Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross

Author:Rebecca Ross [Ross, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Published: 2021-08-24T00:00:00+00:00

23

“Miss Neven? Miss Neven!”

I woke to the shock and horror of Mrs. Stirling. She stood at the foot of the bed, her face blanched as she stared at me. Why did she look so upset? I wondered, groggily wiping the drool from my lips.

And then I realized this bed was unfamiliar, and Phelan was sleeping close beside me, his chest exposed and scarred and sewn up, his fingers entwined with mine. . . .

The memory of the new moon flooded through me and knocked away the last gossamer of sleep.

“Mrs. Stirling. Don’t worry, he’s all right,” I started to say, but my voice died when I saw another figure step forward. One that sparkled with diamonds and moved with terrible grace. I recognized her. We had crossed paths in the art shop last month. The countess. Phelan’s mother. Her blue eyes studied me with icy reserve, and I suddenly felt as if I were naked.

“Miss Neven, this is the Countess of Amarys,” Mrs. Stirling rushed to introduce us, but she couldn’t smooth away the tension in the air. “Lady Raven Vesper.”

“It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Miss Neven,” the countess said with a smile, which only made her eyes burn colder. I noticed she cast no shadow on the floor. “My son spoke very highly of you when I saw him last week.”

My mind went blank as I held her stare. I was acutely aware of the bloodstains on my chemise, the wrinkles in the gauzy fabric, the snarls in my hair. I knew I appeared like I had just risen from the gutter, and I swallowed, uncertain how to save this first impression of myself.

Phelan, of course, blithely continued to sleep, and I regretted giving him such a strong tonic.

“My lady,” I said, and slipped hastily from Phelan’s bed, as if the coverlet had caught fire. “Your son fought valiantly last night but was wounded. I felt it best to stay beside him until morning.”

“And I thank you for your diligence, Miss Neven,” said Lady Raven. “I can handle it from here, and I would appreciate if you kept my son’s wound a secret.”

I dropped a crooked curtsy, feeling as if every one of my bones had come out of socket. Mrs. Stirling hesitated before granting me a gentle nod, but I departed as swiftly as I could, retreating to the safety of my bedchamber.

I sat in the shadows until my cheeks had cooled, and I opened my curtains and my shutters, basking in the morning light. I washed my face and shattered the mirror that hung on the wall because I was weary of seeing myself. I watched the cracks in the glass spread into a glittering web, until Clem was broken into an array of pieces, and yet I still didn’t feel satisfied.

I needed to get out of this house, and I swiftly dressed and brushed the tangles from my hair, quietly descending the stairs.

I emerged onto the front porch, standing in the very place the knight had stood only hours ago.

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