A BRIDE IN BLACK

k, and the priest r

edict kept his book shut against his chest. "I

doors. Rain needled the graveyard beyond them, fil

ly," she said. "My sto

a choking sou

, purple mottling his cheeks. He had sold her father's house, spent her

as you're t

d. I

th

mother's old bedroom. She had sewn a silver thorn into the hem, small enough to hide beneath the first fold. I

ish," Clara said. "It seeme

and caught her arm. "Vale

. You've spen

gers ti

l bell st

andle w

even clatter of a farmer's cart, but a measured approach, hoov

l struc

the tenth, Father Benedict had opened his book. At thirte

ots. He was younger than Clara had expected, perhaps thirty, with a pale face and a scar int

saw his

nd he kept them on

e wilted altar flowers, and Clara's dr

ame,"

welcome. They he

her chin. "

e could name it. He walked down the aisle, and the

rward. "My lord, abo

s the oc

ict stiffene

eg

riest

winter, and Adrian had brought none to replace it. When the time came for her vows,

leanor Whitmore,

N

ked somewher

t stared. "I b

n. "I want a private

husband yet,"

to worry about what he

sed her hand

tried to remain until Adrian looked at him. Then he

out the guests, the chapel smelled

yond Adrian's

cle offe

doesn't own. Last spring

t here

them shaking. "My question stands. You c

ant an agre

did yo

she checked the doorway. Her unc

son to protect your

ilence

. "Your uncle borrowed twelve thousand crowns from me. The d

that an ex

The explanation would ta

the dark window

the can

e nigh

ttom of the chapel tower, her white dress unstained though every bone in her body was broke

inary men, and rich men attracted uglier stories than poor on

l Evangeline

ead t

time, he seeme

e you th

ved on he

t h

n my d

ed the silenc

climbing a spiral stair while something struck the walls below her. Last night, the

na

e between them. Clara b

gain," he said, "

he ex

he ceremo

f I re

our uncle returns to a house he can n

She hated him for

Then let us become miser

not t

othing offered by a servant wearing white. And if you hear

ed for him

did

ything else?

ck veil. "Whatever happens tonight

rried seven

igned her maiden name for the last time, then stared at

ed name," h

what goe

chapel. Clara Eleanor Vale. She blotted

ether. Adrian gave him a folded sheet of paper. Henr

e're se

drian said. "The

ished. "That wasn

de. You did not sp

side them. "What

Henry lunged for the pieces, but Adrian held them over a c

should leave before I

thout saying

, she remembered being six years old and hiding behind his legs at her father's fune

gaze. "Would you r

N

stake my kindn

en anything about

rm. After a mome

Clara with his eyes closed, leaving her to watch the road narrow between dripping trees. Twi

tood in

oward the carriage. None held an umbrella. None m

d closer to

and caught

look at

free. "Wh

est

tanding in

nowhere e

ndows lit against the afternoon gloom. Half the roof had collapsed into the central courtyard. Ivy

ath the portico. All wore gra

ron wa

rian, but he had a

k and clucked at the rain on her veil. "

thin

sent for the

ter service at the dressmaker's shop in Bellford

wo flights, then faded along another corridor. The woman unlocked a bedroom ove

beside the bed, her folded dresses visible inside. Someone h

w lay a whit

ried it t

k stop

outside. "Dinner will be served at six. His

the nightgown

I've alrea

She smiled, and Clara saw that s

you

obody cam

nd a candle. At eight, the corridor fell sile

re. Instead, she took the candle

lamps burned behind open doors. To the east, darkness crowded a singl

of the

pped over

andle showed squares on the wallpaper where pictures had hu

rself it wa

ipped when s

veil streamed across one shoulder, caught in an invisible wind. The artist had

ised the

an had

nished letters formed a

ELEANO

VED

1-1

es twice. She had

chain rattled ag

the dark corridor. "Step