Page 29 of Reflections of Silence

“Oh!”

A startled Charleton dived to catch it, landing on the plush carpet, the glass cupped in his pale hands.

“Nicely saved,” I observed, pressing my palms to my skirts. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. But—you really shouldn’t be here.” He gripped my elbow in a tight grip, towing me around.

I shook myself free with a frown. “I wasn’t finished.” I reached for the lamp, but he pulled it away. “Charleton. The lamp, please.”

“It’s nearly luncheon. You must be famished.”

“I’m not. Minette overfed me at breakfast. I must thank the cook later.” My hand still held out for the lamp, I raised an encouraging eyebrow.

“And you haven’t seen the grounds. Let me take you on a tour.” Desperation entered his voice, which heightened my curiosity.

“The lamp.”

Charleton paused in his efforts, resignation drawing his features tight across his weary face. “Madame, I must insist…”

“Noted.”

This time, when I reached for the lamp, he let me take it. I nodded my thanks, unsmiling. Without overthinking it, I gripped the lamp tight and strode back to the end of the hall, halting before the portrait hanging at the end, facing me.

Light bloomed on something that should have remained hidden. I stepped back from the scarlet eyes that showed horror beyond measure in their depths. A scream lodged in my throat as I traced over Sebastian’s younger self.This was what he had become when his humanity had…deserted him.

Red skin flayed raw captured a face more demonic than mortal, like something that should never have come to the surface had been released here, and seeing the light of day, crawled back into the darkness from where it had emerged. Thin flesh pressed to his bones, as though his body was dying buthis mind refused to release him from this life. He was quite unrecognizable, except for the smile.

The twisted, ruined smile that was all Sebastian, and the man I knew.

A pair of eyes stared from behind his mangled face—eyes I knew quite well, had been on the ship with for months while we transited across the Atlantic from France to America. I stepped closer, peering into the shadow behind Sebastian’s death mask.

Amy’s sweet, perfect face stared back at me.

For the second time that morning, I dropped the lamp.

Are you satisfied, Gella? Are you frightened now?

Sebastian’s enraged voice echoed around the gallery. Hate emanated from the picture as heat pooled around my feet.

I screamed as hands grasped my shoulders, yanking me backward. Landing on my backside with an undignified thump, I watched Charton smother the lamp with his coat. He stamped at embers escaping the edges, though the carpet seemed disinclined to ignite, smoldering with faint wisps of smoke that rose from his charred jacket.

When the last flame died, Charleton hunched over his knees, propping himself up with his hands. He wiped a smoke-stained cuff over his brow, decorating his face reddened with exertion and soot.

“I’m so sorry, Charleton,” I whispered. “I should have listened to you.”

He swung toward me. Not an ounce of anger strained his face, though bone-deep exhaustion marked the hollows of his eyes.

The sole emotion he aimed at me was pity. And after seeing who my husband was, who he had been… I would take every ounce directed my way.

And his.

Though I knew he’d hate me forever for seeing him that way.

CHAPTER TEN

SEBASTIAN

I knew I would break her, but I didn’t know how much it would fucking hurt.

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