Angela fixed him with a sharp look.

“Is it a long-standing tradition of House Galland to keep calling someone by their name without permission?”

Isaac gave a crooked grin.

“Calling the name of the one you’re devoted to until it reaches their heart is a tradition I, Isaac Leo Galland, am creating himself. Traditions have to start somewhere, after all.”

His gaze dropped to Lucy, standing guard in front of Angela.

“Coming to check on her because it’s her first night in a strange place. You’re prickly with people, but unexpectedly tender in odd ways.”

Isaac muttered with a note of longing.

“I wish you’d think of me as a big puppy. Maybe then you’d be a little less uncomfortable around me.”

He curled his large hands into loose fists and made an endearing show of imitating a dog.

“Woof. Woof.”

It was so absurd that a dry laugh escaped Angela before she could stop it. Isaac broke into a bright grin.

“You’re beautiful when you smile.”

“I’m aware. You don’t need to keep saying it.”

“That confidence is wonderful. Truly the woman I love.”

“Your declarations escalate every time we meet. It’s a great deal to take in.”

“I keep saying it hoping your feelings will shift the same way. Words have power, don’t they?”

Angela answered without bothering to hide her contempt.

“Words spoken without the other person’s consent are no different from violence.”

Was there anything more horrifying than forced affection?

One side called it violence. The other insisted it was love and thought nothing of going to extremes.

The memory of something unpleasant threatened to surface and her stomach turned again. Angela kept her expression blank regardless.

Let her expression slip, and he would look down on her. He would think things were going his way.

“I do think I ask for consent fairly often, though.”

Isaac continued, mercifully oblivious to what was happening inside her.

“I was lying in my room thinking it over after what you said earlier. All the guests here are courting you, so shouldn’t you spend time with each of us ‘fairly’ if we’re all to get to know one another?”

“The point being, you’d like me to spend time with everyone equally?”

“Yes. I can accept that you’ll give time to the other men, but I think getting to know someone properly means meeting one on one.”

“So the point is that you’d like each of us to go on a date individually.”

“As expected of Angela. Quick to understand.”

Angela murmured quietly.

“Equal time……”

She had no desire to see any of the three.

Every instinct told her she did not want to be near people who might have killed Joel.

But if the killer truly was among them, shouldn’t she be watching for even the smallest slip.

“That’s a reasonable proposal. I’ll consider it.”

“I’m overjoyed that you hear me out so well.”

“Then please go inside and get some sleep. You’ll catch a cold wandering around in something that thin.”

Angela said it with a cool expression. Isaac flapped the edge of his nearly transparent robe with his own hand.

“I thought it was a rather inspired choice, but it seems it doesn’t work on Angela. Women generally appreciate this, for what it’s worth.”

Angela nodded with a face entirely unmoved.

“Oh, is that so. Then please do go find those women. Good night. Come along, Lucy.”

Angela cut the conversation off cleanly and walked away without looking back, Lucy at her heels. Isaac let out a hearty laugh and called after her.

“The first date is with me, Angela!”

Angela said nothing and went through her door, closing it behind her.

“Miss.”

The moment she stepped inside, Emily was waiting with both hands on her hips and a ferocious look in her eyes.

Lucy barked once at the unfamiliar sight, and Angela soothed her.

“She’s not dangerous, Lucy. Emily, I told you to call me Madam. What are you doing in my room at this hour?”

“And what were you doing out there at this hour, Miss, wandering around like that. And why did you bring the dog?”

“It’s her first night in this residence. I felt sorry leaving her tied up.”

“And what about me, who came to check on you and found an empty bed? Wasn’t that worth feeling sorry about? You’re not planning to have that dog sleep in the bed with you, are you?”

“Lucy, you can sleep right here.”

Angela patted the carpeted section of the floor with her hand, and Lucy seemed to understand it was her spot. She curled herself up there with elegant ease.

Angela tucked an extra cushion beside her.

“Oh, clever girl.”

“Going out in the middle of the night to bring a dog into the bedroom. And alone, no less! Please call for me next time.”

“She’s clever and loyal. Having her at my feet means I’ll be able to respond to anything that happens in the night. And you had gone to rest. I couldn’t ask you to go to that trouble.”

“But the Count ended up the way he did, and now if something happened to you too……!”

Emily caught herself mid-sentence, clapped both hands over her mouth.

“I’m sorry……”

“It’s all right. You said it because you were worried.”

Angela slipped the shawl from her shoulders and handed it to Emily. Emily took it with a guilty face, her manner softening.

“Come, lie down. I’m staying until you’re asleep.”

“I’m fine, really. Lucy’s here too……”

“And Emily will be here as well.”

“You and your stubbornness.”

Angela laughed lightly. Emily tucked the blanket around her as she lay down, then seemed to remember something.

“Oh, Miss. I saw something strange on my way here.”

“What kind of strange thing?”

“I might be reading too much into it, but I saw Lord Wilton near Lady Natasha Barton’s room.”

“Near Lady Barton’s room? His room isn’t anywhere close to that part of the house. There’s no reason for him to pass through there.”

“That’s what I thought. I figured maybe he couldn’t sleep in an unfamiliar place and was walking around. He didn’t seem to notice me.”

Emily laughed, making a show of being unbothered.

“He was so gentlemanly from the moment he arrived, so it was probably just that. Still, I thought I’d mention it since you’ve been keeping the perfume in mind.”

“Good. You did well, Emily. It’s probably nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

She did think it was strange, but Angela kept her voice easy to keep Emily from worrying.

“You’re right, aren’t you? Someone that kind couldn’t really be the killer.”

“Mm. Even so, if you notice anything odd about any of the three of them, tell me right away. You might see things I miss.”

“Yes. I will, Miss.”

“You can really go now, Emily. Lucy’s here, so don’t worry.”

“I said I’m staying until you’re asleep.”

“I’m a bit too old for a goodnight kiss.”

Emily let out a small sigh.

“All right, Miss. No more going out tonight.”

“I know. Go and rest properly, Emily.”

“Then I’ll trust you and go.”

Click.

The door closed on Emily’s parting words of concern. Darkness settled.

‘Lord Wilton and Natasha Barton……’

There was no obvious connection between them, but it was worth keeping in mind.

Cyril, staring into the dark at the place where her husband had died.

Isaac, pressing closer despite every sign that he was unwelcome.

Ashley, lingering near Natasha’s room.

Everything was suspicious. Everything was doubtful. Whichever way it fell, she only hoped the killer would be revealed soon.

A heavy, gloomy darkness drifted around her.

She wasn’t sure she could sleep.

Pad, pad.

With soft little footsteps, a warm living creature pressed its head into Angela’s hand.

“Lucy, did you come because you were worried about me? You really are a clever one.”

She had pushed her head forward to be petted, but despite being large enough to climb onto the bed, she had not. A well-trained dog.

Warmth settled into Angela’s hand.

She felt considerably calmer than before. Angela drifted slowly into sleep.