Page 42 of Haunted Hearts

“You want me to marry Blaze?” asked Serena in confusion. “I thought you were still in love with him.”

“If I can’t marry him, then you will. Now, push your obstinance aside and get to know him and his family.”

“Lady Lillith, you are asking too much from her,” protested Posy.

“Nay, I’m not. I am asking her to do what I would if I were lucky enough to be in her position.”

“You wouldn’t be asking me anything if you knew what we know,” spat Serena.

“What does that mean?” Lillith released her hold on her sister’s arm.

“Go on and tell her, Posy,” said Serena, straightening her hair and trying to pull a wrinkle out of her gown.

“Tell me what?” asked Lillith.

“We will tell you, but not here.” Posy looked around, scanning the area. “Come back to our chamber, quickly. Follow us and we’ll show you what we found.”

“Yes,” said Serena. “You’re not going to believe it.”

“Won’t believe what?”

“Shhhh, just follow us, sister.” Serena took Lillith’s arm and all but dragged her into the manor and up to their bedchamber. It wasn’t until Posy had closed and locked the door that they told her what all this secrecy was about.

“Will you two tell me why you’re acting so odd?” asked Lillith, plopping down on the bed. She picked up a leather bag with a shoulder strap that was hers and started to dig through it, looking for a brush.

“While you were out, Posy and I had a chance to look for evidence,” explained Serena.

“Evidence?” asked Lillith. “Explain.”

“Evidence that Blaze was involved in the death of our father, and that he is a witch. Posy, show her what we found.”

“Aye, my lady.” Posy hurried over to a trunk and opened it, bringing out something wrapped in a soft piece of cloth.

“What is it?” asked Lillith curiously.

“Just look at this.” Posy pulled a black beeswax candle out and held it up for her to see.

“It’s a candle. So?” asked Lillith, finding her brush and running it through her windblown hair.

“It’s black,” spat Posy. “Have you ever seen a black candle before?”

“No. Not really,” she answered.

“It’s used by witches when they summon spirits,” said Posy.

“Stop it,” said Lillith, waving her hand through the air. “You two are out of your mind.”

“That’s not all Posy found. Show her,” Serena said to the handmaid.

Next, Posy pulled out Blaze’s dagger with the moon and stars and skull carved into the hilt. Lillith felt like she was going to retch.

“Where did you get that?” gasped Lillith.

“It was in Lord Blaze’s room,” Serena relayed the information. “It’s the dagger Milo saw with blood on it. It was on the ground next to father.”

“Milo identified it an hour ago,” added Posy. “He also told us you found a stone circle in the woods.”

Lillith could have groaned aloud. She had hoped Milo wouldn’t tell anyone about that.