Laurie Brown (10 page)

“You could have told me you and Estelle are practically engaged.”

“Hah! According to her, no doubt.”

“You didn’t...”

“Never.”

“Then why did she say...”

“Because she’s delusional.”

“She said your mother’s fondest...”

“My mother wanted me to marry and get an heir. She would have heartily endorsed
any
woman’s attempt to shackle me.”

“But Estelle...”

“Forget Estelle.We have work to do. It takes considerable energy to keep us here, and I am not inexhaustible.”

Now that he mentioned it, he did look a little pale. As a peace offering she reached for his brandy glass and warmed it between
her palms.“What did you find out?” She took a seat across from him.

“They’ve canceled the séance for tonight.”

“If that’s the case, what can we do?”

“You’ll have to convince Honoria to proceed.”

“How?”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something. In the meantime, you can work on the gypsy’s methods. They’ve held three séances already.
Right here in the library. Supposedly Madame X contacted her spirit guide, named Amanu, who promised to seek out Sir Robert
and report back.”

“So your mother is looking for the emeralds?” She handed him back the brandy snifter.

“According to Madame X’s journal...”

“You actually read her diary?”

Deverell bristled.“I have no interest in stooping that low. I read her spiritual journal, which she makes available to potential
clients as proof of her abilities, so it’s probably full of lies.”

“But?”

“She wrote an account of the séances. She also noted that my mother is trying to contact my father, her parents, her brother
who was killed in France, my sister Caroline, who died before I was born, and someone named Mabel.”

“Estelle’s mother.”

Deverell raised an eyebrow.

“I haven’t been idle either.”

“That I already knew.”

Something in his tone prickled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I was enjoying a few moments of quiet relaxation in my private study when I was rudely pushed out by Dev’s entrance with
you and Mrs. Binns.”

“Oh.” What else did he know? Josie rose and walked around the room, peeking under tables and knocking on the surfaces.

“What are you doing?”

“Checking for false bottoms or places to hide wires and such. Is this the furniture that’s always been in here?”

“Yes. I saw you...”

“Did the journal describe any effects? Eerie lights? Moving objects? Mysterious sounds?”

“Nothing like that.” He took a sip of his brandy.

“I saw you kissing him.”

Josie stopped and faced the ghost. She folded her arms.“What exactly do you remember?”

Deverell considered how much to tell her.“My memories remain unchanged.” More the pity. “I suspect that will only alter after
we return.”

“But you said...”

“I said I saw you. I observed you.”

“You spied on me?”

“Now you know how it feels.The shoe’s on the other foot, eh?”

“How? Is this something new? You couldn’t make yourself invisible to me before.”

“Although I loathe admitting it, I simply peered through the window like a common Peeping Tom. If you had bothered to look,
I’m sure you would have seen me. As a matter of interest you might remember in the future, anyone strolling along the veranda
could have seen you.”

“Just how long did you
observe
me? Exactly what did you see?”

“I saw you kissing him.”

“He kissed me.”

“And you kissed him back.”

“Okay. Yes, I kissed him...you, no him.” Josie threw up her hands. “This is so awkward. He is you, I mean you are him, but
you’re not...not really the same. I mean he’s a very physical presence and you’re, well, not.”

A condition he felt more keenly with each passing hour. Deverell cleared his throat. “I must warn you he’ll break your heart
if you let him.”

“I won’t.” She tipped her head to one side.“That advice seems a bit odd, coming from you.”

“I may only be a ghost, but I’m not heartless.”

“Still.” Deep in thought, she wandered over to a bookshelf and ran her finger along the book spines.

“Miss Drummond?”

Josie started and turned at the sound. An unfamiliar maid curtsied in the doorway. “Mrs. Binns sent me to ask if I can be
of any assistance.”

“No, thank you.” Josie reached out and grabbed a book.“Tell her I’ll be along in a minute.”

“Yes, miss.”The maid curtsied again and left.

“I guess I should go,” she said, not looking at Deverell.

“Perhaps that would be...”

“Hey. This is an original
Pride and Prejudice
.And a personal note to your mother on the inside cover is signed. Is this authentic?”

“Of course it is,” Deverell said, his tone saying she need not have bothered to ask.“We met years before she published anything.”

“
You
met Jane Austen?”

“Before she achieved her bit of notoriety. The Austen family lived in Bath for a time and regularly attended the Lower Ballroom.
I was quite fond of dancing at the time, as were Jane and her sister, Cassandra.” He chuckled. “My mother quite got her hopes
up.”

“Do you realize if this book is still on the shelf in our time, it could sell for thousands of dollars, er...pounds?” She
looked up and down the floor to-ceiling shelves.“There’s probably a fortune here. Amelia could fix...”

“Yes, yes, the paintings are valuable, too.The furniture is valuable. The tableware. The silver. The point of coming here
was to save the castle without selling off the family...”

“Possessions are just things, and things aren’t...”

“These
things
are more than sticks of wood, daubs of paint on a canvas, and bits of paper.They are my family’s heritage. My father sat in
that chair. My uncle wielded that sword in battle.That painting over the mantel is Sir Robert, the second...”

“Sir Robert with the emeralds?” Josie asked, looking up at the scowling pirate.

Deverell rolled his eyes. “Why is every woman so fascinated with the emeralds?” As far as he was concerned, the legend was
a family myth and not worth any consideration.

“Because it’s a romantic story.”

“A mistress disappearing with a handful of jewels is romantic?”

“A man having the jewelry made as a bride gift to present to his beloved to convince her to marry him is romantic.”

“I see Amelia filled you in on the details.”

“The spurned mistress steals the jewels. The countryside turns out to search for her to no avail. No bride gift. But then
the girl is so touched by his efforts she marries him anyway. That is definitely romantic.”

“Bah! I don’t believe the emeralds ever existed. It was an elaborate ploy by Robert to get the fair Rowena to wed him. Believe
me, a man will do just about anything to get the woman he desires into his bed.A fact you should remember,my dear. Although
I seriously doubt Dev will go so far as to promise you emeralds.”

Josie stared at him for a moment as if his words had stung.Then she turned and left without a word.

Hurting her felt like a mule kick in the gut.

Bloody hell. He was acting like a jealous suitor. And the real jolt was that he was jealous of himself. Deverell produced
yet another brandy and sipped. Bah! One of his last pleasures spoiled because she was not there to warm it properly. He threw
the snifter across the room.

Eight

B
Y THE TIME JOSIE REENTERED THE PARLOR
her mood had progressed beyond her instant pique to a thoughtful retrospection. Thankfully the other women were occupied and
no one questioned her absence. Lady Wingate plucked away one-handed on the harpsichord, her chin resting on the palm of her
other hand. Hono-ria, Estelle, and Madame X sat at a table in the corner playing a card game that appeared to require intense
concentration. Josie took a seat on the small sofa across from Mrs. Binns so as not to disturb her snoozing and poured herself
a cup of tea.

Deverell had surprised Josie once again. Not only had he shown sentimental attachment to the family heirlooms, but he had
appeared concerned about her welfare. Oh, sure, he’d covered his anxiety with gruff tones, but he couldn’t hide the genuine
affection in his eyes.

Josie shook off her fanciful musing. Reading anything heartfelt into that ghost’s expression was asking for trouble. As weird
as his self-disparaging advice was, she would do well to heed it. Deverell the man was as much a danger as the ghost. Neither
one offered anything but heartache.

As if her thoughts had summoned him, deep voices in the hall signaled the imminent arrival of Dev and the other gentlemen.
Even without warning she would have known when he entered the room. His presence seemed to electrify all her senses. The candlelight
seemed rosier, the tea more flavorful.

She wasn’t the only one who perked up at the entrance of the men.A smiling Lady Wingate broke into a sparkling tune. The card
game was shuffled aside. Estelle rose to greet Dev at the door.

“We were just talking about what we should do with the rest of the evening,” she said, taking his arm. “My vote is for practicing
the waltz.That is, if we can prevail on Lady Wingate to play for us a bit longer.”

“Actually...” Dev paused when Lady Wingate stopped mid-tune and jumped up from her seat.

“I’m sure someone else would like to take a turn,” she said with a simpering smile. “Far be it from me to monopolize the spotlight.
Perhaps Miss Drummond would honor us.”

All eyes turned to Josie. “I don’t play the harpsichord.” Estelle gave her a superior smile.“Hardly unexpected from someone
with a colonial...”

“I have the feeling,” Dev interrupted,“that Miss Drummond is quite skilled at playing other...instruments.”

Josie wished he’d stop his innuendos so she could stop blushing.

“Ignore her,” Hargrave whispered as he took the seat next to Josie. “Estelle is a snob. Personally, I’m fascinated by the
fact that you’re an American.”

The sofa was small and Hargrave much too close for Josie’s comfort. Frequent bathing was not in fashion during the Regency
period, and Hargrave obviously had not bucked the trend. Either the overwhelming food scents of the dining room had masked
his odor, or he’d ripened in the meantime.

“My cousin fought at the Battle of New Orleans last January, and he wrote that American women were quite forward compared
to our English lasses and...”

He faltered when she turned to glare at him.

“And lively,” he finished lamely. He cleared his throat. “I hear there are great opportunities in America for a man with a
bit of capital to invest.”

“There are always opportunities for anyone willing to work hard.”

Hargrave made a face. “A gentleman does not toil like a common drudge.” He put an arm across the back of the sofa. “Surely
your father does not labor in the fields.”

Since her father had been a computer genius who had made his fortune in the dot-com heyday, she could hardly say he labored,
even though he had been a workaholic. After his death her mother had sold off his shares before the collapse and had parlayed
her nest egg into a jet-set lifestyle and a series of wealthy husbands. Not only was her family history none of his business,
but he would never understand the facts. “My father owned several businesses. He was never idle.”

“I see,” he said with a sage nod. “Do you have brothers and sisters?”

“No.”

“And your mother? Will she be joining you here?”

“Why the sudden interest in my family?”What little he’d said during dinner had been about the deplorable condition of his
manor house and the potential of his racing stable if he could bring it up to snuff.

“I’m just making small talk. Trying to get to know you.”

“My mother will not be joining me,” Josie answered, leaving out that dear Mom was currently at a California spa getting her
semiannual Botox. Except for the Spring Sale at Harrods in London there was little her mother found of interest in England.
Plus she didn’t have a ghost to bring her back in time.“She prefers warmer climates.”

“Very good.”

What was that supposed to mean? Very good?

But she had little time to puzzle on it.The temperature in the room seemed to climb as Dev moved closer. He assumed his customary
position near the fireplace only a few feet from Josie. She tried to ignore him and asked Hargrave about his horses.

“Pandora’s Gift shows a lot of promise. I can trace her lineage back to Grafton’s Prunella.”

As he continued with a list of this-horse-begat-that-one, Josie fought to remain focused when her eyes wanted to glaze over.
She was all too aware of Dev observing her even though he pretended to be listening to Estelle’s whispers. Under the heat
of his gaze, Josie pulled out her fan and tried to cool her warm cheeks.

Dev stepped forward. “Hate to dash your plans, Estelle, but I already promised to meet up with Shermont at Cracklebury’s.
Ready to go, chaps?”

“But we just left there this morning,” Lady Wingate cried. She whipped around to face her husband.“You didn’t tell me you’d
made plans.”

“Sorry, my dear,”Wingate said as he stood.“You and the other ladies will have to entertain yourselves. One does not stand
up Shermont, you know.”

“Really, Dev,” Honoria said. “It’s already past ten.You can’t...”

“Shank of the evening,” Dev said, crossing the room to kiss the top of her head.“Shermont never plays cards before midnight.”

“More gambling?” A frown wrinkled her forehead.

“Never fear, Mother dear. Shermont is simply trying to win back what he lost to me last week.”

“Unlikely,” Hargrave said with a snort. He made no move to rise. “I believe I’ll keep the ladies company.”

Dev raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve just begun to get to know Miss Drum-mond,” Hargrave explained.

“Please don’t stay on my account,” Josie said.

“Yes, it has been a long day,” Mrs. Binns said with a fake yawn as if she’d been pretending to doze all along. “We will not
presume on Lord Hargrave’s good intentions when they would be for naught...”

Hargrave sat back as if slapped.

“And we shall seek our repose shortly,” Mrs. Binns continued without missing a beat.

Josie was confused.What had she missed?

Hargrave stood and bowed stiffly before marching out of the room.

The other gentlemen left, and after a few goodnights Josie followed her chaperone upstairs.

“Really, my dear,” Mrs. Binns said as soon as they were out of earshot of the others,“you should not have encouraged Lord
Hargrave. He is totally unsuitable for you.”

“I didn’t encourage him. I barely spoke to him.”

“Your fan, my dear. The language of the fan? Rapid movement indicates you are very interested in the other person.”

“I needed some air when it suddenly became overly warm in there.”

Mrs. Binns shook her head with a sympathetic tut-tut.

“Sometimes a fan is just a fan.”

“A woman with your desirable fortune must be extremely careful.”

“What does that have...”

“You noticed the change in Hargrave’s behavior? Why do you think he suddenly became so attentive? I’ll tell you. Because when
the gentlemen were alone the subject of your fortune came up. Hargrave sees in you a convenient solution to his financial
woes.”

Josie wasn’t sure she liked being talked about over port and cigars. “And then you handily gave him the information that you
are the sole heir and have no interfering parent nearby. He was practically salivating until I let him know in no uncertain
terms that his intentions are not welcome.”

Josie had missed that. More of that Regency subtext to normal conversation. “I never meant...I didn’t know...”

“Of course you didn’t. That’s why you have me to guide you through the treacherous matrimonial waters. I see everything. Even
when you don’t know I’m looking.”Mrs. Binns swept through their sitting room. She paused at the door to her bedroom and turned.“I
suggest you get right to sleep. Tomorrow will be another busy day.”

“Good-night,” Josie called to the closing door. Once within her own room she realized she could not reach the fastenings on
her dress. Fortunately, Dora scratched on the door and entered with a tray containing a cup of hot milk and two thin digestive
biscuits. She set the tray on the small table by the window and lit the lamp.Then she helped Josie change into a voluminous
white cotton nightgown and light blue brocade robe.

“Will there be anything else, miss? Something else to drink? Another pillow?”

“No, thank you, Dora.That will be all.”

The maid wished her a good night and backed out of the room.

Josie settled into the comfortable chair by the window and picked up the book she’d brought upstairs.

Almost immediately there was another scratching on the door.

“Come in,” she called, thinking the maid must have meant to take the tray with her.

Deverell entered.

“I’m amazed you bothered to knock,” she said to cover her surprise at seeing him. They had not parted on the best of terms.

“A gentleman never enters a woman’s bedchamber without an invitation.”

He made it sound as if they had some sort of assignation, and that made her uncomfortable. Unable to think of a response,
she reached for the cup of hot milk. Avoiding his gaze, she pretended to be concentrating on her drink and took a sip.

“Yuck.” She hadn’t had hot milk in ages and had forgotten how much she disliked the taste. She set the cup back on the saucer.

“It will help you sleep,” he said, taking the seat on the other side of the small round table.

“I’d rather have a...a...” She couldn’t think of the name. “I can see it in my mind. Cold...silver can...” She curved her
hand as if holding a...“Diet Coke,”she finished triumphantly. “That’s what I want. A Diet Coke. I don’t know why I couldn’t
remember that.”

“I noticed earlier you seem to be having intermittent memory problems,” Deverell said.

She had noticed it too but refused to admit it to him.“There is nothing wrong with...”

“I think your memories of the future are fading—the longer you stay in this past, the more you forget what hasn’t happened
yet.”

That gave her a moment’s hesitation.Would she get those memories back when she returned? Not that there weren’t a few bad
memories she could do without, but her experiences were what made her...well, her. “If that’s true...”

“Just one more reason to get this matter done quickly.”

“Easier said than done when the séance has been canceled.”

“I know. It seems Honoria...”

“Why don’t you call her Mother?”

Deverell heaved a sigh. “It’s better I retain some distance.”

“Distance? She’s your mother and you haven’t seen her for hundreds of years and...”

“And it’s not like I can walk up and give her a hug or kiss her cheek.”

Josie heard the frustration in his voice. “Have you tried?”

He looked off into the corner of the ceiling. “What’s the point? She can’t see me or hear me.”

“You should do it anyway. Not only for yourself, but I think she will know...in her heart. Even if she doesn’t understand
the why of it, she will feel your love.”

“Humph.” Deverell stood and paced the room. “Getting back to the matter of the séance. I’ve learned the session was canceled
ostensibly because Madame X doesn’t want to overburden Honoria...Mother...when she is so busy with all the guests in the house.
I personally think the gypsy doesn’t want additional people to attend. After all, it’s easier to fool a few rather than many.”

“If Madame X refuses...” She paused when he gave her that know-it-all look she hated.“What?”

“I’m sure you would reach the same conclusion if you had the time to ponder the situation such as I have had.”

“Don’t patronize me.”

“I was complimenting your intelligence.”

Sure didn’t feel like it to her.“Yeah, right. Go on.”

“Since we know Madame X is doing this in order to extract money, the logical incentive to get her to perform is to threaten
to remove the financial reward. By intimating another spiritualist can be hired in her place, she will jump at the chance
to prevent that from happening and hold the séance.” He bowed as if she were applauding his plan.

“Just one hitch in your giddyap. How am I supposed to convince Honoria to threaten Madame X with replacement?”

“You can’t.”

“Then the whole plan fails...”

“Dev can.”

“Dev? You? I mean him? I mean...Never mind. I don’t know what I mean.”

“Mother was always after me to participate in one of the séances. I always refused. However, if you convince Dev to attend,
I’m sure she would do whatever it takes to make a séance happen, including manipulating Madame X into agreement.”

“You told me to stay away from Dev.You said he was dangerous.How am I supposed to convince him to do something we know he
doesn’t want to do?”

“Use your feminine wiles.”

“My what? Never mind; I heard you. I just can’t believe you actually said that. You want me to seduce Dev in order to...”

“Not seduce. Entice. Beguile. Charm.”

“I can’t.”

“Of course you can.”

“I don’t know how to...do those things.” Although, the thought of seduction held certain appeal.Warmth smoldered in the pit
of her stomach.

Deverell chuckled. “Every woman has an allure uniquely her own. It’s simply a matter of using it effectively.”