Page 63 of His Wicked Charm

Lilah raised her eyebrows, surprised. “But you believe in that sort of thing.”

“No. I am open to belief, but I’ve never yet come across a medium who was anything but a swindler using a bag of tricks. Some may actually believe they can contact the dead. But I’ve never found one who had any real proof. Olivia used to investigate mediums. There was a wave of them a few years back.”

“I know,” Lilah replied drily.

“Of course. Your aunt.” He paused. “Mrs. LeClaire seems to believe it. Perhaps she’ll prove me wrong.”

“I doubt it. She lives in a world of her own making.”

They continued to work through the day but had found nothing by the time they stopped for tea. Lilah was dispirited. “I had hoped we would find something here—the key, a location...”

“We’ll find them,” Con assured her with his usual confidence, but he frowned. “Hopefully soon. I worry...”

“What?” Lilah asked. “Don’t tell me Mr. Dearborn’s deadline matters.”

“No. Well, perhaps, some. The thing is, as long as this remains undiscovered, there’s still a threat to you.” He looked into her face searchingly. “Lilah, is there something more going on here that I don’t know about?”

“No.” Her answer was quick, and she firmly suppressed the flicker of guilt. Last night had nothing to do with the search or the key. “Of course not. And I doubt that there’s any danger to me. Mr. Dearborn has threatened us with doom—what else can he offer?” She put up what she hoped was an insouciant smile.

Con nodded, but he didn’t look entirely convinced. She could hardly blame him. Whatever she said, Lilah could not deny that now there was something awful hanging over her head.

* * *

AS THEY MADE their way downstairs for tea, Lilah was surprised to hear her aunt talking and the murmur of a male voice in response. Lilah glanced at Con, who returned her puzzled look. “Don’t tell me Dearborn’s returned.”

Their steps quickened, but when they reached the open doorway of the drawing room, they came to an abrupt halt. Con muttered, “What the devil is he doing here?”

“Lilah, dearest!” Her aunt rose. “Look who’s come to visit us!”

Lilah forced a smile. “Sir Jasper.”

“It’s wonderful how popular Barrow House has become,” Aunt Vesta said blandly.

“Yes, isn’t it?” Lilah walked forward, extending her hand to her cousin. “This is indeed unexpected, Sir Jasper.” Drat the man. How could they talk about the key, much less hunt for it, with Sir Jasper hanging about?

“I do hope you will forgive me for not sending notice,” Sir Jasper responded. “Mrs. Summersley urged me to come. She feared you might be lonely on your own.”

“As you can see, I’m not alone.” What was Aunt Helena thinking, to thrust Sir Jasper on them like this? It certainly would not further Sir Jasper’s suit to be placed in constant comparison to Con. “You remember Lord Moreland.”

“Yes, of course. Sir.” Jasper’s stiff nod toward Con conveyed little joy at the memory.

Con took Lilah’s arm in a proprietary way. “Sir Jasper. The depth of your devotion to your family is astounding.”

“It’s so nice to have the company of young people.” Aunt Vesta beamed. “Makes one feel less old. No doubt you think the same, Sir Jasper.”

Lilah hid a smile. Clearly Con had a champion in Aunt Vesta.

“Are you on your way home, Sir Jasper?” Con asked as Lilah sat down. He took a chair between Lilah and the other man.

“Sir Jasper lives in Yorkshire,” Lilah put in.

“Ah, then you are indeed a good cousin to go so far out of your way.”

The conversation limped along. Aunt Vesta filled in most of the empty stretches. Lilah wondered how long Sir Jasper meant to remain. It was unfair of Aunt Helena to interfere in her life this way. She’d already saddled Lilah with her dour maid. Why couldn’t she trust Lilah to do the proper thing?

Lilah knew the answer to that—however much Aunt Helena hid it from her, deep down she feared that some wild Holcutt behavior would surface in Lilah before Helena could get her safely wed to a respectable gentleman.

Guilt swept Lilah immediately. She shouldn’t be irritated at Aunt Helena. After all, perhaps she was right to worry, given Lilah’s recent behavior. Lilah told herself she should make more effort with Sir Jasper. She sat down to tea, putting on as agreeable an expression as she could muster. Con, she noticed, made no such effort but sat, staring a hole in the man the whole time.