ever want to accept an offer of marriage from him. Of course, the biggest problem was she was now the only woman who interested him remotely. Her bluntness intrigued him. It superseded her perplexing desire to explore his home at night, wandering into places that didn’t concern her. Especially since he had a feeling she would respect his wishes from now on. But personality and character, those were things that couldn’t be changed, and although it had only been one day – or really just one evening – he could not deny the pleasure he’d found in her company.
She’d been more than just blunt, he acknowledge with a slow smile. She’d been fun and entertaining – a breath of fresh air he so desperately needed.
Chapter 3
Angelica stared out of her bedchamber window the following morning at the spot directly below, where Lord Sterling’s wife had allegedly perished. She touched her fingertips to the windowpane, pressing gently against the glass while wondering how such a thing could have happened.
When she’d woken, roughly half an hour earlier, her first instinct had been to dismiss last night’s occurrence as a dream. Or a nightmare. Perhaps Lord Sterling had found her walking in her sleep. According to her mother, she’d done so as a child. She nodded. That had to be it. She must have fallen asleep reading “The Death Bride,” only to dream up a ghost story of her own.
Considering Colchester Hall’s history, it wasn’t so odd. In fact, the manor served as the perfect backdrop for any terrifying tale. Satisfied with this explanation, Angelica blew out a breath and allowed herself to relax. She’d head downstairs for breakfast, and if she found Lucy there, she’d invite her for a walk now that the rain had stopped.
Throwing a shawl over her shoulders, Angelica left her room and started toward the stairs. She hadn’t gone more than three paces, though, before she was forced to stop and glance over her shoulder. No one was there, yet it felt as though someone were watching her every move. A shiver raced down her spine and her heart beat faster, sensing what she couldn’t see.
Some…thing was there.
No.
No. No. No.
It wasn’t possible. It wasn’t real.
She quickened her pace until she was almost running. The stairs were right there, she just had to reach them. She just…had to round this last corner.
“Heavens! Is everything all right, my lady?”
Mrs. Essex suddenly stood before her, studying her with keen curiosity.
“I’m sorry,” Angelica gasped. She’d nearly barreled straight into the woman. It had taken supreme force of will to reverse her direction. But at least the dreadful sensation creeping up behind her had finally vanished.
Mrs. Essex frowned and tried to look past her. “Was someone chasing you?”
Angelica stared back, then blinked. “No.” But she wasn’t entirely sure. She’d felt something awful. Something not of this world. Or perhaps it was once again her overactive imagination playing tricks on her mind. She wasn’t sure what to believe anymore.
Mrs. Essex smiled with an almost irritating degree of pleasantness. “Why don’t you go downstairs and enjoy a good breakfast. I’m sure you’ll feel better after a hot cup of tea.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Mrs. Essex’s smile widened as she stepped aside so Angelica could pass. There was something about this woman – something distinctly unsettling. Angelica’s stomach clenched as she walked away from her, not on account of fear this time but because of another feeling she couldn’t quite place. It only worsened when, upon reaching the foyer, she looked up to find Mrs. Essex still there. The woman watched her with that pleasant smile of hers, though there was now a pensiveness to her expression.
Shuddering, Angelica made her way to the dining room where breakfast was already underway. It seemed she was the last to arrive. “Good morning,” she said, deliberately keeping her gaze from Lord Sterling as she went to fill a plate for herself at the side table.
“I’m sorry I came down without you,” Rose said. She’d brought her plate over for a refill of bacon, for which she harbored a particular fondness. “But I thought it best to let you rest.”
“It’s quite all right, Mama,” Angelica assured her while wondering whether to try the strawberry jam or the peach preserves. “How did you sleep?”
“Very well. I went up shortly after you and fell asleep almost instantly. How about you?”
“Fine.” Angelica spooned some peach preserves onto her plate.
“Are you sure?” Rose was definitely frowning based on the tone of her voice. “You don’t sound