His Dark Desires Read Online Free PDF Page A

in the morning. Otherwise, we'll do exactly what we have done every year since the war ended. The very best that we can, even if we have to sell nut bread at the market."
    "But what if—"
    I pressed my finger to her lips. "We will be fine." We had to be; I wouldn't consider anything else.
    Ginette caught my hand as I stood to leave. "Have you noticed anything strange recently?"
    "What do you mean?"
    "I am not sure. It is just something I feel. Something isn't right."
    A chill hit me, not unlike the one that had swept over me on Blindman's Curve. I glanced around the room, looking for the shadow I'd seen before, then shook my head at my imagination.
    "It is most likely the heat. June has never been this sweltering," I said, even though I was chilled. A bump in the hall caused us both to turn toward the door.
    Andre stood in the doorway, looking puzzled. "Was that man outside Ginette's door a new doctor?"
    "Who, Andre?" I asked.
    "I don't know. I waved to him and he hurried down the stairs."
    "Stay here with Ginette." Forcing a deep breath, I ordered myself to ignore the anxious feeling inside me as I ran to peer over the railing. The curving staircase was empty, and no footsteps sounded above the echo of voices from below. I dashed down the stairs and met Mignon on the second-floor landing, coming up. Mama Louisa rang the dinner bell.
    "Juliet, you're as white as a ghost. What is it?"
    "Did someone just come by?" I asked, leaning over the rail, finding the entry hall empty.
    "No one passed by me." Mignon shook her head, her brow creasing with concern. "Why? What is—"
    A door behind us opened, and I whirled around to see Mr. Trevelyan, dressed in a different black suit, exit his room at the far end of the corridor. Although I didn't think it possible for him to have been outside Ginette's room and make it back to his own room without me seeing him and with time to change his suit, I still stared as he approached. Perhaps it was his eerie timing that unnerved me.
    "Was that the dinner bell?" he asked.
    " Oui ," I said, gathering my wits. "You are right on time. Mignon will escort you to the dining room and introduce you to the other boarders."
    He made a point of meeting my eyes as he passed. "Will you be joining us as well?"
    "I'll be down in a few moments," I said, my cheeks warming from the heat of his gaze.
    "It is wonderful to have you here, Monsieur Trevelyan." Mignon's winning smile broadened.
    "The pleasure is all mine," he said, offering his arm to her.
    They left, and I forced my mind back on the man Andre had seen. Either he had disappeared into thin air or no one had been there. Just to be sure, I quickly looked into each of the rooms on the second floor. It wasn't until I opened Mr. Trevelyan's door that I felt as if I'd intruded on the boarder's privacy. His traveling suit lay on the bed in such disarray that I went inside and straightened it before questioning my action. When I pulled the folds of the material even, three cigars fell from the pocket of his coat. I put them back and drew a deep breath of the sandalwood and spice aroma in the room, letting my fingers linger on the rich material longer than necessary.
    His suitcases stood open, and the urge to peek at what he carried with him was so strong, I had to stuff my hands into my pockets and hurry from the room. I shut the door as if the devil himself been there. Andre and Ginette waited for me at the top of the stairs, their expressions wary.
    I forced a smile at my son. "Can you describe who you saw? Perhaps it was one of the boarders?"
    He frowned. "The shadows in the corridor were too dark for me to tell. I know he had dark hair and wore a gray suit. And that he was tall and thin."
    "Well, I'm sure there is a simple explanation that we'll learn of soon enough. Perhaps one of the boarders came to the family's floor by mistake. Meanwhile, Andre, you get a bath, and Ginette, you go back to bed."
    Ginette waited for Andre to leave before speaking. "You