Page 235 of Evil Hearts

“Yeah, okay.” She felt off kilter from the kissing, every fiber of her being still thrumming with unmet need.

They resumed their stroll and passed a small graveyard, then paused at the gate.

His expression darkened, a tempest of emotions moving across his face. For a moment, she thought she glimpsed a glimmer of pain, of loneliness so profound it stole her breath away. Then, as quickly as it came, the moment passed, and his features smoothed into an inscrutable mask.

“These two gravestones...they belong to my wife and child.”

Amelia’s heart clenched at the pain in his tenor. “I’m so sorry, Dimitri,” she said softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand.

“That is kind of you to say,” he replied, his gaze fixed on the weathered stones. “It was a long time ago, but the loss still haunts me.”

“You’re not alone in your grief, Dimitri. We all carry our own burdens.”

He exhaled, turning to face her. “So very true, and with you, I might find some solace.”

“We both can...”

“Shall we continue?” he asked, offering his arm again.

She nodded, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm. They walked farther into the garden, and she felt a slight curiosity and the need to know more about the eccentric man beside her.

“Tell me, Dimitri,” she said, “what do you enjoy doing when you’re not playing host to curious women in your eerie manor?”

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Ah, you wound me, lyubimaya. Eerie? I prefer the term ‘historically rich.’”

“Tomato, tomahto,” she teased.

He paused, smiling down at her. “I have a passion for music. In particular, the piano. It has been a constant companion through the years.”

“Really? That’s wonderful!” Amelia’s face lit up with genuine interest. “I adore music as well. Though, I must confess, my talents are limited to dancing rather than playing.”

“Then perhaps one day, we shall make a splendid pair—me at the piano and you entertaining everyone with your grace.”

“That sounds...nice, but I’m far from graceful,” she said, feeling a sudden warmth in her face.

“And what about you, Amelia?” Dimitri’s expression softened. “What brings light to your days?”

“Books,” she replied almost instantly. “Romance novels, particularly. They allow me to escape, to dream of a love that transcends time and space.”

“Ah, a true romantic at heart. I should have guessed. Romance, too, has its place in my heart, though it has often brought me more sorrow than joy.”

She felt a sudden urge to bridge the distance between them, to understand the man who had so quickly become the center of her thoughts.

His gaze was powerful and unwavering. “And I find myself grateful for your friendship.”

They resumed walking the gardens.

“You mentioned your wife and child earlier. What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Dimitri’s steps slowed, and she felt the tension return to his body. “It was a tragedy,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “My wife died in childbirth, and my child followed soon after. It shattered me in ways I never thought possible. That loss is something I carry with me every day.”

Amelia’s heart ached for him. “I’m so sorry, Dimitri. No one should have to endure such pain.”

“That means a lot to me,” he said quietly. “It’s a burden I’ve borne alone for many years. But speaking of it now, with you, somehow makes it feel lighter.”

“You’re not alone anymore,” she whispered, squeezing his arm gently. “And you don’t have to carry it all by yourself.”

“Your kindness humbles me, Amelia…and I am beginning to believe that there is hope for happiness once more.”

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