The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek) (14 page)

Not this time, though. She nodded her acquiescence, but inside her rage simmered. He may not be the villain she’d dreamt up in her head, but he still stood between her and true happiness with the man she loved.

“Okay,” she said, her voice soft, barely audible. The pain in Parker’s eyes came back to haunt her.

She had to shake it from her mind. The food in front of her was an easy distraction, considering her stomach ached with hunger.

Evie picked up her fork and stabbed a piece of roasted yellow squash on her plate. She took a bite and glanced to her left.

Her face paled as she saw Olivia walk by the white archway. She shot to her feet.

“Olivia!”

Avalon caught her hand, forcefully.

She shot him a glare. The look in his eyes made her second guess saying anything.

“Sit down.”

She sat down, her eyes going back to Olivia.

Olivia looked back at her, her hair was disheveled, her face covered in purple bruises.

Bile filled her throat at the sight of her beautiful sister-in-law.

She couldn’t bite her tongue. She spoke through clenched teeth. “What did you do to her?”

“The girl has seen her and confirmed that she is alive. Now, get her out of here and safely back to Scarlett Hall,” Avalon said to the two men that accompanied Olivia. “Make sure you deliver my final letter to the Scarlett’s.”

Olivia’s eyes met Evie’s. Evie gasped. Olivia was like a ghost of her former self. All of her luster seemed to be sucked away. What was left of her was a frail woman, with limp hair that clung to her scalp and face as if she’d been sweating. Her clothes had blood stains, and there were bruises on her wrists and ankles.

Fury filled Evie. At first her voice didn’t come. It cracked, making her swallow before trying to speak again.

“What did you do?” She shouted that time and slammed her fist on the table.

“Calm yourself,” Avalon said.

Evie leaned over to him, her eyes narrowed. “Answer me!”

Avalon didn’t look upset by her outburst. His eyes looked from her to Olivia and back before he shrugged. He sipped his wine, set it down, and cut into his steak.

Infuriated, Evie watched him, waiting for an answer.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Is
what
obvious? To think, I was starting to feel sorry for you.”

“I kept my word. That’s more than your brother ever did. I’m setting her free.”

“Good for you,” she snipped. “Aren’t you a saint?”

“No,” he said, his eyes darkening. “Good for
you
, Evelyse Scarlett.”

His smug grin sickened her.

“You’re a hero.”

THUNDER CRACKED AND
echoed throughout the halls of Albrecht Mansion. Evie woke and sat up in her new wooden canopy bed. Another loud boom resounded across the sky and lightning followed, crashing into the forest outside her window.

She grabbed her pink kimono robe and crossed her room to look out the bay window.

It was the third day that rain fell in torrents like this. It was as if her moving into Albrecht Mansion angered the gods. Such a storm was sure to flood the town as if it didn’t let up soon.

She glanced at her clock as it ticked on her wall next to her wardrobe. It was three a.m. and she knew she would not be able to fall back asleep.

Might as well study
, she thought.

She grabbed her satchel for school and slid her feet into her slippers to head for the study. Outside her room the halls were dark and silent. She held her breath as she looked from side to side, and listened for any sounds of life.

Nothing.

The silence was unnerving, but at least she was assured that she wouldn’t run into Avalon in the halls at that hour.

There was a time when she was a young girl that she was afraid to venture into those halls alone, but she and Parker would make it a game to sneak away from their class and explore the many rooms.

Albrecht Mansion was one of the first homes built when the town was founded. Tales of hauntings had always frightened her when Woodland Creek Elementary would take field trips there. As an adult, she still hoped those tales to be untrue rumors the village people liked to spread.

Evie used her phone’s flashlight to navigate the darkness and descended the staircase to the main floor. Crossing the foyer she opened the door that led to the study and walked down another staircase.

A dim light made her pause. “Who is there?” Only he would be up this late doing research.

“Come on in, Evie,” she heard Avalon reply.

She wished she’d stayed in the safety of her room.

But, was anywhere in that mansion safe?

She took a deep breath and walked to the landing. Once she turned the corner she saw Avalon sitting in one of the chairs with a book in hand. A fire crackled in the fireplace, making the room nice and toasty.

“Couldn’t sleep, my dear?” Avalon closed his book on his hand and turned his gaze to her.

She wished he wouldn’t call her that.

Evie closed her kimono over her lavender bra and boy-short set. If she’d have known that Avalon would be down here she would have at least put on some clothes and brushed her hair. But it was his house. She should have known better.

Perhaps it was time that she tried a new approach. Maybe Avalon would drop his guard if she feigned an attraction to him. Three days had passed since she moved in, and being petulant wasn’t helping her at all. Her ‘privileges’ were scarce, and all she wanted was to communicate with her family.

Evie stood before Avalon with tangled waves and her white lock fully exposed.

He noticed. “Look at you,” he said, his eyes looking her up and down. “I like what you did to your hair.”

She pulled it back and found a seat near the fireplace on a few cushions that one of the Albrecht ancestors had brought back from India.

“I’ve always had this ridiculous white chunk of hair. I can’t seem to get rid of it.”

“Why should you? It’s beautiful.”

She forced a smiled. “Thank you.” She noted a coffee mug next to him on a side table. “Coffee at this hour?”

He picked up the mug and took a drink. “Yeah. It’s quite good. Would you like some?”

“I would actually.”

He set it back down and stood. “I’ll go get you a mug. Do you take milk and sugar?”

“I do. Thank you.”

Avalon gave her a nod and retreated upstairs to the kitchen.

She stood and glanced at what he was reading. Her face paled at the title on the book.

Dark Spirits and Demons
.

She shivered and pulled her kimono even closer to her skin. Where did he even get that book? It looked old with its withered yellow pages and wear on the spine. She took a step backward as a chill entered the room.

She rubbed her arms and looked around. Every sense was on edge as she imagined a ghost or spirit watching her.

She swallowed and sat back down. Why was Avalon reading such a dark subject?

When Avalon returned he handed her a coffee cup on a saucer with a small silver spoon.

“Thank you.” She accepted it, enjoying the warmth of the cup.

Avalon stood there as if waiting for her to try it. He smiled that kind smile he sometimes gave her, the one that made her wonder if he really was just a guy desperate to win her affection. He nodded for her to give it a try.

Evie took a gingerly sip. Surprise filled her eyes. The flavor was incredible.

“Wow.” She took another sip. “You made this?”

He nodded and picked up his cup. Instead of sitting back in his seat he sat next to her. “I have a secret stash from back home. It’s good, right?”

“It’s great actually.” She drank some more and watched the flames in the fireplace. There was no way she could focus on studying with him sitting next to her.

Another loud thunder crack seemed to shake the house with its intensity. She didn’t know how anyone could sleep through that storm. She imagined Parker sitting up in bed, looking out his window, thinking about her.

Perhaps he slept peacefully, having already forgotten her. That image stung. Was it wrong for her to wish that he was still so broken that he couldn’t sleep at all…just like her? That scenario gave her hope that she could win him back.

Evie could only wish that he still even thought about her.

“Does it storm like this often in Woodland Creek?”

“At least once a year.”

“I love storms.”

She looked at him. “Me too.”

“Woodland Creek is nice. I can’t quite say I remember it being this nice, not with a father like mine anyway,” he said, his voice trailing. He shrugged. “I can see the appeal, but Scotland is beautiful.”

“It sounds lovely.”

“You should see it.”

Evie didn’t reply. She wanted to see the world, but with Parker.

As if he’d read her mind, Avalon scooted close to her. He put a hand on hers, making her switch her thoughts to something different.

His hand was gentle and warm.

Strong.

Electric.

She fought the heat that filled her whenever he was so close. Every touch, despite how she abhorred him, made her feel weak. She shouldn’t feel that way. It was a betrayal to Parker.

Evie had to hate him.

He brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles.

Avalon made it so hard sometimes.

“Listen, Evie,” he said, looking down at her hand in his. “I know this arrangement isn’t what you had in mind for your life, but in time you will find happiness with me. We can have a good life together; one where you don’t have to worry about anything. I will love and protect you always.”

Love?

The word frightened her when it fell from Avalon’s lips.

Her heart could never be anyone’s but Parker’s.

Evie turned to the flames, taking her hand back and tucking it under her leg. She watched them flicker and rise against the logs of the fireplace.

“Was that some sort of lazy proposal?”

She bit her lip, fighting tears. She never imagined she’d end up in an arranged marriage like the women from the classic novels she read.

“It was,” he said.

Oh God.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. There wasn’t a box. The ring didn’t need it. It was huge. The diamonds captured the light from the fire, shining bright as she gawked at it.

It was stunning.

The ring Parker gave to her was smaller…much smaller.

But better.

Evie tensed. What was she supposed to say?

“Listen, love, you can accept this ring when you are ready.”

“Thank you,” she said, relieved to be let off the hook.

“I want to make you happy. I don’t want to disrupt your world however, so you’ll continue with school. I believe an education is important. But, I really don’t want you working at the book store anymore. It doesn’t look good for my girl to work in such a shabby little place. You don’t have to work.”

“I can’t work?”

He’d already assumed that she’d accepted his proposal. Avalon was insane. She was certain of it. All of his loss had affected him on a level deeper than she could imagine for herself.

This was how he handled his grief.

She understood it, but it didn’t change her mind about her plan.

Avalon gave her hand a squeeze, his eyes hard. “No. You will not work. You will go to school, and come home.”

“I don’t understand why it matters.”

The look on his face made her regret speaking at all. His grip on her hand tightened slightly.

“Any more questions?”

The tone is his voice made her shiver. She shook her head. “No,” she said, her voice wavering. “I was just curious.”

“Good.” Avalon smiled. “Curiosity is okay.” He patted her hand. “But in moderation.”

Evie nodded. “Yes. Okay.”

“Good,” he said. “Now where were we? Oh, right. I will take you to Scotland over winter break. How does that sound?”

Evie raised her brows. He really did mean to make a life with her.

“You’ll take me to Scotland?”

“That’s right.”

If I’m good? God, help me.

She forced another smile. “That would be great.”

Avalon’s eyes narrowed. “Something’s holding you back. What is it?”

She looked up at the ceiling, forcing Parker’s name from her mind. She didn’t want Avalon going after him.

“Mother would never let me go.”

His grin faded a little. “I don’t think you understand, Evie. What your mother wants is no longer a concern. What Wesley wants is of no concern. You should only worry about what
I
want.”

Evie clenched her jaw.

She was more of a hostage than a guest. She focused on keeping her mind free of any thoughts of escape or retaliation lest he read her thoughts. Doing so was one of the hardest things she’d ever done. Such concentration took discipline that she’d never had to master.

He grinned. “Why are you trying to keep me out, Evie? Don’t you know I can read you like a book? But still, something is missing.”

Her cheeks reddened. He knew exactly what she was doing.

“What are you hiding?”

She ripped her hand from his and stood. Flustered, she looked down at him, hoping her sudden action didn’t anger him.

Avalon’s face was unreadable.

That frightened her.

“Nothing,” Evie blurted. “I’m not hiding anything. I’m going back to bed.”

Before he could reply she hurried away. First, she walked quickly. Her walk turned into a run for her room, as she imagined that he was chased her.

She didn’t even look back until she was in her room and had the door shut.

Shaking, Evie stood at the door. She listened for any noises outside the door in the hallway. She covered her mouth with both hands when she heard footsteps stop just outside.

Stepping backward, she didn’t stop until her legs touched the edge of her new bed. She sat down with nowhere else to go.

“
Go away
,” she whispered, knowing he couldn’t hear her.

Evie sat there praying until the footsteps walked away.

Evie covered her heart and tried to calm herself. Her pulse was too fast. Her breaths were quickened as well.

She couldn’t live like this.