Chapter 7
Previously On The Heiress:
Dante: Has anyone ever told you how impatient you are?
He let out a small chuckle, before looking at me rather seriously.
Dante: Someone tried to stab me in my sleep.
Kitty: That's ridiculous. Who would try to stab you?
Dante: I don't know.
He pulled his shirt over his head revealing a toned chest and abdomen as he did so- Before pointing to his side where a long scratch was present.
Dante: They obviously don't have the stabbing part down, but is that enough proof for you?
I nodded as the colour drained from my face.
Kitty: What do we do now?
Dante: I think the logical thing would be to go tell your father. If there's a stranger with a penchant for stabbing guests he night want to know about it.
Kitty: And yet you're the first guest they tried to stab.
Dante: Was it you?
Kitty: Yes, Dante. Clearly. I assure you if I ever attempted to stab you, I wouldn't miss.
He looked terrified before chuckling.
Dante: Come on, let's go tell your father.
He took my hand and I kept my hand in his as his fingertips traced along the inside of my palm. I shivered slightly as he kept his gaze on me for a moment, before finally letting my hand go and motioning towards the door to remind us both of what we needed to do.
John: Kitty, Lord Radcliffe? What is it?
My father looked between the two of us, clearly irked, as we stood in front of him.
Dante: Sir, we hate to wake you, but we thought you needed to know.
John: Know what?
Kitty: Someone tried to stab Lord Radcliffe, Papa.
John: Pardon?
Dante: I was woken up, sir, by a strange figure hovering above me. They were clearly holding a knife.
John: Ah. I think the two of you need to head back to bed. Your imaginations are clearly running wild.
Dante: Wait... Damn it.
Kitty: Come on.
I lead him back to the hallway where our rooms were, before pulling him into mine.
Dante: Ah, so you do want me.
He waggled his eyebrows as he moved closer.
Kitty: Like I want the plague.
Dante: Wounded, Miss. Hawthorne. You know it wouldn't kill you to flirt back.
Kitty: I don't have to time to flirt. Now shut up and listen.
Dante: Yes, Love?
Kitty: Emilia and I saw the figure too.
Dante: What?
Kitty: We've both seen it twice now. The second time it pushed Emilia down.
Dante: You're telling me you've seen it too?! And you acted as if I was mad!
Kitty: Yeah, yeah, I know. I just though the stabbing was a bit farfetched. For a ghost I mean...
Dante: Well, for starters, I don't think it's a ghost. Unless they've started wielding weapons.
Kitty: Then who is it?
Dante: Some angry servant? Has your father angered anyone in the household lately?
Kitty: No! Papa is always most kind to all who work here.
Dante: An angry tenant?
Kitty: He's never told me about anyone being upset with him.
Dante: Then I'm at a loss.
He stretched some, making his muscles ripple a bit before taking a deep breath. I couldn't help but let my eyes trail over him curiously. I'd never seen a half-dressed man before this night. Though, I didn't know quite what I'd been expecting.
Dante: Staring is rude, Kitty.
He startled me from my thoughts as I quickly pulled my eyes up to his to see him laughing.
Dante: You can come get a closer look if you'd like.
Kitty: No, thank you.
Dante: Spoilsport.
Kitty: That's me.
Dante: What would you like to do now?
Kitty: Sleep, so get out.
Dante: Cruel mistress.
He pouted before pressing a kiss to my cheek, though this one landed too close to my mouth.
Kitty: Dante...
My warning came out shakily as I looked into his eyes.
Dante: Sorry, my lips slipped.
He stared at my mouth as he bit his lips, before pulling back and winking at me.
Dante: Goodnight, Kitty.
Leaving me with my heart pounding in my chest.
The next day, Emilia and I stood in her room while I gave her the details of the night before.
Emilia: I think you should leave it alone, Kitty. If it is an angry person, they could hurt us.
Kitty: They've already hurt us. They hurt you.
Emilia: 'Twas merely a scratch.
Kitty: Perhaps. But it could have been way worse.
Emilia: Did Lord Radcliffe get home alright?
Kitty: I assume so. He wasn't at breakfast.
Emilia: Mama probably scared him off. You should have heard her giving him directions to his room last night.
Kitty: She gave him directions for my bedroom.
Emilia: You're jesting!
Kitty: I wish I was.
Emilia: Did he see you..
Kitty: In just my dress shirt? Yes.
Emilia: Good for him.
Kitty: Emilia!
Emilia: What? I'm sure he wasn't complaining.
Kitty: I'm going for a walk.
Emilia: Would you like me to join you?
Kitty: Not now, Em. I need to clear my head.
I sighed in relief once the fresh, fragrant air of the gardens surrounded me. There was something so calming about being within the peace and quiet of nature. Walking further down a quiet and remote zone of the garden, I witnessed a maid and a man-servant.