I was hauled back upstairs and taken into the study. I avoided looking at the patch of carpet where Sebastian had died. The blood had been cleaned up, but a faint stain remained and the vague notion occurred to me that Armstrong would have to replace the carpet. Why that particular thought crossed my mind, I didn't know, but it seemed better to think of practical things than what was about to happen. Maybe he was waiting until after he'd ripped my throat out, so he didn't have the expense of replacing it twice. I shook my head, knew I was surely losing my mind, and glanced up at Armstrong. I was surprised to discover there was a second man in the room with us. It made me instantly more wary – this was something different and I didn't trust it.
“Miss Duncan. How delightful of you to join u
