Page 125 of House of Roots and Ruin
I was going to find them.
Tonight.
With a nod of determination, I slipped inside my suite. I’d change into something more practical than this beaded gown, wait till the house had gone to sleep, then start my search.
“Thank Arina,” a voice called out in the dark, immediately squashing all of my plans.
Startled, I flipped on the gas lamps and spotted Viktor sprawled across the room’s little green settee. Julien perched on the edge of a wide, blush-colored bergère.
“We thought he’d never leave.”
“What are you doing in here?” I muttered, pushing the door closed behind me.
Viktor’s legs dangled off the end of the velvet sofa, kicking back and forth listlessly. “We’ve been waiting for ages. Are all meals here so infernally long?”
“Viktor,” I prompted.
His head lolled round. “I’m bored, Ver. You’ve no idea how exhausting it is to spend every waking hour with this one, on one fruitless search after another,” he said, gesturing to Julien, who bit back a sigh. “But waiting about your parlor is even worse. Who eats seven courses for family dinner?”
“It was for the wedding,” I began, feeling oddly defensive.
He raised his eyebrows with a suggestive look. “And howarethe wedding preparations going? Have you told your fiancé about your little dalliance with his long-lost frère?”
“There’s nothingtotell. Unless, you want me totell,” I said, layering my words with extra meaning.
“I was only toying with you,” Viktor said, sitting up with alarm. “Both now and then.”
His cavalier admission stung more than I wanted it to.
Julien tilted his head, adjusting his neck with a crack. “We were thinking, with Alexander gone to an early bed, and Papa doubtlessly in his greenhouse tonight—”
“We should play a game,” Viktor said, talking over his brother.
“A game.”
The boys nodded and Viktor leapt up from the settee. “Let’s see who can find the secret passage to Father’s study first.”
The knowledge of the other two keys weighed on my mind. I could feel my tongue curving to form the words, to alert these boys of their existence, but I held myself in check. I wasn’t ready to trust them with such sensitive information. Not yet.
“You’ve been searching for days,” I said instead. “What makes you think I’ll be any help?”
“You see things others don’t.” Viktor let out a funny laugh. “Many, many things others don’t.”
I shook my head. “It’s been a long day. I—”
Before I could finish my excuse, almost as if Viktor’s insinuation had drawn her in, Constance walked into the parlor, straight through the closed door. Her face was whole once more, the blood and gardening shears gone. But she faded in and out of sight, her form translucent and tenuous.
She paused just past the threshold, her eyes fixed on something no longer in front of her, and I was reminded of the day we’d first met. She’d crept into the sitting room for a peek at my engagement dress, just as she had now.
She was caught in another cycle, I realized, living that day over and over once again.
“Constance,” I said, trying to halt her progress. I washalfway across the room before remembering Viktor and Julien were present.
“What are you…” Viktor stilled. “Is someone here? Right now?” He turned with delight toward the door and dropped into a formal court bow. “Greetings, Wise Spirit. Have you traveled far beyond the veil to visit with us this night?”
Julien swatted at his brother, silencing his antics. “Who is it, Miss Thaumas? Do you know her?”
I ignored them, reaching out for Constance as if my touch could somehow secure her to the room. “Constance, can you hear me?”
