She wondered about the reason for his sudden animosity, but it wasn’t until he spoke that she realized it was directed, not at the strange voice, but at her.
“What about the lemon tree?”
Chapter 13
Any of Marlene’s previous upset was wiped away by the look of betrayal on his face. He slowly rose to his feet and moved toward her. Still attired in that dark cloak, he looked intimidating—and dared she even think, highly seductive—as he stopped in front of her. “What are you not telling me?”
His voice was smooth and calm, but from the way his eyes were snapping, she knew she had to tell the truth, or else face the consequences of any further deceit. “I might have uncovered… something the night I was in the orangery.”
“Which was?” he prompted.
She yearned to glance away, but his gaze held her captive. “It was a key.”
“I see.” If he’d had a tail, she imagined this would be the moment he might swish it in a predatory manner. “And why did you not reveal this to me when I asked?”
She swallowed. “I wasn’t sure I could trust you.”
“What of now?” he purred. “Do your reservations still stand after everything we’ve shared?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Are you sure about that, Marlene” He moved closer, but didn’t reach out to touch her.
Her breathing deepened. “Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
She closed her eyes for strength. “I trust you.”
“Good.”
She gasped, for it was as if a cold gust of wind swept across the room. There was a decided swish of his cloak as he turned away from her, the sudden chill coming from his abrupt demeanor, along with the stiff set of his shoulders. He set his cloak on a nearby peg and waved his hand to open the door. He paused and turned back to her. “Take me to the key.”
Marlene said nothing as she moved past him and led the way to the mistress’ chamber, now that everything had been moved there. She walked directly over to the lantern sitting on the table next to her bed and opened the door. She felt inside for the familiar, cold metal and withdrew it. She held it in her outstretched palm.
Alaric looked at her with nostrils flaring, and then he reached out and took it from her. He inspected it for a moment. “You found this beneath the lemon tree.”
It was more of a statement than a question, but she answered him, nonetheless. “Yes.”
“Did the same voice tell you where to find it?”
She shook her head, even though his attention was still riveted on the item in his grasp. “No. This time it was a note that…later…disappeared.” She sighed, because now that her secret was out, she decided to tell him the rest. “There’s more.”
He finally glanced at her but said nothing.
She explained, “It happened in the carriage on the way to the village. I took the key with me to see if perhaps your aunt might know what it opened, although I merely asked if she had ever seen a three-pronged skeleton key. I never revealed that I had it in my possession.” Her cheeks warmed with guilt, but she merely continued. “I would often clutch it, as knowing it was there gave me some sort of… security, I suppose you might say. But as my emotions started to rise in the carriage, I felt a pinch on my skin and saw the imprint of the key glowing upon my palm. It eventually went away.”
He turned his focus back to the key. “There is powerful magic at work here. I have no doubt of it. But for what purpose, I have yet to ascertain.”
“You can’t tell if it’s black magic or used for good?”
“Not this time. It’s a curiosity that I wish you would have brought to my attention before now.” He looked at her in a disparaging manner. “It shall take some careful study.”
She crossed her arms. “Then perhaps I should do it.”
He smiled in a tolerant manner. “Why would I allow that since you failed to tell me about an item that might very well become an important piece in solving Hector’s puzzle?”
She lifted a brow, refusing to be cowed. “You cannot be angry at me for wishing to safeguard myself. I was only doing what I thought was in my best interests. Besides, what else shall I do with my time since you sent Lady Erica away?”
