Forbidden Secrets (7 page)

“They don't understand, Savannah,” he moaned. “They don't understand that I did what I had to do during the war.”

Savannah hurried down the rest of the stairs. She gazed at the portraits that still lined the wall. Portraits of Tyler's ancestors.

“It doesn't matter if they understand,” she said. She took a few steps toward Tyler. “I understand.”

“You can't understand,” Tyler insisted. “There was
so much killing . . . so much blood. You would hate me if you knew the things I've done.”

“I could never hate you,” Savannah said. “During the war we all did what we had to do to survive.” She inched closer. “But now the war is over.”

The knife clattered to the floor. Tyler jerked her to him and wrapped his arms around her. “I never want to see blood again,” he said in a shaky voice.

Savannah stroked his black hair away from his forehead. “Victoria and I had to eat worms,” she told him, hoping to make him smile.

He laughed. Savannah could feel his chest shaking under his shirt.

She tilted her face and gazed into his blue eyes. “Together we can put the war behind us,” she whispered.

“Yes,” he replied. “Together we can.”

He lowered his mouth to hers. Savannah returned his kiss eagerly. I love him so much, she thought. He is all I have ever wanted.

Savannah heard a high-pitched shriek. She jerked away from Tyler.

The shrill cry came again.

It took Savannah a moment to realize the sound was Victoria screaming.

Chapter

16

S
avannah heard footsteps pounding down the staircase.

A young girl in a black dress appeared. “Tyler, save me!” she cried as she raced downstairs and flung herself into Tyler's arms.

Victoria screamed again. She flew down the last few steps. “Give me my pouch,” Victoria cried. She lunged for the girl.

Savannah grabbed her sister's shoulders and held her back. She could feel Victoria trembling. “I need my pouch, Savannah. I'm not safe here without it. I need protection from the evil. Please, please make her give it back to me.”

“Is that true, Lucy?” Tyler asked. “Did you take something that belongs to Victoria?”

So this is Lucy, Savannah realized. She is just a child.

“Answer me, Lucy,” Tyler said firmly.

Lucy nodded. “But I only wanted to look inside,” she said. “I wasn't going to keep it.”

“Give it back, and say you are sorry,” Tyler instructed. “There is nothing Lucy likes better than finding out secrets,” he added to Savannah. “She creeps around here as quiet as a little mouse, hoping to hear something interesting.”

Lucy held out the pouch, and Victoria snatched it away. “I'm sorry,” Lucy said in high little voice.

Victoria didn't answer. She frantically tried to repin the pouch onto her skirt. “Let me,” Savannah said. She pinned the pouch firmly in place.

Savannah didn't like to encourage Victoria in her strange beliefs. But if Victoria believed the pouch could protect her from evil, Savannah thought it was harmless. She wanted her sister to be happy at Blackrose Manor.

“Lucy, this is Miss Savannah Gentry and Miss Victoria Gentry. Remember I wrote and told you they will be living with us from now on.”

Lucy peered up at Savannah. Her curly black hair framed her young face. “Did your mother and father die too?” Lucy asked. “That's why
I
came to live here.”

“Yes, they did.” Savannah's heart went out to the young girl whose black eyes held such sadness. Lucy can't be more than thirteen, Savannah thought to herself. So very young to be an orphan.

Tyler eased the girl away from his side. “Go on back upstairs and get ready for supper. I want to talk to Miss Savannah alone.”

Lucy reluctantly crossed the room and started up
the stairs. Savannah gave Victoria a little nudge, and her sister followed the younger girl.

Tyler picked up the ruined portrait and the butcher knife from the floor. “I was hoping Victoria and Lucy wouldn't notice these.”

“They were too involved in their argument to pay any attention,” Savannah reassured him.

“Do you like your room?” he asked. She could tell that he wanted to please her.

“I like the room,” she said softly. “But, Tyler, why is everything black?”

He sighed deeply. “It was my father's doing. When my mother died, he said the house went into mourning. He ordered the whole house decorated in black. We can change it now that you're here.”

Savannah decided not to tell Tyler about Mrs. Mooreland's rude behavior. There had been enough upheaval for one day.

“I guess I should go up and get ready for supper too,” Savannah said. Tyler nodded. She could feel him watching her as she climbed back up the stairs.

♦ ♦ ♦

Savannah stood in front of the mirror, admiring her blue satin gown. A gift from Tyler.

She turned slightly and looked over her shoulder at her reflection. She had brushed her blond hair until it was as shiny as silk.

This is the way life was before the war, Savannah thought. Wearing beautiful clothes. Getting ready for a special dinner. Feeling pretty.

She strolled out of her room and down the hall to Victoria's door. She knocked, and Victoria answered, wearing a deep purple dress.

I'm glad Tyler thought to give Victoria a dress too. How could I go down to dinner dressed this way if Victoria was still in one our shabby old dresses.

“You look beautiful,” Savannah exclaimed. “Are you ready to go downstairs?”

Victoria nodded. She ran her fingers over her flannel pouch.

Savannah led the way downstairs. She wrapped her arms around herself as she tried to decide where the dining room would be.

“You feel it too, don't you?” Victoria asked in a low voice. “There's something strange about this place. It's so cold and dark. All these fires and there is no warmth. All the candles in this room and there is so little light.”

Savannah rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “It's an old house. It's drafty, that's all.”

“This way, Savannah,” she heard Tyler call. She followed his voice down the hall and into a formal dining room

Savannah felt like groaning when she saw the black cloth covering the long table. I must do something about all this black, she thought.

Tyler stepped toward her, an appreciative smile on his face. “You look beautiful tonight, Savannah.”

Savannah felt herself blush as Tyler took her hand and brought it to his lips. “So beautiful,” he whispered. He led her to a place near the head of the table. “I want you to sit next to me. And, Victoria, you sit on my other side,” he added quickly.

Lucy ran in and gave a little squeak as Victoria sat down. “That's my place!” she exclaimed.

“Tonight it is Victoria's,” Tyler said. “You may sit there tomorrow night.”

Lucy pouted. “May I at least light the candles, then?” she asked.

“No, I will light them,” Mrs. Mooreland said as she entered the room. With an enormous sigh Lucy plopped down in the chair next to Victoria.

Mrs. Mooreland lit the candelabrum. A maid appeared with a tureen of soup and served them each a portion.

Savannah's mouth watered. Her stomach tightened. It has been so long since I have had a real dinner, she thought.

“Everything smells delicious, Mrs. Mooreland,” Tyler said.

“Thank you, sir,” Mrs. Mooreland said before she hurried from the room.

Savannah glanced at Victoria. Her pouch rested beside her plate. She turned it over and over, constantly touching it.

“Tyler is going to teach me how to ride,” Lucy announced excitedly.

Savannah turned her attention to Lucy. “That's wonderful. Victoria and I have been riding since we were young. Haven't we, Victoria?” she asked, trying to draw Victoria's attention away from her pouch.

“Yes,” Victoria said without glancing up.

“Tyler is going to teach me to play the piano too,” Lucy said.

Lucy has a crush on Tyler, Savannah realized. How adorable she is. Every sentence she utters has Tyler's name in it.

Savannah took a few sips of her soup. Savoring every vegetable, every spice. Before she could finish, Mrs. Mooreland appeared with the main course—veal and oysters.

As the housekeeper served, Savannah noticed Lucy staring at the candle flames. She could see the flames reflected in Lucy's dark eyes.

Slowly, Lucy reached toward the flames. Her fingers inching closer and closer.

Victoria slapped Lucy's hand away. “Stop that!” she ordered.

Lucy wrinkled her tiny nose. “I don't have to listen to you.”

“Lucy, behave yourself,” Tyler admonished, his voice stern.

Lucy slumped forward. “She's not my mother.”

“Victoria just didn't want you to hurt yourself,” Savannah said, pleased that Tyler had sided with her sister.

We will become a family, the four of us, Savannah thought. Together—

A quiet giggle interrupted her thoughts.

She glanced over at Lucy. She was staring at the candle flames again. Staring hard.

Lucy shot out her hand and knocked the candelabrum over.

“Fire!” Lucy cried. “Fire!”

Chapter

17

S
avannah leapt from her chair. It fell over with a crash.

She slapped out the flames with her linen napkin. The smell of scorched cloth filled the dining room.

Savannah sighed at the sight of the singed tablecloth. It was damaged beyond repair.

“It was an accident,” Lucy whispered hoarsely.

“No, it wasn't. You did it on purpose. I saw you,” Victoria scolded.

Lucy raised her eyes to Savannah. “But the flames are so pretty. I like the way they dance.”

Savannah's heart went out to the child. How can I blame her for finding beauty in the flames when they are the only thing of color in this house?

She picked up her chair and sat back down. “They are pretty, but they are also dangerous. You must not play with the candles anymore.”

“Savannah is right. Go up to bed, Lucy,” Tyler said in a stern voice.

Lucy slipped out of her chair and hurried over to Tyler. “Are you angry with me?” she asked.

She adores him, Savannah thought again.

“Yes,” Tyler answered. Then he tweaked her nose. “But I won't stay angry long.”

Lucy's face broke out into a wide grin. “I love you, Tyler,” she cried. Then she skipped out of the room.

“She's sweet,” Savannah said as they continued with the main course.

“She is a spoiled brat,” Victoria said. She tossed her napkin onto the table. “I am going to bed.” She walked from the room.

Savannah turned to Tyler. “It's been quite an exciting first day.”

Tyler touched her cheek. “You look tired.”

“I am,” she admitted. “As soon as we finish our meal, I think I'll go on to bed too.”

♦ ♦ ♦

Savannah thought she would fall asleep immediately. But she lay awake a long time.

My first night in my new home, she thought. Blackrose Manor wasn't at all what she had expected.

Glowing red embers flew onto the stone hearth with a pop. They burned brightly. Then turned black and died.

Everything is so dark here. So gloomy. It's little wonder Victoria is uncomfortable here. Maybe I should redecorate her room first.

Savannah stretched her toes toward the warming pan at the foot of her bed. Mrs. Mooreland had brought the pan at Tyler's request. It had been obvious
from her puckered lips that she would have preferred not to go to the trouble. What can I do about Mrs. Mooreland? she wondered.

Savannah yawned. So many things to think about. Victoria. Mrs. Mooreland. Lucy and her fascination with fire.

And Tyler. She was frightened when he attacked the portrait. He looked so fierce and angry.

But I can't expect him to be exactly the same after the war, Savannah thought. After years of blood and killing.