Gabriel narrowed his eyes at her, studying her with suspicion before looking away to scan their surroundings. "Very well, then. Shall we return?"
Annette couldn't have been happier to hear that. "Of course," she replied almost immediately.
They mounted their horses and made their way back down the path toward the mansion, Annette riding ahead while Gabriel followed behind.
Surprisingly, she welcomed the silence. The last thing she wanted was to be questioned. As the mansion came into view, a shaky breath of relief escaped her lips. She was more than ready to get off the horse and retreat to the safety of her room.
She needed to investigate what had happened in the woods.
Annette had seen many things in her life and was not easily frightened—but something about what she had witnessed unsettled her deeply. A chill crept across her skin at the mere memory of it.
Something terrible was coming. She could feel it deep in her bones.
When they arrived at the stables, they dismounted, leaving the horses to the stable boy, who led them back inside.
Annette turned to Gabriel. "I seem to be coming down with a headache. I should return to my chambers and rest for a bit."
"How unfortunate. I shall send for the physician to—"
"Oh, please, there's no need for that," Annette cut in quickly, pressing a soft smile onto her lips, hoping to dissuade him. "Once I take a nap, I'll be fine."
"Very well, then," he replied.
"Thank you. Have a wonderful day."
Gabriel gave her a small smile as she turned and walked away.
He already knew something had happened, he just couldn't tell what.
He would have to keep a closer eye on her.
He had been suspicious of her from the start, and this did nothing to ease his doubts. Annette was trouble—and he would be damned if he allowed her to bring any trouble to him or the Viscount.
~~~
After a long, deep sleep, Annette woke feeling worse than when she had gone to bed. Tired would be an understatement. Her body ached as though she had been run over by a carriage.
She would have loved nothing more than to remain in bed, but her stomach growled in protest.
Letting out a quiet curse, she dragged herself out of bed and walked to the mirror, fixing her appearance. She expected to look as terrible as she felt—but thankfully, she didn't.
Smiling in mild satisfaction, she left her room and made her way to the dining hall. The corridors were empty, as usual. She found herself wondering where the Viscount and his blue-eyed companion were.
Her question was answered the moment she stepped into the dining room.
Her eyes landed on them immediately, seated at the table, eating and conversing as though the world beyond them did not exist.
They didn't pause or acknowledge her.
It was as if she wasn't there at all.
Annette considered ignoring them in return, but quickly remembered her resolve, she was supposed to be a changed woman.
So, she approached the Viscount, who still hadn't looked her way.
"Good afternoon, my lord. How have you been?" she asked sweetly, stopping a few feet from him.
After what felt like an eternity, his lazy gaze lifted to meet hers.
Annette felt her heart stutter.
There was something in his eyes—something…alluring, dangerous. Not to mention how striking they were.
"Good afternoon, Annette. I've been well. Did you rest well?"
Annette blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected him to respond at all, let alone so calmly. He didn't seem the least bit alarmed by her sudden politeness, as though this were perfectly normal between them.
This man…
Would she ever be able to read him?
"Yes, I did. Thank you for asking," she replied politely.
"Wonderful. Do sit—the food has been here for a while." He gestured to the chair beside him.
Annette lowered herself into the seat, feeling her confidence slowly slip away.
It was his presence. It was overwhelming, unsettling. And far too powerful to ignore.
She almost gasped as a hand appeared beside her—it was the maid. Annette had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she hadn't even noticed her approach.
A plate was set before her, slices of roasted chicken arranged neatly alongside a bowl of vegetable soup. Not her preferred meal, but she couldn't complain. She was far too hungry for that.
Grabbing her fork, she began to eat just as the maid returned, this time carrying cheesecake for dessert.
Annette nearly pushed her plate aside right then.
She loved cake.
She watched as a slice was cut and served—first to the Viscount, then to Gabriel, and finally to her.
Despite herself, her gaze drifted to Vincent's hand as he reached for his spoon. His long fingers curled around it with effortless ease, the simple motion oddly captivating.
He scooped a piece of the neatly cut cake and brought it to his mouth.
And Annette watched.
Shamelessly.
Her fingers tightened against her thigh as his lips closed around the spoon.
She swallowed—
And then she caught his gaze.
He was looking directly at her.
Heat rushed to her cheeks as she quickly looked away, forcing her attention back to her plate. Annette wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
Dear gods…
She was mortified.
How could she have stared so openly?
Her eyes remained fixed on her food, refusing to risk another moment of embarrassment.
After what felt like an eternity, the Viscount rose to his feet. He instructed Gabriel to meet him in his study later that evening before striding out of the dining room, his heavy footsteps carrying authority in their wake.
Only when the door closed did Annette finally breathe properly. She dropped her fork and buried her fingers into her hair.
"You're attracted to the Viscount? Who would have guessed."
Her head snapped up to Gabriel. She had completely forgotten he was still there.
The urge to curse at him rose sharply, but she forced it back down.
"I mean, it's not that far-fetched," he continued. "The Viscount is a very attractive man. You'd be a fool not to be affected by his appearance."
And the fucker just keeps talking, she thought, her teeth clenching.
"Are you attracted to him?" Annette blurted out.
He smiled. "I'm not. I have no attraction to men."
"No surprise there. One would think you were in love with him," she muttered under her breath.
"What was that?"
"I said that's quite unfortunate. You would have made a wonderful couple."
Gabriel let out a loud laugh.
Annette blinked in surprise. He actually laughed.
"You're surprisingly funny," he said simply before rising from his chair and walking out of the dining room.
Annette stared after him. "What the hell was that?"
Letting out a sigh, she looked down at her plate. She had barely eaten more than a slice of chicken.
She considered leaving but her hunger still lingered, and she knew it would only return stronger if she ignored it.
~~~
As Vincent strode toward his study, he caught sight of a tall, lanky guard approaching from the corner of his eye.
He paused and turned to face him. "What is it?"
The man bowed before speaking. "Duke William Fortier is here, my lord. He requests your presence."
The last person Vincent wanted to see was that fool, William.
He considered sending him away, but the man had never known how to mind his own business.
"Send him to the study. I shall be waiting for him there," Vincent said.
"Yes, my lord." The guard bowed once more before turning and walking away.