The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, Abigail Wilson [best value ebook reader .TXT] 📗

tore through my chest. First Seline then Piers—did Avery also consider Tony a suitor forme? I turned away, wandering over to the large central window before feigning an interest in the front drive. Why must everyconversation around a single young lady involve marriage?

Within seconds Piers was at my side. He rested his arm on the window frame. “Allow me to apologize.”

“There is no need.”

He let out a long breath. “Then permit me to say that I don’t believe any of the Cavanaghs possess the least degree of tact.”When I didn’t answer, he stared down at me. “No flaming retort? Are you well this evening?”

I gave him my best casual shrug. “Perfectly well. Why do you ask?”

He inched his foot onto the windowsill. “I wouldn’t dare wager a guess, but I will endeavor to point out that your face isa bit pale at present, and after you made clear your thoughts about marriage, I—”

“You meant to rescue me from the likes of Tony Shaw?” I gave a breathy laugh. “How valiant you are.”

“That’s not what I—”

“Trust me, Sir Galahad, I can handle an old friend who’s never shown the slightest interest in me.”

“Possibly.” His finger grazed the edge of my sleeve. “Or not. I daresay Avery was in the right of it. You shall find Tony’scontinued indifference a bit more difficult to attain with your, uh, selection of gowns this evening.” His eyes flicked upto meet mine. “You look exceptional.”

Warmth filled my cheeks, and I spun to the window like a mouse, my heart wild. What did Piers mean by complimenting me insuch a way? He’d already made his intentions clear. Did he hope to inspire me into a marriage with Tony?

I choked out a thank-you before adding a bit more confidently, “Rest assured, I didn’t wear this gown for him.”

Piers stared at me for a moment, then his eyes widened in that infuriating mix of surprise and confidence. I could have scratchedhim.

Phenomenal job, Charity. If a way existed to make the situation more complicated between Piers and me, I’d certainly found it.

I rushed to snuff out the resulting silence, pointing through the window. “There. I can almost see the silhouette of the abbeyin the moonlight. At least I think those are the ruins on the hill over there.” My shoulders felt heavy, my throat thick.“What do you suppose your brother and his friends were doing there the night Seline left?”

Piers turned his back to the window, his arms crossed. “Searching for ghosts perhaps.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I wouldn’t put anything past Avery and his friends.”

A wry smile curved his lips, and I couldn’t help but deduce that his mind was on something else. He nudged my shoulder. “There have been rumors for the last hundred years of a spectral monk who walks the ruins.”

“And you mean to suggest that Avery was hoping to meet this monk?”

He let a small laugh slip. “He always has been fascinated with the beyond.”

I dipped my chin. “Speaking of the beyond”—I motioned out the window—“our first guest has arrived.”

Piers cocked an eyebrow. “Here we go.”

At length Mr. Baker entered. “Mr. Hugh Daunt and Miss Daunt.”

Piers leaned down near my ear, his voice a mockery. “He brought his sister.”

“Don’t look so smug. I invited her.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I hope you don’t regret it.”

Priscilla Daunt had been twelve years old when I left for Ceylon. Though she’d been able to hold on to the wide-eyed innocenceof youth, she’d also grown into a lady in my absence. Her blond locks were twisted into braids and piled neatly on her head,while the white roses in her hair matched perfectly the smooth satin of her gown. She recognized me at once and hurried througha curtsy to Mrs. Cavanagh before tugging her brother to meet us in the center of the room.

I felt Piers’s hand at the small of my back. “Hugh, you remember Miss Halliwell?”

Hugh swept a questioning look from Piers back to me, and it wasn’t the first time I wondered if he knew of Piers’s and mysecret relationship. Before I left for Ceylon, Hugh had mentioned rather coyly how much Piers was going to miss me.

Of course that turned out to be far from the truth.

Today Hugh flashed a keen smile. “Indeed I do.” Then he bowed. “May I present my sister, Miss Daunt.”

Priscilla had always had a lovely voice and pretty manners, but she tossed them aside as she grasped my hands. “No need forformalities here. I perfectly remember Miss Halliwell.”

I squeezed her hands in return. “And I remember you.”

Her voice came out in waves, like a song building to crescendo. “I was absolutely giddy when I heard of your arrival in EastWhitloe. You and Seline must call on me as soon as the both of you are free. I am sorry to hear she is indisposed at present.”

It seemed Avery had already initiated a viable rumor. I didn’t bat an eye. “We would be pleased to do so as soon . . . asSeline has fully recovered.”

Mr. Baker announced the arrival of Mr. Tony Shaw as well as his older cousin, Miss Susannah Shaw, whom I’d been forced toadd to the party to keep up the numbers. All eyes turned once again to the door. The spare guest was ushered in before hercousin, and I found her a dainty little bird with black hair and wire-rimmed spectacles. She was slow to move and even slowerto smile—the complete opposite of her jovial cousin.

Tall with a large frame, Tony Shaw couldn’t help but chuckle as he drew up beside her and bowed to the room. The removal ofhis hat left a few scraggly pieces of hair at the back, and he smoothed them into place. Years ago he had been forced to crophis diminishing locks quite close and brush what was left forward. It didn’t appear he would be able to do so for very muchlonger.

I gave him a wide smile. Though Tony tended to laugh a bit too loud for most drawing room conversations, he also possessed the immensely desirable mix of goodwill and humor. A favorite at parties, he