Page 229 of Evil Hearts

“Please, call me Dimitri,” he insisted, his gaze roaming over her body.

“Only if you call me Amelia.” She gave him a soft smile. “I hope I’m not intruding by showing up without an invite.”

“Not at all. I’m delighted that you stopped by.” He wore a faint smile on his lips. He gestured toward a plush leather chair opposite his. “Won’t you sit?”

Amelia settled into the chair. She could feel the heat of his gaze, a smoldering look that made her feel lightheaded, almost dizzy with the rush. Her thoughts wandered to the delicate curve of his jawline, the way his suit accentuated his broad shoulders. And that locket...what stories did it hold? She looked away and examined the room.

The silence between them stretched thin but not uncomfortable. She wondered if he could sense her curiosity or if he was as adept at concealing emotions as he appeared.

“How are you finding my library?” Dimitri asked, breaking the silence.

Her gaze wandered over the towering shelves and the archaic volumes they held. “It’s...amazing. I bet there’s a lot history here, it’s almost overwhelming.”

“Most definitely,” he said, his tone reflective. “It’s an accumulation that I have been collecting for many years.”

“Do you often spend your days here, reading?”

He shrugged with a wry smile. “More often than I’d care to admit. Books are my companions when solitude becomes too loud.”

Amelia shifted in her chair across from his. “Solitude…” Amelia experienced a pang of empathy. “It can be both a comfort and a loneliness, can’t it?”

He nodded, his expression darkening momentarily. “Very much so, and yet, sometimes, company finds its way to us, even in the loneliest of places.”

“I suppose…” she said softly, her gaze lingering on his locket. “And that locket...does it hold a special significance?”

Dimitri’s hand instinctively moved to the locket, his fingers tracing the intricate symbols. “It does. It’s a keepsake from a time long past,” he said, his tone deep and low, hinting at a deep-seated sorrow.

“Would you tell me about it?” Amelia leaned forward.

“It’s difficult to talk about,” he replied, a hint of sadness in his expression. “For now, let us enjoy the present moment, shall we?”

“Sure thing.” Amelia’s head buzzed with questions. She leaned back in her chair, feeling a magnetic bond with this strange man before her.

“Tell me, Amelia,” Dimitri said, his timbre a low, rough murmur. “What brings you to Shadowfield Manor today?”

Her cheeks were flushing. “Curiosity, I suppose. And I wanted to know more about the man behind the mystery.”

“Curiosity is a dangerous thing,” he warned, though his tone was light with amusement. “It can lead one down dark and winding paths.”

“I suppose it does sometimes, but those paths can also lead to the most unforeseen and beautiful places.”

“Without question. I find your spirit quite refreshing, Amelia.”

“I appreciate that,” she said, feeling an affection spread through her at his compliment. “And I find you...intriguing.”

He grinned. “Intriguing? What an interesting observation. I shall take that as a compliment.”

“Please do,” she replied, her stare taking in his long fingers and old-fashioned attire.

“Tell me more about yourself, Amelia.”

“Well,” Amelia said, her expression softening, “I grew up in Redgold Village. My family is prominent there, but it’s not as glamorous as it sounds. I have five older siblings, and the stress of expectations has always been heavy on my shoulders. There’s this constant pressure to marry well, to uphold the family legacy.”

“That sounds...suffocating,” Dimitri said, his eyes dimming with empathy.

“Sometimes, when I’m wandering through the gardens at home, I feel like I’m searching for something that’s just out ofreach. It’s hard living up to all the expectations and pretenses, you know? I want something real, something that feels as genuine as those old roses blooming year after year. Do you ever feel like that, Dimitri? Like there’s more to life than what we’re allowed to see, something worth risking everything for. It sounds naive, I know.”

“No, I think it’s admirable,” he replied, leaning closer. “To yearn for more out of life in a world that often values status over sincerity—that takes courage.”

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