Page 114 of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Heirs

Terror tightened his throat, and he choked out his words. “Who is it, Lydia? For the love of God, tell me.”

It may have been the shadows playing across her face, but Lydia’s expression contorted, changing her normally pleasant appearance to something ghoulish. “I can’t. Not if I value my own life.”

“Hello?” a woman’s voice called behind him—a voice he had grown to not only recognize, but love.

He spun around, momentarily forgetting the importance of his mission to seek information aboutThe Muckraker.

“Juliana. What are you doing here?”

Without warning, Lydia stepped from behind and threw herself at him, draping her body against his. “Oh, no! We’ve been discovered, Victor!”

Sheer reflex had his arms going around her waist to keep them both from falling off balance.

Juliana’s gaze darted between him and Lydia.

Not again!

Juliana could hardly believeher eyes as she stepped into the dark passageway behindThe Knave of Hearts.She moved closer, but there was no mistaking the man with long blond hair tied back in a queue. What was Lydia doing with Victor?

As soon as the thought entered her mind, Lydia dispelled it when she brazenly threw herself into Victor’s arms.

Even in the dim lighting, Victor’s horrified expression spoke volumes.

A “friend” indeed!

Victor pushed Lydia from his arms. “Juliana, this isn’t what it appears to be.”

She had no need for his explanation, as the truth of the matter was crystal clear. “Are you thefriendwho summoned me here, Lydia?”

Lydia scuttled backward. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m as surprised to see you here as you no doubt are to see me.”

Victor took a step forward, his eyes curious but pleading. “Someone summoned you as well?”

Juliana’s attention remained on Lydia as she answered Victor. “I received a note froma friendstating you were lying to me and if I wanted to learn the truth to come here—alone.”

“Juliana, cara mia, if you think there is anything between Lydia and me, I swear?—”

“I know there isn’t, Victor. But it’s what Lydia wants me to believe; isn’t it? But why here? Why not stage some compromise in a safer location?”

“Truly, I didn’t send a note to you, Juliana. I’ll admit I sent a letter to Victor, but I was instructed what to say.”

“By whom? The culprit responsible forThe Muckraker?!” Rage shook in Victor’s voice.

“I can’t tell; I told you,” Lydia screeched.

Juliana’s mind whirled to put the pieces together. Was Victor there in hopes of unmasking the perpetrator?

“Can’t or won’t?” Victor insisted.

Lydia shook her head, and a tear, whether real or forced, Juliana had no idea, rolled down her cheek.

“But if you didn’t send me the note, who did? And why?”

“They must have sent it. They said . . . said . . . that if I followed . . . instructions . . . Victor would be mine. That . . . I wouldn’t have to . . . worry about . . . you any longer.” Lydia choked out the words in between sobs.

Although the night was still warm, an ominous quality of Lydia’s words chilled Juliana. “What on earth does that mean?”

Victor turned imploring eyes toward her. “Lydia said something about your life being in danger. I don’t like this at all. We should leave.” Victor directed his attention to Lydia, his voice chipped ice. “If this person has threatened you as well, it would be wise to tell us who it is. We can protect you.”

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