Haunting Secrets (12 page)

There was more to her than mere beauty. When he’d rescued her from the dogs, she looked upon him as if he were the most perfect man she’d ever seen. His heart softened while forbidden feelings crept inside of him. She should have run away from this place. She should have seen him as a beast like everyone else did!

In his attempt to save her, he’d done something quite remarkable. Up until now he didn’t remember much about shifting or his night hours as the wolf. Yet he’d spoken to those dogs in a language only they knew. He’d warned them to leave, promising to kill them if they didn’t.

Justin shook his head and slipped the robe around him, tying the sash tightly around his waist. Yesterday afternoon had been quite an experience. But the dogs had understood him.

Eerie. Especially since Victoria had noticed and asked about it. She would definitely want to know more. That he couldn’t tell her. He’d certainly become a beast in her eyes if he confessed the truth.

Groaning, he sat on the edge of the bed and buried his head in his hands. Sunlight spilled through the heavy velvet curtains, threatening to make his headache worse. His life was tortured. Perhaps he should tell Victoria about his secret; the truth about the East Wing ghost. Maybe then she would leave this place and never return.

He scrubbed his hands over his legs, massaging away the pain that remained in his body immediately after shifting. When would his curse be lifted? He scowled. Never. That witch wanted one thing. The one thing he did not know. Unless…

What if Victoria knew? If her father had known about a treasure map to the island, would he have passed that to his daughter? If they could find this map, perhaps the witch would lift Justin’s curse.

He could only pray.

Asking Victoria’s help would put her in danger, unless he protected her from the witch. Hopefully, he’d be able to accomplish that hiding from everyone like he did.

The floor creaked and heavy perfume permeated the air. He jerked upright as the woman of his nightmares swept into his room. It’d been several months since she’d paid him a visit, but she hadn’t changed. Her outward beauty had been destroyed by the evil lurking inside her.

Wearing a long transparent gown with her hair in disarray, she looked as if she’d just gotten out of bed. Justin knew she did this to try to entice him. It wouldn’t work. Not ever.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” She shook her head and sashayed closer. “Shifting twice in one week, Justin. That has to be a record for you.”

He glared, wishing he could literally shoot daggers from his eyes and destroy her. “How did you know?”

“I know everything, my darling man.”

“Go away,” he grumbled. “You’re not welcome here.”

She stopped in front of him and caressed his face. “I’m starting to wonder if you actually have some feeling for your brother’s newest conquest.”

He pushed her hand away. “You’re mistaken.”

Throwing back her head, she cackled. “Oh, my darling Justin. You cannot lie to me. I’m the one who cursed you. I know when you have become smitten.”

He stood and walked past her, stopping at the bookshelf. “As you mentioned before, she is my brother’s conquest. Why should I be interested?”

“Because I know you well. Although you’re a cursed beast, you’re still a man. Miss Fawson is a lovely woman, after all.”

Soft footsteps on the floor behind him crept near, warning him of her intent. But he couldn’t do anything about it. He’d never be able to hide from her.

She stopped behind him and ran her hands up his back to his shoulders then down each arm. “I’ve always thought your body was muscular, you know. I think shifting has made you even stronger.” She squeezed. “I long for the day you’ll be mine.”

“Give up that dream. It will never happen.”

“Tell me what I want to hear, Justin, and I’ll release you from the curse.”

Angrily, he spun around and grasped her arms in a tight hold. How he wished he’d grow the beast’s canine teeth now. He’d love to sink them into her neck and rip out her throat. But killing her would make his curse a life sentence.

“I don’t know the location of the map. Why can’t you understand that?” he seethed.

“Oh, I think you know. You were with Mr. Fawson before he died, and he had the map. I believe he gave it to you.”

He groaned. “He didn’t.”

“When you finally tire of turning into a wolf, you’ll come begging me to remove your curse. I’m quite certain you’ll do anything to please me then.”

“Think again.” He shoved her away and stormed past her into the other room. He knelt by the hearth and threw more logs onto the dying cinders.

“If you want Miss Fawson to live, you’ll remove her from your thoughts.”

Her voice came at him like shards of glass, the message just as painful.

“Do you remember what happened to the other women?” she continued.

He squeezed his eyes closed and gnashed his teeth. “No. I remember nothing. You know that.”

She bent over him, running her hands down his chest through the opening of his robe. Her hand stopped over his heart. “Deep inside your heart you know what happened. I need not tell you.”

His chest ached from her words. “Please leave.”

She nuzzled her face against his ear and kissed his lobe. Bile rose in his throat, nearly choking him. How many times did he have to tell her to leave him alone? But she never would.

“I’ll go, but I’ll be back,” she whispered. “You want me. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”

He didn’t turn to watch. He didn’t have to know when she left, because her disgusting scent disappeared with her.

Sighing, he pushed his palms against his closed eyes, hoping to relieve the throb growing deeper by the second. There was only one way to keep that witch from coming to see him. He had to convince Victoria to leave. If the witch knew how deep his attraction for Victoria went, he’d be cursed for sure. The witch wouldn’t leave his side, not if she knew there was competition.

If the beast didn’t kill Victoria, the witch might do it instead.

Wearily, he stumbled to his bed. Shifting always drained him. He removed his robe before climbing in between the sheets. Exhaustion filled his head, but with it came the beautiful vision of the woman he’d enjoyed kissing yesterday.

When he watched her kissing Jonathan, Justin could tell she didn’t enjoy it. Her body was too stiff. Her lips too tight.

He grinned. But she had enjoyed the kiss
they
had shared. He could tell she had enjoyed it as much as he had.

As his eyelids grew heavy and his breathing slowed, his body felt so weightless it was as if he floated on air. He closed his eyes and let his thoughts take command.

In his mind, he left his chambers and made his way through the secret tunnels to Victoria’s room. Taking her in his arms and kissing her endlessly possessed him. He didn’t stop himself from entering into his wonderful dream.

* * * *

Victoria held her parasol to block the sun as she rode beside Jonathan in the open two-seat buggy. Francine sat in the back reading a novel and keeping to herself. They’d driven past the small village just on the other side of the Maitland estate borders, and the people waved and called out greetings. Nodding her greeting, Victoria didn’t dare say anything. She didn’t know these people, but they seemed very friendly.

“Most of the villagers,” Jonathan explained, “work the Maitland lands. Several of them have been in our employ even before I was born.”

“How amazing.” Victoria smiled

“In fact, did you know Bethany’s mother used to work for us?”

Unbelieving, Victoria blinked with wide eyes. “Indeed? I would have never thought that.”

“I know. It’s hard to believe Bethany’s family labored for a living. She plays the Mistress of the house so well, most people think it’s been in her blood for years.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Jonathan shook his head. “Her father used to work the land, but he died when Bethany was ten. That’s when her mother started working as a maid.”

“Very interesting. Had Bethany ever been a servant in your house?”

“No. Because her mother worked for us, my father helped support Bethany in school. Not many of the servants were educated, and my father wanted them to have the knowledge.” He glanced at her. “Not very often did men in my father’s position do this for his servants.”

“I’m very impressed on how well your father cared for them.”

Beaming, Jonathan smiled and puffed his chest. “My father was a great man.”

Victoria touched his arm. “And I can tell you are following in his footsteps.”

Jonathan’s face reddened. “What a sweet thing to say.”

“Tell me about your childhood. Were you a tight-knit family?”

“Oh, yes.” He nodded. “My brothers and I are only a few years apart, so as children we played together and teased each other as regular siblings would. Being the youngest, I was spoiled a little more than the others, but since Justin was oldest, he’d gotten his fair share of attention. Father trained him from the moment Justin could walk—he wanted Justin to excel at everything. That’s one of the reasons Justin was forced to take music lessons. He didn’t like them at first but soon learned he had a talent for playing and writing music.” Jonathan sighed with a smile. “Father wanted to make sure Justin would be able to take his place as Master of Maitland Manor one day.”

“What about Roderick?” she wondered. “What was he like?” There had to be some reason she disliked that man—except that he wasn’t faithful to his wife. Something about him sent shivers of disgust running over her, and she wanted to try and figure him out to know why.

Jonathan shrugged. “As a boy, Roddy got in trouble a lot. Justin told me that Roddy craved that kind of attention.”

“I would agree with Justin. Most middle children don’t feel as if they get enough attention from their parents.”

“Another thing I remember is that Roddy always competed with Justin, and when Roddy couldn’t measure up, it upset him. Sometimes he’d take it out on Justin.”

“What did Justin do?”

Jonathan chuckled. “Most of the time he ignored Roddy—which upset him even more.”

She laughed. “I can see how that would be maddening, especially when someone is vying for attention.”

“You know,” he glanced at Victoria again, “another thing I remember is Robby being sneaky. As we were becoming men, Roddy turned into a secretive person. Both Justin and I knew he was up to no good, but Roddy wouldn’t confess to what he’d been doing.” He chuckled. “Of course Justin figured Roddy was sneaking out after dark and meeting girls.”

She glanced in the back seat at Francine who looked her way. Victoria tried to communicate with her gaze so Jonathan wouldn’t become suspicious. It worked because Francine gave her a nod.

“I wouldn’t doubt that one bit,” Victoria told Jonathan.

“If you ask me,” Jonathan continued, “he hasn’t changed that much.”

“No?”

Jonathan shook his head. “Roddy still sneaks out after dark and meets women.”

So, Jonathan wasn’t ignorant to his brother’s faults as Victoria had suspected. “How very sad for Bethany.”

“Indeed, it is. If not for me, I’m certain that woman would have gone insane by now. I cheer her up the best I can.”

Victoria patted his arm. “What a wonderful brother-in-law you are.”

He swung his gaze to her and winked before focusing back on the road.

Not too long later, they arrived at their destination. Victoria didn’t usually come this far into town, only because her uncle forbade it. The older man ruled over her like a disobedient child. If only she could have been sent to another family member after her father died, but alas, Uncle George was the closest relative—and unfortunately, the only one set financially to take her in.

Jonathan stopped the buggy in front of the mercantile. He assisted helping Victoria down, then turned and took Francine’s hand as she jumped to the ground. Jonathan smiled at Victoria and offered an arm, which she wrapped her hand around as he escorted her down the street.

As they walked passed a shop, Jonathan always had a story to tell about that particular business. Victoria couldn’t believe how well he remembered things like this, yet he couldn’t recall discussing Amelia Hartley the other day. Victoria wondered why he was like this.

Jonathan took her to the police immediately. She explained to him about her friend, Amelia Hartley. At first the lawman looked confused, but then he scratched his chin and nodded.

“Would her family not report her missing?” the older man asked.

Victoria shrugged. “I would hope so, but since she lives with her aged grandfather who can’t see very well, I wonder if the old man even realizes she hasn’t returned from her visit with the Maitlands.”

“Miss Hartley has no other family?”

“None.”

“Then I will do some investigating into this matter.”

Victoria sighed with relief. “Thank you. I pray you’ll find answers to her disappearance soon.”

“As do I.”

When Victoria turned to find Jonathan, he was gone. She hurried out the door and glanced up and down the street. She saw him across the way talking to a few younger women. She rolled her eyes. Jonathan was such a charmer, just like his brother—yet in a different way.

She strolled across the street and stopped by his side. He smiled at her and winked. “Forgive me for leaving you. I saw some acquaintances and thought to visit a little.”

“There’s no need to apologize.” Victoria smiled then nodded to the other women. “Pleasant day for an outing, is it not?”

“Very pleasant, indeed,” the older lady replied.

Jonathan tipped his hat. “If you will excuse us, Miss Fawson and I will continue our walk.”

Victoria slipped her hand around the crook of his elbow and allowed him to lead the way. She found it strange that Jonathan hadn’t asked her about her talk with the police.

They passed a bakery, and he led them inside. As he chatted with the man at the counter, another customer walked in. Victoria didn’t know Mary Beth Williams very well, but the middle-aged woman lived not far down the lane from Victoria’s uncle. Victoria smiled and approached the other woman.