Face of the Maiden by Emma Wildes

Author:Emma Wildes
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2008-08-11T16:00:00+00:00

“His lordship wishes to see you at once, Miss Celia.” Burch ran a disapproving look over her windblown appearance.

“He does?” Startled and self-conscious, Celia put her hands up and attempted to smooth her disheveled hair back into place. “Why?”

“I’m sure I don’t know.” The freezing tone implied that he did not question his employer and neither should she. “He’s in his study.”

“Yes, of course.” Celia quickly schooled her features to an expression of chastened humility, knowing how much store the butler put on formality. “I’ll go at once, Burch, thank you.”

Curious now, she went down the hallway and knocked tentatively on the door of James’s study.

“Yes?”

She opened the door.

“Come in, come in, child.” James smiled at her in his kindly way, gesturing toward a chair next to a pile of old books and a long-dead potted plant. “Sit down. I’m glad you’ve arrived. I’m afraid you just missed the vicar. Richard and I were discussing your situation.”

“My situation, my lord?” Celia perched uneasily on the end of the chair. She was sure the vicar was trustworthy and would not disclose anything she’d told him.

“He tells me you are interested in learning more about our family history. The former countess, Caroline Leighton, to be exact.”

“Oh, yes. I am.” She swallowed and relaxed a fraction.

“I can understand that, given your remarkable resemblance,” he said, nodding in approval.

“I admit I find her story sad but fascinating. The vicar was able to only tell me a little about her.”

“As I understand it, he has been going over the church records and was anxious to share some of his findings with you.”

“He’s too kind.”

A smile lit James’s thin face. “Nonsense. We embrace anyone who has a passion for the past. I’m more than happy to unearth any family papers for your perusal.”

“Thank you.”

James frowned then, fingering a paperweight with long, restless fingers. “I’m sorry but I had no idea this drama over the portrait had gone so far until the disturbing scene with…er…the little maid the other day. What is her name?”

“Mary, my lord.”

“Yes, that’s it. In any case, I shouldn’t let the servants’ whispering bother you, my dear. It will quickly pass by.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” Celia smiled uncertainly.

“People are rarely happy if they don’t have something to gossip over. You are merely the sensation of the day. Something new will come along.” He motioned to several worn volumes sitting on his desk. “Take these if you wish and see what you can find out about our scandalous ancestor.”

Celia rose obediently and took up the books in question, their aged surfaces soft in her hands. “I’m sure I’ll find these very interesting.”

“I hope so, I do, child. I was going to give them to Phillip, you know, but he left so abruptly and who knows exactly when he’ll be back, so you might as well have them first, my dear.”

She froze, an odd ripple running through her body. “Phillip?”

“Yes, he too, amazingly enough, has a sudden and unprecedented interest in the long-gone Leighton family.” A chuckle and a shake of his head.

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