Dangerous (10 page)

Prudence frowned. “The victim came to you about this matter?”

“No, she consulted a Bow Street Runner named Whistlecroft. Whistlecroft decided to contact me. He and I have worked out an arrangement, you see. He has instructions to bring some of his more interesting cases to me.”

Prudence was enthralled now. “And he came to you with this case?”

“Yes.”

“How exciting,” Prudence breathed. “Did you find the necklace last night?”

Sebastian’s arrogant smile contained more than a trace of smug satisfaction. “Yes, as it happens, I did.”

“Where is it? What have you done with it?”

“It was returned to its rightful owner this morning. Whistlecroft handled that end of the business. I prefer to remain anonymous in such matters. No one else except you, Whistlecroft, and a friend of mine named Garrick Sutton knows about my little hobby.”

“I see. I can understand why you wish to keep your hobby a secret. But what about Lady Thornbridge? Won’t she make good on her blackmail threats once she realizes her victim is no longer cooperating?”

“I doubt it.”

“Why not?”

“Because before I was so rudely interrupted by you and
Thornbridge, I had time to leave a note in Lady Thornbridge’s safe, in place of the necklace. She will discover it soon enough.”

“A note?” Prudence asked. “What did it say?”

“Merely that an anonymous party was aware that Lady Thornbridge’s pedigree was not quite what Society and Lord Thornbridge believed it to be. To put it bluntly, Prue, Lady Thornbridge came from the gutters and she would be ruined in Society if that fact were ever revealed.”

“The gutters?”

“She is an exceedingly clever, ambitious little creature who has fought her way up in the world. I do not fault her in the least for creating a respectable facade that has fooled the
ton
and landed her a wealthy husband.”

Prudence chuckled. “In other words, she worked hard for what she’s got and you respect her for it, but you cannot countenance her falling back into her old ways, is that it?”

“Not when she chooses a victim who has also fought her way out of the stews and into Society. Lady Thornbridge has everything she wants now, so there is no need to resort to blackmailing another lady of the
ton
who has a background similar to her own.”

“Quite right.” Prudence nodded briskly in agreement. “You told her that in your note?”

“Yes.”

“But how did you learn Lady Thornbridge’s secrets?” Prudence asked.

“I have my methods of investigation, just as you have yours.”

Prudence recalled his recent disappearances from various ballrooms. “Your methods must be clever, indeed, my lord. Lady Thornbridge has succeeded in fooling the entire
ton
, yet you found her out. Brilliant, Angelstone. Absolutely brilliant.”

“I had a feeling you would appreciate my efforts.”

“I most certainly do.” Prudence laughed in delight. “You handled the whole thing very well, my lord.”

“Thank you.”

“But won’t Lady Thornbridge guess that it was you who left her the note?”

“I doubt it. Even if Thornbridge tells her that it was her bedchamber in which he discovered us, she probably won’t connect me to the note she’ll eventually find in her safe.”

“Why not?”

“For one thing, it may be several days before she discovers the note. She won’t have any way of knowing when it was left. For another, even if she does think about the fact that I was found in her bedchamber, she’ll recall that you were with me,” Sebastian said.

Prudence tilted her head to one side and studied him from under the brim of her bonnet. “I don’t understand.”

“Like everyone else, she’ll think that we disappeared upstairs so that I could seduce you in the first available bedchamber I found.”

“My lord,”
Prudence was shocked, in spite of herself. She could feel her cheeks turning violently pink.

“A charming picture, is it not?”

“I suppose that is what everyone is thinking today,” Prudence said morosely.

“No doubt.”

Prudence was silent for a moment as she contemplated what Sebastian had just told her. “This information explains everything, of course. You have found yourself a most interesting, if rather dangerous hobby, my lord.”

“I enjoy it from time to time,” Sebastian admitted.

“It is not unlike my own little hobby.”

“I am aware of that.” Sebastian flicked the reins lightly over the horses’ rumps. “It gives us something in common, don’t you think?”

“Yes. Yes, it does.” Prudence turned to him, bubbling
over with sudden enthusiasm. “Sir, it occurs to me that we could combine our interests.”

Sebastian slanted her a wary glance. “What the devil are you talking about?”

“I do not see why we could not conduct investigations together, my lord. Between the two of us, we would make an excellent team.”

“The way we did last night?” Sebastian asked bluntly. “May I remind you that I very nearly got shot by a jealous husband because of your helpful assistance?”

“That is very unfair, my lord. What would you have done without me?”

“Hidden in the wardrobe myself and avoided Thornbridge,” Sebastian said succinctly. “He would never have seen me.”

“Oh.” Prudence sought for a successful counterargument with which to demolish his reasoning but could find none. She decided to try a different tactic. “I urge you to think of how very interesting it would be for us to work together, sir. Only consider the fascinating conversations we shall have.”

“I have considered that. Why do you think I told you about Lady Thornbridge’s blackmailing scheme? I did not say I was opposed to discussing my cases with you.”

Prudence’s hopes rose again. “Then you do think we might work together?”

“On a consulting basis only,” Sebastian said evenly. “I am willing to discuss my cases with you, but I will not allow you to accompany me on my investigations. I want no more scenes such as the one that transpired last night.”

“I don’t see why not,” Prudence retorted. “The damage has already been done. We are already trapped in this farce of an engagement for the remainder of the Season. What else could possibly go wrong?”

Sebastian’s mouth tightened in a grim line. “There is always a certain risk involved in my investigations. I do not want you confronting any more pistols.”

Prudence’s eyes widened. “Does that sort of thing happen often in the course of your investigations?”

“Of course not. But I am not going to take any chances. As I said, I shall discuss my cases with you, but that is as far as it goes.” He gave her an indulgent look. “After all, my dear, your expertise is in the field of spectral phenomena, not in the investigation of blackmailers and other such criminals.”

“But I feel certain many of my methods would apply equally well to the investigation of criminal activities as they do to the investigation of spectral phenomena,” Prudence assured him earnestly.

“Trust me, my dear, there is a world of difference between the two types of investigations.”

Prudence glowered at him. “How would you know?”

“It’s obvious.” Sebastian’s gloved hands moved almost imperceptibly on the reins. The horses quickened their pace to a trot.

“My lord, I must say, you are being extremely stubborn about this. As we are going to be obliged to spend a great deal of time in each other’s company for the next two and a half months, I do not see why we should not spend that time assisting each other in our various investigations.”

“The answer is no, Prue, and that is final.”

There was no mistaking the ring of inflexible steel in Sebastian’s words. Prudence lifted her chin. “Very well, my lord. If you choose to be arrogant and thick-skulled about the matter, there is little I can do.”

He smiled in approval. “I’m glad you aren’t the sort of female who whines when she doesn’t get her own way. I find that sort of thing extremely tiresome.”

“Whine? Me? Not at all, my lord.” Prudence tried to imitate his cool smile. “I would not want to bore you. In any event, I expect I shall be busy enough with my own investigations.”

Sebastian inclined his head politely. “I shall look forward to hearing about them.”

Prudence did not care for the slightly condescending tone she thought she detected in his voice. “Perhaps I will be able to give you a full report on my latest investigation as early as tomorrow morning.”

“That soon?” Sebastian glanced at her. “Have you found a client here in Town?”

“A friend of Lady Pembroke’s has brought me a most fascinating case.” Prudence leaned closer. “Are you acquainted with Mrs. Leacock?”

Sebastian reflected briefly, “I’ve heard of her. Her husband recently died and left her his fortune, as I recall.”

“Yes, well, she has recently been having a great deal of trouble with a ghost in the west wing of her home. I had hoped to be able to test out some of my latest theories by using an electricity machine to trap this particular ghost, but I fear that would be a waste of time on this case.”

“How are you going to catch your ghost?”

Prudence gave him a superior sort of smile. “Lady Pembroke and I are going to stay the night with her. Tonight I shall sleep in Mrs. Leacock’s bedchamber in the west wing.”

Sebastian slanted her a curious glance. “You’re going to trade places with Mrs. Leacock?”

“Correct. But we are not going to tell anyone about the switch.”

He was amused. “Why not? Do you think the ghost will care?”

“As a matter of fact,” Prudence said, “I think he just might care a great deal.”

Sebastian eyed her sharply. “He?”

“I have concluded my initial inquiries. There are several interesting factors about this particular case of spectral phenomena,” Prudence confided. “The first is that the apparition did not begin appearing until very recently.”

“How recently?”

“The incidents began occurring shortly after Mr. Leacock’s death,” Prudence said. “Mrs. Leacock had never before encountered the ghost in the west wing. Nor had anyone else. There were no rumors of the house being haunted until now.”

“The woman has just suffered the loss of her husband,” Sebastian reminded her. “She is probably having nightmares.”

“I’m not entirely convinced of that. You see, the second interesting feature of this case is that Mrs. Leacock has no children of her own. But according to Lady Pembroke, she does have three greedy nephews. And all three are aware that their aunt has recently been told by her doctor that she has a weak heart.”

“Bloody hell.” Sebastian stared at her. “Are you telling me you think that the nephews might be deliberately trying to terrify their aunt in hopes of causing her heart to fail?”

“I think it’s quite possible. Tonight I intend to find out.”

“By confronting the ghost?” Sebastian’s jaw set in an implacable line. “I think not.”

“You, my lord,” Prudence said sweetly, “have nothing to say about it.”

“The devil, I don’t. I’m your fiance now, Prue.”

“In name only.”

“Nevertheless,” he said between his teeth, “you will listen to me.”

“I have been listening to you, my lord.” Prudence smiled serenely. “And you have made it very clear that we are to conduct our investigations separately. As I understand it, you do not wish us to work together as a team. Or did I mistake your meaning?”

“Don’t throw my words back in my face, you little baggage. You know damn well what I meant.”

Prudence gave him a lofty smile. “I heard you very
clearly, my lord. We are allowed to discuss our cases with each other, but we are not to assist each other in the actual investigations. Don’t worry, I shall tell you all about my discoveries tomorrow.”

Sebastian’s eyes glittered. “True, you have a great deal to learn about being an engaged woman.”

“Do you think so, my lord? How odd. And here I thought I was adapting rather nicely to my new role.”

“Prue, I will not allow you—”

“Prudence
. By God, it is you. I didn’t believe it.”

Prudence flinched at the sound of the familiar masculine voice. She had not heard it in nearly three years, but she was hardly likely to forget it. She turned her head and looked straight into the soft gray eyes of the man who had taught her that her intuition was not infallible.

“Good afternoon, Lord Underbrink,” she said quietly as the newcomer guided his handsome gray stallion closer to the phaeton.

Prudence took a deep breath and forced herself to examine Edward, Lord Underbrink, with polite detachment. To her surprise and overwhelming relief she felt nothing except a sense of deep chagrin at the memory of her own gullibility. What a little fool she had been three years ago to think that Underbrink was serious when he made his proposal of marriage.

There had never been any question of the heir to the Underbrink title marrying the daughter of a country squire. Edward had merely been amusing himself that summer.

He had not changed much in three years, Prudence reflected. His hair was still as fair as she remembered, his eyes still as open and guileless. His pleasant features were still quite appealing, although she thought she detected some signs of plumpness developing around his jawline. He was dressed in a well-cut coat that was the exact same shade of pearl gray as his expensive mount.

“This is astonishing,” Underbrink said. “I just got back into Town yesterday. I learned that you were here for the Season last night, but I could hardly credit it.” He glanced uneasily at Sebastian. “There were rumors of an engagement.”

Sebastian flicked a brief, dismissing glance over Underbrink. “The rumors are true.”

Edward’s gaze jerked quickly back to Prudence. “I don’t understand.”

“In that case, Underbrink,” Sebastian said softly, “I suggest you try reading the notices that will appear in tomorrow’s morning papers. Perhaps that will make it clear to you.”

Edward frowned. “Now, see here, Angelstone, Prudence and I are old friends. I have every right to be interested in her engagement. You cannot blame me for being surprised by this announcement.”

Prudence saw the cold fire pooling in Sebastian’s eyes. She did not know why he was acting as if he were annoyed by Edward, but she decided it would be best to head off a confrontation.