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She exited the conservatory, doubling back through the foyer. There were only a fraction of the paintings and portraits that were there before. The beautiful rugs that once covered the floors were gone.
“Which way to the Veranda garden?”
“Through the front doors,” Eric pointed. “I guess we walk around the side.”
She waited for him to lead the way. For some reason he didn’t. It was like he wanted her to go first, so he could intentionally remain behind her. Melody didn’t like it one bit.
Where’s Lucus?
More than ever, she wished the blacksmith was here. Silently she cursed herself for sleeping late. For not waking up — and staying up — after the second time they’d been together. The truth was, she’d just been so tired. And the whole thing had been so comfortable, so—
“Are we going?” asked Eric.
“Yeah, sure.”
Melody pushed the doors open, being sure to keep her companion in her peripheral vision. Outside the sky still maintained that strange, ‘off’ color. Like it was daytime… and yet it wasn’t.
“That way,” Eric pointed. “Tea garden’s on the side of the house.”
She walked along, passing the manor’s giant front pillars in all their glory. Or at least, all their former glory. They were faded now, the paint peeling and chipping. Nobody had repaired them. Nobody had scraped or repainted them or—
“There,” said Eric. “They’re way off the path, that way.”
Melody looked, thinking it was some kind of trick. Sure enough though, the group they’d seen from the window was still out there. They were moving as a single unit, past the tables and chairs. Following some sort of path…
“Where are they going?”
Eric shrugged. “Beats me.”
They sure looked like women, with their parasols and long dresses. Only now that she noticed them, the dresses were black. Most of them.
All of them?
“C’mon,” said Eric. “We have to catch up.”
Melody intentionally slowed her strides, hoping to get him to go in front of her. But he only slowed his own steps to match. It was more than coincidence. More than suspicious. But the women were closer now. Close enough to pick out details…
“Which one is Lady Neveux?”
Eric didn’t answer. He kept walking.
“I said—”
And then she saw it: the one thing she’d been afraid of. The one problem with following the group around the side of the house, and with Eric standing so close behind her.
They were on the very edge of the strange, rolling mist.
26
Melody stopped. She did it so abruptly Eric actually bumped into her.
“What?”
She looked at him. Almost wanted to read him again. Somehow though, she knew the outcome would be the same. Melody cleared her throat.
“They’re too close,” she said.
Er
