Victor checked on me once in the middle of the night, but I was still wide awake and assured him I was fine. I had drunk half the bottle of tonic—it was a thick crimson color with a metallic aftertaste. The bottle itself had no label or ingredients to identify it. The effects were almost instant. I felt an overwhelming wave of calm and, finally, closed my eyes, slipping into sleep.
The next morning, I felt fully refreshed and had more energy than I'd had in days. I got dressed and took Theo outside to run around. For the first time since we moved here, Theo joined me in the dining room, sitting at my feet as I ate.
Roy entered the dining room and stared at Theo with a look of disdain. I couldn't blame him, though; after all, Theo had run off in the middle of our car ride to the manor. Behind Roy, seven maids followed, looking around the room. One of them knelt to pet Theo as he ran over, sniffing her feet. Roy glared at her, and she immediately stood up, hands behind her back.
I called Theo back to me, giving Roy a pointed look. He had a silent conversation with the maid, and then, with a sigh, addressed me.
"I'll have Mary grab your breakfast today, as Mrs. Corp is at the market. I'll be busy training the new staff. Also, Victor wanted to wake you but thought it might be unwise since you didn't sleep well last night. He asked me to tell you goodbye on his behalf. He had an urgent meeting across the country and has left."
I thanked Roy, secretly wishing Victor had woken me to say goodbye. He was charming after all. My mind wandered to what else I could put away in my office as I ate my oatmeal in silence, Theo snoring beside me. Afterward, I carried more books to the office and, when I opened the door, I was met with the most amazing scent—fresh roses. There were vases covering every empty corner and shelf of my office. On my desk, a letter sealed with the Alcott family crest was waiting for me.
The room smelled wonderful as I closed the door behind me, holding a single rose to my nose. He liked me, right? Why else would he have snipped so many roses from his family's most prized collection? The roses would die soon with no water and minimal sunlight, but it was a kind gesture nonetheless. Three weeks had passed, and not a single rose had wilted. Each morning, my office continued to smell as if fresh roses were constantly blooming.
It was early Monday morning, and I sat across from Mrs. Alcott, who was holding a mirror, gazing at herself.
"How did you sleep last night, Miriam?" I asked. She looked tired and worn, putting the mirror down as she stared out the window.
"I slept horribly, even with the tonic. I feel older than I've felt in a very long time. I want Victor to come home. He always makes me feel better."
I jotted that down in my notes, making a mental note to encourage Victor to visit home more often for his parents. We discussed an action plan to lift her spirits, and by the end of our meeting, Miriam seemed a little brighter. We made our way to the dining room for breakfast.
There was a knock at the door, and Miriam huffed, glancing around for Roy. "I'm going to need to hire a doorman, I suppose," she muttered before opening the large oak doors. Standing there was Victor, holding suitcases. Miriam's face lit up as she rushed to embrace him. They held each other tightly on the steps. I left them to their reunion and made my way to the dining room, where they joined me soon after.
"Ayana, Victor has something he'd like to ask you," Miriam said, gesturing to her son. Victor rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed.
"Mother, I can do it myself, but thank you." He turned to me. "As you know, my parents are hosting a gathering this year, which is very important to the family. Would you do me the honor of accompanying me?"
Miriam smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, I would be delighted," I said a little too quickly. Miriam squeezed Victor's hand, a proud look on her face.
After breakfast, I retreated to my office to sort through my notes. When I opened the door, I found Victor waiting for me.
"Hello, Victor. Are you here for your appointment?" I asked.
Victor chuckled, putting down a rose he was holding.
"Not today, Doctor. Maybe you can pick my thoughts another time." He paused, then added, "I'm going into town to visit the family tailor for something to wear this weekend. Would you come with me? We can find something we both like."
I had two weeks' worth of checks waiting to be spent, so I couldn't say no. Victor insisted we bring Theo along, so I gave him a quick "be on your best behavior" speech before we headed to the car.
"Theo, I need you to be extra good today. If you're good, you might get a new daddy." I joked as the car pulled away, and Miriam waved us goodbye from the front steps.
I had no idea what color to wear, so I shot a few ideas to Victor. He indulged me with suggestions of yellow and emerald green. The drive to town didn't feel as long as I remembered, or maybe it was because Victor was sitting so close to me. He was attractive in every way—his black hair, clean-shaven face, jawline for days, and that teasing smirk when he had something smart to say. His cologne was intoxicating.
As we arrived, an old man with a large grey mustache was standing outside the shop, waving at us.
Victor tapped Theo's nose, and the dog immediately laid down as we got out of the car. "How did you do that? He's usually restless when I leave him," I asked, surprised.
Victor smiled and took my arm. "I have my ways. I'll teach you soon enough."
Inside the shop, we tried on a few outfits before Victor pointed to a deep crimson red dress. It had jewels decorating the neckline and a red train with ruffles at the back. I went to the dressing room and tried it on. It complemented my figure all the way down to my legs, and I had to admit, I looked amazing.
Victor asked me to come out, but I refused, teasing, "You'll have to wait until Saturday to see me in this."
The tailor asked if I needed any alterations, but I shook my head. "It's perfect."
The tailor smiled and wrapped up the dress for me. When I went to pay, he shook his head. "Mr. Alcott has already taken care of it, my dear."
Victor only smiled and stared out the window as we finished up.
We stopped at a bookstore, and Victor asked me to wait outside while he spoke to the owner. Standing on the sidewalk, I found myself staring at the church I had entered three weeks earlier. My legs moved faster than my mind, and I crossed the cobblestone street, heading towards it. The church was empty, but candles were still lit. The statue, still covered in black cloth, loomed over the pews.
Curiosity tugged at me, and I reached for the cloth, but before I could pull it off, the elderly woman from before stepped from behind the statue.
"Don't do that, little girl," she warned, her voice sending a chill down my spine. She walked closer, circling me like a predator.
"He likes you, I know he does," she said, a cackle escaping her lips as she twirled one of my curls through her bony fingers. "We see the way he looks at you. Like you're good enough to eat."
I took a step back, my heart racing. "I should go," I murmured, trying to avoid her touch.
"Oh, poor thing. It's too late to leave. He'll be inside of you soon enough. Should've left when I told you to."
I ran from the church, not daring to look behind me, and scrambled into the car. The moment I locked the doors, I felt a sense of safety again. When Victor returned moments later, he noticed I looked upset.
"Are you alright, Ayana?" he asked, concern in his eyes.
I nodded, trying to brush it off. But then, across the street, I saw her again—the old woman, kneeling with her forehead pressed to the ground. Victor turned to look, and her fear was palpable as she scrambled back towards the church.
"Don't worry about her," Victor said coldly. "She's a little senile these days."
I didn't mention the strange encounter again as we made our way back to Belmore Manor.
As I ascended the grand staircase, I saw a woman with red hair standing at the top, staring down at me. I walked past her, murmuring a hello as Theo growled softly at her.
I put the new dress in the closet, just as there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," I said, turning to see Victor standing in the doorway. He walked over to me, staring into my eyes.
"Did you enjoy the roses?" he asked softly.
"Yes, they were lovely." His proximity made me nervous, but I didn't pull away.
"We really shouldn't be…" I began, but then his lips were on mine. The kiss was deep, and a wave of emotions flooded me. I leaned into it, shock and wonder mixing in my chest. His hand cupped my face, holding me close.
There was a knock at the door. Victor pulled away, not taking a breath, his gaze still locked on mine.
"I'll see you at dinner," he said quietly, before opening the door. Standing there was a maid holding fresh linen. She looked surprised to find Victor and then glanced at me, standing there flustered.
"Hello, Mr. Alcott," she said, glancing between us. "I'm just here to change Miss Delaney's sheets."
"I'll leave you to it then," Victor said, his voice tight. "Ayana, thank you for accompanying me this afternoon. We should do this more often."
He winked before leaving, and I was left standing in a mix of emotions. The maid quickly changed the sheets in silence, and when she was done, I hurried to text my friends about what had just happened.
Janet immediately called, demanding to know everything.
"What the hell do you mean, he kissed you?" she asked, her voice incredulous.
I explained again, and Lisa couldn't help but grin. "He sounds way too good to be true, Ayana. What about Jack? I thought you two were still figuring things out."
I hadn't thought about Jack since meeting Victor. The thought of him faded with every moment I spent with Victor. "I can't get him out of my head. It's like I'm under some spell, and as for Jack, well… he's with someone else now. And he cheated on me."
Janet nodded in agreement. "Just be careful, alright? You don't want to end up queen of some faraway land and forget all about us."
We laughed, but I felt a flicker of unease.
"Besides," I added, "he's my boss. And the way I'm feeling right now? I doubt he'd survive me."
We said goodnight as dinner neared, and I pressed my fingers to my lips, remembering what his felt like. It felt unreal. My thoughts swirled with the excitement of the kiss.
The bell rang for dinner, and I made my way downstairs to find Victor waiting for me at the door.
"We'll be having dinner in the dance hall with some guests," he announced as he took my arm.
I wanted to say something but bit my tongue. We walked in silence, and Victor broke it with a low, amused laugh. "I apologize if I startled you earlier. It seems I'm not quite myself when I'm around you."
My heart did flips as I stared up at him. "No, I... wanted you to kiss me, I mean. I wanted you to—" I stumbled over my words.
Victor raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by my awkwardness. "Don't worry, Ayana," he said. "I won't bite... unless you want me to."
He pulled me into the grand ballroom, where a long table of over fifty people awaited us. I was seated at the head of the table, and Victor took his place at the other end, staring at me. The crowd felt overwhelming, and I suddenly felt exposed, naked, in front of all these strangers.
A bell chimed, and the maids poured thick wine into everyone's glasses. The smell was off-putting—familiar yet metallic, just like the tonic.
A blonde woman sitting next to Victor tried to engage him in conversation, but he ignored her completely, his eyes fixed on me.
I felt self-conscious, and as I sipped the wine, I tried to push the growing unease away. The metallic taste lingered, but the sensation that followed was intoxicating. My skin crawled, then tingled, and then everything felt... lighter. Almost as if I could fly.
I finished my glass quickly, and the maids continued to pour. I drank more, and my mind wandered, thoughts swirling with images of Victor—almost naked.
I excused myself early from the dinner, feeling the need to lie down. As I wandered through the hall, I got lost and ended up in a study. A roaring fire cast shadows over a corner sofa, and in my fogged mind, I swear I heard whispers coming from the flames.
Before I could make sense of it, the door opened, and there stood Victor, his concerned eyes scanning me.
"Are you alright, Ayana? Did you get lost? Let me help you to your room."
I nodded, but as his eyes met mine, the same crawling sensation washed over me again. I could hardly control myself, and the urge to stay close to him—to give in—was overwhelming.