Page 140 of The Dravenhearst Brides
The door to the rickhouse opened with a pealing screech, revealing a tall, stately woman with immaculately manicured blonde hair.
Ruth.In riding boots and a tailored pantsuit despite the late hour. Older, wiser, and infinitely more composed than the figment Margot had just seen.
Infinitely more dangerous,she realized.
Eleanor vanished when the door opened, dropping the noose to the ground. It landed with an ominousthumpat Margot’s feet.
“Margot?” Ruth slid into the warehouse, her sharp eyes taking in the length of rope on the ground. “What are you doing in here?”
47
March 14, 1914
Richard,
No more avoiding me—I need to talk to you. Come see me in Hellebore House.
Yours,
Ruth
Likeafishoutof water, Margot’s mouth opened and closed. Open. Close. Open.
“Margot, what are you doing with that?” Ruth pointed to the rope.
Her mouth snapped shut one final time.That looks bad. That looks really bad. Goldarn it, Eleanor.
“What are you doing here?” Margot finally managed.
“I saw the light from Hellebore House. It worried me. What areyoudoing in here?” Ruth’s eyes skimmed up and down, taking in the silk drape of Margot’s wedding gown. “Dressed inthat?”
“I…don’t know,” Margot replied, keeping her tone careful. Neutral. “I think I was…I was sleepwalking.”
“I heard voices as I approached. Who were you talking to?” Ruth peered deeper into the rickhouse. As she did so, Margot spied Beau over her shoulder, nosing his way inside.
“Voices? I don’t recall…” Margot wrapped her arms around her middle, sick with fear. “I don’t always remember my dreams. I’d best return to the manor. Thank you for checking on me.”
As Margot moved to step around Ruth, the woman grabbed her arm. Pincer tight.
“I don’t think you should go up there at all,” she said, her voice low.
Margot tugged gently, trying to free herself. “Merrick will be worried if he wakes…”
“Margot.” Ruth’s gaze softened. “I can’t let you go back up there. Don’t you see what’s happening? What that house—thatman—is doing to you?”
“I’m fine.”
“I walk in on you in this godforsaken rickhouse, in the dead of night, dressed in your wedding gown with a noose at your feet, and you expect me to believe you’refine?” Ruth’s eyes were wide. She shook her head. “Margot, you need to leave the manor. Immediately. You’re not well.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She thought of Merrick, sleeping soundly just up the hill.
“You’re not in your right mind,” Ruth murmured. “He’s cast a spell on you. The whole blasted family has. The same thing happened to Babette. That’s the real Dravenhearst curse. If you would just trust me—”
“Babette wasleaving.” Margot yanked her arm free. “The night she was killed. She wasn’t bewitched. She didn’t love Richard, not the way I love Merrick.”
Ruth grimaced. “Margot, you don’t. You don’t love him. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“Ido.” She’d never been more sure of anything in her life. “I love him. And I’m not leaving him.”
