Satin Princess(101)

I’m about to apologize for putting her on the spot when she starts talking. “I kept my distance,” she says in a soft voice. “I saw her with the other maids. I didn’t want to get on her bad side.”

“She was that bad?”

“She was scary,” Lida admits. “There was something about her… Well, sometimes, it seemed like she had two personalities. She could be sweet and welcoming one moment. But in the next second, she turned dark. Bad things happened when she turned dark.”

A shiver runs down my spine. Of course I understand that—I experienced it first-hand.

“Were you ever in the room when that happened?” I press.

“Only once,” Lida admits. “Don Anton was hosting a cocktail party. Ms. Marina came down in the most gorgeous dress I’d ever seen. It looked like it was made of pearls. She was stunning, and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. She charmed the entire room. She was just so vibrant and lovely.”

“And something changed?” I guess.

She nods. “There was this other girl there. She was young, probably nineteen or twenty. One of the other dons’ daughters. She kept looking at Don Anton.”

“Oh no.”

Lida nods, and I get the feeling she’s suppressed this conversation for so long that it took only the slightest little push to get her to talk.

“I saw her hug the girl goodbye,” Lida tells me. “I saw her face when she did it. Her smile dropped away and she looked…”

“Murderous?”

Lida nods. “Sometimes, the expression on her face still haunts my dreams.”

“I believe you,” I say. “At least that girl got away easy.”

Lida frowns, and I know instantly there’s more to the story. “I heard through the grapevine that the girl fell ill right after the cocktail party. Apparently, she suffered some sort of stroke.”

“What?”

Lida nods. “I can’t be sure it was her—”

“It was her,” I say instantly.

Lida shudders. “I did think I saw her slip something into the girl’s drink before she left. I’ve always convinced myself it was just a hallucination, that I saw wrong. But deep down, I know that isn’t true.”

“Did you ever tell anyone?”

“No. She was still my don’s wife,” Lida says. “I didn’t dare.”

I nod. Nausea roils through me. But this time, I know it has nothing to do with my pregnancy.

“I’m glad that Ms. Marina is no longer here,” Lida says, drawing herself up to her full height. “The whole staff is glad that you’ve replaced her.”

I stop short, surprised by that statement. “I, um… I’m not replacing anyone, Lida.”

She looks confused for a moment. “We know you’re pregnant, ma’am. We were told you’re moving in as well.”

“Well, yes, I suppose—”

“That makes you the new mistress of the house.”

I blink at her. “I’m no one’s mistress.”

Lida looks uncomfortable again. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, ma’am.”

“No. No, of course not,” I say quickly. “It’s just strange being in this house. Sometimes, I feel like she’s watching me.”

Lida frowns. “This house is safe, ma’am. Don Anton made sure of that. I’ve never seen so much security here.”

“Is that an inconvenience to you?” I ask, wondering if I’ve put everyone out.

She gives me a sympathetic smile. “No. I kind of like the extra security.”

“Yeah?”

“Sometimes, I feel like she’s watching me, too.”

I feel another shiver run down my back. “I’m not the mistress of this house, Lida, and I never will be,” I tell her. “But you can count me as a friend.”

She smiles. “I appreciate that, ma’am.”

“You really can call me Jessa, you know?”

“I’ll work on it.”

I give her a smile that comes easier than I expect. Then I excuse myself and head upstairs.

I walk slowly, taking my time as the light fades out of the sky. I expected Anton back at least an hour ago. It feels like I haven’t seen him in days.

What if something went wrong? What if Marina laid a trap for him? What if she killed him and she’s on her way here?

Horrifying scenarios play out in my head, new ones popping up before I can bat them away.

But Anton is stronger than she is. I repeat that to myself again and again. A mantra.

He’s stronger and smarter.

He’s going to corner her.

He’s going to end this.

I know the mansion is secure and that there are guards placed everywhere, but I keep seeing her shocking blue eyes in the tiniest refraction of every light. For the first time, I utilize the bolt on the bedroom door, sliding it into place.

And yet I still feel her presence behind me. I smell her perfume. I hear her laughter every time the wind whistles through the house.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I mutter, taking a deep breath.

I inhale deeply and push the air through my teeth. I breathe in and out like that for several minutes. It usually helps, but today, nothing can ease the tight crush of panic in my lungs.