An incredulous laugh tore from Gideon’s lips. “You have a strange idea of courtship. Dressing up in a white gown and wig and play acting atbeing a ghost?”
“I didn’t invent the White Lady.” Leanora’s fingers tightened around the candle. “The gossips in Edenbridge are responsible forher. Some fool saw me in the woods and started the rumor. I simply turned it to account by dressing the part. I don’t deny she served me well. She frightened off your bride, didn’t she?”
“That’s why you came back, then. To get rid of Miss Honeywell.” Gideon had suspected Leanora wanted to put an end to his betrothal, but to find she’d done so because she believed he’dmarryherwas unbearable, as if he’d been sucked into a nightmare.
“I didn’t expect to have to return at all. I never thought you’d find another bride after I turned you into the Murderous Marquess.” A hysterical laugh spilled from Leanora’s scarlet lips. “I should have known there’d be some witless girl eager enough to marry a wealthy nobleman, even if he’s rumored tobe a monster.”
Cecilia gasped. “You!You started those rumors? You turned your brother-in-law into a murderer, and your own cousininto a ghost?”
Leanora shot her a look of malicious glee. “Well, I couldn’t let him marry Miss Honeywell, could I? You’re going to marryme, Gideon. It’s the only way to ensure my son becomes the heir.”
“Marry you?” Gideon’s laugh was bitter. “I can’t stand to look at you. Go back to Aviemore, Leanora. Become his marchioness, and give him a son and heir. You’ll get nowhere with me.”
Underneath the thick layer of white paint, Leanora’s cheeks burned. “I’m afraid that’s impossible. Aviemore’s gone.”
“Gone?” Gideon stared at her. “Jesus, Leanora. Whathave you done?”
“I’ve done only what I had to do.” A strange look crossed Leanora’s face. “And you see, I did the right thing. If I’d permitted Cassandra to give birth,herson would have become the Marquessof Darlington.”
Gideon went cold at her words, so cold and numb he couldn’t breathe.
If I’d permitted Cassandrato give birth…
He sifted frantically through his memories of the months of Cassandra’s illness, but his brain was sluggish with shock. All he could recall were flickering visions, each one more heartbreaking than the last. Cassandra, too ill to eat, growing weaker by the day, and his son, his eyes forever closed, laying on his dead mother’s breast, and blood…
Blood everywhere.
Gideon lifted his gaze to Leanora’s stark face, her fevered blue eyes, her livid lips. If Leanora’s madness had driven her to hurt Cassandra, there was nothing she wouldn’t risk, nothing she wouldn’t do.
“Go, Cecilia,” he choked out, smoke searing his lungs. The drapes were engulfed in flames now, and they were devouring everything in their path. Cassandra’s mahogany dressing table would be next, and soon the carpet would catch. “Out the hallway door, now.”
Cecilia was gasping for air, but she didn’t move. “No. I won’t go without you.”
“Cecilia, please.” Gideon glanced away from Leanora for an instant. “I’m begging you.”
But Cecilia didn’t meet his gaze. She was watching Leanora over his shoulder. “You can’t escape down the passageway, my lady. I’ve had it blocked atthe other end.”
Gideon jerked around and saw Leanora was skirting the edge of the bed, moving toward Cassandra’s dressing room at the far corner of the bedchamber. Her arm was raised, as if she were prepared at any moment to light the bed hangings on fire.
“You’re risking your own safety as well as ours.” Cecilia was tracking the movement of the candle in Leanora’s hand. “I’m telling you the truth, my lady. There’s no longer a wayout that way.”
“The truth?” Leanora spat. “Do you suppose I’d believe a whore?” She pointed a shaking finger at Cecilia. “I know you were in his bed last night. Isawyou.”
The color drained from Cecilia’s face, but she held her hand out to Leanora. “Neither Lord Darlington nor I want to see you get hurt, my lady. There’s still time for us all to get out the hallway door. Give his lordship the candle.”
Soon it would no longer matter whether Leanora lit the bed hangings on fire or not. The bedchamber was almost entirely engulfed in flames, the smoke growing thicker by the moment. Gideon held out his hand to Leanora, beckoning with his fingers. “Give me the candle, Leanora.”
Leanora backed away from him. Gideon tensed, about to leap on her and tackle her to the floor when Leanora let out an inhuman shriek that made the hair on his neck stand on end, and touched the lit end of the candle to the fragile silk bed hangings. They caught at once, and within seconds the flames were crawling up the carved wooden bed posts to the canopy above.
“No!” Gideon made another grab for Leanora, but it was too late. The candle fell to the floor behind the bed. Gideon prayed the flame was snuffed out before it dropped, but a second later the thick carpet under their feet caught fire.
Leanora whirled around and… somehow vanished into the clouds of smoke billowing toward the ceiling, as if she truly were a ghost.
Gideon stared with his brain frozen in shock. He took a step toward the empty place where she’d been moments before, but Cecilia grabbed his arm. She was shouting something at him, but Gideon couldn’t hear what she said over the roar of the fire. Something about a blocked passageway, and getting trapped inside the castle.
“Gideon!” Cecilia clawed at his arm.“Listen to me!”
He jerked his attention back to her, dazed, but as he stared into her dark eyes, the fog dissolved, and his brain snapped back into focus.
