Captivating the Countess by Patricia Rice

Author:Patricia Rice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Patricia Rice

Fearing Rain meant to make a mad dash to save his guests, Bell caught his strong arm and held him back. Intelligently, his guests and servants below fled the creaking fixture. “She’s angry and impatient and wants us to know it. I doubt a spirit has the kind of mechanical knowledge or focus to understand the damage the swinging might cause.”

“How do you know this?” Rain normally had a compellingly composed voice that he seldom raised, but he sounded as close to angry as she’d ever heard.

“I wish I knew. I am sensitive enough to know spirits exist. But. . . this is different. I feel her sorrow and frustration.” Bell supposed the spirit’s pain may have drawn her from her office, but the sensation was too new to understand. “It could be that she simply takes advantage of my presence. Perhaps I should stay on the other end of the house.”

It would be dreadfully lonely, but Bell couldn’t bear to cause harm if it was her presence causing the ghost’s reactions.

The chandelier groaned and swung wider. The household began to gather, upstairs and down, keeping a safe distance. Bell watched in horror, certain the beautiful piece with all its crystals would come tumbling down at any moment.

“All right,” she whispered in resignation. “Let us hold a séance this evening, preferably somewhere far away from people and chandeliers.”

Rain clasped the hand she held on his arm.

The chandelier slowed its spinning.

With that evidence, they had no other choice.

“I’ll tell my sisters.” Grimly, Rain released her hand. “I’ll ask them to determine the safest place and let you know.”

He set off like a man on a mission.

Bell wasn’t entirely certain it was a relief that he believed her. Another man might have scoffed or ordered her to stay away. They could all pretend the house’s foundations were the problem. She didn’t think one person in a hundred would believe a ghost was threatening them because it wanted to talk to Bell.

Hearing a child crying, she glanced around to see if any of the ladies noticed. The children had governesses. The nursery was of no concern to her.

But no one else seemed to hear—just as no one had noticed Lady Rutledge crying. With a sigh, she returned the books to her room, then set out for the upper floor again.

As always, Bell clung tightly to the banister on the way up. She hoped she might throw herself forward if she felt vaporish, but stairs always made her uneasy. That was the disadvantage of her new rooms—stairs in an area where no one would find her if she fell. Charming.

She followed the long line of closed doors to the far end of the upper hall. Apparently, she should have taken the other staircase, but she hadn’t wanted to cross paths with the swinging chandelier. How could she possibly have heard a child from that distance?

Now that she was close, she could hear children shouting and playing. They sounded happy enough.

She really did not want to go inside.

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