It seemed I would never learn my lesson and run for help before diving into turbulent waters. I steeled my nerves and pushed the door open a bit more. I swore my heart was running in the opposite direction.

I would scream as loudly as I could and wield my poker. Then I’d run.

I readied myself for the worst as I glanced inside. Two figures were locked together, in a darkened corner, hands drifting over each other everywhere as if they were… I gasped.

“I I’m so sorry.” I blinked, completely and utterly unprepared for the sight before me. “I thought—”

Daciana dabbed at her crimson mouth with her free hand, face flushing as she released the skirts bunched in her other fist. “I… I can explain.”

BODY STORAGE, TOWER CHAMBERS

DEPOZIT DE CADAVRE, CAMERE DIN TURN

BRAN CASTLE

3 DECEMBER 1888

“I—I’m so very… I heard noises and, and I thought—I’m dreadfully sorry.” I stuttered over an apology, my gaze traveling from Daciana’s disheveled hair to the woman she’d been kissing, their hands still entwined and their skirts rumpled.

I tore my gaze from their wrinkled clothes, unsure where to look. I was fairly certain the mystery guest wasn’t wearing anything beneath her shirt. Those stone-colored eyes blinked back at me…

“Ileana?”

Shock must have addled my brain for me not to have noticed it was her straightaway.

“I… I didn’t mean to… intrude.” I sank my teeth into my lower lip so hard I nearly drew blood as Ileana cringed back. “I didn’t see… anything.”

Daciana opened her mouth, then shut it.

“I…” I searched for something to say—something to break the tension coiled around each of us, choking words away, but hardly knew where to start. Every attempt at apologizing seemed to put Ileana further on edge. I feared if I attempted another apology she might run from this chamber and never come back.

As if recovering from her own surprise at being discovered, Daciana suddenly drew herself up and lifted her chin. “I make no apologies, if that’s what you’re after. Do you take issue with our affection?”

“O of course not.” I blinked, horrified by her conclusion. “I would never.”

I glanced at the two cadavers on nearby tables covered under white shrouds. It was a morbid place to steal kisses, though it should have been the least likely place to be discovered by nosy castle occupants. And it would have been perfect—if I hadn’t shown up. My face burned.

I was frozen with indecision on how to exit the morgue. Both girls stared at me—then at each other—and I wished for the floor to transform into a giant mouth and swallow me whole. Blast that magic didn’t truly exist when one needed a fast escape. My entire body was aflame with mortification after being caught spying.

“I… I hope to see you both tomorrow,” I said, feeling as if I were the most awkward person alive. “Good night.”

Without waiting for a scolding, I burst into the hallway and ran for my chambers. I shut the door and pressed my back against it, covering my burning face with my hands. If Daciana or Ileana wanted to remain acquainted with me now, it would be the closest thing to a miracle the world had ever known. Foolish. I was so ridiculously foolish to be pulled by the lure of curiosity! Of course no intruder was here, killing classmates. Jack the Ripper was dead. The murderer from the train had no interest in hunting academy students.

It was time for me to accept that and move forward with my life.

I worried my bottom lip between my teeth, trying to place myself in their situation. The scandal that would befall an unmarried woman being caught alone in the company of a man would ruin her reputation. Being caught romantically with another young woman—society, vicious beast that it was, would destroy them both and take pleasure in ripping them apart.

I paced the small rug in my room, torn between going back to apologize and locking myself away forever to perish in embarrassment and shame. Finally, I decided to crawl into bed. I did not want to chance interrupting them again if they had picked up from where I’d so rudely found them.

A new wave of fire flickered across my skin when I thought of their kiss. It was so passionate. They appeared to be lost within each other’s souls. I couldn’t help thinking of being in a similar position with Thomas.

Our kiss in the alleyway had been very nice, but danger had corralled us. What would it feel like to have my hair gently knotted in his fist, my back pressed against a wall, him tangled around me like vines wrapped around brick?

I still didn’t know if I wanted forever—or that I would ever be the marrying kind—but certain feelings were becoming… clearer. Part of me longed to trail ungloved fingers across his face, learning each curve of his bone structure in an intimate way. I craved the pressure of his warmth as his cutaway coat dropped to the floor. I wanted to know what his body felt like as our friendship was doused in crude oil and set on fire. Which was completely indecent.

I banished that image from my mind and yanked the covers up.

Aunt Amelia would certainly force me to attend church services on her next visit, muttering never-ending prayers for my crumbling morals. As awful as I felt for being bested by curiosity, a smile slowly spread in the dark. It was one of the first nights in weeks that I was falling asleep to thoughts that didn’t revolve around failed electrical contraptions, dead prostitutes, and disemboweled bodies.

Tonight I’d fall asleep to the image of gold-flecked eyes and a wicked mouth. And all the wonderful ways I might one day explore those lips in dark, empty rooms. Our passion burning brighter than all the stars in the sky.

Saints drag me to Hell.

TOWER CHAMBERS

CAMERE DIN TURN

BRAN CASTLE

3 DECEMBER 1888

I’d been up before the sun deigned to rise, pacing in front of the fireplace in my chambers.

My velvet skirts were a deep blue to match my plummeting mood. I wasn’t sure if Ileana would come for breakfast, and the idea of losing an acquaintance I’d only just made had me changing gloves a second time. I walked one way, then the next, my skirts rustling in their own annoyance. Last night I’d fallen asleep with a thousand ways to apologize for my intrusion when I saw them both again.

This morning none of them seemed right. I covered my face and made myself breathe. Liza would have known precisely what to do had she been in my place. She had a gift for social situations—and for being a good friend. I forced myself to sit, trying not to flick my attention to the clock with each passing second that ticked away. Dawn would break soon. And with it judgment on my curiosity would be delivered. Perhaps now I’d finally be broken of that wretched affliction.

A confident knock came a few moments later, my heart clamoring in response as I raced across the room and flung the door wide.

I slumped back, heaving a sigh. “Oh, hello.”

“Not necessarily the reaction I was hoping for, Wadsworth.” Thomas glanced down at his dark jacket and trousers, both fitted in all the right ways. His striped waistcoat was also quite fashionable. “Perhaps I should have gone with the gray suit instead. I do look rather scrumptious in that.”

I peered into the corridor, half hoping that Daciana would be lurking behind him, readying herself for a verbal attack regarding my curiosity. I sighed again. The hall was empty aside from Thomas. I finally dragged my attention back to him. “To what do I owe the honor of your presence this early in the morning?”

Without being invited, he swept into my chambers and nodded at the space. “Cozy. Much better than the image in my head of tower chambers and fair maidens in need of… well, you’re not one in need of rescuing, but I’d say you could do with some entertainment.”

He sat on the settee, crossing one long leg over the other.

“My sister informed me of the adventure you all had last night.” He grinned as the color rushed to my face. “Don’t worry. She’ll be up in a moment. I didn’t want to miss the fun this morning. I’m having Turkish coffee sent up.”

“I’ve never felt more wretched in all my life. Does she hate me?”

Thomas had the audacity to chuckle. “On the contrary. She adores you. Said you’d turned nearly each shade of crimson and adopted a wonderful stutter.” His light tone vanished, replaced by something fierce. Here was a role I’d not seen him in—protective brother. “Most would have looked at them as if they were wrong for acting on their love. False, naturally. Society at large is staggeringly obtuse. If one simply looks to others for their opinions, they lose the ability to think critically for themselves. Progress would never be made if everyone appeared and thought and loved in the same manner.”

“Who are you, and where is the socially awkward Mr. Cresswell?” I’d never been more proud of my friend for his determination to verbally admonish society’s faults.

“I do get rather passionate about such matters,” Thomas said, a bit of levity back in his voice. “I suppose I’ve grown weary of a select few governing all. Rules are restrictions given by other privileged men. I enjoy making up my own mind. Everyone ought to have the same human right. Plus”—he flashed a devilish grin at me—“it drives my father absolutely mad when I speak in that manner. Shakes up his rigid beliefs in a delightful way. He’s yet to accept that the future will be run by those who believe as we do.”

Another knock came at the door. Somehow I managed to open it without fainting from nerves. Daciana looked tentatively at me, then nodded to her brother. “Bună dimineaţa. How did everyone sleep? Anything exciting happen?”

She gave me a playful smile, and the tension knotted in my chest loosened.

“Truly, I cannot apologize enough,” I said in a rush. “I’d heard noises and thought… I don’t know, I worried someone was… under attack.”

Thomas barked out a laugh. I raised a brow as he nearly fell off his seat. I’d never witnessed such a bout of emotion from him before. Daciana simply rolled her eyes. He was nearly hoarse by the time he composed himself enough to speak.