What Happened at Midnight by Courtney Milan

Author:Courtney Milan
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2013-11-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

JOHN DIDN’T THINK HE WAS the sort to be easily overawed, but Northword Hill was by far the most intimidating home he had ever entered. The entry was all mirrors and marble and a vast candelabra that sparkled overhead; the murals on the walls had the rich look of old wealth. Even the corridor that he was led down when he’d handed over his card and a brief description of his business was lined with paintings done by a single hand—a beautiful woman, playing the role of a Madonna; a still life with candlelight on fruit so vivid that he couldn’t believe it was flat paint.

He caught a glimpse of a pianoforte edged in gold through one door and a library, well stocked with volumes, through another before he was ushered into a parlor.

“Mr. John Mason,” the footman intoned, bowing and then taking up watchful residence at the door.

The lady of the estate sat in a seat, the arms carved with delicate patterns. For all that he towered over her while she was seated, he had the impression that she might have been on a throne, looking down on him.

“Lady Northword,” John said, bowing his head.

He had heard that Lady Northword was elderly. But the woman who inclined her head to him looked only old enough to command respect. There was still more auburn in her hair than gray, and she wore it half up, the rest a mass of tangling curls.

“Mr. John Mason,” she repeated. “Please sit.” She waited until he had done so before she continued. “Northword told me about you the other day. You’re the fellow who’s come all the way from Southampton to work on Beauregard’s fields.”

“Yes, my lady. That’s right.”

“That’s quite kind of you,” she said. “The rest of us have been hearing about his swamp for some time now.” Her eyes focused on him. Nothing rheumy or unclear about her, despite her age. “Beauregard says that you asked for no compensation. I find that passing strange.”

He ducked his head. “Not so strange, my lady. I had other reasons to visit the district.”

“Had you, now.” She contemplated him as if wondering how villainous his reasons were. “And now you’ve come all the way from Beauregard’s farm to see me.”

“Yes, my lady.” His hand played over the metal in his pocket.

“Passing strange,” she repeated.

“Not so strange,” he said. “You’re the only one I can give this to.” He opened his hand.

In that moment, faced with Lady Northword’s regal demeanor, the plan suddenly felt foolish. Some tenant might have lost the earring in the decades since Lady Northword had resided at Doyle’s Grange. And even if it had belonged to her, what did a viscountess care about a twist of gold and a bit of peridot? She likely had far finer pieces to adorn her—including the pearls at her ears now.

But her eyes widened and she stood up half out of her chair, reaching for the metal.

“Mr. Mason,” she said, her voice growing temporarily raspy, “how extraordinary.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.