“I doubt it.” Sebastian looked thoughtful. “Members of some gentlemen’s clubs often have their buttons engraved with the name of their particular clubs.”
“Have you ever heard of a club called The Princes of Virtue?”
“No,” Sebastian admitted. “I have not. But I might be able to learn something about it when we return to Town.” He dropped the button into his pocket and closed the drawer.
“I suppose it’s highly unlikely that button will provide any clues about the nature of Ringcross’s death,” Prudence said, disappointed. “I doubt if there is any connection. I suspect the button has been lying in that drawer for years.”
“One never knows,” Sebastian said cryptically. He made to close the wardrobe doors and paused. He leaned forward once again.
“What is it?”
“There is an unusual joining in the wood,” Sebastian said.
Prudence looked closer. “It reminds me of the sort of joining I found in the section of the floor that concealed the Pembroke jewels.”
“I believe there is a false back in this wardrobe.” Sebastian pushed experimentally against the back of the wardrobe. Nothing happened. “There is probably a hidden spring around here somewhere.”
Prudence went around the side of the wardrobe to take a look from the outside. “The wardrobe is directly against the wall, Sebastian. Even if you manage to open the back, you would find only stone behind it.”
“Nevertheless, I would like to solve this small puzzle.” Sebastian continued to examine the inside of the wardrobe.
Prudence understood the impulse that drove him. She, too, was curious to see if there was a hidden mechanism designed to open the back of the wardrobe.
She got down on her knees to see if there was any sign of a lever or spring beneath the cabinet. Out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed a small object beneath the bed.
“Sebastian, there is something over there.”
“What is it?”
“It is under the bed. A little box, I believe.” Prudence crawled toward the bed on her hands and knees. “Hold the candle lower.”
“Let me get it.” Sebastian reached down and hauled her upright. “We do not know what else may be under that damn bed.”
She wrinkled her nose at his broad back as he went down on one knee. “Very well, my lord, but I want you to remember that it is I who spotted this particular bit of evidence, whatever it is.”
“I would have gotten around to exploring beneath the bed in due course.” Sebastian reached under the bed and picked up the little object.
“Well?” Prudence demanded eagerly. “What have you got?”
“A snuffbox.”
“Is there anything else under there?” Prudence asked.
“Just a chamber pot.” Sebastian got to his feet and turned the little snuffbox over in his hand. He opened it. “There is still some snuff inside.” He held the box close to his nose and inhaled cautiously. “A very distinctive aroma.”
“I am glad you do not use snuff,” Prudence remarked. “It is a very nasty habit.”
“But also a very common one. As is this snuffbox. It looks like dozens of others carried by gentlemen of the ton.” Sebastian got to his feet. “Nevertheless, this blend is quite unusual. It might be possible to discover which tobacconist created it and for whom it was created.”
“Perhaps it belonged to Ringcross, which will tell us little.”
“I’m not so certain about that.” Sebastian swept the shadowed chamber with another intent glance. “One would have thought that if it had belonged to Ringcross, it would have gone out the window at the same time he did. Unless there was a struggle in this room before he died and the box somehow fell out of his pocket.”
Prudence stared at him. “You think this might really be a case of murder?”
“It is too soon to say. But the investigation grows more interesting by the moment.” He walked over to the window and swept the heavy black drapes aside.
Prudence studied the large window. “It would be awkward to fall from there unless one were standing on the ledge.”
“Yes. But one could certainly push a man over the edge,” Sebastian said.
Prudence shivered again as another wave of deep, endless cold assailed her. “Or one could jump.”
She was abruptly swamped with emotions that seemed to emanate from some source other than herself. Rage and terror mingled within her for an instant, sending another shudder through her. Prudence staggered beneath the onslaught, yet she understood that she was not the one who had actually felt these horrifying sensations.
Someone else had experienced these dreadful feelings here in this chamber. Another woman. Prudence was certain of it.
“Prudence?” Sebastian held the candle high and gazed down into her face. “What’s wrong?”
She looked up at him, willing him to understand. “I think I am encountering my first real ghost.”
“Enough.” He took her arm and started purposefully toward the door. “This has been too much for you. I am going to get you out of here at once.”
“Sebastian, this is not my imagination. I vow, something terrible happened in here. I’m not at all certain it has to do with Ringcross. I can feel a woman’s presence.”
“Calm yourself, my sweet.”
“But, Sebastian—”
He had her through the door. He paused long enough to lock the chamber and then he urged her quickly down the black hallway toward the stairs.
Prudence was dismayed. “You think I am allowing my imagination to take control of my senses, don’t you?”
“You are a very creative and intelligent woman, my dear. Such talents sometimes have their drawbacks.”
“Fustian. Terrible events have occurred in that room, Sebastian. Perhaps they relate to Ringcross’s death, perhaps not. But I swear to you that something awful happened there.”
“I am not disputing you, Prue.” Sebastian whisked her along the long hall toward the stairs.
“You don’t believe me,” she said.
“I admit I do not believe in ghosts. I also admit that I have a strong preference for solid evidence before I reach my conclusions.”
“In other words, you think I am the victim of an overactive imagination.”
“My dear, the fact that you have chosen to investigate spectral phenomena as a hobby would indicate that your imagination is very active, indeed. No offense, but you must understand that my own hobby requires a more stringent investigative approach.”
“Hah. You think your approach is superior to mine?”
“Perhaps not in cases of spectral phenomena, but when it comes to investigating a crime, most definitely.”
“That is an insufferably arrogant, high-handed thing to say,” Prudence announced. “My methods are just as scientific as yours.”
Without any warning the door they were passing on the right suddenly swung inward. There was a scratching noise and then a candle flared. An old man with a scraggly beard peered at them.
“What in bloody hell?” Sebastian jerked Prudence behind him and whirled to face the wizened figure in the doorway. “Who are you?”
The old man ignored him and gazed at Prudence with rheumy eyes. “You ain’t her.” His deeply lined face collapsed in obvious disappointment.
“I beg your pardon?” Prudence stood on tiptoe to look at him from her position directly behind Sebastian’s right shoulder.
“I said, you ain’t her.” The old man squinted. “I been hiding up here ever since she done in the other one. I been watchin’ for her to come. Figured she’d be back to get the others. I wanted to see her for meself.”
“Who was it you were expecting to see?” Sebastian asked.
“The poor gel what jumped to her death from that cursed chamber.” The man gave Sebastian a shrewd look. “I’m the one what found her, y’know.”
“No, I didn’t know,” Sebastian said.
“Found her in the stream. They said she’d
fallen in and drowned, but I seen her jump. They carried her body to the stream and dumped her in so folks would think she fell in and drowned. But I know better.”
The man was half mad, Prudence realized, but he believed every word he was saying. “Who are you?”
“Higgins. Halfwit Higgins, they call me.” Higgins laughed soundlessly, revealing a mouth that was virtually empty of teeth.
“When did the girl jump, Higgins?” Sebastian asked.
“A long time ago.” Higgins spoke in a singsong voice now. His eyes seemed to be focused on something far away. “But I ain’t forgot.”
“Was Ringcross responsible for causing her to jump?” Sebastian demanded.
“They was all responsible.” Higgins nodded wisely. “And they’ll all pay. You’ll see. They’ll all pay. She cursed ’em afore she jumped, you see. Told ’em she’d be avenged. Now it’s started.”
“She came back for Ringcross?” Prudence gripped Sebastian’s arm. “Is that what you mean, Mr. Higgins?”
“She’ll come for the others, too.” Higgins moved out of the doorway. He started down the hall.
“Wait. Who are the others?” Sebastian asked quickly. “When did the girl jump?”
But Higgins paid no attention. He hummed tunelessly and kept walking away down the hall. Sebastian made to go after him.
“Let him be,” Prudence said. “The poor man is mad. If you try to question him further, you will only agitate him. There’s no telling what he will do. He might cause a stir and alarm the household. It would ruin any chance we have of completing our investigation.”
“Hell and damnation, he knows something about this affair.” Sebastian watched in frustration as Higgins turned a corner in the dark hall and disappeared from sight.
“Perhaps less than you think,” Prudence said thoughtfully. “He seemed to be suffering from some sort of delirium. The girl’s death might be merely an old legend that he has somehow gotten confused with Ringcross’s death.”
“Who do you suppose he is?”
“I don’t have any idea. An old family retainer long since pensioned off, perhaps.” Prudence smiled. “Or mayhap he was a ghost.”
Sebastian scowled at her as he took her arm and guided her toward the stairs. “That was no ghost.”
“How do you know? You’ve never met one.”
“I’ll know one when I see one.” Sebastian reached the stairs and extinguished the candle. There was a faint glow from the sconces on the floor below. “You, on the other hand, have seen one too many tonight.”
“Nonsense. I won’t allow you to make it sound as if I am in the habit of seeing apparitions. I assure you, I am not. Just because I felt something odd in that chamber does not mean I am weak-minded.”
“Hush.” Sebastian came to a halt midway down the staircase.
He flattened himself against the wall and pulled Prudence into his arms. He turned her so that her face was hidden against his chest.
“What are you doing?” Prudence mumbled into his shirt.
“Quiet,” he whispered into her ear. “The traffic in the hall seems to have become somewhat brisk again.”
“Oh.”
Somewhere in the corridor a door closed. Sebastian waited a moment longer before releasing Prudence. “I think we are safe. It was Larkin. He tiptoed past the bottom of the stairs and never glanced up. Come, let’s get you back to your bedchamber. We may not be so lucky the next time.”
“This is really very exciting, isn’t it, Sebastian?” Prudence allowed herself to be hauled swiftly to the bottom of the stairs. “I do believe I am going to enjoy our partnership immensely,”
“I trust you will, my sweet,” he muttered. “I, unfortunately, fear my nerves are going to suffer somewhat from the experience.”
They reached the door of Prudence’s bedchamber without further incident. Prudence could feel Sebastian’s sigh of relief. He opened her door.
Prudence heard the squeak of another door down the hall. She hurried into her room and whirled about to make certain Sebastian was not seen by whoever was now traipsing down the busy corridor.
Sebastian was right behind her. He closed the door so softly that it did not make a sound.
“Damnation.” He released the doorknob. “That was close.”
“Yes, but we are quite safe now.” Prudence lit a candle. The flaring flame revealed the determined expression on Sebastian’s face. She looked at him in surprise. “Is something wrong? I am certain you will be able to return to your own room in a moment or two.”
“As it happens,” Sebastian said, “there is something I wish to discuss with you.” His gaze moved over her with unmistakable possessiveness. “Now seems as good a time as any.”
She smiled, still bubbling with enthusiasm. “I expect you wish to analyze the results of our investigation tonight. We should make notes. Give me a moment and I’ll fetch my journal.”
“Later.” Sebastian’s eyes gleamed gold in the candlelight. “What I wish to discuss now is something of a much more personal nature.”
“Personal?”
“Yes.”
He took two steps toward her and pulled her into his arms. “Very personal.”
The soft knock on the door came just as Sebastian covered Prudence’s mouth with his own.
Nine
loody hell” Sebastian broke off the kiss and turned his head toward the door. He had never looked more dangerous. “Who, in the name of the devil, thinks he can knock on your bedchamber door at this hour of the night?”
“I have no notion” She frowned in concern as she saw the cold rage that had flared to life in Sebastian’s glittering gaze. “For heaven’s sake, calm yourself. It’s undoubtedly Lady Pembroke. Perhaps she is in need of assistance.”
“Not likely.” Sebastian swung around on his heel and started toward the door.
Alarmed by his menacing mood, Prudence grabbed for his arm and missed. “Sebastian, wait. You mustn’t answer my door.”
“You most certainly are not going to respond to that knock.”
“Think about what you are doing, my lord.” Prudence scurried after him. “This is not a logical, rational approach to the matter.”
“You’re wrong, Prue. It is a very logical tactic. My approach will be extremely effective in putting an end to future such late-night visits from whoever is out in the hall.”
“May I remind you, sir, that it will be exceedingly difficult lo break off our engagement if people believe we have been in the habit of sharing a bedchamber. The entire affair is going to be awkward enough as it is.”
There was another soft, inquiring knock on the door.
Sebastian slanted Prudence a derisive glance. “My dear, you do not know the meaning of awkward.”
Prudence had had enough. “This is nonsense. You are not thinking clearly. Obviously your masculine emotions are ruling your head.”
“Is that so?” Sebastian had his hand on the doorknob. “And precisely what would you have me do under these circumstances, Miss Merryweather?”
“The practical thing. Get into the wardrobe and stay there while I deal with this.”
He gave her a look of total disbelief. Then he jerked open the door.
Prudence was so annoyed with his high-handed behavior that the identity of her late-night visitor did not register for a few seconds. She gasped when she recognized Edward.
Lord Underbrink stood in the hall garbed in slippers and a dark blue dressing gown embroidered with his family crest. He did not immediately notice Sebastian because he was too busy checking the hall to the left to make certain it was still empty.
“Good evening, Underbrink,” Sebastian said in a voice that could have frozen hellfire. “For the sake of efficiency, we may as well skip the formalities. Let us go straight to the point. I shall have my seconds call on yours as soon as we return to London.”
“What?” Edward jumped a good three inches. His head snapped around and he stared at Sebastian with mounting horr
or. “Damnation. Angelstone, my apologies. I appear to have knocked on the wrong door.”
“A brilliant observation. Definitely the wrong door.”
“It was all a mistake, I assure you,” Edward stuttered.
“A mistake for which you will pay dearly.”
“Now, see here,” Edward blustered, “you surely don’t intend to call me out simply because I knocked on your door.”
“This is not my door” Sebastian said.
Edward affected blank confusion. “It’s not? But you are standing right there in the doorway. I fear I do not comprehend.”
“This is my fiancée’s door, Underbrink, and you damn well know it. I do not intend to discuss the matter now, however. I prefer to do so over pistols.”
Edward was stricken. “It was an honest mistake, I assure you. I was under the impression this was another lady’s door. An older woman. Married for years. Under the circumstances, I’m sure you’ll understand that I can hardly reveal her name, but it was definitely not Miss Merryweather.”
“Good night, Underbrink.”
Edward was clearly desperate. “Sir, you cannot mean to challenge me over this.”
“That is precisely what I mean to do.” Sebastian started to close the door.
Prudence put a restraining hand on Sebastian’s arm. “My lord, do stop causing all this commotion.” She smiled reassuringly at Edward. “I am certain Lord Underbrink intended no insult.”
“None at all.” Edward gave Prudence a grateful look. “Wrong door. That’s the problem. They all look confoundedly alike in this damn hall.”
“Yes, of course.” Prudence wondered fleetingly why she had not noticed until now how soft and ineffectual Edward was. “I can see how it would happen. There is certainly a great deal of activity in the hallway this evening, is there not? One wonders how any of the guests will get to sleep.”
Sebastian slanted her a warning glance. “Stay out of this, Prue.”
“No, I will not,” she said calmly. “Do stop trying to frighten Lord Underbrink. He made a mistake and he is very sorry.”
“He will be even more sorry by the time I am through with him,” Sebastian vowed.
Edward flinched. “My lord, I beg your pardon. I assure you this is all a grave misunderstanding.”