Laurie Brown (25 page)

When she hadn’t arrived on time, he’d gone to her room only to be told that Dora hadn’t seen Josie since that morning and
had assumed she was with him. Dora had been worried, but Dev had been angered by Josie’s disregard of other people’s feelings.
He should have known better.

He’d left Josie’s sitting room and encountered Sadie in the hall. Literally. She’d run into him upon exiting the guest suite
she’d been cleaning, sobbing that she’d heard the dungeon’s ghosts screaming and howling and threatening to drag her down
to the depths if she didn’t reform her sinful ways.

To calm her fears and stifle any wild rumors among the staff at the source, he insisted she return with him to the room. Several
nearby footmen, who had avidly listened to her outrageous tale, were drafted to
help
her along.

They had all heard strange noises. Dev’s first assumption was that a hapless servant had somehow managed to get caught in
one of the secret passages.

Despite being forbidden for safety reasons, the convenient shortcuts between certain rooms had occasionally been used by the
lazy, soon to be former servant. Dev had not been aware of this particular passage, but then he’d never liked the confined,
steep stairs and narrow hallways of the passages.

While Sadie cowered in the corner mumbling her childhood catechism, Dev and the footmen knocked on the walls until they found
one in the bedroom that returned a hollow sound. Soon after that he’d heard Josie’s voice.

Frustrated with his inability to find the release, Dev leaned his weight against the panel, testing its thickness. When it
showed no sign of giving, he turned to his helpers.“A guinea to the first man to bring me an ax.”

Both footmen scrambled out the door.

“Just a little longer,” Dev called to Josie.

On the other side of the wall, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

“I expect we only have a few minutes until Dev rescues you,” Deverell said.

A tired smile teased the corners of her lips.And tore at his heart.

“Josie, we have to talk.” Now, before he was transported away to who knew where. He would not likely have another chance.
If he knew Dev, the man wouldn’t let Josie out of his sight for a good long while.

She looked up at him. So lovely despite the dirty smudges and ridiculous ensemble. Deverell cursed the villains who had hurt
her, and wanted desperately to soothe her cuts and bruises. He was sorely tempted to tell her what he’d figured out, that
his energy level was not fading based on time. His strength was directly and inversely linked to Dev’s feelings for her. The
more the man cared, the weaker the ghost became.

“I am weakening more rapidly than anticipated,” he said.

He was aware of where she’d spent the night; he had felt the enormous drain on his energy and the stab of unreasoning jealousy.
Bloody hell. How could a man be jealous of himself?

“We must leave by six o’clock tonight,” he said.

“So soon? Can’t we stay a little longer?”

Like one more night?
Not her words, but he sensed her thoughts. “Absolutely not,” he said, his voice gruffer than he’d expected.

She ducked her head.

“The return is not without risk.” He’d softened his tone.“I must have enough energy to take us all the way back or you could
wind up...in some time other than your own.”

“And you?”

He was headed for the bleakness of limbo regardless.“I will always be with you,” he promised.

If only in his dreams.

“Josie?” Dev called through the wooden panel.

“Stand back. I’m breaking through the wall.”

With a loud thwack, the tip of an ax head broke through the wall. The resulting stream of light put Deverell’s tiny pinprick
to shame. Splinters flew as Dev attacked the wood that separated them with desperate fury. Josie curled into a ball and covered
her head.

“Six o’clock,”Deverell said.“Not a minute later.”

And then he was gone.

As soon as the hole in the wall was large enough, Dev reached through and lifted Josie out.

The light nearly blinded her, and she rested her head on his shoulder as he turned away from the dungeon exit.

He’d only taken two steps when Sadie screamed.

“Oh God. It’s the pirate’s mistress,” she cried, awe and terror in her eyes before she fainted.

Dev turned to the nearby footmen, both standing at attention, expressions professionally impassive. “Not a word of this to
a soul,” he demanded in his most lordly voice.

“Yes, milord,” they answered in unison.

He glanced significantly toward the slumped maid, and the senior footman nodded in silent understanding and assurance.

“I guess I must really look a sight,” Josie said as Dev spun and carried her out of the room with long strides. She raised
her head to look at her filthy dress and her bruised and scraped arms and legs.

“You never looked lovelier,” he said, his throat almost too dry to get the words out. He tightened his hold on her.

She wiped away a tear and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Come on. I look like a Halloween ghoul. I frightened Sadie into a faint.”

He understood that she was making light of the situation in order to cope with the trauma she’d undoubtedly suffered. Although
he might have shown his concern in a different manner, he followed her lead. “Probably caused by the bloody scarves.” His
gut clenched. “Although the tiara is a nice touch.”

She laughed as she raised her hand and removed the emerald crown.“I’d forgotten about this.”As he carried her down the long
halls and to his suite, she told him about finding the skeleton and the lost jewelry. She fumbled with the knots she’d tied
in her skirt. Fortunately, he didn’t question her ability to see in the darkness.

“I don’t give a tinker’s damn about the emeralds,” he said, kicking his own door open. “Fetch her maid,” he said to Carson,
who exhibited momentary surprise before assuming a bland expression.“Use discretion.And tell Mrs. Osman to bring her medical
kit.” He didn’t bother to slow down either to offer an explanation or to see if the valet carried out his orders.

“I don’t need medical attention,” Josie said.“I’m fine.Okay,maybe a few cuts and bruises, but I don’t need...”

“Your head is bleeding again.”

Dev walked directly to the bathing chamber and straight into the shower, where he finally set her down. While he turned on
the tap, she gladly stripped off her filthy dress. It hit the floor with a thunk. She tossed the tiara in the same direction.

“Hot water?” She raised one eyebrow.

“I...uh...requested Carson to...in case we...” He gently removed the bandage from her head. “It doesn’t look too bad.”

“Head wounds always bleed a lot. I keep telling you I’m fine.”

He kissed her forehead near the wound.

“And feeling better by the minute,” she added.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him close. She lifted her face for a kiss and tried not to think about leaving
him.

Their building passion was interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Osman and Dora.

“Here now, here now. None of that,” Mrs.

Osman said. “At least not until we’re sure she’s all right,” she added with a wink.

Dev backed out of the shower, pausing to whis-per,“ Later,” before turning to face the intruders.“I give her over to your
tender care. I will wait in the receiving room.” He executed an elegant leg, quite a feat to pull off with aplomb when he
was soaked to the skin. He left a trail of wet boot prints.

Josie peeled off the rest of her wet clothes and washed with brisk efficiency. She had yet to tell Dev about Xavier and Estelle,
and she didn’t want the villains to get word of her survival and escape.

Wrapped in a sheet, she sat at the dressing table. Mrs. Osman insisted that Josie drink a cup of fortifying broth while the
older woman applied salves and ointments and gauze bandages.

Josie was relieved to learn she’d been correct in her assessment of her injuries.Then Dora dressed her in the clean clothes
she’d brought at Carson’s request. Neither woman asked about her misadventure, and Josie didn’t volunteer any information.
She asked for a moment alone, and the servants reluctantly left.

Josie found a large box of shirt studs on the dresser and dumped the contents. She found her soiled dress on the shower floor
under a pile of wet and filthy scarves.The emeralds and diamonds glittered in the afternoon sunlight streaming in the high
windows. She threw all the pieces into the box, closed the lid, and carried it out to Dev.

Dev sat in the chair by the window, an untouched snifter of brandy at his elbow. He’d poured the drink after changing into
a brocade robe, yet his desire for the soothing warmth had cooled along with the blood rush of rescuing Josie.

After knowing she was safe, he’d had plenty of time to think. Maybe too much time.

Josie entered the reception room with a broad grin. She presented him with the emeralds.

“I believe these rightly belong to you,” she said.

He took the box but, knowing what it contained, set it unopened on the table. He picked up his drink.“They rightly belong
to my mother.The family jewels pass to the lady of the house.”

“Then let’s go give them to her.”

He leaned back in his chair and sipped his brandy.

“Dev?”

“Do you want to tell me what you were doing in the secret passages? Were you searching for the emeralds? Why did you...”

“Whoa.” She was taken aback.“Why the inquisition?” “You must admit your actions lead to certain logical...”

“My actions?” She leaned over until her face was inches from his. “Let me tell you something, mister.” She poked her finger
in his chest and related what had happened with Xavier and Estelle. By the time she finished the story, she was seated in
his lap and he’d said, “I’m sorry” several times, each apology accompanied by a kiss.

“I’ll send one of the footmen for the constable and...”

“You’ll have to tell your mother. Unfortunately, she really believed Amanu talked to your father.”

“Perhaps it would be best if the truth were revealed during one of those fake séances. Then she could see for herself. I’ll
send her a note immediately...”

“Later,” Josie whispered, trailing her hand along the neck of his robe and then under the silk lapel to the smooth, warm,
firm surface below. “I think you owe me another...apology.”

After a passionate kiss, she stood and pulled him to his feet.“I’m wearing a corset,” she taunted him with a seductive smile.

“I do love Christmas.”

Dev tried to take it slow, but she was wild, demanding.

Josie was all too aware of the clock ticking, her time with him running inexorably out. He didn’t know it but she was making
memories, saying good-bye. Only four hours left.

The second time Dev insisted on slow, gloriously slow.

During a brief rest period, Josie traced her initials on his chest and tried to keep him awake by asking,“How did you find
me?”

“Huh? Oh, Sadie heard mysterious screams coming through the wall of a guest suite she was cleaning.” He chuckled.“She thought
the hounds of hell were...”

A frisson of alarm caused Josie to sit up.“Whose room?”

“I don’t know.”

She crawled over him and to the edge of the massive bed.“Get up. Get dressed,” she called back over her shoulder.

“Hey? What...”

“Suddenly it makes sense.That had to be Estelle and Xavier’s suite of rooms. Sadie was assigned to them, and Estelle was familiar
with the passages.

The séances were a ruse.They were looking for the emeralds.”

“Josie-love, come back to bed.”

She looked back at him. A beautiful naked man in the middle of a majestic bed. He held out his hand. So tempting. She hesitated.
Maybe...

“We can deal with that later,” he said.

His words were like cold water. She didn’t have the luxury of time.“Hurry. Call Carson.”

“I will not.You’re not decent.”

Josie threw her chemise over her head, tossed the corset aside, and donned the green muslin dress.“Now call him.”

“Would this be the point where you’re feeling energetic?” he grumbled as he climbed off the bed.

He paused with his hand on the bell pull because she sat and hiked up her skirt to pull on her stock-ings.“ We can schedule
the séance for tonight and...”

“Not if Estelle or Xavier returns to their suite and just happens to notice the big hole in the bedroom wall. I think they’ll
figure out the jig is up and escape before the constable gets here. If they haven’t already.”

“Easily remedied. I’ll have several footmen detain them...”

“Where? How many more passages are there that you don’t know about? No, I think you’re right about confronting them in front
of your mother, but I don’t think we can wait until tonight for a séance.”

Josie certainly couldn’t.“I have a plan. Hurry.We have lots to do.” And she had only two-and-a-half hours left.

Nineteen

“
T
HIS IS NOT A PROPER KNOT,” DEV SAID
, glancing in the mirror at the floppy bow under his chin.

Because Josie had sent Carson on an errand, she’d tied Dev’s cravat as best she could. She tucked the ends under his vest.“Think
of it as a new style.”

“I’d prefer being properly dressed before going downstairs.”

She stood on her toes and kissed his chin. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss that left her breathless.

“Although there are certain advantages to having you play valet,” he said. He roamed his hands over her body.Without her corset,
every curve and her pebbled nipples were palpable beneath the delicate muslin. “And definite advantages to you not being properly
dressed.”

Before he distracted her beyond her ability to resist, she pushed away and stepped back.“Think of it this way. It will be
easier to undress later.” She forced a promise into her voice that she knew she couldn’t keep.

He looked deep into her eyes.

“What’s wrong, Josie-love? Tell me.”

“Nothing,” she said with a laugh she hoped didn’t sound as false as it felt. She took his hand and pulled him from the room.“Let’s
get this denouement over with.”

Dev entered the library alone, leaving the door open several inches so Josie could hear the proceedings and enter on cue.
He carried a large jewelry case under his arm. His mother, Estelle, and Madame X were already in the room.

At his first sight of the villains, he regretted agreeing to Josie’s plan, which did not include beating Xavier to a bloody
pulp. Dev’s willpower was sorely tested, but he managed to place a smile on his face.

“Thank you for coming as I requested,” he said.

“I am always at your service,” Estelle simpered.

“Whatever you require or...want.”

“What are you doing with my ruby...good heavens, Dev,” Honoria said. “What is wrong with your cravat?”

“It’s the latest style. And this is only the case for your ruby parure. I borrowed it for this.” He flipped open the lid and
presented it to his mother.

“Oh, my,” she breathed.

The emerald jewelry sparkled against the black velvet lining, drawing Estelle like a magnet.

Honoria looked up at Dev with a furrowed brow.

“Yes. Lord Robert’s emeralds.They were behind a wall in one of the secret passages.” He related Josie’s theory, leaving out
certain facts about how the jewels had been found.“Apparently the mistress fatally injured herself while trying to escape
through the dungeon tunnels and died crawling back up one of the stairways. At some later time, Robert must have found her
body, and rather than present the tangible reminder of his past to his beloved wife, he walled up both the mistress and the
emeralds she so coveted.”

“Sort of romantic,” Honoria said.

Dev rolled his eyes.“Only a woman would think a dead mistress walled up with a fortune in emeralds was romantic.”

“Not that part.Robert gave up a fortune for love.”

“I knew they were more than a myth,” Estelle said, sliding onto the sofa next to Honoria and reaching out to touch them with
one finger.

Dev snapped the case shut. “Really? And how did you know that?”

Estelle jumped back but quickly recovered her poise.“I always believed the legend, ever since I was a child.”

“Is that why you wanted to see Robert’s journals?” Honoria asked innocently.

Dev sat on the opposite sofa, setting the box next to him. He had not been aware that his mother had allowed Estelle access
to the notebooks. “Yes. Do tell us. Did you decode the journals?”

She licked her lips. “Only one of the later ones. And that was years and years ago. Dev gave me the idea when he worked on
them. I’ve made no progress on the other journals. Each one has an entirely different code.”

“You never told me that,” Honoria said. “What did it say?”

Estelle waved away any interest. “Nothing but boring reports of estate business, dull details of horse breeding, and pages
and pages of how much he adored the fair Rowena.”As she talked, her gaze kept darting to the case of jewels.

“Did he mention the emeralds?” Honoria asked.

“Not in so many words.There was a veiled reference when the crops failed for the second year in a row. ‘I long to see my fields
emerald green, my wife in a new emerald green gown. I am sorely tempted but fear the monetary relief readily available but
a few steps below would not be worth destroying my true jewels, my wife and family.’

Then he lapses into more romantic drivel and his plans for smuggling to avoid the duty on brandy.”

The fact that she’d memorized the words was more telling than the passage itself.

“From that you concluded the emeralds were real and buried somewhere in the castle?” Honoria asked.

“Beneath the older part of the castle,” Dev amended.

“And I was right,” Estelle said with a satisfied smile.

“Ah, yes,” Dev said. “But you were not first. I wonder, if you had found the emeralds yourself, would you have turned them
over to Mother?”

“Of course I would have,” Estelle said.

And if he hadn’t known better, Dev might have even believed her righteous indignation.

“Really, Dev,” Honoria said. “You are acting quite strange.”

Estelle turned and beckoned her gypsy friend closer. “Madame, did you get a chance to see the emeralds?”

Dev laid his hand on the case.“That reminds me of the other issue I wanted to talk to you about, these séances.”

“There is nothing to discuss,” Honoria said.

“You know my feelings. I am determined to follow Amanu’s directions to the letter, and he has specifically requested you not
be included.”

Dev glanced at Madame X and noted the avarice in her—correction—in his eyes. Dev could well imagine the unscrupulous Amanu
convincing his gullible mother that the emeralds were cursed and that she must rebury them at some specific spot where Estelle
and the so-called Madame X could later dig them up. “And I know why he doesn’t want me there.”

“Because you are a nonbeliever,” Honoria said.

“You know how important this is to me.”

Dev leaned forward and took his mother’s hands in his. “I know you find comfort in believing you’re speaking to Father.”

“Don’t treat me like a silly old woman. I know...”

“But it’s a sham, a charade.”

“No, it can’t be.Your father...”

“Madame X is a fraud, and we can prove it.”

Josie entered right on cue, followed by Carson and a footman carrying the séance paraphernalia.

“How did you...,” Estelle started to say as she jumped up from the seat.Then she switched tracks.

“Honoria, you can’t believe a word this woman says. She’s a stranger, a nobody. She lied about being related to the Duke of
Landemere. And she has no fortune, no income from the funds, no...”

“Sit down, Estelle,” Dev said, indisputable command in his voice.

Estelle sat with a thump.

“Josie, what in the world happened to you?”

Honoria asked.

“I’ll explain later.” Josie had hoped the face powder would hide most of the bruises, and her clothes hid most of the bandages,
but apparently it was not enough. Fortunately, her muscles had not stiffened up, thanks to the hot shower and Dev’s attentive...massage.
Tomorrow would likely be a different story, but by then she would be home and it wouldn’t matter.

Josie directed the servants to put the stuff on the table. They bowed themselves out and closed the door. She turned to face
Honoria’s confused expression. “Estelle is right.”

“See, I told you. Now...”

“Shut up, Estelle,” Dev said.

“Dev! There is no need to be rude to our guest.”

“Please continue,” Dev said to Josie through gritted teeth.

“Thank you. Lady Honoria, I entered your home under false pretenses, and I apologize for that. I am a stranger to you and
a nobody. I have no fortune and no funds. But a certain shading of the truth was necessary.”

Dev raised an eyebrow.

Josie had not told him that part and his reaction was disconcerting, but she forged ahead. “I came here specifically to investigate
the séances and expose Madame X as a fraud.To that end, I set certain traps before the last séance to reveal her method of
producing the fake spirit guide.”

“Fake?”

“Yes, milady. I’m sorry. I truly wish it was otherwise.” “But how?”

“That’s why I had these items brought down, so we can examine them in broad daylight.”

Madame X edged toward the door. Dev stood and blocked the way.“I really think you should stay to hear this,” he said to the
so-called gypsy in an almost pleasant tone.“Miss Drummond?”

His sudden formality stabbed at her heart.Was learning she was not an heiress such a big deal?
It
doesn’t matter.You’re leaving soon.
Perhaps it would be better if Dev started distancing himself now. She concentrated on her task.

“First, I will light the Candle of Omniscience,”

she said, her hand trembling as she stuck the lucifer match and touched it to the wick. She blew out the match and positioned
herself so she could see the mantel clock as she talked. “You will note during the rest of the demonstration that the candle
sparks, flares, and dims in a repeating and predetermined pattern.The wick burns at a consistent rate and was pretreated at
specific spots with chemicals that cause the desired effect.With a bit of practice, one can time appropriate pronouncements
with those effects. For instance, now.” She turned and pointed to the candle, and it flared and sputtered.

“That proves nothing,” Estelle said in a dismissive tone. She turned to the woman on her left.

“Honoria, please stop this ridiculous exhibition by an admitted liar who...”

“Shut up, Estelle,” Honoria said.

Dev grinned. And nodded to Josie.

“The candle was the easy part, quite elementary. The appearance of Amanu was a bit trickier.

At first I was sure there must be a secret entrance to the library.”

Estelle stiffened, but Josie ignored her.

“My traps revealed that no one entered by any method other than the usual.The only logical conclusion was that the man playing
Amanu had to have been in the room all along. But where would a seven-foot-tall green fellow hide? We’ll leave that puzzle
for a moment and talk about the spirit guide.

“He glowed because he was coated with a phosphorescent powder. Quite dangerous. Phosphorous is highly flammable, hence its
use on such items as the lucifer match I used earlier. Even in a more stable form it can cause serious injury and is potentially
deadly if exposure is prolonged.”

Xavier did not flinch, so Josie knew he had been aware of the danger and deemed the potential reward worthwhile.

“We know he did this despite the risk,” Josie continued, “because I painted the top edge of the chair Madame X used with a
sticky substance, and Amanu left powder residue there in the form of fingerprints.”

She wasn’t sure whether the science of individual fingerprints had been invented yet, so she’d decided not to pursue that
line beyond what anyone of the period might have seen on silver plates or waxed furniture. She’d also decided to avoid the
issue of whether a true spirit would actually leave fingerprints.

Josie pulled the chair to the center of the room and stood behind it. “As to him being seven feet tall...” She leaned down,
popped the latch of the secret compartment, and climbed up on the door.

“I realize I’m not quite seven feet, but that indicates the man is taller than me to begin with.” She stepped down, closed
the door, and said, “And the evidence disappears and no one is the wiser.”

A commotion outside the door interrupted her train of thought. The door burst open and Mrs.

Binns marched in.

“What is going on? If my charge is involved...”

“My apologies, milord,” the footman said.“She would not take no for an answer and just barreled by me.”

“How can I be expected to do my duty,” Mrs.

Binns said, “when my charge disappears for hours on end, fails to let me know...”

“Miss Drummond is exposing Madame X as a fraud,” Dev said.

“Josie? What happened to you? Where did you get those bruises?”

“I’ll explain later.”

Dev stepped in front of Mrs. Binns. “You may stay and hear the rest of the evidence if...”

“How did...”

“...
if
you can sit quietly and ask no questions.

You have missed certain explanations and can be filled in on those items later.”

“But how did...”

“Sshh.” He held up a finger, and Mrs. Binns closed her mouth and meekly sat down. Dev took the precaution of locking the door
before resuming his position next to the sofa where his mother and Estelle were seated.

“That brings us back to the man hiding in the room,” Josie continued at his nod. “But where?

There are no closets, no cabinets large enough to conceal a man. I was stumped until I got a little help. The answer is he
was hiding in plain sight.

Madame X is no lady.”

“You may remove your headgear,” Dev said to him.

Xavier pulled off the scarves and turban he wore. “At least that’s a relief.” He also stripped off Madame’s signature purple
gloves and several layers of heavily padded clothes to reveal a slim gentleman dressed in a white shirt and fawn knee breeches.
“Those rags are bloody hot.”

“Count LeFoyn, I presume,” Dev said.

Xavier clicked his heels and bowed.

Josie was impressed. She hadn’t figured out that connection.

“But if he was Madame X, how could he also be Amanu?” Honoria asked.“A person can’t be in two places at once.”

“I had an idea how he did it,” Josie said.“Based on the disruption of the powder I placed beneath the table before the séance.
Carson’s discovery of this box in their rooms...”

“An unpardonable invasion of privacy.” Estelle sniffed and raised her nose even higher in the air.

Josie unbuckled the leather straps that bound the large wooden box, opened the lid, and took out the golden mask Madame wore
during the séance.