e woman’s
servants?”
“Everyone. For almost a month we searched the area,
describing Lucien, but he’d vanished.”
Rosalind frowned. “I don’t understand how he arrived
back at Castle St. Clare.”
Charles took her arm and they walked through a crum-
bling stone archway into the wilderness outside. Th
e blue of
the sea was visible and the muted thunder of waves beating at
the cliff base became audible.
“I’m not sure Lucien knows. He doesn’t remember what
happened and he’s tight-lipped about where he was before
returning to St. Clare. As I said, he’s changed. He’s no longer
outgoing and cheerful. I’m not sure I’ve seen him smile since
his return. He’s distant, not just with me, but with Justin
145
SHELLEY MUNRO
too, and he’s known Justin since the cradle. We used to do
everything together. And, now we don’t.”
A silence fell between them as they strolled the path,
each deep in their own thoughts.
Rosalind wondered what had happened to Hastings.
After seeing his scar, it was obvious he’d been attacked and
injured, but what else had happened to cause an outgoing
man to change so much?
“He doesn’t want to be married to me,” she cried.
Charles stopped in the middle of the path, a frown on his
face. In the heartbeat before he spoke, Rosalind heard the call
of a sea bird and the buzz of a bee collecting pollen from the
profusion of fl owers. Miserably, she focused on the sounds to
counteract her embarrassment.
His hand tipped up her chin, forcing her to look at him.
“I’m sure you are mistaken.”
“No, he tried to call off the wedding before we were mar-
ried.” Th
e words burst from her once she was over her initial
shock. “And now, he ignores me. I’ll never have children.”
Charles’ jaw sagged. He blinked. “You mean . . .?”
Rosalind lifted her shoulders in a wretched shrug, color
scorching her cheeks.
“Oh.” Charles cleared his throat. “Give it time. Lucien
has much to deal with.”
146
THE SECOND SEDUCTION
“Maybe,” Rosalind murmured, but she didn’t believe
time would heal the breach without help. Charles hadn’t seen
Lucien last night. Th
ere wasn’t a doubt in her mind. Lucien
had said he didn’t want children, and he meant it.
“I’m sure I’m right,” Charles said. “Ah. I believe this is
the perfect spot for you to capture the vista. What do you
think?” He stopped by a stone wall.
Rosalind nodded, hardly caring where she set herself up
to draw. In truth, she wanted to think, not paint. She needed
to decide how to cope with Hastings, with Lady Augusta, the
mystery of her disappearing clothes, and all the other strange
things that had been happening.
Like or not, she and Hastings were married. She must
make some sort of life for herself.
Charles set her drawing materials on top of a fl at stone.
“Can I do anything else for you before I leave? Help you
set up?”
Rosalind forced a cheerful smile but remained chilled
inside. “Th
ank you, Cousin Charles. I’ll be fi ne on my own.
Will you be here for dinner?” Th
e idea of his company at the
dinner table appealed, especially if they were to dine without
company tonight. A shudder worked its way down her spine
when she imagined Lady Augusta’s pointed remarks and fault
fi nding, along with Hastings’ silence and scowls. Cousin
147
SHELLEY MUNRO
Charles’ light-hearted company helped immensely during the
longwinded dinners.
“Justin is home from London, dancing attendance on his
mother. We’re attending a picnic organized by Lady Helena
and her mother. No doubt Justin will arrive at Castle St.
Clare for dinner. He has some interesting experiences. He
returned to Italy for a time and traveled to the East, to Con-
stantinople. Sultan Abdul Musa befriended him after Justin
saved the Sultan’s brother from being trampled by a horse.
Justin’s stories of life in the Sultan’s palace are . . . colorful,”
Charles ended with an embarrassed splutter.
“I look forward to meeting him,” Rosalind said, hiding
her amusement. He meant the tales were not suitable for
ladies’ ears.
Charles grinned. “You’ll like Justin. Most people do.
Would you like to attend the picnic with me?”
And give Lady Helena another shot at ridiculing her
dress? Rosalind shook her head. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“All right.” With a quick wave, Charles sauntered off .
Rosalind frowned as she watched him depart. And
sighed, feeling sorry for herself. Why wasn’t Hastings more
agreeable, like his cousin?
148
VIII
Lady Augusta wants you.”
Th
e rough male voice startled Rosalind. She leapt off
her perch on the stone wall, her hand fl uttering to her breast.
Th
e footman waited in silence, his face impassive. Rosalind
studied the intelligent glint in his brown eyes before deciding
against a plea to say he couldn’t fi nd her. She frowned. If she
refused to return to the castle, he’d probably escort her by
force. He looked the sort to follow orders.
Heaving a resigned sigh and muttering under her breath,
Rosalind packed up her drawing materials. Lady Augusta
had trapped her neatly this time.
“Where will I fi nd Lady Augusta?” she asked.
“In the Blue drawing room.”
Rosalind inclined her head. “Th
ank you.” She walked
SHELLEY MUNRO
past the South Tower and into the courtyard.
Th
e squeaking of leather shoes and the rustle of fabric
indicated the footman followed.
She stopped and turned to fi x him with a haughty stare.
“I know where the Blue drawing room is.”
“Lady Augusta bade me escort you right to her.”
Rosalind noted his expression remained impassive, al-
though goodness knows what the man was thinking. Lady
Augusta was treating her like a child, or someone lacking
in wits.
Rosalind’s chin jerked up. “I will change my gown before
I attend Lady Augusta.”
Th
e footman proved equally stubborn. “Lady Augusta
said immediately.”
While they were engaged in a duel of wills, Hastings ap-
peared in the courtyard. Rosalind’s heart thumped unexpect-
edly hard, and her mouth dried as though she’d eaten too
much pickled meat. Was her husband going to acknowledge
her this morning? She swallowed, fi ghting to hold emotion in
check. Or, would he walk past right past, treating her like an
unfortunate encumbrance?
“Good morning, Hastings.” Rosalind decided to take a
stand. He was her hus
band whether he liked it or not. She
halted in front of him so he needed to step around her to
150
THE SECOND SEDUCTION
avoid knocking her to the ground.
He stopped inches away. His dark eyes narrowed al-
though she thought she saw a fl icker of surprise, and perhaps
approval. A tic kicked to life at the bottom of his scar.
Rosalind watched in fascination, the pulsing of the
muscle right near his fi rm mouth. “Good morning,” she
prompted again. Her heart thumped at her daring, at the
strange fl ash of emotion in his dark eyes. She’d be lucky if he
didn’t imprison her in the North Tower with the ghost.
“What are you doing?”
Rosalind suspected he was asking why she was blocking
his way, but she pretended ignorance. Instead, she shot an ag-
grieved look at the silent footman by her side. “Lady Augusta
has summoned me.”
One dark brow rose and his mouth curled upward at the
very edges. “Best hurry then, before she takes it out on the
footman.”
Th
at was a defi nite smirk, Rosalind thought. Bother
the man. He’d hit on the one thing that would make her
hasten to the appointment. Still, she was reluctant to leave
without a few words from her husband. Without thought, she
reached out to touch his hand. “Your friend Justin is coming
for dinner tonight. I’m looking forward to meeting him. I’ve
heard so much about him from Charles.”
151
SHELLEY MUNRO
Lucien didn’t reply. Th
e picture that formed in her mind
was not the one she expected. She’d anticipated a vision of
Charles and perhaps another man — Justin. Instead, the
image was dark. Apprehension prickled her skin. Her gaze
shot to Hastings. His distant, unfocused expression mirrored
her confusion.
Hawk. A faceless fi gure, he prowled Hastings’ mind with
a sinister menace. Rosalind exhaled slowly. Was this the same
man that she read in the villagers’ minds when she treated
their ailments?
Hastings shrugged, snapping the fragile contact she held
with his mind. “I have things to do.” His gaze narrowed fur-
ther as he waited for Rosalind to move. Taking a deep breath,
she did as he silently bid, her mind too full of unanswered
questions to challenge him again.
Rosalind entered the Great Hall, trailed by her silent sentry.
“Where is that dratted footman?” Lady Augusta’s screech
echoed down the passage, exploding into the Great Hall with
the force of a nor’easter.
Th
ere was nothing for it. Rosalind knew she had to face
Lady Augusta. Th
e footman must not be punished because
of her reluctance. Rosalind took a deep breath and sailed into
the Blue salon to meet with her nemesis.
“Th
ere you are! Where have you been, girl? And what
152
THE SECOND SEDUCTION
are you wearing?” Lady Augusta’s voice rose even higher if
that were possible, her gray eyes burned with anger while her
mouth wrinkled up like an old apple left out in the sun.
Before Rosalind answered, Lady Augusta’s gaze cut to
the silent footman. “I told you immediately. Tell Tickell your
next half day is cancelled.”
A horrifi ed gasp escaped from Rosalind, and for the
fi rst time she saw a fl ash of irritation on the footman’s face.
“Th
at’s not fair!” she blurted. “It’s my fault he took so long.
I was way out by the Tower garden. Th
en, on the way back I
stopped to talk to Hastings. Th
e butler mustn’t punish him
on my account.”
“Go,” Lady Augusta ordered the footman. “And don’t
forget to see Tickell.”
Aghast, Rosalind could only stare at the elderly woman
in front of her. She decided to countermand the order later.
“How can I help you, Lady Augusta?”
“Where is that maid of yours? I told her to go to the
village seamstress and come back with two suitable gowns for
you. Where is she? I expected her back at least an hour ago.”
“Mary and I visited the seamstress last week to order
gowns. She’s busy with orders for the Mansfi eld ball.”
“Which we are attending,” Lady Augusta snapped. “You
can’t go in a gown such as the one you wore last night. You
153
SHELLEY MUNRO
will make us a laughing stock. Your maid dresses better than
you do. It’s no wonder Hastings spends so much time away
from Castle St. Clare.”
Hurt lanced through Rosalind at the cruel reminder,
but Lady Augusta spoke the truth. Hastings refused to spend
time with her. So, whom did he spend his time with? Th
e lady
who inhabited his memories?
“Pour the chocolate, girl.” Lady Augusta’s abrasive tone
jerked her from her sorry thoughts. “Where is your maid?
You haven’t told me. Speak up, Lady Rosalind!”
Th
e dainty china bowls rattled as Rosalind arranged
them on the small walnut table next to Lady Augusta. “I
haven’t seen her since she helped me dress this morning.”
“Discipline, girl! Th
at’s the only thing they understand.
If I fi nd she met with a man instead of hurrying back, there’ll
be trouble. Servants need discipline.”
Rosalind disagreed but knew better than to argue. She
picked up the pot of chocolate and poured it into two bowls.
She placed one within Lady Augusta’s reach.
“Pass the sugar, girl!”
“Yes, Lady Augusta.”
She picked up the sugar bowl and held it toward Lady
Augusta.
“Two lumps.”
154
THE SECOND SEDUCTION
Rosalind sighed, but followed the order. When she was
about to place the sugar bowl down, Lady Augusta seized
her hand.
“Another lump.”
A haze of red and white swirled through Rosalind’s mind
at the contact. Th
e red seeped through the white like drops
of blood. Rosalind shivered involuntarily, feeling as though
she was walking through a patch of cold fog. Th
e fog cleared
to show children. She saw Hastings, but a younger Hastings
who laughed and gamboled over the sand with others chasing
him. Th
e fog swirled, rearranged, then cleared in a diff erent
place, and Rosalind came face to face with herself. A soft
gasp escaped; she wrenched away, jolting the sugar bowl and
scattering lumps in all directions.
“You stupid girl,” Lady Augusta barked. “Ring for a maid.”
Rosalind backed away, blindly reaching for the hand
bell to summon a servant. Lady Augusta worried about the
future, about the continuation of the St. Clare line. And she
was in pain — severe pain that she hid behind her irascible
disposition.
Th
is presented a quandary. Ever
ything inside her wanted
to reach out and help, but how could she and keep her gift
secret at the same time?
She returned to where Lady Augusta sat in an upright
155
SHELLEY MUNRO
chair. Cubes of sugar ground to crystals under her feet.
“Stand still, girl. You’re making a mess.”
“Yes, Lady Augusta,” Rosalind murmured, her mind
busily thinking of ways to help the elderly woman without
attracting attention to herself.
Lady Augusta snapped instructions to the maid. She
disappeared, then returned a short time later with a broom
in hand.
“Out of the way, girl!” Lady Augusta fl ashed an irritable
look in Rosalind’s direction.
Rosalind suppressed a sigh. Th
ere was no winning with
Lady Augusta. Everything she did was wrong.
“Is that maid back yet?” the elderly woman barked. “You
there! I’m talking to you. Has Lady Rosalind’s maid returned
from the errand I sent her on?”
“No, my lady.”
“Where is the dratted girl?”
“I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation,” Rosalind
said, keeping her voice low and soothing.
Lady Augusta let out a snort that sounded like an impa-
tient horse. “I’ll want to hear it.”
Rosalind sank onto a chair, well out of the maid’s way,
and sipped her chocolate. She wondered if Lady Augusta had
fi nished with her and when she might escape.
156
THE SECOND SEDUCTION
Th
e maid swept up the sugar, bobbed a curtsey, and hur-
ried from the room leaving Rosalind alone with Lady Au-
gusta. Rosalind took another sip of her chocolate waiting for
Lady Augusta to speak. Th
e silence drew out until Rosalind
felt like screaming. She inched forward on her chair, her left
hand clenching and unclenching in the folds of her skirt.
“You’re not going to bring Hastings to heel the way you’re
going about things.”
Rosalind started. Th
e bowl of chocolate she held almost
bounded from her hands, splattering chocolate on her skirts.
A dry chuckle burst from the elderly lady. Rosalind righted
the bowl, both humiliated and resentful. She didn’t need
Lady Augusta to tell her something was wrong. Her mouth
tightened as she glowered at the woman.
“Good to see you have some backbone. I was beginning
to wonder. I’ve instructed that maid of yours to return with
two gowns and ordered the seamstress to hurry the others.
You’ll have a decent gown to wear to dinner tonight. Give
The Second Seduction Page 13