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"Our oing to talk to her about Max--let alone ad For all she knew, Sara had aligned herself with Lilith and was looking for Max herself

The thought--absurd as it was, for hoould Sara find Lilith? And why?--made her blood run cold

"Why, si, was it notMrs Withers, ci credo Mrs Ehter in those brown doe eyes, hard and knowing "Did I not meet her in Roma? Is she not a friend of yours? The povero ?"

Before Victoria could reply, her mother leaped into the fray "Emmaline Withers? Why, I don’t know any Mrs Withers, Victoria What have you been keeping from us" It was quite pointedly not a question, but a statement The crease between her eyebrows clearly told Victoria what her words did not

But Lady Melly had nothing to fear, and Sara ell aware of it, for Mrs Withers washer visit to Rome She had done so in order to keep her identity as Aunt Eustacia’s great-niece, a Venator, secret

"I’norina," Victoria replied "Mrs Withers is no longer with us"

"Pardon me, I am so sorry for your loss," Sara replied in a voice as thick as the honey Lady Winnie liked to slop in her tea "I have suffered a recent loss myself" She lowered her face as if to hide a sudden tear, a fli in her hand

Victoria had a sudden suspicion that she spoke of her father, the Conte Regalado, who had been wooing Lady Melly But before she could divert the subject, Lady Nilly interrupted "Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry Who was it?"

"My father," Sara replied, her face still obscured except for the hard, deadly look she lifted to Victoria "He recently met his end because of a horrid woman who destroyed his heart She is a murderess!"

Naalado’s undead chest

Well, at least she no longer had to wonder how Sara perceived her

"Oh!" Lady Melly squeaked as if she’d just seen a alado?" Her face had drained pale except for the spots of red in her cheeks "I feel ratherfaintcould Icould ithe was" Another handkerchief fluttered, appearing, surprisingly, from the tanned hand of James Lacy

Victoria’s lips fir to do with hiserbroken heart Any ile as dust is not worthy of your esteem Now, shall I pour you soe in his easy voice "Understand you had an unsettling experience in the park yesterday"

"It was horrid," Lady Nilly announced, her spoon clanking against the sides of her teacup "Why, there was blood everywhere"

"And s on her chest!" Lady Winnie added "Three Xs, and her clothes were torn everywhereas if soe’s eyebrows rose in unadulterated surprise "You were there as well? You saw this horrible sight? Daresay, a sight like that would send m’mother to bed for a week"

"No, eren’t there, but I--"

"It was a terrible sight," Victoria interrupted fire and Sara were up to, but she suspected they were quite aware of the details of what she’d seen It was too much of a coincidence for them to arrive unannounced at her residence the day after she’d seen the results of a vaht, no less They were both members of the Tutela, and the only conclusion she could draas that either they ell aware of the attack and wanted to see what Victoria had figured out, or they suspected there was va to confirm it Either way, she was understandably disinclined to assist the the subject, the parlor door opened again "Monsieur Sebastian Vioget," announced the butler, his nose lifted as though he s a bit unpleasant Lettender had not been fond of the French since his brother was killed at Waterloo

Sebastian, a rakish grin on his face, and not one whit of surprise that the parlor was becoroups--the ton and the Tutela--strode easily into the room and went directly to Victoria’s side

"Hello,over to place a kiss that screamed intimacy on her cheek "You look lovely today"

She was tempted to pull away, just to showcase the effrontery of it, but the look on her mother’s face was too h she’d sed a biscuit whole, and Lady Winnie, allowing gah, probably had

"Sebastian," she said, giving hi smile His was a friendly face, and at least she had no illusions about what he wanted froestured to a chair next to her "Would you care to join us for tea before we take our ride?" Her voice was full of charm and invitation, but the look she sent him was pointed They’d made no plans for a ride, or any other activity, but he was sharp enough to follow her lead "I do realize it is a bit early for tea"

If he sat down instead of taking her subtle cue to leave, she’d never kiss hiain