Lost in daydreams, she stood there for a few moments, her thoughts drifting from past to future, memories and imaginings sharing space in her head. The wind dropped a little, its howl replaced by a hushed whistle. A mournful sound. Ominous, even.
Unbidden, a prickle crept over her scalp, accompanied by an odd sense of human presence, as if she was no longer alone. She spun around, her panicked gaze raking over the hilltop and the rocks. Empty, all of it. No sign of anyone.
Annoyed at her foolishness, she heaved a sigh and turned back to regard the landscape. As if to counter her silly fears, she dared to venture a little farther onto the ledge.
It happened again. The sense of someone there, as if a shadow had appeared at her back, stealing the light. A squeal of fear caught in her throat as someone grabbed her from behind and pushed her toward the edge. Her bonnet slid from her fingers to be snatched away by the wind, ribbons trailing.
Terror, like an icy wave, washed over her as the precipice loomed. Only at the last second, mere inches from certain death, did her assailant halt his attack. Annie closed her eyes as his foul breath, heavy and rhythmic, brushed over her right ear.
“You should be more careful, my dear,” a male voice muttered. “It is doubtful you would survive such a fall.”
Annie’s eyes flew open, the world tilting as she whispered his name. “Leo.”
A growl rumbled in his throat. “So, you have not forgotten me.”
Numb with shock, heart hammering in her ears, she replied with only a whimper. Questions tumbled through her mind, one in particular at the forefront.How did you know where to find me?
Lucidity, in a crude form, returned and brought indignation with it. Annie squirmed in his grip and pushed back against him, but he held her fast, arms pinned to her sides. “How dare you, Leo,” she said, teeth gritted. “Let mego!”
Leo responded with another low growl, his breaths coming hard and fast against her throat. “I suggest you be still, Annie. It is not wise to move against me like that.”
Realizing what pressed against the base of her spine, Annie froze. “You’re disgusting.”
“And I’m disappointed you know what it represents, my dear. I trust it is not through personal experience.”
Annie gasped. “How dare you! Release me. You’re scaring me.”
“As intended.” His hold on her tightened a little. “I’ve been watching you this past while. You have been enjoying yourself, haven’t you? With him. That toff.” He laughed softly and without humor. “Who is obviously unaware of the truth.”
Annie’s stomach lurched. “You’ve beenwatchingme? What do you mean? For what purpose?”
“Curiosity.”
“You have no right to do so, Leo. None.” She tensed against an urge to struggle. “How did you know where to find me?”
“A little bit of detective work. It was not difficult.” Leo hissed softly through his teeth. “What has been difficult is watching you withhim. The hand-in-hand walk by the river. Sharing a kiss by those rocks over there. That, especially, I did not like to see. Not one bit. It angered me, Annie.” He inched closer to the edge, his breaths heavy once more. “It infuriated me.”
A cry scraped from Annie’s throat. “Leo, please, no.”
“You spent a night beneath the same roof as him as well, didn’t you? Did you sleep alone?”
She gasped. “How dare you! Let me go, please. This… this is madness.”
“Madness?” Another soft laugh. “I’m of the opinion it’s an opportunity for revenge not to be missed. You, all alone up here. A fierce west wind. She was a foolish girl, they will say, to venture onto the ledge in such weather. An accident was inevitable.”
“No, please.” Annie’s throat tightened as her legs buckled beneath her. “I beg of you.”
“As I once begged you, remember?” Leo nuzzled the spot beneath her ear. “And you denied me, Annie. You cast me aside. I told you you’d live to regret it, did I not? It seems that day has come.”
“Leo, please. I don’t… Oh, God, I don’t want to die.” Tears blurred Annie’s vision as she looked out over the landscape. She blinked them away, strangely furious that they dared to obscure her view. She needed to see Myddleton House. To remember. To regret. She blinked again as her eyes found what she was looking for.
I should have told you, Julian. I should have told you that I love you. And I do. I do love you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
They came back to her, then. The words Leo had spoken:…who is completely unaware of the truth.
“What truth, Leo? What truth is Julian unaware of?”
“I was beginning to think you’d never ask,” he replied. “The truth aboutyou, Annie.”
