Oh, Byron, you were so scared I would get near her, you broke her heart and your own.

Victorija took her hand. “Who was this fool?”

Amelia gulped hard. She obviously still felt so very hurt. “Byron Debrek.”

“Ah, I see.”

Amelia narrowed her eyes. “You know her?”

Victorija nodded.

“You don’t seem too surprised?”

The last thing she needed was Amelia to become suspicious. “No, I’m not. I mix in the same business circles as Byron, and well…she has a reputation.”

“What kind of reputation?”

Victorija lifted Amelia’s hand, caressed it between hers, and tenderly stroked her knuckles and fingers. She felt her relax into her touch, exactly what she intended.

“Byron is a businesswoman on the world stage, she’s never in one country for too long, and she is known to have a woman in every port, as it were.” She saw tears come to Amelia’s eyes, and she tried to pull her hand away, but Victorija kept a firm grip.

“You deserve so much more than Byron, Mademoiselle Honey.”

“Do I?” Amelia said in a hurt and angry voice.

It was strange, but Victorija did believe what she was saying. Amelia did deserve more than her cousin. Amelia’s innocence and goodness reminded her of someone she once knew, who hadn’t deserved her fate either. It was a shame that she would have to kill Amelia eventually, but she would love to taste every last drop of her pure, innocent blood. Amelia’s death would be on Byron’s shoulders, not hers.

“Yes, you do. I’ve only known you a short time and I can tell that. Why don’t we enjoy a wonderful dinner and forget about Byron Debrek?”

Amelia appeared unsure, so Victorija smiled and said, “They do the most decadent chocolate dessert here. I say we get one each, and luxuriate in every unhealthy spoonful.” Victorija raised an eyebrow. “What do you say?”

That brought a smile from Amelia. “Yes, let’s.”

* * *

Victorija dropped Amelia home, and Amelia thought about their evening as she got ready for bed. She was surprised that Victorija, quite chivalrously, simply kissed her palm to say goodnight, and didn’t expect anything more. It was a good first date, and Victorija was charming, engaging, interesting, and so polite, but despite all that something gave Amelia an uneasy feeling. Maybe it was her imagination, but it was as if Victorija was holding back part of herself, and there were two incidents that were reminiscent of Byron, and Sera.

First there was the way she had dismissed the waiter, and the way he had reacted, much like the club staff member had when Sera had spoken to him, all those months ago in Monte Carlo, and like what Byron had tried to do to her the night before she left her.