Eve Silver by Dark Desires Read Free Book Online

in blood, still bright and wet.”
    Darcie felt as though a cold wind whispered against the back of her neck. “He's a doctor, Mary. Doctors sometimes get blood on their handkerchiefs.”
    Shaking her head, Mary said nothing as she peered at the spines of the books that lined the shelves, then her eyes lit on the volume she desired, and she pulled it out.
    “I recognize it 'cause it doesn't 'ave no fancy gold writing like the others,” she said, gesturing at the book's plain binding.
    It wasn't a printed book, Darcie saw, but rather a leather-bound sketchbook. Casting another quick glance over her shoulder, Mary then flipped the cover open, turning the pages carefully until she found what she sought.
    “Look at this,” she said. “Right here.”
    Darcie looked, and her breath caught and hung suspended in her throat. The page revealed a detailed sketch of a leg, though it was not the subject that was so disturbing, but rather the manner of detail that was depicted. The drawing showed the skin pulled back from the naked limb, and even the muscle in parts, so the underlying bone was revealed. Tracing the image with shaking fingers, Darcie noticed that the artist was one of mediocre skill. The foreshortening was wrong and the weight of the lines uneven.
    Footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. With a squeak Mary dropped the book to the floor, shoving it with the toe of her boot until it was partially hidden beneath the desk. She whipped a cloth and small bottle of lemon juice mixed with salt from the voluminous pocket at the front of her apron. With shaking hands she began to polish the brass fittings on the doctor's desk.
    “What are you doing in here?”
    Both women turned at the sound of the harshly barked query. Poole stood in the doorway, his glance targeting Mary, and then growing wintry as it moved to Darcie.
    “We thought if we worked together we could get things done quicker,” Mary said smoothly, keeping her eyes fixed on the gleaming brass fittings.
    “More likely, you thought you could waste the doctor's paid time by chattering away like a pair of magpies,” Poole replied.
    “No, sir,” Mary insisted, shaking her head to emphasize her point.
    “Go now, Mary.”
    Mary gathered her cloth and slunk toward the door, turning sideways to slide past Poole, as he made no move to vacate the entryway. With a quick, pitying glance at Darcie, she fled. Poole watched her go, and something indecipherable flickered in his eyes.
    “I—” Darcie cleared her throat nervously as Poole swung his head, freezing her with his wintry scrutiny. “I'm almost done here, sir.” She allowed herself no hesitation as she rushed on. “I've noticed that no one goes out to clean the doctor's laboratory, sir. I could do that if you like.”
    “You are not to go near the doctor's laboratory.” It seemed that the butler bit the words out through gritted teeth. Darcie could imagine him spitting metal pieces from his mouth. “You are to notice nothing. You are to do as I tell you. You are not to think. You are not to overstep your bounds. Have I made myself clear?”
    Darcie nodded, feeling the force of the words buffet her as though she had been struck.
    “You, Darcie Finch.” Poole continued, speaking her name as though the taste of it was vile on his tongue. “There are many maids in this fine city, any of whom would far surpass you in both manner and mien, who would be glad for this position. Watch yourself, Finch, for I am watching you.”
    Running his finger over a tabletop that Darcie had dusted earlier, he then rubbed the pads of his index finger and thumb together, a slow precise movement. His cold eyes scanned the room before he advanced on her, moving close enough that she could see the small dot of dried blood on his chin where he had nicked himself shaving. She couldn't seem to drag her gaze away from that tiny, dark spot.
     “Do not overstep,” he said, then wheeled about and stalked from the room.
     Darcie waited