Elise’s stomach churned at his words. But she knew it was a real possibility.
“I didn’t even think of that.” Julianna’s mouth thinned into a grim line. “Oh my God. What if we go back home and we’re in some weird alternate timeline where the mages are our overlords?”
“Which is why when we leave, we also have to take him with us.” Cross’s tone was dead serious.
“You’re right,” Elise conceded. She didn’t want to be near that mage again—what was his name? Malachi—but they might not have a choice.
“What are we going to do then?” Julianna’s brows drew together. “What’s the new plan?”
“We must continue as we are doing—playing along,” Cross said. “It’ll allow us to stay close to the family, and during the ceremony we’ll be near the dagger. Should the mage attack, we’ll be ready.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Julianna asked. “Can we just take the dagger and go home?”
“He’ll come,” Cross said with certainty. “We already know that. But until that time, we can’t let any harm come to the dowager, Eleanor, Jeremy, and especially William. History must happen the way it was intended to happen.”
A dark, foreboding feeling came over her. It became difficult to breathe as her ribs seemed to contract into her chest when a question popped into her mind: What about Reed?
History must happen the way it intended to happen. According to history, Reed Townsend was supposed to die on the night of his ascension ceremony. And they were the reason why.
“Elise, are you okay?” Julianna’s face was full of concern.
“I—I’m fine.” Her throat tightened at the tears she couldn’t shed. She hadn’t even had time to process what happened between them yesterday in the statuary. She’d spent a sleepless night thinking of his kisses and his touch … and now all she could think of was his body being burned alive by that mage.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she insisted. “I’m just tired.”
“Don’t you know showing up early is just as rude as being late?” came the dowager duchess’s rebuke as she entered the room. Signore Rossi came in behind her and greeted them a good afternoon. Bridget, too, was not far behind, and she flashed them a bright smile as she entered.
Elise was glad for the interruption. “Apologies, Your Grace,” she said. “We’ve been idle and anxious all day.”
“If you excuse me, Your Grace,” Cross said as he took a deep bow, “Lord Townsend is waiting for me.”
The dowager duchess gave him his leave, and he left the parlor. “Neville will be serving tea in a moment, but before he does, I have an important announcement.”
“Announcement?” Julianna echoed.
The older woman’s nose twitched. “I have not yet decided if Signore Rossi,” she nodded to the Italian, “should paint the Townsend family portraits, but since he doesn’t want to remain idle, I’ve permitted him to paint one portrait.” Her gaze went laser-like toward Julianna. “Yours, my dear.”
“Mine?”
“Si, signorina.” Rossi placed a hand on his chest. “It would truly be my honor to paint such a beauty as you. I can only hope to give your enchanting face some justice.”
Elise smothered a laugh at Julianna’s horrified look.
“I can’t possibly—”
“It will be a test,” the dowager interrupted. “If I like the portrait, I shall commission Signore Rossi to do all of ours.”
“It would truly make me happy,” Rossi said.
And probably line his pockets, Elise thought. After all, these days, artists needed a patron to survive.
“Of course, sitting with Signore Rossi for a few hours a day will cut down on your lessons with me—”
“Hold on.” Julianna held up a hand. “If I sit for this portrait, I don’t have to do dancing lessons, learn etiquette, and brush up on my knowledge of Debrett’s? Count me in!”
“You’ll still be expected to know those things for your debut in three days,” the duchess countered. “But yes, you’ll have to sit and smile as Signore Rossi paints your portrait.”
“Doesn’t sound like a bad deal,” Julianna whispered to Elise. “I can sit and smile.”
“I’d pay a lot to see that,” Elise whispered back. And it seemed, at least for the time being, there wouldn’t be much to do except sit and smile until the ascension ceremony.
Elise couldn’t decide if the next three days went by quickly or slowly. Sometimes it felt quick as she went through the whirlwind of events that came with the preparations for their debut—dress fittings, more dancing lessons, etiquette lessons, and learning all about the most important families in England.
But then, it also felt slow as she had not seen Reed at all. When she did have idle time, all she could think about was him. His arrogant, handsome face and the way it softened in the garden when they were alone. His kisses and his touch setting her body on fire.
However, whenever she replayed the scene in the statuary in her head, whenever she got to the ending, she came to realize something: Even before the mage attacked them, he was the one who pulled away from her first, who stopped the kiss and acted like they’d done something wrong.
And now he’s avoiding me. It was that small voice inside her head talking. He regrets what happened. Or he was repulsed by the idea that she was a hybrid. During that meeting in the study, he didn’t mention to anyone that he had seen her use her powers. Obviously, in this era, Lycans still very much hated witches.
Of course, there was that possibility that he was busy. The atmosphere in Hunter House was tense, and most of the time, it was just her, the dowager duchess, Eleanor, Julianna, Bridget, and Signore Rossi around during dinner. Cross updated them when he could, but he was busy with Reed and Jeremy all the time. She could see his patience was being tried as well as he seemed tense and spoke tersely. It probably killed him not to be able to use his powers to help, but they all agreed not
