by Amanda Quick
But Sebastian also knew that if he even so much as suggested they leave, Prudence would be outraged. She was looking forward to tonight’s investigations with such enthusiasm that he could not bring himself to disappoint her.
“My fiancée is extremely interested in spectral phenomena,” Sebastian said without inflection.
“Fascinating.” Curling turned his head to look at him. “And has she ever discovered a genuine ghost?”
“No.”
“Pity.” Curling’s heavy features assumed a thoughtful expression. “I have occasionally wondered if ghosts actually exist.”
“Have you?” Sebastian gripped the stone wall that surrounded the terrace and watched as Prudence shot her arrow. “What is it about the subject of ghosts that alarms you, Curling? Are you afraid of encountering one, or is it the possibility of returning as one yourself that makes you anxious?”
“You mistake me, Angelstone. The notion of ghosts does not alarm me in the least. It merely intrigues me. I frequently find myself consumed with ennui. Encountering a ghost would be a most amusing experience, would it not? Almost as amusing as some other experiences I can imagine.”
Sebastian’s hands tightened on the stone wall. “I would advise you to be extremely cautious about how you decide to relieve your boredom.”
“Rest assured I am a very prudent man, Angelstone.” Curling smiled with satisfaction as Prudence’s arrow buried itself close to the heart of the target. “Excellent shot. I do believe your lady has won, sir.”
“She usually does,” Sebastian said. He noticed that Underbrink was applauding with a great deal of enthusiasm.
“I am delighted that you finally elected to accept one of my invitations,” Curling said. His eyes were still on Prudence. “I wondered at first what had convinced you to come out into the country at last. But when I received your request for an invitation for your fiancée and her friend, Lady Pembroke, I understood your reasons.”
“Did you?”
“But of course.” Curling gave a knowing chuckle. “City life can be quite restrictive in some ways for an engaged couple. Out here in the country things are far more casual. Enjoy yourself this weekend, Angelstone.”
“I fully intend to do so.”
• • •
Hark, my dearest Gerald, someone comes. Mayhap it is Lord Braxton. Flee. Flee at once. You must not be discovered here with me.
Seated on a chintz sofa in a small room that overlooked one of the castle terraces, Prudence frowned intently over the lines she was attempting to memorize.
She had secluded herself in the quiet room half an hour earlier and had worked very hard on her part. But she was coming to the conclusion that acting was rather more difficult than she had anticipated.
The short play was to be staged later in the evening. She was to act the role of Elisa, a young woman whose parents were about to announce her engagement to the mysterious Lord Braxton. Terrified of the match, Elisa was poised to run off with charming, handsome Gerald. Prudence personally thought Elisa had chosen the wrong man.
She tried the lines aloud. “Flee. Flee at once. You must not be discovered here with me.”
“Have no fear, my darling,” Edward, Lord Underbrink, said from the doorway. He glanced over his shoulder and then stepped quickly into the room. “It is quite safe.”
“Edward.” Prudence looked up in astonishment.
“Yes, it is I, my dearest.” He closed the door behind him and gave her a conspiratorial smile. “The ladies are all upstairs resting before dinner and the gentlemen are with Curling in his library.”
“What are you doing here? Do you have a role in the play?”
“No, my dearest Prudence, I am here because I must speak with you.” Edward crossed the room swiftly and went down on his knee in front of her. He grasped one of her hands in both of his. “My darling, I have longed to see you alone.”
Prudence tried unobtrusively to free her hand and failed. “Why?”
“Because there is so much to explain.” Edward kissed the hand he had seized. “You must believe me when I say that I have never forgotten that magical summer in Dorset.”
“Which summer? We have had several, you know. We get one every year, in fact.”
“Such a charming wit, my dear. But there is only one summer that lives on in my heart, my dearest Prudence.” Edward’s eyes filled with emotion. “And that is the summer I met you. I cannot believe you have forgotten what we meant to each other.”
“Edward, if you don’t mind, I really must concentrate on learning my lines.” Prudence tried to tug her hand out of his grasp once more.
Edward held on to his prize. “You cannot know how I felt when I saw you again in the park the other day. The sight of you brought back all of the memories. My life has been so empty without you, my dearest.”
“Edward, you are married. You can hardly say that your life is empty.”
“But it is. I am so lonely, my darling. You must know that my marriage is a loveless match. I was forced into it for the sake of my family and the title. But my wife does not understand my needs.”
Prudence began to grow irritated. “Apparently I did not understand them, either, my lord. Had I done so, I would have realized sooner that you were merely amusing yourself with me that summer in Dorset.”
“My dearest, nothing could be further from the truth. Only the most stringent sense of family duty forced me to leave you. I had no choice, my love.”
“You could have told me at the start of the summer that you were not free to love where you chose,” Prudence said bluntly. “I did not appreciate being the last to know.”
“Forgive me, I could not bear to tell you.” Edward rained kisses on her palm. “I confess that the time I had with you was stolen time, my dearest. It was all I could give you. All I could give myself. And it was not enough for either of us, was it?”
“Actually, I believe it was quite enough for me,” Prudence said.
Edward smiled sadly. “You cannot hide your true feelings from me, Prudence. I know that your love for me was too fine and too pure to ever be extinguished.”
“I fear it was not quite that fine or that pure because it seems to have gone out like a candle.”
“Then I shall devote myself to reigniting the embers which I know must be glowing somewhere inside you,” Edward vowed.
Prudence wondered fleetingly how she could ever have taken Edward seriously that summer in Dorset. Of course, she reminded herself, she had been three years younger then. And she had not yet met Sebastian.
“I do not think that Angelstone will appreciate your efforts,” Prudence said dryly.
“Angelstone. That devil” Edward tightened his grip on her hand. “I cannot believe you are to marry the Fallen Angel himself. You are a woman of warmth and sunshine. It pains me to think of you trapped in the arms of such a cold man.”
Prudence frowned. “Angelstone is not in the least cold.”
“They say he has ice in his veins.”
“Nonsense,” Prudence said briskly. “He has acted as if he did for so long that I daresay he believes it himself. He has acting talent in his blood, you know. But he most assuredly does not have ice in his veins.”
Edward gave her a pitying glance. “My dear, you are too kindhearted. You do not understand how dangerous Angelstone really is. For the sake of what we once shared, you must listen to me. You must not allow yourself to be carried off by the Lord of the Underworld.”
“I am afraid that I have every intention of carrying her off, Underbrink,” Sebastian said from the doorway. His voice was dangerously soft and very, very cold. “So I would advise you to release my fiancée’s hand at once.”
Edward dropped Prudence’s hand as though it had singed him. He jumped to his feet. “Angelstone.”
Prudence smiled at Sebastian. “Hello, Angelstone. I did not hear you come in.”
“Obviously.” Sebastian lounged in the doorway, arms folded across his chest. He k
ept his attention on Edward. “What is going on here?”
“Playacting, my lord,” Prudence said gently. “Nothing more. Is that not right, Lord Underbrink?”
Edward flushed. “Yes,” he stammered. “Playacting. I was helping Prudence—I mean, Miss Merryweather—practice her lines.”
“Flee,” Prudence murmured in her best dramatic accents. “Flee at once. I do not require your assistance, sir. Angelstone can help me memorize my lines.”
“Yes, of course.” Edward ran a finger underneath the edge of his snugly knotted cravat. “If you will excuse me, Miss Merryweather.”
“Good-bye, Lord Underbrink.”
Edward went toward the door with an uneasy expression. It was clear that he was not entirely certain Sebastian would move. At the last moment Sebastian stepped lazily aside. Edward sidled quickly past him and fled.
Sebastian arched a brow at Prudence. “Playacting?”
“Yes, and do you know, Angelstone, I have discovered that acting is very hard work.”
“That’s what my mother always said.”
“I do not understand how those of us in the cast will ever manage to learn our lines by this evening.”
“Most of the cast won’t bother.” Sebastian came toward her. “They will simply read them on stage.”
“Oh, dear. Am I wasting my time, do you think?” Prudence smiled ruefully. “It is really a very silly play.”
“Is it?”
“Yes, it is all about a lady who is engaged to a very interesting man named Lord Braxton. But she foolishly believes herself in love with an extremely weak-brained creature named Gerald. If I were her, I would say farewell to Gerald and then I would allow myself to be carried off by the mysterious Lord Braxton.”
“Would you, indeed?” Sebastian drew her to her feet and framed her face in his hands.
“Definitely.” She held her breath, wondering if he was going to kiss her. “That is exactly what I would do.”
“I am delighted to hear it.” He brushed his mouth lightly across hers. “Now, then, would you like some help learning your lines?”
“Would you mind?”
“Not at all. Acting is in my blood, you know.”
Later that night Prudence dismissed the harried maid who had been assigned to her as well as several other ladies and began to pace the floor of her bedchamber. Silence had fallen over Curling Castle. The guests had all retired to their bedrooms after an evening of amateur theatrics, cards, and drinking.
Prudence had been rather proud of her first attempt at treading the boards. She was the only one who had memorized her lines and she was ridiculously pleased when Sebastian clapped loudly in response to her performance.
But now she was ready for the real adventure of the evening.
Prudence had removed her night rail as soon as the door closed behind the maid. She had quickly redressed in a sturdy woolen gown she had brought with her for the occasion and now she was impatiently waiting for Sebastian to fetch her so that they could begin their investigations.
It seemed forever before her door opened without any warning and Sebastian stepped quietly into the room. He glanced back over his shoulder as he beckoned her. “Are you ready?”
“Of course.” Prudence picked up an unlit candle and hurried toward the door. “What kept you?”
“I was waiting for the traffic in the hall to fade somewhat.” He smiled. “Did you know that young Dodwell is conducting a liaison with Lady Keegan?”
“Lady Keegan?” Prudence was startled. “But she must be twice his age. Furthermore, she is married.”
“But her husband stayed behind in Town, if you will recall.” Sebastian touched her lips with his finger. “Not a word, now, until we reach the stairs.”
He took her hand and led her quickly along the silent hall. There was no need yet for the candle, Prudence realized. The light from a wall sconce provided just enough illumination to make out the doorways and stairs. Apparently Lord Curling was well aware of the late-night habits of his guests.
The staircase that led to the third floor was a different matter entirely. It was pitch-black and a cold draft made itself felt through the skirts of Prudence’s warm gown.
Sebastian did not allow Prudence to light her candle until they reached the top of the stairs and were safely out of sight in the deep shadows of the upper hallway. When the taper flared to life, he took it from her and held it aloft.
“How will we know which room Ringcross was in when he died?”
“I had my valet make a few discreet inquiries among the servants earlier,” Sebastian explained. “One of them told him it was the room in the south tower.”
“It’s quite chilly up here.” Prudence rubbed her arms briskly as they walked toward the south wing of the sprawling castle.
“Curling said this floor was never used. No point wasting heat on it.”
“If this floor is never occupied, what was Ringcross doing up here the night he died?” Prudence asked.
“A very good question, my dear.” Sebastian paused in front of a closed door at the end of the hall. “This must be the chamber.”
Prudence tried the doorknob. “It’s locked.”
“I’ll take care of it. Here, hold the candle.”
Prudence took the candle from him. She watched in admiration as Sebastian removed a short length of metal from his sleeve. He inserted it cautiously into the lock.
“Open for me, sweet,” Sebastian whispered to the lock. “That’s it, darling, let me inside. Give me what I want. Ah, yes. That’s right. That’s what I need. Beautiful.”
There was a tiny click. Sebastian turned the doorknob and opened the door. The hinges squeaked eerily.
Prudence was impressed. “Very clever, my lord.”
He smiled faintly as he moved into the room. “Thank you, my dear. It is always pleasant to have one’s small accomplishments appreciated.”
“You must teach me how to do that,” Prudence said.
“I’m not certain that is a sound notion. If I teach you all my tricks, you might decide you no longer need me.”
“Nonsense.” Prudence started to follow him into the dark chamber. “We are a team, my lord. We must share our expertise with each— Good heavens.” She gasped as a wave of deep, unrelenting cold swept through her.
“What’s wrong?” Sebastian asked from the shadows.
“I don’t know.” Prudence glanced at the candle in her hand, fully expecting to see that it had gone out. But the flame still burned. “It’s freezing cold in here.”
“No colder than it is out in the hall.”
“It feels much colder to me.” She raised the candle and gazed around the chamber.
The furnishings were limited to a strange-looking bed with iron posts, a massive wardrobe, a table, and heavy drapes covering the windows.
“Everything is in black,” Prudence whispered in awe. “The drapes, the bedclothes, the carpet. Everything.” She raised the candle higher and peered at two lengths of chain that dangled from the wall. “What on earth are those things?”
Sebastian walked across the room and examined the chains. “Manacles.”
“Good heavens. How very odd. Do you suppose this was once a dungeon?”
“No. Dungeons are usually built at the bottom of the house, not the top.”
“A most unusual decor.”
“Yes.” Sebastian took the candle from Prudence and began to move slowly around the room.
Prudence shivered as she watched him. It was definitely colder in here than out in the hall, she thought. She wondered why Sebastian didn’t feel the difference. It was not just the chill in the chamber that bothered her. There was an unpleasant sensation of darkness and shadow that had nothing to do with the ordinary gloom of night.
“Sebastian, there is something very wrong about this chamber,” she said urgently.
He glanced at her in concern. “Damnation. You’re frightened. I should never have brought you up here. Come, I wi
ll take you back to your bedchamber.”
“No.” She managed a hasty smile of reassurance. “No, I am quite all right. Just a bit cold.”
“Are you certain you don’t want to go back to your room?”
“And miss the opportunity to observe your investigation techniques? Absolutely not,” she said staunchly. “Carry on, my lord.”
He gave her a last, speculative look. “Very well. But if you become any more alarmed, you must tell me at once. I won’t have you terrified out of your wits by this business.”
“I assure you I am not in the least bit terrified.” Prudence sought for a way to change the subject. “Do you know, I cannot imagine using this as a guest room. It is far too bizarre.”
“I agree.” Sebastian stopped in front of the wardrobe and opened it. “There are not many houseguests who would be comfortable in such a chamber.”
“Is there anything inside that wardrobe?” Prudence stepped closer, momentarily distracted by the expression of intense concentration she saw on Sebastian’s face.
“No, it appears to be empty.” Sebastian leaned into the shadowed wardrobe. “But there are a number of small drawers built into it.”
“Let me see.” Prudence glanced inside. Several rows of drawers occupied most of the space. “I wonder what one would keep in here?”
“I have no idea.” Sebastian began systematically opening the little drawers.
They were all empty except for the very last one in the lower right-hand corner. Sebastian was about to close it as he had the others when he paused, frowning.
“What is it?” Prudence stood on tiptoe, trying to peer over his shoulder. She saw the gleam of gold in the corner of the small drawer. “A coin.”
“No, a button.” Sebastian plucked the little gold object out of the drawer and held it in front of the candle. “It’s engraved.” He studied it more closely. “The Princes of Virtue.”
Prudence frowned. “Virtue? Do you suppose that button belongs to an Evangelical?”