Moonless Read Online Free PDF Page B

wait to ask her aunt about the physical changes and intruder until properly settled and rested.
    “But what I do not understand,” Sarah’s head shook, “is how you can be so stunning and remain aloof.”
    “Stunning?” Alexia blinked. “Next to you I am a scullery maid!”
    Sarah laughed. “You have had interest. Why then? No boys that meet your approval? Or is it Charles?”
    Alexia flinched at the reference to Father. Sarah had always addressed him as her own parent, having never truly known another.
    “You know I was not much older than you when I . . .” Her aunt sat back, brows lowering.
    “When you what? What is it, Sarah?”
    Her elbows touched the table, fists supporting her chin. “You know your father promised me to Henry when I turned seventeen.”
    Alexia nodded. It was not common to marry before twenty-one as the law dictated, but with parental consent it did happen, and it had.
    “I have often wondered why, but I believe he saw what the others did—that my husband would soon outlive himself, being so fond of the drink, and leave me an immense fortune.” Her gaze darkened. “Apparently he was right.”
    Alexia studied her hands, wishing they would reveal the words to comfort her aunt.
    Sarah sighed. “Very soon my cousin will throw me out of this house, I am sure, but I have been guaranteed the Wilhamshire property to live out my days and an annual allowance of ungodly proportions.”
    Alexia perked up. Wilhamshire? She tucked the excitement down forced herself pursue regular conversation. “Is it worth it?”
    “The money?” She scoffed. “Not in the least, but clearly you have always been Father’s favorite.”
    “As you are Mother’s!”
    “Ripe lot of good that did me when it came time for marriage!”
    Alexia flinched and looked away, hugging herself.  
    Her aunt exhaled. “He is afraid, Lex. He does not want to face what he’s done. I think he hates me.”
    “Sarah, no.” She reached out.
    Her aunt turned away. “Or perhaps one scoundrel is as good as the next.”
    “Do not say tha—”
    “It is true.” Her head snapped back around, eyes ablaze. “They are all villains. Power corrupts, and money corrupts worse. How I wish it were not so—for your sake, for mine.”
    Alexia returned to the scrutiny of her hands.
    Sarah brightened. “But not to worry. You have me watching over you. I will make sure you end up with a decent match, even if I have to throttle Charles into it!”
    ***
    A private breakfast roused Alexia from bed. She studied her aunt as they ate in the sunny chamber, admiring the unnatural luster permeating Sarah’s skin. It reminded her of a terrifying girl in a midnight cellar and the luminescence of her blue-eyed mystery.
    . . . another of our kind . . .
    She shuddered.
    “What is it, dearest?” Sarah’s head tilted.
    Her mouth opened before she could stop it, ready to utter a hundred questions, ask what Sarah knew—if anything—about being different, about the changes in her physical appearance before she’d been promised to the Earl, if she’d ever met anyone else as strangely beautiful as them. Mostly she ached to ask about the man who haunted her dreams. Would she react as Father had?
    “I have missed you,” Alexia said instead.
    “Oh, Lex!” Sarah sided up next to her, and placing an arm around her shoulders. “Not nearly so badly as I have missed you.”
    Alexia hugged her aunt back. Some part of her had been torn away when Sarah left, a hole no person or book could fill, although she’d tried.
    A knock sounded. Sarah got to her feet. “I have a surprise for you.”
    The door furled inward admitting an entourage of servants. They carried gigantic mirrors, carefully wrapped packages and tiers of ribbon.
    “What is this?” Alexia braced herself on the bed.
    Her aunt crossed her arms. “We are having a funeral, darling, in which I fully expect royalty to appear. You are not attending in country rags.”
    All day they inhabited the warm