With This Ring by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online Page A

I am extremely grateful for the information, limited as it is, that you have given me. I shall not impose on your hospitality any longer than necessary. My maid and I will leave first thing in the morning."
    Leo ignored that. "Hold one moment here, Mrs. Poole. Precisely how do you intend to pursue your inquiries into the matter of the Rings?"
    "My next step will be to interview the person who was with my uncle when he died."
    "Who is that?"
    "A woman who calls herself Madame Virtue."
    Shock held him transfixed for the space of several heartbeats. When the paralysis finally wore off, Leo sucked in a deep breath. "You intend to speak to the proprietress of the House of the Rod? Impossible. Absolutely impossible."
    Beatrice tipped her head slightly to the side, frowning. "Why on earth do you say that, my lord?"
    "For God's sake, she is a'brothel keeper. You would be ruined if it got out thdt you had associated with her." Amusement lit Beatrice's eyes. "One of the advantages
     
    A rn a n d a Q u i c 1k
    of being a widow of a certain age, as I'm sure you're aware, my lord, is that I have a great deal more freedom than I did as a younger woman.-
    "No respectable lady possesses the degree of freedom required to consort with brothel keepers."
    "I shall exercise discretion," she said with an aplomb that was no doubt meant to reassure him. "Good night, my lord."
    "Damnation, Mrs. Poole."
    She was already at the door. "You have been somewhat helpful. Thank you for your hospitality."
    "And they call me mad," Leo whispered.
    0 ap le r 3
    The master of the ruin vanished back into the shadows
    as though returning to his natural habitat. The dark-
    ness closed around him. There was so little time, she
    thought. She must find a way out
    before the dark lord reappeared.
    FRom CHAPTER THREE OF The Ruin BY MRs. AmELiA YORK
    4,e had to stop her.
    Fifteen minutes after the door had closed behind Beatrice, Leo.still prowled the library with long, swift strides. A cloak of foreboding enveloped him.
    He did not doubt for a moment that Beatrice intended to carry out her crazed scheme.
    "She has no notion of what she is about," he said to Elf. "At the very least she will most certainly bring ruin upon herself. At worst-"
    He could not finish the sentence aloud. If someone really was pursuing the Rings and had killed Lord Glassonby because of them, Beatrice could easily put herself in grave danger.
     
    A m a n d a Q u i c k
    He came to an abrupt halt. There was only one thing to do. He would have to discover the truth of the situation for himself. He was the authority on old legends and antiquities, after all. If anyone could find the Forbidden Rings and the alchemist's Aphrodite, it was he.
    Mrs. Beatrice Poole, reader of horrid novels, would only create trouble and possibly embroil herself in some extremely dangerous mischief if she pursued this affair on her own.
    He had to find a way to convince her to leave the matter to him. It was not going to be easy to deflect her from her quest. From the little he had seen thus far, it was clear that Beatrice was a formidable, extremely strong-willed -woman. In the course of her widowhood she had obviously gotten out of the habit of taking advice, let alone instructions, from the male of the species. He doubted that she had ever been particularly adept at it.
    He needed some time to try to talk her out of her intentions. If that effort failed, which seemed quite likely, he required some time to prepare for the trip to London. His staff could handle most of the routine matters on the estate, but there was one piece of business that required his personal attention before he left.
    He tugged hard at the velvet bellpull.
    By the time Finch arrived, Leo had finished the glass of brandy he'd poured himself.
    "M'Iord?" "In the morning you will inform Mrs. Poole that she cannot leave Monkcrest until the day after tomorrow at the earliest."
    "You wish me to stop Mrs. Poole from leaving?" Finch's jaw unhinged. He