Page 73 of Once Upon a Midnight Dreary
Ittookfarlongerthan she wanted to get back to her room—which was only a short distance from his.When she made it to the open door, she leaned on the doorjamb to catch her breath.
Her room was exactly how she left it but something felt…off.She had the same feeling in Gabriel’s room after he left and just before Lily appeared.
She took a tentative step inside, limping toward the bed, and halted.A cursory glance around the room showed nothing out of place.Her father’s journal and the papers she retrieved from the locked cabinet were still on the bedside table.
Steeling her nerves, she hobbled toward the bed intent on picking up the journal to see if there was something she’d missed.As she did, a loud crack sounded throughout the room.She yelped as she spun toward the noise.The full-length mirror had a crack down the center.
It hadn’t been there before.
She pressed a shaking hand against her raging heart as she stared at the broken glass.
In an instant, Gabriel was at her door.His face flushed.His eyes wide with concern.
“What was that?”He followed her gaze to the mirror.“Did you…?”
She shook her head.“Not me.”
Gabriel stepped to her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.It helped still her shaking limbs and calm her nerves.She leaned into him, soaking up his warmth.
“Are you hurt?”he asked.
“No.Just startled.”
“I’ll get rid of it.”
He released her and headed for the mirror.As he approached, the broken pieces fell and shattered on the floor.The muffled laugh—that sinister laugh she had come to associate with Lenore—faded away to silence.
His gaze landed on hers.His expression was pinched with a cross between fury and apprehension.They didn’t need to speak of what they heard or saw.They both knew.They both understood.
“She’s getting stronger,” he said, his voice low.As though he was afraid she might hear him.
But Victoria didn’t want to acknowledge that.She moved closer to the bedside table and scooped up the journal.Then she sat on the bed.
“It’s all right, Gabriel.Leave it for now.”
“I can’t leave broken glass here,” he said and started for the door.
When he was almost there, he turned back to her.He stretched out his hand in invitation.“Come with me.”
“Downstairs?”
His jaw clenched, the muscles ticking along the edge for a brief moment.“Breakfast is ready.”
Though she suspected that was not the reason he wanted her to come with him—perhaps he felt she would be safer in the dining room than up here alone—she nodded and got to her feet.It was an effort to walk toward him as she favored her injured ankle.When she hadn’t yet made it halfway, he dropped his hand and stepped to her.
Without a word, he scooped her into his arms, cradling her against his chest.
“Gabriel, this isn’t necessary.”
“It’s necessary,” he replied, a hard edge to his voice.But his face softened as he gave her a weak smile.“Let me do this for you.”
She didn’t argue.Couldn’t.Nor could she deny how much she liked being in his arms.How things had changed between them since their first meeting.She marveled at that.
He carried her from her room, down the stairs, to the dining room.The lovely aroma of freshly brewed tea wafted through the air, giving her comfort.A linen-lined basket cradled fresh, warm orange and currant scones.Clotted cream and jam were in containers next to it.A dish was piled high with toast.Another with poached eggs.
He put her down next to one of the chairs, then pulled it out for her.
“Thank you.”She placed the journal on the table next to her plate and took her seat.
