Henri grinned. “That’s my boy.” He leaned forward until our foreheads touched and he searched my eyes. “You’re not alone here. I don’t want you to feel like you’re locked away. Any time you feel like that, I want you to seek me out, okay?”
I let out a deep sigh, then nodded. “Thank you.”
Henri pulled away and we continued to my room. Just when I thought that the castle couldn’t possibly extend any farther, we climbed a staircase and stopped before a door with a brass knob.
I held my breath as Henri slipped inside and began to light candles. It was a large room with a narrow window at the far end. The fourposter bed was draped with red sheets and curtains, while a matching rug encompassed nearly the entirety of the stone floor, reminding me of a pool of blood. A table was positioned near a large fireplace, with an ancient-looking chess set atop it, pieces scattered about the board as if in the midst of a heated game, even now.
“I’ll send Ludovico to start a fire,” Henri offered. “It’ll seem rather cheery after that.”
“Alright.”
“Unless you want to start one yourself? I have it on good authority that you make quite the roaring fire.”
I snorted. “I have been known to make a fire here and there.”
“You know the tricks of the trade. So manly.”
“That’s me. Manly, through and through.” I knew that Henri was trying to break the tension, that he wanted me to feel comfortable, but I was far from it. In a moment, despite myself, I began to shake. I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold of the room or from fright and stress, but Henri was upon me in an instant, running warm hands over my shoulders. He leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips, his eyes full of tenderness.
“I’m okay,” I assured him. “I’ll get used to it. I just … I’m tired and hungry.”
Henri watched me for a minute. “I think we’re all tired and hungry. When Ludovico comes for your fire, I’ll make sure he brings along your supper.” He hesitated. “Perhaps it would be best if I left you to your own devices tonight, since my uncle might be more observant of his surroundings than usual. Would that be alright?”
“Yes, of course. Like I said, I’m tired anyway. I’ll probably fall right to sleep after dinner.”
“Okay.” Henri reached out and squeezed my hand briefly before heading to the door. He paused on the threshold. “Good night, Emile. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I nodded, and he left me alone.
Releasing a sigh, I walked the room slowly, in a circle. It was clean and well cared for, at least. Once a fire was started, it really would be cozy.
I stopped to stare once I noticed a second door to the room. I didn’t know where it led, but I didn’t like the idea of someone having access to the room from another part of the castle. I approached the door and fingered the bolt, which looked weak and rusted through. I doubted it would be much use if I fastened it, but I did so anyway.
It was less than half an hour before Ludovico arrived with a cold meal and a goblet of wine. I was more thankful for the wine than anything, reveling in its warmth as it spread through my chest. It served to relax me, and once the fire had been built and was roaring behind the grate, I begged Ludovico to sit with me for a time.
“Annette has told me a lot about you, my lord,” Ludovico ventured as he replaced the chess pieces on the table to their starting positions.
I squinted at him. “With Annette, that could be a good thing or a bad thing.”
Ludovico snorted. “Very true. And she would probably scold me for saying so, but I think she rather thinks very highly of you, my lord.”
“Please call me Emile,” I said, happy to hear that Annette held me in such regard. “I understand that we’ve been communicating through Annette for a while. It’s about time we met.”
“Quite right. But I don’t think we were much help, I’m afraid. If Montoni was hiding anything of consequence, we didn’t unearth it.” He cocked his head as he finished setting up the chess pieces. “If you don’t mind my advice, I would be careful looking into the count while you’re at Udolpho. There seem to be eyes and ears everywhere. And we are rather isolated here.”
I nodded slowly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ludovico smiled. “Annette did tell me to keep an eye out for you, though, so don’t think you have no allies here.”
“I’m glad that I can count on you, Ludovico.”
“Do you play?” he asked, gesturing to the chess set.
“I do, but not very well. My father would always trounce me.”
“Well, if you would ever like a game, I promise to go easy on you. I’ve played all the servants at the château who would, and even Dr. Valancourt once. I could help you improve if you’d like.”
“I would like that very much. I believe I saw a chess set in Bram’s … er, Dr. Valancourt’s office.”
