“You are addressing a marquis,” I told Schedoni. “You’d best remember that, Father.”
“A marquis.” The monk sneered. “Yes, my lord.”
“Is my aunt attending to Montoni tonight?” I asked him.
Schedoni regarded me with narrowed eyes. “Your aunt has partaken in too much wine and will be resting while I take care of the count. Not that it’s any of your concern.”
I frowned, unsettled. My aunt had certainly not seemed inebriated at dinner. She had probably been given some sort of sleeping draft. That would certainly be one way to ensure she didn’t see or hear anything she shouldn’t. As soon as Schedoni had left the room, I stared at the syringes he’d left behind, as well as the water basin on the side table, bracing myself for another long night.
“I know you’re upset with me,” Henri said, his voice weak. “I’m sorry, Emile. I want you to be happy. And I think I can make you happy. The circumstances to make that happen were never going to be perfect.”
I snorted. “Well, we agree on something then.”
“Please, Emile. Please just think about it. I can’t see an alternative where we both live the rest of our days together, can you?”
I closed my eyes, not wanting to think about how society had turned its back on us, because of who we loved. That was why I was in this situation, at the mercy of a conniving man who wanted me to marry his niece for my fortune. I wanted nothing more than to spurn that society for what it had done.
“Do you remember when I told you that we should just keep going?” Henri asked. “When we rode that horse out for that picnic?”
I continued to stare at the wall, refusing to look at Henri. “The horse’s name was Stormy.”
“Stormy, that’s right.” Henri smiled weakly. “I said that we could start over somewhere. It would be just the two of us, loving each other, even though we had no money.”
I felt my throat growing thick at his words. That was the first time I’d considered that Henri could be my future.
“I just want us to be happy, Emile. I want us to be together.”
I sighed and put a hand to my head. “I know you do, Henri. But I can’t trust your uncle’s word.” I turned to him. “We would be at his mercy. I would never be able to let my guard down. He could make me disappear like he did with Fournier, or even throw me into an asylum, and we would be powerless to stop him. What happens when he goes through my money and I’m no longer any use to him? You think he will let us be?”
Henri’s tight smile turned into a grimace, his head snapping back as a sharp gasp escaped him.
I was at his side in a moment. I ran a cool cloth over his forehead. “Are you alright?”
Henri nodded. “The window. Close the window.”
I made my way to the window and looked out into the darkness around the castle. It was so complete that I could make out nothing, save for the stars overhead. And the moon. The moon was full and bright, glowing as if with some mystical energy, pulsing as it watched over the quiet world.
I closed the drapes and turned to find Henri half out of bed.
“Henri!” I ran to him as he vomited on the floor.
I pushed him back into bed and wiped his mouth. He looked terrible. His hair was stuck to his forehead with sweat, and he seemed unable to focus on me. I kissed his forehead. “You’re alright,” I told him. “I’m right here, okay?”
Henri didn’t respond but lolled his head back and forth.
I hesitated, wondering if I should fetch Father Schedoni. I glanced down at the vomit on the floor, realizing that I would have to clean that as well. I blinked, staring at the blood mixed in with mucus that gleamed silver.
“Emile,” Henri gasped. “I … I need another injection.”
“So soon?” I asked, glancing at him, worried. I felt his forehead. He was burning up. “I … I’m going to get Schedoni.”
“No.” Henri’s hand found mine. “No, please. Stay with me.”
I swallowed hard, unsure, but I nodded. I sat at the edge of his bed and watched his eyes. They were completely black and seemed to glow at the edges, a yellow creeping in, as I’d noticed once previously. Maybe he did need another injection.
A garbled noise issued from Henri’s lips, which I realized was him trying to speak.
I shook my head, deciding that I needed to give him more medicine. I prepared a syringe and plunged it into his arm. After a minute, Henri seemed to relax, although his breathing remained labored. He closed his eyes, but I’d glimpsed their return to a normal color beforehand.
