“And what else do you do to occupy your time?” I smiled at him. “Besides read maps.”
“I’m quite busy overseeing the property and managing the tenant farmers.”
“What do you do for pleasure? Is there no other form of entertainment in Ravenscar?”
“I read a lot of books. The library at Pickering Castle is unmatched in all of England.”
The thought of a library was tempting. I pictured the library at Aunt Maude’s home in New York, and memories of Alec surfaced. Why did almost everything turn my thoughts back to him?
“Are there instruments?” I asked, determined not to think about Alec. “A piano, perhaps?”
Something lit up in his gaze—excitement? “Do you play?”
“I do not play, but I like to sing.”
“I would like to hear you sometime.”
People had begun to gather in their boxes and in the chairs on the house floor. They were turning our way, continuing to talk as they craned their necks to see us.
“I do believe London will have us engaged by morning, Your Gra—”
“Ames.” He did not look at the others but kept his focus on me. “And let them. I’d rather it be done as soon as possible.”
It almost sounded like a proposal, so I chose to ignore the comment, not ready to discuss such an important topic.
“And what about you?” he asked. “What sort of entertainment would you desire, besides singing?”
“I enjoy books, as well,” I said. “But I wouldn’t mind entertaining—”
He scoffed. “Pickering Castle is no place for guests.”
“No guests? Why not?”
“People do not like staying at the castle,” he said, probably hoping to clarify, but it only made me more curious.
“Why?”
“It’s an old, drafty monstrosity of a house. Outdated, and—” He paused. “The locals claim it’s haunted.”
“Is it?”
For the first time, he turned his gaze away from me, his face becoming like stone. “With memories of the past, perhaps.”
I wanted to ask him about the scandal that Lady Mandeville had whispered about, but I wasn’t sure how to broach the topic. Were those the difficult memories he was thinking about?
“Why do they think it’s haunted?” I asked instead.
“Because someone was murdered there.”
I blinked several times, waiting for him to elaborate, but he did not, and the music began to play.
18
Early the next morning, Alec helped me into a hansom cab he had hired to take us to Islington. Aunt Maude would not expect to see me before lunch, which would be another four hours from now, so we would have plenty of time to get to Islington and back before she realized we were gone.
Alec stepped into the enclosed cab and sat next to me. It was a small conveyance with room enough for the two of us. His leg pressed against mine as he rapped the ceiling to let the driver know we were ready to leave.
A steady rain fell outside, creating a sort of cocoon for us in the vehicle. I had taken great pains with my appearance that morning, though it wasn’t easy to get ready without Gallagher’s assistance. I was used to dressing myself, but the gowns I wore now were much more complicated than the ones I wore in Five Points. And the hairstyles I had mastered on my own were nothing compared to my maid’s abilities, but I was pleased with my efforts.
