Page 36 of Eternal Craving

He nodded. “The Church has sanctioned an inquisition.”

“What are your thoughts?”

“The king’s word is final.”

“I’m happy to hear that. I knew you were a royalist.”

Salvador gestured for us to continue walking. “Your knighthood, it has something to do with this?”

I followed him farther into the garden. “We have reason to believe that we have a heretic amongst us.” I gazed off at the dramatic landscaping.

“You found evidence of his dissent?”

I nodded. “But we need more.”

“A task I’m qualified to take part in.”

“We plan to infiltrate his estate.”

“Send in a spy.” He gestured to himself.

I liked Salvador, but I loved my sister and with every passing day the threat that loomed over her worsened. And there was now the matter of her son.

“Come for dinner tomorrow night,” I said, leaning against the wall. “And bring the countess.”

Chapter Fifteen

On my arrival home, a dispatch awaited me.

A lump caught in my throat, and I hesitated to open the envelope, sensing who it was from. Reluctantly, I made my way over to what was intended to be the living room. No one would disturb there.

Ferring had insisted on using a rich plaster design to line the ceiling. The focal point was an overly ornate fireplace, the hearth still burning. All this sumptuousness was too flamboyant for my taste. I rarely visited the room, easily more drawn to modest, quiet corners where I could sit and think clearly, undistracted by garish décor.

I read the document.

If signed, it would transfer half of my estate to Felipe. The fist of fate punched me hard, and I threw the letter into the flames, watching it catch fire and then disintegrate.

As I ascended the stairway to my room, I knew I had no choice but to go through with encouraging Salvador to take up residence at Felipe’s manor. I’d never convince Alicia to leave Felipe, and he wasn’t just interested in investing in the businessI’d built from the ground up. His demeanor had implied a more sinister scheme, that of full ownership.

I’d grown fond of Salvador, and my plan involved risking his safety. More thought needed to go into my scheme.

My mind teetered on the very edge of reason. My strategy thrust Salvador right into the center of Felipe’s world, and I hated myself for throwing him into the lion’s den. Even though Salvador had expressed his ambition to work for the senator, I was drowning in guilt.

I hesitated at my bedroom door. Through the netting, I could see that someone had crawled into my bed, the rumpled covers had been pulled up and over them. I grabbed the bed linen and pulled it off, and what I saw caused me to inhale sharply.

Annabelle, wearing only a chemise, shyly reached for the sheet and pulled it back over her. “This house is so big.” She yawned. “I can’t sleep.”

I averted my gaze. “You get used to it.”

“Please stay.”

The corner chair was an uncomfortable option. Annabelle patted the bed insistently. Fully clothed, and too tired to argue, I slid in next to her. I reached for the cup of water on the bedside table and took a sip. Picking up the nearby book, I opened it and peered down at the last page I’d read. Even her perfume imbued the exotic.

I pretended to read.

Annabelle pried the book from my hands and pushed it off the side of the bed, her laughter rippling through the room. She leaned in, planting kiss upon kiss on my cheek.

You have the dancer in your bed.I tried to ignore the restless voice of my conscience.