Grace did not wait to hear any more. She raced into the tavern, pushed past those eager to step outside to witness the commotion, tripped on the stairs in her hurry to reach her husband.
The door to their chamber was wide open. Elliot was sitting on the edge of the bed, slumped forward, holding his head in his hands.
“Elliot.”
“I asked you not to leave.”
Grace closed the door and came to sit by his side. “I’m sorry if I went against your wishes.” She placed her hand on his back. “I did not mean to hurt you or make you angry. That’s the last thing I would ever want.”
When he looked up at her, it wasn’t anger she saw in his eyes. She saw pain and anguish. “It seems I cannot trust anyone anymore.” Bitterness infused his words. “It seems Leo couldn’t wait to betray me. After everything I have done for him.”
“But Leo worships you,” she said incredulously. “He hangs on your every word. What has he done to warrant your contempt?”
Elliot’s mouth curled up in disdain. “He has taken the golden-haired devil to his bed. Apparently, they formed an attachment when she turned him. Conveniently, he had forgotten all about it.”
After noting the look of longing on Ivana’s face at the mere mention of his name, Grace was not surprised. “What did Leo have to say about it?”
Elliot shrugged. “Nothing worthy of my attention. Oh, he followed me, tried to explain, but I’ll be damned before I give him a chance to justify what he’s done.” He jumped up suddenly, thrust his hand through the mop of ebony hair as he paced the room. “God, it makes me retch just to think of them drinking each other’s blood.”
“They drank from each other?” While it might sound horrifying to some, Grace found the idea rather erotic. “Is Leo in love with her?” He must have developed a deep attachment if he had forgiven her for taking his humanity.
“Love?” Elliot mocked. “Neither of them would know the meaning of the word. Leo thinks with his cock.” Upon hearing her gasp, he said, “Forgive me. I’m just so damn angry with him.”
“I know what she did to you, and I do not blame you for despising her. But I do not think Ivana is the devil you make her out to be.”
Elliot stopped abrupt
ly, gazed at her beneath hooded lids. “Ivana? I did not tell you that was her name.”
Grace swallowed. She would not lie to him. “We met Ivana at Herr Bruhn’s house when she came to visit the children.”
“You met her?” Elliot took a step closer, his wide eyes scanning every inch of her body. “If she laid a hand on you then—”
“We spoke to her. That is all. Herr Bruhn said—”
“Who the blazes is Herr Bruhn? And how the hell did you manage to leave this room?”
Grace wasn’t sure which question to address first. “I used wax in my ears, tried to ignore the sound of your voice.”
“Wax? Why? You knew I would be frantic with worry if I came back to find you gone. Anything could have happened to you. She could have sunk her fangs into your neck. She could have—”
“But she didn’t.”
“If I cannot trust you to do what I ask—”
“You know you can trust me,” she cried, rushing to him and taking his hand.
“Can I?” he sneered. “You left this room when I specifically asked you not to.”
“You did not ask me, Elliot. You compelled me. It is not the same thing at all.” Grace gave a frustrated groan. “If anything, I should be the one with a gripe. You forced me to do something against my will. Why would you do such a thing?”
He sucked in a breath, grasped her upper arms. “Because I love you,” he blurted. “I cannot bear the thought of losing you. Without you, I have nothing. You are my world, Grace. Nothing else matters. Nothing.”
The depth of emotion in his voice made her heart swell. He pulled her close, enveloped her in a warm embrace.
“I love you.” She looked up and brushed her lips across his. She hated seeing him distraught. During their time in Yorkshire, he had been so happy, so carefree and she wished she could close her eyes and transport them back to that magical time and place.
But things were different now.