A Rose at Midnight by Jacqueline Navin

Author:Jacqueline Navin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781408989548
Publisher: Harlequin (UK) Ltd
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Winter deepened. A harsh season was heralded by early snowfall which kept David stranded at Hawking Park for three days. Magnus’ irritability had led to more than one quarrel between the brothers, arguments that could be heard echoing down the hallways and driving the earl into seclusion.

For Caroline, however, David was good company, and she was grateful for the buffer between Magnus and herself. He played chess with her, teased Magnus and generally brightened the chilly atmosphere.

In the parlor one evening when a north wind whistled with shrill urgency outside, Caroline and David sat across the checkered board from one another. Magnus had locked himself in his study. Caroline was happy not to have his brooding presence about, and yet she found she missed him. Or at least missed the way he had been once.

David rubbed his hand over his mouth as he studied his dwindling black pieces, and Caroline was struck with the similarity in gestures to his absent brother.

“It’s check in three moves,” Caroline said.

He flickered a glance at her that barely disguised his annoyance. “I know it.” To her surprise, he was seriously vexed. This was the third game she had won.

It played out as she had predicted. David said, “Shall we do another?” He began lining up the ivory statues.

“Perhaps tomorrow,” Caroline demurred, resolving to let him win the next time. But she was weary tonight.

His eyes snapped up, and he glared at her for a moment before blinking and forcing a smile. “You can’t leave me out a loser this many times. What do you say to a small wager?”

Caroline laughed nervously. “I never gamble, David.”

“Just something small. To make it more interesting.”

His intensity was disturbing. “Really, no,” she insisted. “We shall have a rematch tomorrow night.”

“But I am planning to leave in the morning, if the weather permits. You must give me a chance to redeem myself.”

“All right,” she conceded. “But no wager.”

They were three moves into the new game when a shout outside the parlor door brought them both to their feet.

“What the devil—?” David started to the door.

Caroline flew past him, racing into the hall. “Magnus!”

Both the parlor where she and David had been and Magnus’s study opened into the huge circular center hall. The door to her husband’s domain was open, and several men were just now rushing inside.

She took a step toward the study, then stopped. Uncertain, she turned to David. His face was ghostly pale. Someone within the study shouted, “There’s blood! Call the doctor!” which was followed by a distinct growl voicing disagreement with that course of action. Magnus.

Blood. That unfroze Caroline’s feet without a second thought of the consequences. She rushed forward, then. stopped when her husband, borne between two footmen, came out and the three headed for the stairs. He was barely conscious, but he had seen her and given her a look that left her feeling as if she had just received a blow. She hesitated but a moment, then moved forward.

Magnus’ hoarse voice ground out, “Get her out.

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