Oxford Whispers by Marion Croslydon Read Free Book Online Page B

hold of mine. I turn to him, and his reassuring smile gives me courage. Courage I never thought I had.
    Even this elegant boy cannot do anything to protect me from her anger. She grabs my arm and gives me a shake. In her eyes I have committed almost every possible mortal sin. During the ensuing commotion, the rose slips out of my fingers. My mother steps on it, crushing the delicate petals.
    I want to bend forward and save what I can of the boy’s gift, but Mother snatches my arm. We start walking away. I try to turn and bid my friend farewell.
    In vain.
    She has a strong hold on me. I can only steal one last glance at him. He stands there, waving goodbye.
    I do swear my heart is bleeding.
     
    “MADISON?”
    Rupert laid his hand on her arm and gave it a soft squeeze. She wanted to pull herself away, but instead barely managed to turn her head toward his eyes. Concern filled them.
    Her gaze reverted to the portrait. Now she understood how Sarah could have fallen in love with the Cavalier. He was hot. In a three-hundred-year-old kind of way.
    “You can’t find the dead guy cute. He’d be a hell of a sugar daddy.” Rupert stared at the portrait and read aloud the attribution below: “Robert, Second Earl of Huxbury.”
    “Who was he?”
    Rupert took a step back. “If he’s the second, that means he was Godfrey’s son.”
    As Rupert led her back downstairs, she threw a look at the dark corner where Robert’s portrait hung. Questions flooded her mind. But when they stepped into the library, Madison’s attention returned to the here and now.
    The oak-wall shelves were bursting with ancient books. Underneath a set of full-length windows overlooking the landscaped gardens stood a Chippendale sofa. Madison longed to slump down on it and recover from her discovery upstairs.
    “This is the most amazing room I have ever seen. It’s magical.”
    The air itself was different, warmer and fuller than in the rest of the manor.
    She could feel Rupert’s eyes studying her. Did he like what he saw? Shhh, LeBon, stop drooling.
    Reverting to the reason for her trip she stated, “I need to have access to the journal.”
    Rupert nodded and walked toward a modern-looking glass cupboard at the opposite corner of the room.
    “My father has the most valuable items of the collection stored in a special cabinet. It’s built to protect the books from sunlight and damp … and thieves. You need a PIN to open it. The whole thing must cost more than some of the books it holds.”
    Rupert drew on a pair of white cotton gloves then input a number on the side of the cabinet, after which he slid open the left panel. With great care he brought out a fragile-looking, leather-bound book then pulled another pair of gloves from his pocket and handed them to Madison.
    “You know how to handle these kinds of documents.” She didn’t hide her appreciation of his expertise.
    “I spent a lot of time going through our collections with Grandfather Charles. He taught me everything I know. That’s why I chose to read history.”
    While remembering his grandfather, the tone of his voice had changed, losing its usual polish. The difference was subtle, but enough for Madison to understand the man had meant a lot to Rupert.
    She sat next to him at a square desk in the middle of the room. Their knees brushed against each other, and a shot of electricity ran through her flesh. She flushed and slid her leg away.
    Rupert cleared his throat. “So now you have full access to the secret thoughts of old Great-grandpa Godfrey. Please help yourself.” He stood and headed back toward the library door.
    “You’re not staying.” Madison resented the empty seat next to her.
    “Nope. I’d like to …” he cast his eyes downward, shuffling his feet, as if the admission had embarrassed him, “but McCain is expecting my dissertation on Monday. If I don’t deliver this time around, I’m screwed. We need to head back to Oxford at four, sharp .”
    He had used her