Page 102 of Married to the Devil

“You’re not listening.”

“No, I wasn’t. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’ll start over.” Hattie begins to talk about the various attributes of the main pony army when there’s a noise up ahead.

I grab Hattie’s arm to steady her.

“Mommy?”

She stares at me in confusion.

A squirrel races from between the trees and darts into the underbrush.

I’m being paranoid. I release Hattie and apologize again. “Let’s go back to the house. I haven’t heard from Auntie Marnie yet this morning.”

Which is odd, actually.

Hattie complains but she doesn’t fight when I start marching along the path toward the back garden. I slow near the rose bush and consider telling Hattie about Leanna, but decide against it. There should be at least one guard nearby, only there’s nobody.

It’s bizarre.

And it’s all wrong.

I hurry Hattie to the back door. We step into the house and I feel better the second I click the lock shut.

I’m not sure why, because there are still no guards nearby.

“Let’s take you to Priya,” I say and lead Hattie through the house.

Nobody stops us. It feels strange, like the halls are abandoned. The mansion is massive and the majority of the space isn’t being used, so it’s not like this place is always bustling, but still. Most days, I see men lurking around at all times.

Today, it’s like they all went home.

Priya’s in the kitchen chatting with Byron. She happily takes Hattie off my hands when we arrive. “Shall we make some sculptures today? I brought Model Magic.”

“Yes!” Hattie claps her hands. She loves that fake clay stuff.

Priya and Hattie disappear into the other room. I turn down Byron’s offer of food for myself, but accept some for Marnie. He gives me a tray with tea and some sandwiches.

“Enough for both of you,” he says with a wink. “You sure you don’t want help getting it up there?”

“No, I’m fine, thank you.” I carry the tray into the hall and head to the stairs.

The quiet is oppressive. I consider calling Rafe but don’t. He left early this morning for the city. He said he had an important meeting and I don’t want to distract him. But I don’t like the way this feels, and maybe he’d know what’s going on.

Only I can’t go scampering to Rafe every time there’s an issue.

It’s time for me to stop being so useless and afraid all the time.

I reach Marnie’s door and rebalance the tray. I turn the knob⁠—

But it’s locked.

“That’s weird.” I try it again, tugging harder. Then I knock. “Marnie? You in there?”

Her door is never closed, but maybe she’s got something going on with Birdie. She’s been doing much, much better, even starting to get around more on her own, but the healing process isn’t perfect. Birdie keeps reminding us that bodies adjust and change and fix themselves in fits and starts. Nothing’s linear.

“Marnie! Are you okay in there?”