Kiss in the Mist by Elizabeth Brady

Author:Elizabeth Brady
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 2017-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

Great-Aunt Celia’s townhouse was extravagant, but tasteful and in the current mode of fashion. Black and white marble checkered the entranceway before a grand single-staircase spiraling to the upper floors. Scalloped alcoves shaded marble and bronze statues or bouquets of flowers—fresh cut and full, despite the house having just opened—but while it was opulent and imposing and had all the luxuries of town living, it did not feel very much like her aunt. Amanda had always thought otherwise. She wondered, now, at the change.

They discovered their hostess and Geoffrey in the reception hall beside the fireplace, huddled over a chess table. Correction: Geoffrey was huddled. Great-Aunt Celia sat back on a settee, directing him with her cane. “No no, Bishop takes Knight. The other Knight, boy! White cannot jump to black! What have they been teaching you? I thought Miss Heatly was challenging your grey matter, but she must be going soft for you to make a move like that. I shall have checkmate in three unless you… Yes! You saw it. The only thing you could do, really. Very good, I nearly feared the worst, that you were a lost cause!

“Well, what have we here! Lord Denbigh such an honor for you to greet us this morning after last night’s incident.”

(Incident. You see!)

While Great-Aunt Celia greeted their guest, Amanda pulled Geoffrey aside. He’d swallowed deeply when he saw the two of them enter together. He knew what was coming. When they reached the corner of the great hall, hopefully far enough away to be out of earshot, she rounded on him.

“Do you recall, my brother dear, that after your excursion the other night, we, the two of us, agreed that you were in an amazing amount of trouble? That your actions had warranted a deluge of punishment? I believe the words ‘reap’ and ‘sown’ were used.”

Geoffrey looked as if he were about to speak, but wisely refrained. Amanda fought to keep her temper.

“What, after all that has occurred, gave you the faintest inclination to lie to me?”

“I didn—”

Amanda tilted her head. “Mr. Diggs?”

Geoffrey snapped his mouth shut. His eyes darted to the imposing figure being barraged by Great-Aunt Celia.

“You alone knew they were the same man. You knew my thoughts on the matter. You deliberately kept information from me.” She bent down so that they were eye-to-eye. He wouldn’t meet them. “Geoffrey, I am severely disappointed.”

The color fled from his face, then rushed back in a wave, flooding his cheeks up to the tips of his ears. His eyes were suspiciously glassy.

“Amanda, you must tell me now how the repairs progress!” Great-Aunt Celia called to her. Lord Denbigh wisely used the opportunity to make his escape, fleeing their direction.

She hesitated leaving Geoffrey, but perhaps it was best. With a sigh, she warned her brother, “We will discuss this at length, later.” She made her way back across the room, but Lord Denbigh caught her midway.

“I might say a few words to him.”

It was said as a statement, but Amanda responded as if he’d asked.

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