The Bloodstone Affair - Emma Wildes by Emma Wildes

Author:Emma Wildes [Wildes, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-05-10T16:27:22+00:00

* * * *

Samuel lifted his lantern. He breathed in the persuasive odor of old damp stone and ancient dust, his sensitized mind gratefully registering nothing except the emptiness of a vast dark space and hollowed bones, long since abandoned. “Nothing exists here,” he said crisply, trying to ignore the trickle of sweat down his neck.

“There are rats,” St. John muttered in open disgust, swinging his own light high, his clean-cut features limed in the shrouded illumination. “I can hear the blasted things rustling about. Remember that catacomb in Venice? One of the vile creatures had a bit of a man’s coat stuck in his teeth, and you knew it had been rifling a grave. I wanted to shriek like a woman and run.”

Since he knew full well his friend’s aversion to the rodents, Samuel couldn’t help but smile in the darkened tunnel. He felt his way along the sweating wall with one outstretched hand. “But you didn’t, which I admired. It takes no courage to stand before what doesn’t frighten us, my friend, remember it. And steely resolve to defy what strikes terror into our bones. Most men would cower before the apparitions you seek out, but may not blink twice at the scuttling past of a rat in the gutter. Don’t be ashamed of your aversion, but be proud you conquer it.”

In the unreal flutter of the lanterns, Gavin’s expression was hard to read. “Yes, the duchess and I had that conversation this morning.”

“Before or after you bedded her again?”

There was a short pause with nothing but the scrape of their feet on the stone floor and their breathing. Then Gavin said, “What makes you ask such a question?”

Samuel lifted his brows. “I found an interesting reference in one of the books we’d gathered, a diary that hints at a gruesome local legend. It was late last eve but I came to your room, hoping you were still awake. From what I heard through the closed door, the two of you were quite busy and the lady sounded to be most enjoying herself. Needless to say, I decided not to knock.”

“Malcolm bedded her again. I had nothing to do with it.”

Samuel had been very good friends with Gavin’s father and had known him since the young man was two years old. He loved him like a son and if the gloriously beautiful duchess was the one to make him happy, he would do his best to see it happen. He said gently, “Nothing? Don’t forget, I’ve seen you look at her and felt your reaction. Our ethereal friend Malcolm may have instigated it, but you have no objections to taking your pleasure with the lovely Carlotta. Be careful, Gavin, lest your heart become engaged in this matter.”

His companion looked grim. “Can we discuss this when we aren’t treading past the graves of long dead men and women?”

“If you wish.” Samuel squinted at the relief of a name carved into a rock slab under his feet, noting the date. “We’re getting to the right time period.

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