Midnight Embrace

The sun shining in her eyes roused Analisa. Sitting up, she glanced around, surprised to find herself in her own bed, in her own room. How had she gotten here?

"Good mornin', miss. 'Tis a lovely day."

Analisa stared at Frannie. How could the maid be so cheerful after what had happened last night?

"I'll bring your chocolate directly," Frannie said. She opened the chest of drawers and withdrew a set of clean undergarments. "Will you be wantin' breakfast?" she asked, placing the garments on the foot of the bed.

"What? Oh, no." Analisa lifted a hand to her neck, felt the familiar warmth that always lingered when Alesandro had taken nourishment from her.

"It was so good to see Mrs. Thornfield lookin' so fit after her ordeal," the maid went on.

"Yes. Yes, it was."

"Imagine, retirin' to Milano! I've never been to Italy. I hear it's a lovely place. I'd have thought she'd stay until youfound a suitable replacement, though."

Analisa nodded. "Yes, but she was anxious to go." How would she endure the hours until she could see Alesandro again?

"What will you be wearin' today?" Frannie stood at the armoire, waiting.

"It doesn't matter. The green wool will do."

Frannie pulled it from the hanger and laid it on the bed. "I'll be gettin' your chocolate, then," she said, and left the room.

Rising, Analisa went to the window and stared into the yard below. Had it all been a dream?

Shrugging into her robe, she left her room, hurried down the stairs and out into the yard.

Dewhurst looked up from the trough he'd been scrubbing. "Mornin', miss,"he said, obviously startled to see her outside in her nightclothes.

"Good morning."

"Is there something I can do for you, miss?"

"No, I..." She shoved her hands in the pockets of her robe, wondering what excuse she could give for rushing outside in her night rail. "I was wondering if you could give me riding lessons." It was a weak excuse, but all she could think of.

"Of course, miss."

She nodded. "This afternoon, then? Say three o'clock?"

"Very good, miss."

She glanced at the barn. If she went inside, would she find blood on the floor? Would Deuce's stall be empty? It must have been a dream, she thought. All of it, else Dewhurst would not be out here as though nothing had happened.

"I was wonderin'," Dewhurst said, "will you be hiring a new coachman?"

"What? Oh, yes." She forced a smile. "I suppose I shall have to see about a new housekeeper, as well."

"One more thing, miss. Will we be returning to Blackbriar soon?"

"I don't know. Is there some reason you need to go back?"

A red flush swept into the groom's cheeks. He cleared his throat, then shook his head. "I was just wonderin'."

Most curious, Analisa thought, her anxiety over Alesandro momentarily forgotten. Whatever could have a man of Dewhurst's age blushing like a schoolgirl? The answer came with amazing clarity. A woman, of course. Dewhurst must have a woman in the village.

"I'll ask Lord Alesandro what his plans are when I see him."

"Thank you, miss."

Turning, she made her way back tothe house.

She moved through the day, dressing, eating, speaking when spoken to, yet she felt as though she were watching everything from a great distance. She let Dewhurst give her a lesson in riding sidesaddle, yet when the hour was over, she remembered nothing of what she had learned.

She took tea at four, then spent an hour reading, yet she could recall nothing of what she'd read when she put the book aside.

Would night never come?

Where was Alesandro? Where was Mrs. Thornfield? Was Rodrigo truly dead?

After what seemed an eternity, the sun began its slow descent.

Analisa paced the floor of her room, her nerves drawn taut, as she waited for Alesandro.

And suddenly he was there, as tall and handsome as ever. No trace of the battle of the night before remained. There were no scars on his skin, no telltale signs of the life-and-death struggle of the night before.

She looked up at him, her gaze searching his face. His expression was impassive, betraying nothing of what he was thinking or feeling.

"My lord?"

" 'Lisa."

"Did it happen? Is he dead?"

"He is dead." There was a great sadness in his voice. "And with him, my last tie to my home, to my past."

Analisa stared at him, astonished that he grieved for one who had caused him so much pain. "I'm sorry," she murmured, but though she regretted that she had been partly responsible for Rodrigo's death, she could not be sorry he was dead. He had been a vile, evil creature, bent on their destruction. And yet she could not escape the horror of what she had done. She had tried to kill a man.

Something shifted in Alesandro's expression. "What will you do now, 'Lisa?"

"Do?" she asked, confused.

"I am leaving here."

She looked at him blankly. "Where are you going?" He shook his head. "I know not. I care not."

"But... I... you said we were to be married."

He laughed, a short bitter sound. "I was a fool."

"Alesandro, what has happened? I thought you loved me."

"I am selling this place," he said. "I have made arrangements for you and the staff to return to Gallatin Manor on the morrow. I will speak to my solicitor and have the deed placed in your name. You will receive a monthly allowance. If it is not sufficient, you have only to let him know, and the amount will be increased."

She put her hand over her mouth, stifling the urge to beg him not to leave her. When she had her emotions in check, she took a deep breath. "That will not be necessary, my lord," she said, pleased that her voice did not betray the fact that her heart was breaking. "I thank you for all you have done for me, but I want nothing from you." She drew in a deep, shuddering breath. "Goodbye."

Knowing she had nowhere else to go, he was taken aback when she refused his offer. It would be useless to play upon her greed, he mused, when she had none. But he knew her weakness, and he took advantage of it shamelessly.

"I am closing Blackbriar. I had hoped to send Blackbriar's staff to Gallatin. If you refuse, not only will Frannie and Dewhurst and Cook have to seek other employment, but Annie and Elton, as well."

She glared at him. "Very well. Thank you for your generosity," she said curtly, and swept out of the room with all the dignity she could muster.

Please, she prayed, please let him follow me. Please.

But he did not.

Alesandro watched her go, his brave Analisa, her back straight, her head high. He knew he had hurt her deeply. It took every ounce of his considerable self-control to keep from going after her. She seemed to take the light with her, leaving him in darkness as black as his soul. He had been a fool to think they could have a life together. He had brushed aside the doubts she had expressed from time to time, determined to have her in spite of his own doubts. He had been alone so long, he had told himself he deserved her, but last night...

He muttered a pithy oath. His sweet Analisa had driven a pitchfork into Rodrigo's back. No matter that she had done it to save his life. The darkness of his life had touched hers, driving her to an act of violence. Only moments ago, he had sensed her horror at what she had done. It was better to leave her, to take himself out of her life, her world.

He would go abroad, or perhaps he would go to ground and sleep for the next hundred years. Lost in the Dark Sleep, he would not be tempted by the thought of silky black hair and warm brown eyes, by soft skin and softer lips...

He grunted softly. He would make the necessary arrangements to insure that Analisa would be well provided for, and then he would bury himself deep in the earth, where he belonged. Perhaps, in a hundred years, he would forget her.