Why wouldn’t his sister’s friend give up? “Your description of the clothes and the woman is wrong.” Spencer sat down and dismissed her with a wave of his hand.
For a long minute, Ginnette simply held the piece of wood tightly to her chest and scowled at him. Then, like a wilted plant overheated by the sun, she slowly crumbled.
Spencer sprang to his feet, caught her by her shoulders and eased her to the floor.
“Not again.” Lady Sedgewick joined him at Ginnette’s side with a small bottle in her hand. Waving the smelling salts under the brunette’s nose, they waited until she stirred. “Chadwick, help Lady Ginnette to her room.”
His sister stepped forward. “I’ll go with her to see if she’s all right.”
“No.” Spencer grabbed Nell by the arm. “You, Aunt Sophie and I need to discuss this vision. Right now.”
He led the two women quickly across the foyer to his study. As soon as they were inside, he locked the door and waved them to two overstuffed chairs sitting on either side of the fireplace.
“What is wrong with Ginnette? That’s twice she’s gone to extraordinary lengths to claim she’s the next countess, and then fainted when I rejected her.”
Nell flopped back against the brown leather cushion. “I don’t understand it. The only thing I can guess is her parents are putting pressure on her to end her affair and marry a title.” She flashed him that sisterly don’t-be-stupid look. “I know for a fact she doesn’t hold a secret crush for you, little brother.”
At times like these, he wished he’d been an only child. He ignored his sister’s dig and glanced questioningly at his aunt.
Aunt Sophie didn’t disappoint him. “Nell might be right, but I had the impression Ginnette actually saw a ghost. Not Lady Anne, but someone else.” His aunt smoothed the pleats on her skirt as if deep in thought. “I fear this Countess Quest will be quite difficult and perhaps dangerous.”
The knot of anxiety he’d been denying all morning, tightened. “Why do you say that, Aunt Sophie?”
His aunt drummed the armrest with her fingers. “From arguments your father and grandfather had with your great-grandmother, Charlotte. Your father refused to go through the trial because Charlotte told him part of the ordeal involved defeating an evil force.”
When she paused, Spencer motioned for her to continue. He needed facts not melodrama.
Aunt Sophie stared at the fireplace and said quietly, “My brother thought he could avoid the danger by marrying a wealthy woman rather than relying on Lady Anne to bring prosperity to Ryne.” She glanced up at Spencer. Voice laced with sarcasm, she added, “We all know how well that worked.”
“Yes, I’m fully aware my father’s scheme failed spectacularly.” Spencer exhaled sharply. “That is why he demanded Sebastian not make that same mistake.”
Why hadn’t his ancestors written down all the bloody facts? He shouldn’t have to discover the hazards of the Countess Quest. He gritted his teeth. “Now could you be a bit more specific about the evil force?”
“It started with the second wife of the First Earl, Desdemona.” His aunt frowned. “There was a huge quarrel. Lady Anne’s eldest son and Desdemona’s son both claimed to be the Second Earl of Ryne. A war broke out. Both men died, and Lady Anne’s second son inherited.”
Spencer frowned. The stories didn’t quite match. “Lady Anne told me Desdemona killed her, and her murderess couldn’t have children.”
His aunt turned pale. “The murder explains Grandmother Charlotte’s demand that your father face the evil in the Countess Quest. This trial avenges Lady Anne’s death.”
Frowning, Nell leaned forward. “Are you sure Lady Anne said Desdemona couldn’t have children? Desdemona’s son couldn’t have the title anyway. Her son would be younger.”
“Welcome to the scandals of Tudor politics.” His aunt hesitated as if considering her words carefully. “The story I’m about to tell you is more hearsay than documented fact.”
Spencer leaned against the mantle for extra support. “I need every shred of information you can dig up. I don’t care where it comes from.”
His aunt nodded. “Godfrey apparently sired Desdemona’s bastard son before he wed Lady Anne. Desdemona forced Godfrey to declare her son the heir.”
“But that’s not possible,” Nell interrupted. “Lady Anne’s second son became the earl.”
“True. But not before a costly war,” Aunt Sophie sat straighter. “Lady Anne’s powerful family and the King himself challenged them. Both Desdemona and her son were killed during the siege.” She turned her sharp gaze on him again. “Charlotte argued that the rivalry between the two ghosts repeats at every succession.”
Anger slammed through Spencer. How dare his ancestor play out her little revenge with her heirs? The answer burst into his mind. “That explains why Lady Anne claims Desdemona draws her strength from jealous women, and why the block of wood contained Desdemona’s rage.”
“Let’s send all the women home so Desdemona loses power.” Nell jumped up and started toward the door.
“Commendable thought, Nell, but impossible.” His aunt’s soft but stern voice stopped his sister in her tracks. “The women have to be here so that Society can witness Kailyn’s triumph over whatever obstacles confront both Spencer and her.”
Nell whirled and faced them. “Then what do we do?”
Spencer took a steadying breath and slowly answered, “Pray that I can make Kailyn love me. That is the key to success. The alternative is apparently my death at the hands of a woman scorned, five hundred years after her own death. Hell surely has no greater or more enduring fury.”
Chapter 6
Now for the biggest negotiation of his life. Spencer crossed the foyer ready to convince Kailyn of his sincerity, the honesty of his intentions and claims, and his growing affection for her. But the stubborn engineer foiled his plan.
She stood before him adorned in a cluster of wires and pliers.
“Do you always travel with a suitcase of gadgets?” he couldn’t help asking.
“No. Crystal included all of this with my horrible costumes.”
“Why would Crystal assume you needed tools?”
Kailyn rolled her eyes. “She knows I don’t believe in ghosts and would insist on proving your ghost is a hoax.”
Spencer was sorry he’d asked. Flattery wasn’t going to sway Kailyn into believing in Lady Anne. Even though her light meter, flashlight and voltammeter weren’t going to expose a scam, he needed a Plan B. What would win the heart of a ghost-busting geek?
“I need a ladder to inspect those medallions on the crown molding.”
Of course she did. He tried to maintain a straight face. The edges of his lips quirked upward anyway.
If the lady insisted on testing her crazy theory, he’d provide the equipment. It would gain him a few minutes to regroup. “How tall a ladder?”
“High enough to check out the medallion right up there.” She pointed at a carved rose ten feet above his head.
“Wait here. I’ll return shortly.”
In less than five minutes, he placed a straight ladder against the wall and held one side as he motioned for her to climb. If she needed hands-on experiments to focus her attention on him, he’d invade her personal space and pray he survived her reaction.
When he winked at her, she shot him the cutest baffled glance, and a pink flush crept up her cheeks. “I’m not going to find laser lights hidden in the medallions, am I?”
He knew it wasn’t polite, but he burst out laughing anyway. “The prospect of running laser optics through foot-thick stone walls defeated me.”
She hesitated.
“Have a look.” He waved at the ladder. “Wouldn’t want you to doubt I’m telling the truth about the ghost.” When she continued to stall, he took her hand and placed it on the nearest rung.
“I think you’d go to any lengths to keep me from discovering what created that green glow.” She scowled at him before placing her foot on the bottom rung.
He grinned back. “On the contrary, I’m helping you eliminate possibilities. I’m rather looking forward to watching you sashay up the ladder.”
She tossed her head and climbed, her stiff back eliminating any feminine wiggle. What a pity. However, her attempt to disguise her femininity with all those tools didn’t lessen her sex appeal.
For the next five minutes, she poked and prodded the medallion without saying so much as a word. In fact, she didn’t even look in his direction.
Plan B wasn’t faring any better than flirting had. While she’d blushed at his teasing, she simply ignored his touches. How in the devil was he ever going to provoke her to respond to him, much less love him?
When she finally descended, he couldn’t resist another chivalrous move. He swept her an elegant bow and motioned to the staircase. “This way to the next stop for your scientific study, my lady.”
Instead of walking to the stairs, she placed her hands on her hips and stared at him.
So much for grand gestures. He snatched her hand from her hip, placed it on his arm and started toward the stairs.
Not surprisingly, she refused to move forward.
“Neither reminding me you’re the Earl nor invading my personal space is going to make me agree to marry you.” She yanked her hand back. “Even if it wasn’t ridiculous to marry a virtual stranger, I don’t want to marry anyone right now. I’m only staying to prove the ghost is a hoax. All I want is the job you promised me.”
Ah, the truth. How would she handle it? He swallowed, noticing she was watching his Adam’s apple bob as he did. She was more aware of him than she wanted him to know. He was making progress.
“You might as well unpack your bags and plan on a long stay if all you want is to prove the ghost is a hoax so you can get the job. The ghost is real.” He shrugged as if he didn’t care whether she believed him. “I would strongly advise you to investigate the gallery which houses the portrait of Lady Anne.”
“Okay. Let’s get this over with.” The cute little spitfire stuffed her flashlight into her belt and marched over to the stairs. “Take me to the portrait.”
Clearly he needed to up his persuasive techniques. On to Plan C. The truth—as much of it as he dared to reveal.
When they reached the gallery, he paused to open the door. Of course, Kailyn scampered ahead of him.
As if pulled by a magnet, the determined skeptic headed straight to the far end of the hall. She scanned the pair of life-size paintings of the First Earl and Countess. By the time Spencer reached her side, she was trying to lift the heavy frame off its mounting.
“You used this portrait to create your hologram.”
“No. What you saw in the garden was a ghost.” He placed his hand on the gilded frame. “Forget removing Lady Anne’s portrait. It’s permanently attached to the wall.”
“How convenient. I can’t test the frame. I’m sure you’ve embedded the electronics behind it.” Frustration laced her words. “Just like you wouldn’t let me look under the floorboards for the magnets.”
How could one tiny engineer come up with so many fascinatingly wrong conclusions? He held back a sigh of his own frustration. There wasn’t time for much more of this. The truth would help. “The portrait seems to be Lady Anne’s base. Can you see the green glow? It indicates her presence.”
“Of course. That’s what I was testing.” The saucy minx turned to him. “Prove it belongs to Lady Anne. Make her appear.”
Spencer’s breath caught in his chest. He didn’t control the blasted ghost. Lady Anne might or might not comply, but he had to try. “Lady Anne, show yourself.”
No sparkle, no flash of green, no image. The shimmering green flicker on the portrait’s frame continued to dance.
Kailyn cast him a triumphant smirk and pulled her flashlight out of her belt. “Thought so. Nothing but another illusion.”
If his bloody ancestor wanted this engineer to believe, the ghost could be a little more convincing. A few sparklers, materialization, a show of power. Anything. But no, the green glow simply hovered around the painting.
“Whoa. What was that?” Kailyn jumped back, her shoulders bumping against his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her. Maybe Lady Anne had decided to help after all. “What’s wrong?”
She looked over her shoulder. “A blast of cold air isn’t going to convince me Lady Anne exists. Stop your silly tricks.”
Her fiery blue eyes, her pert upturned nose and her luscious lips just begged to be kissed. However, afraid she’d bolt if he kissed her the way he wanted to, he brushed his lips lightly across the side of her face.
Kailyn turned in his arms. For a moment, he thought she might initiate a real kiss. Instead, she grabbed his wrists, pulled them from behind her and studied the cuffs of his sleeves. “Stop! Where is the green laser pen you’re using to make that dot bounce on the floor?” She nodded to a spot of green light springing from the floor to the frame.
He did his best to look innocent. “Check all you want. I’m clean. It’s the ghost.”
“Turn out your pockets. You’ve got to have a remote somewhere.”
He raised an eyebrow and complied. “Your lack of trust is appalling. What if I get Crystal and John to verify my integrity?”
“Like I’d believe Crystal. She’s a matchmaker and a ghost freak. John’s just as bad. He tricked me into coming here for a fake job interview, didn’t he?”
“Would you be more open to believing in Lady Anne if your English relatives explained the ghost to you?”
Kailyn’s hand froze inches from capturing the green dot bouncing next to her. “I have no English relatives.”
A telltale tremble of her right hand exposed her deception.
He paused. In their emails, both Crystal and John had bragged to his aunt about Kailyn’s honesty. So why was she lying about her family?
“My Aunt Sophie searched for Elizabeth Danforth’s direct descendants in America. With Crystal’s help, she uncovered you and your sisters. I swear you look exactly like Elizabeth.”
“How would you know what my great-great-great-grandmother looks like?” She huffily swung to face him. Her eyes were as wide as saucers.
He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “Our families’ early histories are intertwined. Elizabeth Danforth was engaged to the Tenth Earl of Ryne, but she chose to elope with Rupert Westbrook. When they fled to America, Lady Anne ordered my family to save her portrait. It’s one of the few paintings that didn’t disappear during World War II.”
“Your Lady Anne is quite a meddler,” Kailyn snapped. “Or a convenient scapegoat for your scheme.” Turning her back on him, she escaped to the other side of the painting and put her cheek against the wall to peer behind the frame.
Her stalling didn’t fool him. She was merely hiding from her own emotions. If she thought her huff would discourage him, though, she’d be disappointed. He’d win this battle somehow.
“You’ll be pleased to know that Elizabeth’s relatives are neighbors of mine. So are Rupert Westbrook’s descendants. I’m sure they will enjoy meeting you.”
The flashlight beam wavered on the frame. “Well, I’m not interested in meeting them.”
“Why?”
“They’re nothing but a bunch of kidnappers and murderers.”
He nearly gaped in shock at her statement. “Good God, woman. Why would you say such a thing?”
“The Danforths chased after Elizabeth and Rupert. They wanted to force her to leave the husband she loved.” Kailyn dropped the flashlight a bare inch from his left foot.
He read her message clearly—he’d pushed her too far. Stepping back, he said, “There’s more to your story, isn’t there?”
“Yes.” Kailyn picked up the voltammeter. “Later, the Westbrooks murdered my great-great Uncle Thomas. They abducted his daughter and killed her during a mad winter dash across the English countryside. Because of the Westbrooks, my great grandfather changed our family name to B
aker then went into hiding.”
Splendid. He’d landed in the middle of a family feud. Worse, Aunt Sophie had invited both the Westbrooks and the Danforths to lunch today. “Those incidents happened over a hundred years ago. I can assure you the current Westbrooks and Danforths are quite law-abiding.”
“I don’t care. I won’t visit with them.”
Honesty was the best policy. Spencer took a deep breath.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to meet them at today’s luncheon. Aunt Sophie invited them this morning after Lady Anne presented you with the rose. They accepted, and I can’t cancel the invitation now.”
“No problem. I simply won’t go to lunch.”
Forget honesty. “Remember our deal? It requires you to participate in all the activities if you still want the job at Markham and Martin.”
Kailyn clenched her electronic gadget so hard her knuckles turned white, and he knew it took all her effort not to scream in his face. An incredibly sexy fire burned in her eyes.
“I’ll make an appearance at the luncheon, but I won’t promise to speak to them.” She slid the voltammeter over the portrait’s surface. “I’m not sure this job is worth all the hoops you’re putting me through.”
Maybe he’d used that threat one too many times. Perhaps a bribe of a different kind might change her mind. He peered over her shoulder. Brushing her arm as he pointed to the gauge, he murmured, “It looks rather normal to me.”
“Neither of these tools is sensitive enough to register the faint current from the green glow,” she snapped, but didn’t back away from him.
“Indeed. Perhaps we should suspend our inspection of the portrait and proceed to the garden.”
“Good idea.” After returning her tools to her belt, Kailyn bolted for the door.
He followed slowly, giving her time to recover from her defeat. When he reached the stone bench under the arbor, he halted. “I believe this is the spot where you saw the ghost.”
After tilting her head first to one side then the other, she finally nodded. “Yes. The hologram appeared right here.”
She plopped her cute tush onto the middle of the bench and took a laser-measuring device from her belt.
Wanted: Ghost-Busting Bride Page 6