Dangerous (42 page)

A few minutes later the loud commotion in the hall announced Prudence’s return from the shopping expedition.

“Ah, here we are.” Sebastian watched the door expectantly, “I’ll wager my aunt has done her over in emerald greens and deep yellows.”

The library door opened abruptly and Prudence rushed into the room. She was still wearing the heavily flounced lavender gown she had left in earlier. Her bonnet, a ridiculously oversized concoction decorated with massive lavender flowers, flopped wildly. Behind the lenses of her spectacles, her eyes were alight with excitement.

“Sebastian, you will never guess what has happened.”

Sebastian dumped Lucifer on the floor and rose to greet his wife. “Please be seated, my dear. I am curious to hear all the details of your shopping trip.”

“My shopping trip?” She gave him a puzzled look as she perched on a chair.

“Perhaps you will recall it if you try very hard. I believe you left a little more than three hours ago in the company of my aunt.” Sebastian sat down again. “You were going to be redone from head to toe.”

“Oh, yes. The shopping trip.” Prudence took off her bonnet and tossed it to one side. “I believe it was quite successful. Your aunt seemed very pleased, at any rate. I hope you like green and yellow because I fear I shall be wearing a great deal of it.”

Sebastian smiled.

“But that is not what I wanted to tell you about.” Prudence smiled with satisfaction. “I have got us another client, my lord.”

Sebastian stopped smiling. “Bloody hell.”

“Now, Sebastian, you must not take that attitude. Perhaps I should make it clear that this will be one of my investigations. I shall be looking into a matter involving spectral phenomena. I thought you would enjoy assisting me this time.”

Sebastian eyed her warily. “I do not want you taking any risks, madam, and that is final.”

“If you are worrying about your heir, you may relax.” Prudence patted her still-flat stomach. “I am certain he is made of sturdy stuff. He will take no notice of a ghost or two.”

“Now, Prue—”

“Calm yourself, my lord.” She smiled serenely. “There will not be any risks at all. This is a matter involving a very old family ghost. Apparently it has been seen of late at the Cranshaws’ country house. They would like me to verify whether or not it actually exists.”

“And if it does?”

“Why, then, they would like me to find a way to get rid of it. Apparently it is terrifying the staff. The Cranshaws have been forced to hire three new maids and a new cook in the past two months. That sort of turnover among one’s staff is very annoying, Mrs. Cranshaw tells me.”

Sebastian heard the anticipation in her voice. He saw it sparkling in her eyes. He was also ruefully aware of the familiar sense of controlled excitement bubbling to life deep inside himself. “I suppose there would not be much harm in conducting a small investigation.”

“None at all,” Prudence agreed cheerfully.

Sebastian got to his feet again and stalked over to the window. “You are quite certain this is merely a matter of spectral phenomena?”

“Absolutely certain.”

“There is no question of murder, mayhem, or criminal schemes here?”

“Of course not.”

“There is absolutely nothing of a dangerous nature involved?” he persisted.

Prudence chuckled indulgently. “Really, Sebastian. It’s perfectly ridiculous to even think that this investigation could involve any dangerous criminal activity. We are talking about a very old ghost.”

“Well,” Sebastian said cautiously, “I suppose it will be all right for you to look into the matter. I shall, of course, accompany you. It will give me an opportunity to observe your methods.”

“Of course.”

He smiled. “It might be somewhat amusing.”

“I hoped you might find it so, my lord,” Prudence said demurely.

She was laughing at him, he thought. The little baggage had known that he would be as intrigued as she was by the opportunity to investigate another interesting puzzle. She knew him too well. Hardly surprising, he reflected. She was, after all, the other half of himself.

Sebastian gazed out into the sunlit garden. “I have only one stipulation to make before I agree to pursue this investigation with you.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“I want you to tell me again that you love me,” Sebastian said very quietly.

One could have heard a feather drop in the silence that ensued. Sebastian held his breath. He steeled himself and turned slowly around to face Prudence.

She was on her feet, her hands clasped in front of her. Her eyes were very bright and a little wary. “So you did hear me that night.”

“I heard you. But I have not heard you say those words again. Have you changed your mind?”

“No, my lord. I have loved you since the moment I met you. I shall love you all the days of my life.” She smiled
wistfully. “I did not say the words again because I thought perhaps you found them at best merely amusing.”

“Knowing that you love me is not a source of amusement.” Sebastian realized that his hands were shaking with the force of the emotion that was pouring through him. “It is my salvation.”

“Oh,
Sebastian
.” Prudence flew into his arms.

“I love you, Prue.” He crushed her close. “Always. Forever.”

It was safe, after all, to look into the dark place inside himself that had once been so very cold, Sebastian thought. It was not empty, as he had feared. Love filled the part of him that had been locked in ice for so long.

He held Prudence very close for a long time. Her warmth poured into him, filling him completely.

“There are a few small details about our next investigation that I should perhaps mention,” Prudence mumbled at last into his shirt.

“Details?” Sebastian raised his head.

Prudence smiled her most winning smile. “Well, according to my client, there is some question of a diamond necklace that has recently gone missing.”

“Diamonds? We’re talking about missing diamonds? Now, hold on just one minute, here. It has been my experience that where there is a question of missing jewelry, there is likely to be a question of foul play.”

Prudence cleared her throat with a discreet little cough. “Well, apparently there have been one or two indications—small ones, mind you—that someone may have attempted to search the Cranshaws’ house.”

“Damnation, Prue, I said nothing dangerous this time.”

“I’m sure there is nothing in the least bit dangerous about this investigation, my lord. Just some rather intriguing elements that I know will amuse you. I would not wish you to become bored.”
Sebastian smiled wryly. “You think you can wrap me around your little finger, don’t you, my sweet?”

“Just as you can wrap me around yours.” She stood on tiptoe and put her arms about his neck. “I think, my dearest Sebastian, that you and I were meant for each other.”

He looked into her glowing eyes and felt the warm fires of love burning inside himself. “There is no question about that.”

He threaded his fingers through her hair and covered her mouth with his own. He knew he would never again be cold.