Samantha's P. O. V

The bedroom door was slightly opened, just enough for me to see the entrance of the boudoir and the marble hallway stretching past it.

I glanced at the brass lantern clock mounted on the wall again… Its double hand had already reached the hour I was waiting for.

And just like I predicted, Cassandra cheerfully strolled down the hallway completely obviously to my watchful eyes.

As soon as she was close enough that I could even see the embroidery on her sleeves, I pushed the door wide open, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her inside.

She barely had time to blink or even react before I...