Page 59 of Haunted Hearts

“I’ve been a fool to hope that we could possibly end up together, Blaze. But now I know that it will never happen.” Lillith ran for the door.

“Lilly, wait,” he called out, but when he started to go after her, his mother stopped him.

“Leave her be, Blaze,” she said in a low voice. “The reading wasn’t a good one. I know now that I never should have suggested it. I’m sorry.”

Once again, his mother was creating havoc in his life and Blaze was more than tired of it.

“Mother, first you start a feud and now you ruin the hopes of the woman I love.”

“I didn’t start that feud and you know it. And there was no hope for you and Lillith before I even got home, so don’t go blaming that on me.”

“This has got to end. I can’t live a life of constantly trying to protect your secrets.”

“Our secrets, Blaze,” said his mother.

“Nay.” He furiously shook his head. “I am not going to be a part of all your crazy ways. Not any longer.”

“Mayhap I can read the cards for you. That might tell us what we can do about all this.”

“Nay,” he answered, shaking his head. “I’ve had enough of your card readings. Look how upset you made Lillith.”

“Now, Blaze, she just took the reading the wrong way.”

“So, it wasn’t bad, then?”

“Well . . . I wouldn’t say it was uplifting. But, of course, these things can be interpreted in many different ways.”

“My lord?” There was knock at the door. “My lord, the bonfire is lit. Did you want to have the musicians play music for the costume parade?” asked his steward.

“Yes, Barnaby, I’ll be right there,” Blaze called out. Then, turning back to his mother, he shook his head. “If Lillith is scarred for life now, I blame you for it,” he told her.

“I didn’t do anything,” she protested.

“You most certainly did. You took away that girl’s last and only hope that things might turn out the way she’d like them to. That is the worst thing anyone can ever do to a person who is so distraught.”

Without waiting for her to answer, Blaze turned and left the room, trying to gather himself so no one would see just how upset and unsettled he was right now. By the looks of things, his hope was gone now too. There was no more doubt in his mind. Lilly and he would never end up together.