The door shut, followed by a soft gait. Hesitant strides. I didn’t have to look up to know my visitor was female. The sharp scent of her perfume reached my nose before her glittery heels breached my periphery.

“You’re more handsome than I remember.” She paused just out of reach.

Anger simmered beneath my skin.

I remembered very little about her. I couldn’t recall her smell, her taste, the texture of her hair, or the color of her eyes. She was utterly forgettable.

“What are you doing here?” I lifted my gaze and scowled at Amanda Herschel.

As far as she knew, I hadn’t given her a passing thought in fifteen years. Our affair had been brief and ended nastily. I’d used her, made a lot of money off her mistakes, and moved on.

She had no idea I was privy to her plans to kill my wife.

“I was invited.” She fidgeted with the bodice of her black sequin gown and lowered her arms. “I heard you became a priest.”

“Yes.” With a sigh, I pocketed the rosary and leaned back in the chair. “That didn’t last.”

“I thought maybe it would’ve made you kinder.” She chuckled nervously. “But it wasn’t your kindness that drew me to you. I know it’s been fifteen years, and things ended badly between us.” She lowered to her knees at my feet, making my insides boil. “I forgive you, Magnus. I miss you. So much.”

Violence coursed through me as I imagined Tinsley’s lifeless body, her limbs cold and unmoving in my arms. I would never survive her death. I would never forgive.

“I’ve always loved you.” Amanda stared up at me, her plain face aged with wrinkles and desolation. “I’ve tried to find another man with your…aggressive passion. There’s no one like you. I—I can’t get over you, Magnus. No matter how hard I try.”

She rested a hand on my rigid leg.

I shoved it away with a snarl. “I’m married.”

She recoiled. Breathed in deeply. Then she set her shoulders, determined. “Marriages end.”

“Not mine.” My voice turned to ice. “Not even with poisoned wine.”

“What?” Her face went stark white.

“Do you deny it?” I unfolded from the chair, forcing her to fall back on her ass.

“Magnus, please.” She scrambled across the floor.

I stayed with her, catching her by the hair and ruthlessly wrenching her back.

“Tell me!” Seized by rage, I slammed her face into the corner of the side table and dragged her back by her hair. “Do you deny poisoning Tinsley’s wine?”

“No!” She wailed, clawing at my fist. “Let me go!”