Addictive Paranormal Reads Halloween Box Set

by Nana Malone

  Trina began to laugh. “I knew you would not be able to deal with not being the favored one. I knew it!”

  “No! That’s not right. That’s not fair. I’ve just never realized…” Tatiana said, attempting to defend herself.

  “You never realized just how awful it is to be the ugly one. The one that the men ignore, or only pay attention to in order to finagle an introduction,” her sister finished.

  Tatiana felt ashamed of herself. Her sister, of course, had hit it right on the mark.

  “I knew it. I told you not to dampen your own looks, but you insisted,” Trina shook her head and fell silent as they entered the house.

  Tatiana hated it when her sister was right.

  “Did you have a pleasant walk, girls?” their grandmother asked when they joined her in her cozy private drawing room. She paused, giving Tatiana a confused look. “Oh dear, did something go wrong? Tatiana, you are looking daggers.”

  Tatiana cleared the frown off of her face as Trina laughed. “Don’t mind Tatiana, she always gets angry when I’m right. And you were correct too, ma’am.”

  Lady Ashurst raised her hand to pause her granddaughter’s flow of conversation and gave a nod to the waiting footman. Thomas was also Vallen, although not very powerful. He had the immensely useful ability to know in advance when his mistress would be wanting something. He always appeared at her side before she was even aware of her desire. She gave a satisfied smile, then motioned for the girls to continue.

  “Yes, Trina was absolutely mobbed by gentlemen,” Tatiana said, sitting down in the chair opposite her grandmother, and schooling her face into a pleasant expression.

  “No, that’s not what I was referring to. Tatiana’s right, though, I was,” Trina said, looking down at her hands for a moment. “I managed to send all but two of them off, promising that I would see them Thursday afternoon when they came to call.”

  “Very well done, my girl,” her grandmother said approvingly. “Then what else was I correct about?”

  “Tatiana couldn’t stand not getting all of the attention at the ball the other night,” Trina said, giggling. “She nearly did something to the men surrounding me. It was only that gentleman, Mr. Vallentyn, who stopped her.”

  Their grandmother laughed. “I suspected as much. He seems to be a very nice young man. I like that one.”

  “On our way home from the park, I tried to find out which one of the many gentlemen surrounding Trina she liked more than the others, but she refuses to make a decision,” Tatiana said, trying to push the conversation back away from her own failing.

  “And I told you that there is no possible way that I could know, since they all speak in nothings,” her sister answered. “Why can’t you let me have more time to decide? Is there a rush?”

  Trina stopped, her eyes growing wide. “Oh! There is, isn’t there. You like Mr. Vallentyn. But you can’t… Oh, Tatiana,” this last was more a horrified whisper, as the realization of Tatiana’s position hit her.

  Tatiana thought her heart stopped. How could it not? Trina had discovered her secret.

  It had hit her like a blow to her stomach after Mr. Vallentyn had asked whether she was enjoying her time in town. Tatiana took a closer look at her sister. “How did you know?”

  Trina shrugged. “Something happened while we were at the park. I could feel you. It was odd, actually. At first you were very happy walking with Mr. Vallentyn, and then very quickly you became upset and then angry. I looked to see what was happening, and Mr. Vallentyn was watching you as if waiting for an answer to a question.”

  “Yes. He asked me how I was liking my stay here.”

  “And that made you upset? Are you not enjoying yourself, my dear?” her grandmother asked, concern lacing her words.

  “Oh, yes, Grandmama! I am enjoying myself immensely. It’s just…” Tatiana didn’t quite know how to answer.

  “It has something to do with Mr. Vallentyn,” Trina answered, clearly trying to figure out what was going through Tatiana’s mind.

  It was so odd, thought Tatiana. She had never realized that her sister was so empathetic before. How could she have not noticed?

  “When he asked me that,” Tatiana explained, “at first I thought about how much fun I’ve been having—shopping, at the ball after I met Mr. Vallentyn, even at the soiree last night, ma’am. Your insightful comments about everyone there was great fun!”

  “But…” Trina supplied.

  “But it’s Mr. Vallentyn’s presence that I’ve enjoyed the most,” she said, trying hard to keep the distress from her voice.

  “Why is this a bad thing?” her grandmother asked, clearly not following the logic that Trina had immediately picked up.

  Tatiana looked down at her hands clasped tightly together in her lap.

  “It’s her destiny,” Trina supplied.

  Tatiana looked up at her grandmother’s confused expression and nodded. “Because of my destiny, of my duty, I can’t choose who to marry. If I could…”

  “You would choose Mr. Vallentyn,” her grandmother said, finally catching on.

  “Well, I don’t know that for certain, but he would certainly be at the top of my list,” Tatiana admitted. “But I am not going to be given a choice, or even allowed to suggest candidates as far as I know. For the first time in my life I…” she swallowed hard and then continued in a whisper, “I almost wish I hadn’t been born to this destiny.”

  Silence held the room in its grip for a good minute.

  “But there is nothing I can do,” Tatiana said finally, taking control of herself and mentally pressing her back against the wall of duty in her mind. She shoved her silly dreams firmly behind it.

  “My destiny is my own and I shall do my duty, as I always have.” She paused to distance herself from her emotions. “And so should you, Trina. You need to decide which man you want to marry. I know there are a number vying for your hand, but you’ve got to make an effort to choose one.”

  Trina looked for a moment as if she was going to cry. Tatiana wondered whether it was on her behalf or because she’d scolded her sister. It didn’t matter. They would both do their duty. Her own was to think nothing more of Mr. Vallentyn. There could be nothing worse than pining for something you could never have.

  Trina gave a sniff, but pulled herself together. “Yes. You’re right. I…” she cleared her throat. “I will do my best to discover which of my suitors I like best.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter 7

  Kit gathered together the day’s correspondence from his lap and took a quick glance around at the busts of the politicians. They stared down at him expectantly.

  He had three letters to reply to on his father’s behalf and two more to write. He would have time to take care of the first group, but the others would have to wait until he returned from his visit to Tatiana and her sister. His mouth became dry at the thought of telling his father, once again, that he’d be going out that afternoon. Best to get it over with quickly.

  “Father,” Kit started, as he stood up with the papers.

  Lord Durrington’s eyes flicked up from the letter he was reading, but only for the briefest of moments to acknowledge that Kit had said anything.

  Kit tried to swallow, but it wasn’t easy.

  “Well?” his father prompted.

  Kit took a deep breath and summoned both his charm and confidence—after all, what could his father do? He wouldn’t deny him altogether, surely. “I’ll be going to the Ashurst’s this afternoon. Miss Ashurst will be at home to visitors. Since I was unable to speak with her the other day, I thought it best if I attend this afternoon.”

  His father sat back in his chair, his letter forgotten. He didn’t say anything for a full minute, which left Kit nearly squirming with unease. Maybe he should have taken a page from Tatiana’s book and put some magic into his words. But no, he would not, should not.

  “Christopher, if you continue to pursue that younger Ashurst girl, I will disinherit you. A
nd see that my father does as well,” Lord Durrington said. The serious expression on his face told Kit that he was neither joking nor exaggerating.

  Shock stopped everything for a moment, but too quickly Kit had to clamp his lips together to keep back the slew of angry words that were flooding his mouth. Maintaining sharp control over his tongue, he said, “I told you, I am going to visit Miss Ashurst…”

  “And the younger one won’t be in attendance?” his father asked, disbelief cut through his voice.

  Kit kept his mouth shut.

  “As I said, if you continue to pursue this girl, I will disinherit you.”

  “You can’t…” Kit started.

  “I most certainly can. You have a younger cousin who has done very well for himself. He is well married and already has a child. He is perfectly capable of taking your place.”

  Kit opened his mouth to say something, but his mind was blank with seething anger. He was being treated like a naughty child.

  And just like that, the idea popped into his mind. If he were going to be treated like a child, perhaps he should behave as he had when he was a child.

  Kit lowered his eyes in feigned acceptance. Infusing his words with a dose of his magical charm, he said, “You’re right, Father. How ridiculous I have been to waste my time with someone who is not even available, let alone eligible. I shall give her the cut direct if I see her and lavish all of my attention on her elder sister.”

  His father frowned. “There is no need to be rude to her, naturally. You may even converse with the girl if you wish. I just don’t want you even thinking about any sort…” His father’s words petered out and the man narrowed his eyes at Kit. “I thought you didn’t believe in using your magic, Christopher! Are you that desperate?” His father’s tone struck Kit sharply.

  Kit took a step back, but he could feel the blow, almost as if his father had actually, physically hit him. He wisely kept his mouth shut. The papers in his hands, though, would be irreparably creased as his fingers slowly curled.

  “You haven’t done that since you were a child,” his father continued, his own anger clearly simmering just beneath the surface of his words.

  “Which is exactly how you’ve been treating me.” The words exploded out of Kit’s mouth before he could stop them. Now, not only was he behaving like a child, he was sounding like one too. Damn his father!

  “Because you are giving me no choice. You are chasing after an entirely ineligible girl, and behaving like a besotted fool.”

  “Ineligible, perhaps, but she’s… she’s different.” It was the weakest defense he could possibly have mounted, but it was certainly the truth. “I don’t know what it is about her, Father. But Tatiana is different from any other woman I’ve ever met. She’s…”

  “…Not beautiful,” his father finished.

  “No. She’s not beautiful. But I’m not certain of that. I think she’s doing something to make herself appear less beautiful,” Kit said. There was that one glimpse on their walk, just for a moment when she had been preoccupied…

  “No girl in her right mind would make herself look less beautiful. Please, Christopher, do try and be a little rational about this.”

  “I don’t know. But even if she isn’t beautiful, she is certainly clever and intelligent.”

  “Clever and intelligent.” His father considered that for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, I do believe you’re exactly right. She is very clever. Very intelligent. I just don’t quite know what her game is. If she’s got a fiancé at home, why is she trying to ensnare you? You have an influential father and grandfather. Perhaps your title will be greater than whoever it is she has waiting for her. Perhaps she’s become wise to the benefits of marrying someone who will someday hold an important position within the government. Whatever it is, I can tell you this—if you marry her, not only will you be without a position in society, you will be flat broke. No allowance. No inheritance. Nothing!” He shook his head in disgust and picked up the letter he had been reading. “Don’t let this girl trick you into marrying her, Kit. You’ll spend the rest of your life regretting it.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter 8

  Within minutes of the clock chiming three, the knocker had begun pounding, and it had hardly stopped since. At not fifteen minutes past the hour, ten men were arrayed around the formal drawing room sipping tea, alternately chatting amongst themselves and trying to get Trina’s attention.

  Tatiana was amazed at how quickly her sister was blooming. It was only four days ago that Trina had been introduced to the world of the ton, and then she’d been so shy she’d hardly said a word to any of the gentlemen vying for her attention. Her beauty enhanced with Tatiana’s magic, and a marriage portion fit for a princess, had quickly made Trina one of the most sought-after young ladies of the season. Unfortunately, she had absolutely no experience being in such a position and had seemed, at first, to be entirely out of her league. But now…

  Tatiana’s watched with a combination of pride and dismay as her usually quiet sister laughed out loud at the utter nonsense being spouted by the gentleman sitting next to her. They were sitting in the arrangement of chairs closest to the fireplace, although the gentleman had pulled his chair even closer to Trina’s than was strictly proper. Other men had dragged more chairs over so that they too could be a part of her exclusive circle.

  “But, sir, you cannot mean it!” Trina said, still giggling. “You would never do something so bold.”

  “For you, Miss Ashurst, I would do anything,” the gentleman said, bowing as well as he could while sitting.

  Trina laughed again and turned her attention to the gentleman on her other side. “You, I know, my lord, would do nothing of the sort. You are too clever of a gentleman to do something as silly as Mr. Bretton.”

  The man smiled and took her hand. “You know me entirely too well, Miss Ashurst.”

  Trina very delicately extracted her hand from his grasp. “You were going to tell me about your latest journey to your estate. Did you find all as you had hoped? I do hope that by now your crops are…”

  “Please, Miss Ashurst,” the man interrupted her, “You cannot seriously be interested in the state of the crops at Sligington.” He laughed at the thought.

  Trina smiled in response, but turned her head slightly to catch Tatiana’s eye. The expression Tatiana saw there was a sad, you were right.

  Tatiana nodded a sympathetic response. It was so sad that these men could not believe that Trina could have a brain in her head and actually want to use it.

  “Did you say that you and Miss Ashurst are twins?” asked a gentleman standing near Tatiana.

  She turned towards the man. He was dressed to the hilt in a ruffled shirt, with ruffles coming out of the ends of his sleeves and a quizzing glass dangling on a bright red velvet ribbon around his neck. A dim-witted dandy, then, she surmised. Speaking slowly so that he could understand her, she said, “Yes. That’s right.”

  “But you don’t look alike. She’s far prettier than you,” the man said, looking Tatiana over from head to foot. The gall of this man!

  Tatiana lowered her eyes so that he couldn’t see the fire leaping out of them. She certainly would have scorched the wig right off his head. Instead, she stared at his feet ensconced in shoes with high, red heels.

  How dare he, she thought. She was not ugly. Even with her beauty dimmed, she was still not even close to being as ugly as this fellow. And the nerve…

  The smoke coming from his shoes snapped her back to her senses.

  “Humph! Cat got your tongue, Miss? Did no one tell you that it is polite to respond when you’re spoken to?” the man sneered, not even aware that his toes were practically in flames.

  Tatiana could almost see Mr. Vallentyn’s face in her mind’s eye, shaking his head sadly at her despite the twinkle in his eye. No, she should not do this. She must control herself.

  She also had to banish Mr. Vallentyn from her mind. She thought she’d gotten better—she
’d only thought of him a few times the day before and only twice so far today. She was determined to put him out of her mind entirely, but, she supposed, that would take time.

  She looked back up at the dolt in front of her, still waiting for her response. “My sister and I are twins. We are not identical twins. We are merely as alike as two sisters might be.” There, that should be simple enough so that even such an imbecile could comprehend it.

  She really must learn to control herself, she thought, without Mr. Vallentyn’s intervention—either actual or imagined. But then again, when dealing with such idiots as that fellow, why should she? She sniffed and a scent caught her attention—musk with a hint of ink.

  Mr. Vallentyn! She spun around, her heart pounding with joyful anticipation.

  He looked startled for a moment at her sudden movement, but it quickly dissolved into a warm smile. “Did I surprise you?”

  His presence left Tatiana nearly gaping for words. It was as if her mind had conjured him to her. But that was ridiculous. She had invited him, hadn’t she? She laughed. “No. I just didn’t see you come in. I am so glad you could come.”

  “Thank you. Your back was to the door, but you knew I was here?”

  “Er, yes,” she could feel heat flooding her cheeks.

  “Something tells me I should not ask you how you knew,” he said, beginning to chuckle.

  “It was not in the way you think,” she assured him, looking to see if the imbecile was still standing within easy hearing of her words. He wasn’t. But despite the fact that it was a good-sized room, there were so many people present that it was impossible for there not to be someone who could overhear her.

  “No? Well, then you have been very good, restraining yourself. I saw what you did just now. It was very well done.” Pride laced through his words, and Tatiana felt a little thrill of excitement that he had witnessed her control and recognized it.