The Vanishing of Lord Vale by Chasity Bowlin

Author:Chasity Bowlin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: 0
Published: 2017-11-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

BENEDICT CLIMBED THE stairs slowly, Miss Masters at his side. He was acutely aware of her, of her suspicions and her utter lack of trust in him. But it was her scent that teased and tormented him the most in that moment. She smelled faintly of lilies. It was her soap, he supposed, as he doubted she’d be one to indulge in such fripperies as perfume. As he had no notion of what the going rate was for a companion’s salary, he couldn’t even say that she might have afforded to indulge such a whim even had she been inclined. That sparked a moment of sympathy along with the urge to offer her all the things she could not afford for herself. It would be a disaster and such an offer would likely be tossed back in his face, regardless.

“You are quite fiercely protective of Lady Vale and yet I feel she is not so fond of you as you are of her,” he observed. It was simply a way of breaking the silence between them, and also of stirring the antagonism that existed between them. He had no wish to indulge tender or sympathetic feelings toward her and stirring that particular hornet’s nest would, no doubt, see them well at odds.

Miss Masters halted and faced him. “Lady Vale is sometimes resentful of the fact that her brother-in-law, as a condition of allowing her to maintain a separate household, requires her to have a companion of his choosing. I have tried to make my presence here of as little discomfort to Lady Vale as possible. But in these situations—”

He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. “You mean situations where she brings some stranger into her home and identifies him as her long lost son? You must admit, Miss Masters, your loyalty aside, that it’s quite mad.”

He’d said it precisely to get a rise from her and it worked. She prickled instantly—shoulders squared, chin inched upward, eyes narrowed. Oh, yes. He’d succeeded admirably in setting her off. If he’d wanted to ensure that they remain at odds, he’d done so admirably.

“Mr. Mason, you will not speak of Lady Vale in that manner. Neither of us can possibly imagine what she has suffered and for you to make light of it—”

“I make light of nothing,” he corrected her. “At this moment, the only person in this world I give two damns about is missing… and if that odd bird in her bright plumage is to be believed, she’s in grave danger.” Benedict had just enough space between himself and the whispered words of Madame Zula to once again find his footing. It wasn’t second sight that had told her that. He didn’t believe that for a minute. No doubt, Mary had said something to her when meeting with the woman. The only information she’d truly offered had been the name of the village. Everything else had been vague and shrouded in carefully articulated mystery.

“Mr. Mason,” Miss Masters began, “I will thank you to tread carefully.

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