heart."
Prudence was immediately intrigued. "This sounds far more interesting than choosing which parties we shall attend. Do tell me everything about these incidents, Mrs. Leacock. I would be happy to investigate."
"I should be forever grateful, Miss Merryweather." Mrs. Leacock's cup rattled in its saucer. "I fear I really am getting rather desperate. I have never before believed in ghosts, but lately I have begun to wonder."
"Let me get my notebook," Prudence said eagerly.
Mrs. Leacock left an hour later, looking vastly relieved at having engaged a professional investigator. Prudence was delighted with the prospect of a puzzle to solve.
"If you will excuse me, Hester, I am going straight upstairs to read a new book I purchased this morning. It is all about the usefulness of electricity machines in detecting vaporous substances in the atmosphere. Perhaps I shall learn a technique I can apply to my new case."
Trevor looked briefly interested. "My friend Matthew Hornsby has an electricity machine. Made it himself."
"Does he?" Prudence asked with great interest.
"Yes, but I doubt that you'll need it." Trevor made a face. "Your new case is composed of nothing more than the imaginings of a nervous old woman."
"I'm not at all certain of that." Prudence went to the door. "It sounds to me as though there have indeed been some disturbances that require an explanation."
Hester looked up. "Are you saying you believe Lydia might actually have a ghost in her house?"
"I shall let you know my thoughts on the matter after I have had an opportunity to study my notes. In the meantime I want both of you to give me your word that you will say nothing of this to anyone."
"I shall not say a thing, my dear," Hester assured her.
Trevor grimaced as he got to his feet. "You needn't worry about me spreading the news of your case. Damned embarrassing having a sister who investigates spectral phenomena. Wish you'd give it up, Prue."
"I have no intention of giving up my hobby." Prudence went out into the hall.
"Prue, wait, I would like a word with you." Trevor hurried after her.
Prudence waited for him on the bottom step of the staircase. "Don't try to talk me out of this, Trevor. I am very bored with parties and soirees. If we are to stay in London until the end of the Season, as you wish to do, I must find something interesting to occupy my time."
"No, no, it's not about your silly investigation." Trevor glanced around to make certain none of the servants were within hearing distance. Then he leaned forward.
"Since you somehow learned of the duel I had scheduled with Angelstone, I don't mind telling you a rather interesting fact I have learned about the infamous Fallen Angel."
"What's that?" Prudence asked warily.
"He may have a ferocious reputation, but the man's a bloody damn coward."
Prudence was shocked. "Trevor, how can you say that?"
"Perfectly true." Trevor nodded once in satisfaction. "Man's an out-and-out coward."
"That's not true."
"He's the one who called off the duel, you know. Apologized rather than meet me on the field of honor this morning."
Prudence was infuriated by Trevor's interpretation of events. "If you want my opinion, Angelstone showed the sort of mature, responsible behavior one would expect in a well-bred gentleman. If you truly believe he's a coward, then you are a fool, Trevor."
"Now, Prue, calm yourself. Truth is, the man's a coward and that's a fact. By this evening, the entire social world will know it."
"Rubbish. Utter rubbish." Prudence picked up her skirts and dashed up the carpeted stairs.
Angelstone had kept his word. He had spared Trevor's life. Prudence prayed that the Fallen Angel would not put too high a price on the damage she had apparently done to his formidable reputation.
Chapter Four
Four days later on the night of the Thornbridge ball,
Prudence decided she had had enough. She was thoroughly annoyed with Sebastian and she let him know it the moment he sought
Prudence was immediately intrigued. "This sounds far more interesting than choosing which parties we shall attend. Do tell me everything about these incidents, Mrs. Leacock. I would be happy to investigate."
"I should be forever grateful, Miss Merryweather." Mrs. Leacock's cup rattled in its saucer. "I fear I really am getting rather desperate. I have never before believed in ghosts, but lately I have begun to wonder."
"Let me get my notebook," Prudence said eagerly.
Mrs. Leacock left an hour later, looking vastly relieved at having engaged a professional investigator. Prudence was delighted with the prospect of a puzzle to solve.
"If you will excuse me, Hester, I am going straight upstairs to read a new book I purchased this morning. It is all about the usefulness of electricity machines in detecting vaporous substances in the atmosphere. Perhaps I shall learn a technique I can apply to my new case."
Trevor looked briefly interested. "My friend Matthew Hornsby has an electricity machine. Made it himself."
"Does he?" Prudence asked with great interest.
"Yes, but I doubt that you'll need it." Trevor made a face. "Your new case is composed of nothing more than the imaginings of a nervous old woman."
"I'm not at all certain of that." Prudence went to the door. "It sounds to me as though there have indeed been some disturbances that require an explanation."
Hester looked up. "Are you saying you believe Lydia might actually have a ghost in her house?"
"I shall let you know my thoughts on the matter after I have had an opportunity to study my notes. In the meantime I want both of you to give me your word that you will say nothing of this to anyone."
"I shall not say a thing, my dear," Hester assured her.
Trevor grimaced as he got to his feet. "You needn't worry about me spreading the news of your case. Damned embarrassing having a sister who investigates spectral phenomena. Wish you'd give it up, Prue."
"I have no intention of giving up my hobby." Prudence went out into the hall.
"Prue, wait, I would like a word with you." Trevor hurried after her.
Prudence waited for him on the bottom step of the staircase. "Don't try to talk me out of this, Trevor. I am very bored with parties and soirees. If we are to stay in London until the end of the Season, as you wish to do, I must find something interesting to occupy my time."
"No, no, it's not about your silly investigation." Trevor glanced around to make certain none of the servants were within hearing distance. Then he leaned forward.
"Since you somehow learned of the duel I had scheduled with Angelstone, I don't mind telling you a rather interesting fact I have learned about the infamous Fallen Angel."
"What's that?" Prudence asked warily.
"He may have a ferocious reputation, but the man's a bloody damn coward."
Prudence was shocked. "Trevor, how can you say that?"
"Perfectly true." Trevor nodded once in satisfaction. "Man's an out-and-out coward."
"That's not true."
"He's the one who called off the duel, you know. Apologized rather than meet me on the field of honor this morning."
Prudence was infuriated by Trevor's interpretation of events. "If you want my opinion, Angelstone showed the sort of mature, responsible behavior one would expect in a well-bred gentleman. If you truly believe he's a coward, then you are a fool, Trevor."
"Now, Prue, calm yourself. Truth is, the man's a coward and that's a fact. By this evening, the entire social world will know it."
"Rubbish. Utter rubbish." Prudence picked up her skirts and dashed up the carpeted stairs.
Angelstone had kept his word. He had spared Trevor's life. Prudence prayed that the Fallen Angel would not put too high a price on the damage she had apparently done to his formidable reputation.
Chapter Four
Four days later on the night of the Thornbridge ball,
Prudence decided she had had enough. She was thoroughly annoyed with Sebastian and she let him know it the moment he sought
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