Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online

maid in her night
    clothes.
    Where are the stairs to the roof?" he demanded.
    The girl gasped and went as still as a rabbit confronted by a wolf.
    She gaped at Tobias, eyes widening with fear. She made several
    attempts to speak but only managed a meaningless stammer.
      The roof, girl," Tobias repeated, voice accented with faint echoes
    of impending doom. Where is the bloody staircase?"
    Her companions retreated rapidly, leaving her to face Tobias
    alone.
    Tuh-puh-please, sir    The girl stopped altogether when Tobias
    loomed closer. She looked as if she was about to burst into tears.
    Lavinia sighed. It was time to take charge.
      Enough, sir." She stepped between Tobias and the maid, who was
    now trembling visibly.   You are terrifying her. Allow me to deal with
    this."
    Tobias came to a halt, clearly annoyed at having been deprived of
    his prey. He did not take his icy gaze off the shivering girl.
      Very well," he growled to Lavinia.   But be quick about it. There is
    no time to waste."
    She did not blame the poor maid, Lavinia thought. Tobias was
    extremely intimidating at the moment. His attitude tonight put her
    in mind of the first time she had met him.
    She recalled the occasion quite vividly. On that fateful night in
    Rome, he had swept into the small antiquities shop she and her
    niece, Emeline, had operated and proceeded to smash every statue
    in sight. She had thought at first that he was a madman, but then
    she had seen the chilling intelligence in his eyes and realized that
    he knew precisely what he was about. Somehow that had only made
    him seem all the more menacing.
      Calm yourself," she said to the maid. She fingered the silver
    pendant at her throat and spoke in the low, soothing tones that she
    used when she wished to induce a light mesmeric trance.   Look at
    me. There is no need to be afraid. All is well. No need to be afraid.
    There is nothing to fear."
    The girl blinked once or twice and tore her anxious gaze away
    from Tobias's implacable face. She stared at the pendant.
      What is your name?" Lavinia asked gently.
      Nell. My name is Nell, ma'am."
    Very good, Nell. Now, where is the staircase that leads to the
    roof?"
      At the end of the hall, ma'am. But Drum has instructed the staff
    not to go up onto the roof. He's afraid someone might fall. The wall
    is very low, you see."
      I understand." Out of the corner of her eye, Lavinia saw Tobias
    move off down the hall, heading toward the staircase. She was about
    to follow, but she paused for one last question.   Do you know all of
    the members of the household staff, Nell?"
    Yes, ma'am. We all come from the village or one of the farms."
    The girl was talking freely now. There was no need to hold her
    attention with the pendant. Lavinia stopped manipulating the necklace.
    The maid blinked again and raised her eyes to meet Lavinia's.
      Are you acquainted with a maid who is somewhat taller than your
    self and perhaps a few years older? She has very bright blond hair.
    Lots of heavy corkscrew curls. This evening she wore a large cap
    trimmed with a blue ribbon. It looked new and it had a brim that
    was much wider than yours."
      A new cap with a blue ribbon?" Nell seized on what was evidently
    the most important aspect of the description.   No, ma'am. If one of
    us was lucky enough to get a new cap, we'd all know about it, I can
    tell ye that much."
      Are any of your companions tall and blond?"
      Well, Annie's tall but her hair is dark. Betty's got yellow hair but
    she's shorter than me." The girl's features knotted with concentration.   I can't think of anyone quite like the girl you described."
      I see. Thank you, Nell. You've been very helpful."
    Yes, ma'am." Nell gave a tiny curtsy and cast an uncertain glance
    down the hall at Tobias, who was opening a door. She swallowed
    uneasily.   Will sir be wanting to ask more questions?"
      Don't be alarmed. If he wants to talk to you again, I will be sure
    to accompany