There was somethingwrongwith Mr. Robert Hoyle, and Bull couldn’t put his light fingers on it. He wasn’twrongin that he was different than everyone else—although the man ought to fire his barber, for that monstrosity attached to his upper lip. Damned thing looked like a furry caterpillar in need of a diet.
Nay, he was allwrongbecause… Bull sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He wasn’t sure. But Hoyle’swrongnessmade him itchy, that was for certain, and he’d learned long ago never to ignore his instincts.
“Bull Lindsay, as I live and breathe!”
The familiar voice had him whirling about, lips curling into a smile, to see the Countess of Mistree hobbling toward him, her frail body looking even more shrunken than usual, although her hair and jewels were perfection as always.
“Eliza!” he blurted, leaping to take the hand not clutching the cane. “Here all alone, are ye?”
“Never fear,” the elderly woman breezed as he led her toward the cluster of chairs facing one of the walls. “Jonesis around here somewhere. I wandered off to amuse myself.”
Her devoted butler wasn’t the usual lady’s companion, but then again, Lady Mistree was an unusual sort ofgrande dame. Bull was smiling as he sank down beside her, still holding her hand. “Ye’re looking elegant as always, darling.”
“Pish,” she scolded, sending him a fond smile. “I look like a walking skeleton, which I might as well be.” She settled back with a faint sigh, her eyes bright as she glanced around the room at all the portraits. “I wanted to see them all, one last time. Many of them are like old friends, you understand. They deserved a goodbye.”
And for the first time in a long while, Bull wasn’t sure what to say.
He’d been friends with the Countess for a long time, their good-natured flirtation starting even before she’d lost her husband. Last spring she’d declared she was dying, and used that nonsense as an excuse to start giving Bull’s friends and family—whom she only knew through his stories—their ‘inheritances’, much to everyone’s surprise.
It had seemed like a lark then.
Now?
Now, seeing her like this, he could believe her claim.
Swallowing past the lump of emotion in his throat, Bull squeezed her fingers. “I shall miss ye, ye ken.”
“Good,” the old woman said simply, still staring at the artwork around her with a faint smile. “We can only hope for that; to be remembered and missed by those we love.”She turned her bright gaze on him. “And I do love you, Bull dearest. Never doubt that.”
His voice was all raspy when he managed, “Love ye too, Eliza.”
He’d never known his grandmother, but if he had, he doubted she’d be anything like Lady Mistree. Eliza was in a class all of her own—gallivanting about the world with her True Love Reggie, collecting outrageous trinkets, and giving them away to people she barely knew.
Speaking of which…
In an effort to lighten the mood, Bull squeezed her fingers again. “Ye ken I still havenae receivedmymagical inheritance. Surely ye planned on giving me a enchanted rock? Perhaps in a delightfully naughty shape?”
“Bull, darling, if I had a naughty-shaped rock, you would be the first one I would give it to. But no, you will get what is coming to you. For now, though…” She released his hand, and scrabbled for her reticule. “I have something in here for you. Do you think it might finally be time to show me those sleight-of-hand skills of yours? Would you like to pick my pocket?”
He smiled a little sadly. “Ye ken I dinnae do that sort of thing anymore, Eliza. I’ve learned that if I’m willing to do it today for a good reason, I’ll do it tomorrow for a bad one.”
When her smile bloomed—still bright on her gaunt face—Bull knew he’d said the right thing.
“You are a good man.” She patted his hand. “Perhaps it is time to share those skills with someone else, and allowthemthe chance to join you on your adventure?”
Well, that made no sense. Bull shook his head and opened his mouth to ask her to explain, but the old woman thrust her reticule toward him. “Here, open this for me. The ties are so fiddly.”
Obediently, Bull opened the bejeweled bag, noting the delicate stitching and the attention to detail on the handle as Eliza reached a frail hand inside…only to emerge with a small jewelry box.
“Here, my dear boy.” She held it toward him, her gaze intent. “I have been holding onto this for the right moment. Your inheritance from me, Bull. Thank you for being a light in my last years. Never doubt that you make the world a better place.”
When was the last time his hands had shaken like this? Not since he’d gained utter control of them so many years before. His fingersalwaysknew where they were, even when they couldn’t be still. Now, though…
He reached for the small box, his throat tight with emotion. “Carved ivory, eh?” The design was exquisite. “Are ye sure ye want to part with it?” He managed to send a teasing smile her way. “It must be worth a fortune.”
“To the elephant, at least.” She made a littleshooinggesture. “Reggie picked it up on a ramble in India.Yourinheritance is inside, dear boy.
The lid lifted to reveal… “A ring?” A gold band with a single, small emerald. An engagement band, perhaps. He noticed her gloveless hands as he lifted his eyes to Lady Mistree’s. “Eliza…it’syers?”
