how expensive fine dresses could be, what a lavish gift it was.
“I would like to,” he said. He met her eye for a few long seconds before looking away. There was a noticeable shift in his expression then to one that was almost cold.
“Miss Barrett will be waiting for you when you are ready,” Julian said, and stepped out of the room without saying goodbye. Elise stared at the door and , felt an anger coil within her stomach. While she had known how men could be beforehand, Elise still found herself deeply disappointed to find out that Lord Ashton was like the others who wanted nothing but what was between her legs. It made her angry almost as much as it made her ashamed, and as she got up and left the library, she realized that her mood had shifted and become dark. She was glad for the ride to town on the back of Lovely, who whipped along the path, the wind blowing through Elise’s hair. They rode hard all the way there and only slowed down when they entered the town. Elise rode around until she found the seamstress, then brought her horse to the community stables at the corner of the street. Elise made sure that Lovely had water and hay before going inside of the seamstress’ shop. It was empty, a busy room filled to the ceiling with various fabrics and laces, beads and tiny pearls that were to adorn the finest gowns.
“Hello?” Elise said, stepping carefully around a pile of dresses that had been thrown casually on the floor. A woman appeared then from around the corner, wearing a gigantic pair of spectacles and peering at Elise through the thick lenses.
“Your lord was right,” the woman said, looking Elise up and down. “It has to be green.”
“I’m sorry?” Elise asked the woman, who came up to her and peered closely at her eyes.
“Spare no expense, he said,” the woman muttered. “Even lords are brought low by pretty girls.”
“Who are you?” Elise asked her. The woman gripped Elise’s hips in her hands, digging her fingers softly into the flesh there. Elise jumped back, startled, and the woman gave her a chiding look.
“My name is Mrs. Trin,” the woman said. “You can call me Penny.”
“Penny,” Elise said. “You’re the seamstress?”
“Yes, now hold still,” Penny commanded. Elise tried to do as she said, but flinched when the woman brought her hands to Elise’s breasts, cupping them without gentleness.
“What are you doing?” Elise asked with wide eyes.
The woman rolled her eyes in exasperation.
“Relax, child,” she said. “I’m just getting an idea of what size you are. Come here, I’ll measure you.”
Elise swallowed, reluctantly following the woman further into the shop.
Penny turned to Elise once they got around the corner.
“I’m assuming that you are going to be difficult and insist upon keeping your underclothing on.”
“Yes,” said Elise firmly. The woman sighed, turning around as she mumbled something under her breath. She gestured for Elise to follow her into a small room at the back of the shop. They peered in to see three girls working around a table, chatting to each other in low, giggly voices. They looked up when Elise entered with Penny.
“I need you to prepare the green velvet,” Penny said to the girls.
“Is that her?” one of the girls asked. Her hair was pale blonde and wispy, her features flat. She was pretty when she smiled, and the way she was looking at Elise was with a clear admiration on her face. “Oh, that green will be perfect.”
“I know,” said Penny. The girl got up then and hurried to fetch the fabric while Elise stripped out of the dress she was wearing, blushing as she did. She was glad that the woman hadn’t insisted upon her being naked—Elise didn’t know how she would feel being nude in a room full of people she didn’t know.
Elise stood there as Penny took her measurements, poking and prodding at Elise’s body, measure the curve of her waist.
“Pretty little thing,” Penny said. “Tell me what you want to do with this dress.”
“I—I have no idea,” said Elise. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
“You’ve never had a dress made for you before?” the woman asked. “Where did that lord get you?”
Elise looked away from her. “I’ve just—I’ve never had much say in what I wear.”
“Well, now is your chance,” said the woman, leading Elise over to the table. She picked up the green fabric and draped it over Elise’s body, wrapping it around her and pulling it tight around the waist. The velvet was soft, rich and fine. Penny’s hands traced the line of the dress at the top.
“Where do you want the neck to be?” Penny asked. “You want to show lord boy your tits or what?”
“No,” said Elise quickly, blushing. “No, I want something more modest.”
“Not too modest,” the woman said, clicking her tongue. “You’re going to a masquerade at the palace. Nobody there will be modest.”
“What do you mean?” Elise asked, feeling slightly nervous.
The woman gave Elise a half-smile. “I’ll let you find out. It’ll be more fun for you that way.”
“But—“ Elise protested, but the woman cut her off.
“What else would you like on this dress? Pearls? Lace? Jewels?”
Elise had no idea what to say. She could only gape at the woman, imagining how fine a dress with jewels would be, how much it would cost. She didn’t answer and the woman waved her hand impatiently.
“My girls will make you something perfect,” Penny said. “It will be ready and delivered to the estate in two days. You’re not with child, are you?”
“No,” said Elise.
“Good,” said the woman.
Elise thanked her, then and left the shop, walking along the street to where she knew Annalynn was staying. Elise had been dreading her visit with the woman in order to give Annalynn the money that she had demanded. It killed Elise to have to do it and wounded her pride, but there was no way that Elise could risk people finding out about her powers. She didn’t want to give in or be under the control of Annalynn but she had no choice if she wanted to stay safe.
Elise was walking when something caught her eye. She froze, turning slowly to look at it. There was a newspaper on a stand near the corner of the street, and Elise doubled back, picking up the paper with a sinking feeling in her stomach. The headline read that there had been another woman murdered, and this time it hadn’t been a noblewoman. It had been Annalynn, her picture on the front page, barely recognizable from the cuts and scratches all over her face. Elise looked away, sick, throwing the newspaper down and walking as quickly as she could toward the stables.
The Touch of the Outcast_A Gothic Mystery Romance Page 15