"Conducting an affair takes planning and care here in Town," Se­bastian said. "But at a large house party such as the sort Curling gives, one has only to go across the hall to rendezvous with one's lover or"— he smiled—"one's fiancee."

Prudence lifted her chin and gave him a severe look. "I expect Lady Pembroke will insist on accompanying me."

"I expect she will." Sebastian was clearly not worried by the pros­pect of Prudence having a chaperone along. "My man of affairs will secure an invitation for her, too."

Chapter Eight

Sebastian put down his cue and glanced at the handful of other players gathered around Lord Curling's billiard table. "If you will excuse me, gentlemen, I believe I have had enough of this game for today."

"Come, now," one of the other guests protested, "you must give us a chance to win back a bit of the blunt you have lifted from us this afternoon, Angelstone."

"You don't seem to comprehend, Dodwell," Sebastian said. "I am bored with the play."

"Let him go," another man advised from the other side of the green baize table. "I expect Angelstone has more interesting enter­tainment in mind."

The men gathered around the table chuckled and exchanged knowing glances.

"Don't we all," one grumbled good-naturedly. "Unfortunately, it is a bit early in the day yet."

One of the players looked at Sebastian. "If you are anxious to see what your fiancee is up to at the moment, check the east gardens. I believe you will find her in the process of winning the ladies' archery contest."

"No doubt." Sebastian started toward the door of Curling's vast library. "She has already taken the honors in all the rest of the games that were arranged for the ladies today."

While Sebastian had spent the day with the other gentlemen who had been invited to Curling Castle, Prudence had been busily sam­pling the pleasures of a country house party with the ladies. In typical

Prudence fashion, she had thrown herself wholeheartedly into the en­tertainments.

At noon, just as he was returning from a fishing expedition with the men, word reached Sebastian that Prudence had been first through the elaborate maze. At two o'clock, while he was touring his host's stables, he heard that the ladies had returned from their walk to the old Norman ruins. Prudence had apparently led the group in both directions and had done a detailed sketch of the view.

This afternoon she had won all the contests held on the wide sweep of lawn that fronted the castle and had signed up to participate in the amateur theatrics after dinner that evening.

Sebastian looked forward to watching her performance as an ac­tress. He smiled, thinking of his mother.

He had a hunch that Prudence and his mother would have taken to each other on sight. They were both women of intelligence, passion, and integrity. His father had once told him that such women were rare and if a man was fortunate enough to find and keep one, no price was too high to pay.

Sebastian examined his surroundings as he made his way through the long hall to the terrace. Curling Castle was a cavernous pile of old stone that rose three stories above the land around it. It had been built during the previous century by a wealthy but rather eccentric merchant who had been determined to elevate himself to the level of a gentleman. In the attempt to achieve that goal, he had poured a fortune into his estate.

The result had been a monstrosity of a house. The hallways ap­peared endless. Curling had admitted at breakfast that he wasn't cer­tain how many rooms the house contained. He had added that the top floor and the tower rooms were never used at all, even when the house was full, as it was that weekend.

That bit of information had intrigued Sebastian. According to all accounts, Ringcross had fallen from a tower room. Sebastian won­dered what he had been doing in an unused portion of the house.

Tonight he and Prudence would do some investigating, he thought as he strolled out onto the terrace. Prudence would enjoy that enor­mously.

He saw the ladies lined up in front of the archery targets that had been placed in the east gardens. Each held a dainty bow and a tiny arrow that probably would not have felled a mouse at point-blank range.

There was a great deal of laughter from the contestants and good-natured cheering from the audience. Sebastian studied the crowd closely. He frowned when he saw that Underbrink was in the group.

Underbrink was evidently a new arrival. He certainly had not been around last night or this morning. Sebastian noted that there was no sign of Underbrink's ever-vigilant wife.

As Sebastian watched, Underbrink sauntered over to Prudence and apparently offered to help her with her bow. Prudence shook her head quite firmly. Underbrink shrugged and walked back to join the crowd.

Lady Pembroke also stood amid the onlookers. She glanced up, saw Sebastian on the terrace, and waved a violet hankie that matched her gown. Then she turned back to watch Prudence take her shot.

Prudence was last in line. She was the only contestant who was not giggling or coyly asking one of the gentlemen to show her how to cock the arrow. Her spectacles sparkled in the sunlight as she concentrated intently on the target. The seriousness of her expression made Sebas­tian smile.

The day was cloudy. A crisp breeze caused the skirts of Prudence's dull bronze afternoon dress to ripple enticingly about her legs. Sebas­tian admired her trim little ankles for a full minute before he became aware of the fact that he was not the only male doing so. He glanced to the side and saw that his host had come out of the house to join him.

"I must congratulate you, Angelstone. She's an oddly attractive little thing. Not at all in the usual style." Lord Curling's pale blue eyes were fixed on Prudence. "I'd heard your fiancee was an Original. But then, from all accounts that is the only sort of woman who would be likely to appeal to you. Is it true she investigates ghosts?"

Sebastian slanted Curling an assessing glance. In truth, the baron was probably no better or worse than most of the other gentlemen of the ton.

Sebastian knew there were many who would say his own reputa­tion left more to be desired than did Curling's. The legitimacy of Curling's birth, for example, had never been questioned.

Sebastian had made a few inquiries before leaving London but had turned up little more than he already knew about Curling. In spite of his tendency toward lavish entertaining here at Curling Castle, there were no particularly unpleasant rumors about the man. No one had ever accused him of cheating at cards, for example. He had not foueht any duels. There was no indication that he favored the same sort of brothels that Ringcross had.

But Sebastian could not bring himself to actually like the man. Studying him now, he thought he knew why. There was cold, sexual interest in Curling's eyes as he watched Prudence. Sebastian knew that if it weren't for the fact that he was committed to spending the week­end investigating Ringcross's death, he would have been tempted to take Prudence back to Town immediately.

But Sebastian also knew that if he even so much as suggested they leave, Prudence would be outraged. She was looking forward to to­night's investigations with such enthusiasm that he could not bring himself to disappoint her.

"My fiancee is extremely interested in spectral phenomena," Se­bastian said without inflection.

"Fascinating." Curling turned his head to look at him. "And has she ever discovered a genuine ghost?"

"No."

"Pity." Curling's heavy features assumed a thoughtful expression. "I have occasionally wondered if ghosts actually exist."

"Have you?" Sebastian gripped the stone wall that surrounded the terrace and watched as Prudence shot her arrow. "What is it about the subject of ghosts that alarms you, Curling? Are you afraid of encoun­tering one, or is it the possibility of returning as one yourself that makes you anxious?"

"You mistake me, Angelstone. The notion of ghosts does not alarm me in the least. It merely intrigues me. I frequently find myself consumed with ennui. Encountering a ghost would be a most amusing experience, would it not? Almost as amusing as some other experi­ences I can imagine."

Sebastian's hands tightened on the stone wall. "I would advise you to be extremely cautious about how you decide to relieve your bore­dom."

"Rest assured I am a very prudent man, Angelstone." Curling smiled with satisfaction as Prudence's arrow buried itself close to the heart of the target. "Excellent shot. I do believe your lady has won, sir."

"She usually does," Sebastian said. He noticed that Underbrink was applauding with a great deal of enthusiasm.

"I am delighted that you finally elected to accept one of my invita­tions," Curling said. His eyes were still on Prudence. "I wondered at first what had convinced you to come out into the country at last. But when I received your request for an invitation for your fiancee and her friend, Lady Pembroke, I understood your reasons."

"Did you?"

"But of course." Curling gave a knowing chuckle. "City life can be quite restrictive in some ways for an engaged couple. Out here in the country things are far more casual. Enjoy yourself this weekend, Angelstone."

"I fully intend to do so."

Hark, my dearest Gerald, someone comes. Mayhap it is Lord Braxton. Flee. Flee at once. You must not be discovered here with me.

Seated on a chintz sofa in a small room that overlooked one of the castle terraces, Prudence frowned intently over the lines she was at­tempting to memorize.