The Cursed One Read Online Free PDF Page A

shape of his leg outlined in snug-fitting trousers or tights.
    Even injured, Gabriel Wulf’s leg was quite something to behold. It was long and muscled and dusted with blond hair. Amelia stood gawking as Mora sprang into action. She supposed she watched the entire procedure, stood numbly by as the girl dug a ball from Gabriel Wulf’s thigh with the long nasty-looking tweezers. He gritted his teeth and a sweat broke out upon his brow, but other than that, he complained little.
    â€œThe spirits, my lady,” Mora called to her. “If you don’t mind, would you fetch the decanter for me?”
    Glad for something to do, Amelia lifted the decanter from the tray and brought it to the bed. She took another sip from the bottle before handing it to Mora. The girl, in turn, offered the brandy up to Gabriel.
    â€œTo fortify yourself,” she said. “This will sting something fierce.”
    He nodded, took the decanter, took a swig, and handed it back. An odd thrill ran through Amelia at the thought of him placing his mouth where hers had been. As if he felt her regard, Wulf’s green gaze lifted to her. He stared into her eyes while the girl poured the liquor over his bloody thigh.

    He never so much as flinched.
    â€œNow I’ve got to stitch you,” Mora said. “Then I’ll be finished. If you keep it clean like you’ve been doing, you should heal.”
    Wulf said nothing in response. He kept staring at Amelia, and she suspected he did so to distract himself from the pain. Bold as she was at times, she grew uncomfortable under his intense study. Amelia suspected he could nearly see through her thin robe. She wasn’t as modest as a proper young woman should be. Once, she’d been bold enough to wet her gown at a social function. Her mother had nearly fainted dead away when Amelia emerged from an upstairs guest room, where several other ladies had been doing the same thing.
    Still, something about the way he watched her … like a fox watched a rabbit, made her uneasy. And she was uneasy enough with all that had happened. She needed something to do to keep her mind off of it.
    â€œI might find you something clean to wear,” she offered. “Robert.” Her voice caught and she took a moment to collect herself. “Robert was not nearly as big as you are, but perhaps I can find something.”
    â€œNo need to trouble yourself with that,” he said, and his gaze finally broke from her to stray to the closed door that separated her room from Robert’s. “I won’t ask you to go back in there.”
    In a way, Amelia needed to see the body. If for no other reason than to convince herself that the man was not Robert. How could her mind have been so confused? How had the man managed to trick her?
    â€œI can do it,” she whispered, not sure who she was trying to convince more, herself or Gabriel Wulf.

CHAPTER THREE
    Amelia took a candle with her. She feared the door, barely hanging upon its hinges, would fall off when she opened it, but it held. She didn’t want to look at the floor where she knew the impostor’s body lay. She’d just as soon avoid it, but it had been her intent, besides finding something clean for Gabriel Wulf to wear. Taking a deep breath, she glanced down at the floor. No one was there.
    She breathed a sigh of relief. Wulf had obviously removed the body during or after his search for Robert. Steadier now, Amelia walked to Robert’s wardrobe and opened the doors. She thought a nightshirt would have to make do for Lord Gabriel as a shirt. Breeches or trousers of any sort she couldn’t imagine fitting him. He was much taller than Robert had been, and his legs, well, his thighs were nearly the size of tree trunks.
    Grabbing up a nightshirt, she turned and picked up the candle she had set aside. Something gleamed at her from the floor next to the bed. It appeared to be a silver letter opener. Blood tinged the tip.