His heart slammed against the wall of his chest. “What?”
“Bella Ev—”
“No, it cannot be.” This was too much of a coincidence to be dismissed.
“Why are you looking at me so oddly?”
“Heather…” He gripped her shoulders tightly. “Miss Alwyn…”
“All I have of my mother is her portrait in the locket I showed you. My father would not even tell me about her as he lay on his deathbed. I don’t know why he deprived me so cruelly. She might have had family in Cornwall, but I shall never learn of them now.”
“She did. Your mother grew up here.”
“Why do you say that? I’m sure we’ll find hundreds of women with the name of Evans in Cornwall, and thousands throughout England. I wouldn’t know where to start looking. My maternal grandfather could have been a peer, or gentry, or a common tradesman. A butcher or a blacksmith, for all I know.”
“The local church will have records. That is the best place for us to start. But I think we must also speak to some of the old folk around here to learn all we can about the origins of this ghost and its connection to your mother.”
“Why are you insisting there is a connection to my mother?”
“Did I not mention the name of our ghost?”
“No.”
He kept his hands on her shoulders to steady her as he said, “Her name is Bella Evans.”
Miss Alwyn’s legs gave way, and she appeared ready to faint. But she recovered quickly, and her gaze was now blistering upon him. “I will never forgive you if this is a jest.”
“No jest,” he insisted. “Ask any of my staff or the village locals. We are not so far from St. Austell. I will take you there myself, if you wish. St. Augustine’s Church is the parish church and also close by. I’ll wager we find the birth records for both girls named Bella Evans there. Perhaps death records for both as well.”
She shook her head. “Do you think my mother died here?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll wager my entire estate that she was born here. All I am saying is there are too many coincidences to ignore. Their names, your familiarity with my house. Your resemblance to the ghost who haunts the Singing Caves. Your ability toseeher.”
“If there is a connection, as you say, then what if the ghost is trying to talk to me? I should go to her and ask our questions.”
“I hope you are not serious, because I am never going to let you near her.” His hands were still on her slight shoulders, so he shook her lightly. “Do you understand me? You are not to go near that apparition.”
“But—”
“No! What if she is the one who harmed your mother? What if she wants to harm you? How am I to protect you from something I cannot see or touch? Miss Alwyn…Heather…please, do not attempt to speak to her.”
“And leave her to rot in those caves for eternity?”
Ruarke saw the pain in her eyes, but he would not relent. “Yes, if it means protecting you.”
“Your Grace, it isn’t fair. This poor girl must be suffering.”
“Suffering? Or thriving on her murderous anger?”
“She is a child!”
“Shewasa girl of seventeen, hardly a child. She is dead now. We do not know what she is in her ghostly form. I will send you from MacArran Grange before I ever allow you near her.”
Her throat bobbed. “You would send me away?”
“Do you think I want to?” He bent his head to hers, aching to kiss her beautiful, soft mouth.
“Please don’t send me away,” she said in a fragile whisper.
