Page 44 of A Fearless Heart
Nothing.
He stepped inside and was immediately overcome by the difference in the air. First, it was warm as a balmy summer evening. Second, the air in the glasshouse was humid. When he inhaled, there was a weight to the air, and he almost coughed in surprise. His skin prickled at the sensation of the moist environment—like moving through mist, but without the chill that mist and fog always carried. And third, the air was drenched in fragrance. Floral and green and dark earth all mingled, teasing his nose. Despite the flowers, it was nothing like perfume. This was vital and elusive. He realized this was the scent of Arcadia, under that witch hazel sharpness.
He stepped forward, sniffing as he went, trying to match each scent with the plant sending it forth.
There was a deeply rich and sensual, even creamy, aroma coming from a cluster of small white flowers with long petals that grew in a basket covered in moss. Then a bolder, more roselike fragrance from a plant with blooms in a deep pink shade, their petals looking as slick as satin. He wanted to touch them but hesitated, remembering that he was, after all, searching for a poison.
Like any rational person, Cady had carefully labelled practically everything in her work area, but he couldn’t read it in the dark. Begrudgingly, Gabe moved to where he knew a candle and fire-starter would be. In the feeble light of the candle, he could bend over and read the labels…but they were primarily in Latin, or simply referred to by the native names from wherever they’d been first grown, making it impossible for Gabe to learn much more than he knew. None of the labels said clephobine or any words vaguely like it. How was Gabe going to ever get to the next step in this investigation if he couldn’t find out where the poison was being made?
“What are you doing here?” Arcadia’s voice came out of the dark, swirling in with the waves of scent in the air.
He turned quickly. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“You picked a lock. Of course you meant to intrude.” She walked closer and out of the gloom he saw that she was wearing that same gown as the night he found her unconscious in the laboratory. Black with huge flowers vining across it. In the shadows, the pattern seemed to writhe, giving the tiny Cady a mystical, menacing air.
“I wondered what was growing here. Why no one else is allowed to see it.”
“Well, for the first question, the answer is simple. All the plants that are too tender to survive outdoors in the English winters. A sudden drop in temperature, a storm, or even too much sunlight could be deadly. And as these plants are very rare—unique—I must protect them by putting them under glass.”
“And the second question?”
“Some of them are dangerous, too dangerous to allow innocent people to be near them.”
“But you’re near them. What are you guilty of?”
She gave him a faint, chill smile. “So you think I’m a murderess as well? The local gossip is still going strong, I see.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He had to get her mind off what he was actually doing in there.
Gabe moved to her. “I was just curious.”
He bent his head to kiss her before she could say another word.
Cady slapped his hand away. “What do you think you’re doing.” She didn’t make it a question.
“Apologizing?” he ventured.
“No. An apology uses words.”
“It doesn’t have to.”
“When you came here, I askedonething of you. Don’t go where you’re not allowed. For your own safety, I asked you to obey that single rule.”
“Cady—”
“Don’t call me that. You have no right to call me that! You’ve got a gift for ending up in places you shouldn’t be, Mr Court. My laboratory, late at night, when I’m the only one there. My bedroom, even later, when you’re supposedly watching over my health. Now here, in a locked and walled space that you’ve been repeatedly warned not to go. And yet here we are, with you touching me and thinking that a kiss will make me biddable and compliant. Was that what the exchange in the icehouse was all about? I must have appeared so very weak and easy to manipulate.”
“Cady—I mean, my lady. No.”Christ, this was going to shit.
“Oh, yes. Since I’ve actually caught you sneaking in, at least do me the courtesy of not lying to my face. I don’t know why you wanted to get in here, but I assure you that you’ll be leaving now.”
“My lady, if you’ll let me explain—”
She cut him off, pointing imperiously at the door. “Get out.”
“Please—”
“Get out! This is my place. This is myworld, and you’re not welcome here! So get OUT!”
