Chapter 3

A ngelica gasped and spun out of her attacker’s grasp.

“Do not cry out!” he whispered.

“Y-you!” Angelica stammered, her heart pounding. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“Do not be afraid. I will not harm you,” Simon Fear whispered.

“But how did you get into my garden?” Angelica demanded, her fear turning to anger. “Who are you?”

“My name is Simon Fear,” he told her, his dark eyes locked on hers.

Angelica bent to pick up her shoes, which in her alarm she had allowed to fall. But she kept her eyes trained warily on Simon. “You entered my party uninvited,” she said, standing up. “Now you attack me in my garden. Are you a thief? Are you mad? What do you want?”

“I want you to marry me,” Simon replied without hesitation. He pulled off his top hat and held it in front of him with both hands. His dark hair fluttered in the breeze.

Angelica started to reply, but only a startled laugh escaped her throat. “The answer is that you are mad!” she declared. “Will you turn and leave the way you came? Or do I have to call the servants to usher you out once again?”

“I saw you at your ball,” Simon said, ignoring her questions, determined to tell her what was in his heart. “I saw you standing on the staircase. And I knew that I was in love with you.”

“From one glance?” Angelica scoffed. “And how much champagne had you drunk, Mr. Fear?”

“Angelica, I knew at that moment,” Simon continued, “that you would be my wife.”

Angelica laughed again, but her laughter was tinged with fear. “Have you escaped from an asylum?” she demanded. “Are you dangerous? Can you hear a word I say?”

“You will be my wife, Angelica,” Simon insisted, his dark eyes glowing in the lantern light.

“I am going to call for help now,” Angelica told him, shivering. The hem of her long ball gown was wet. The wet grass had chilled her feet, and the cold ran up her body. “Please—”

“I will leave,” Simon offered, still holding the top hat in front of him. “I did not mean to alarm you. But I had to come back. I had to see you. To talk to you.”

“You have said more than enough,” Angelica told him dryly.

Simon replaced his hat and began running toward the back fence, the fence he had climbed to enter the garden. Halfway there he turned back to her. “You will marry me, Angelica Pierce. Mark my words!”

As he climbed the fence and vanished from the garden, her scornful laughter rang in his ears.

Simon wandered dizzily through town. The Mardi Gras parade had ended, sending hundreds of costumed revelers into the streets. Lively dance music, the strump of banjos, and the happy cries of fiddles and harmonicas poured from every doorway.

Torches floated by, casting a wash of eerie yellow light over the shouting, laughing faces. A group of masked partygoers rolled a barrel-size keg of beer along the side of the street. Several bare-chested men, weaving arm in arm ahead of Simon, sang a sad song at the top of their lungs.

Simon didn’t see any of it.

As he made his way aimlessly through the whooping, laughing crowds of the French Quarter, all he could see was Angelica Pierce.

Dazed and nearly delirious with happiness, he wandered until he left the noisy crowds behind. All torchlight disappeared. This old section of town was dark, lit only by the sliver of moon overhead.

Where am I? Simon asked himself, noticing for the first time the low wooden buildings, all dark and silent. I seem to have wandered down by the docks.

The darkness brought darker thoughts to his mind.

Angelica, he had seen, already had suitors. Two suitors, to be exact.

After he had been removed from the party, Simon had doubled back and found a hiding place in front of the house. From his vantage point he had spied into the ballroom window.

Staring into the brightness, he had watched Angelica dance. He had seen the two young men who were her partners. Simon didn’t know their names, but he would make it his business to find out.

Two worthy young gentlemen, Simon thought bitterly. But I am more worthy! I may not have their money or breeding—but I shall have Angelica!

His heart still pounded with the excitement of meeting Angelica. The dark streets appeared to tilt up to meet him. The low buildings grew darker. Behind the buildings he could hear the rush of water.

The docks must be on the next block, he realized. I have wandered into an unsafe neighborhood.

Just as he had this thought, he felt a heavy arm take hold of him. He felt a sharp pain as something sharp was pressed against his throat.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20