She was abruptly swamped with emotions that seemed to emanate from some source other than herself. Rage and terror mingled within her for an instant, sending another shudder through her. Prudence staggered beneath the onslaught, yet she understood that she was not the one who had actually felt these horrifying sensations.

Someone else had experienced these dreadful feelings here in this chamber. Another woman. Prudence was certain of it.

"Prudence?" Sebastian held the candle high and gazed down into her face. "What's wrong?"

She looked up at him, willing him to understand. "I think I am encountering my first real ghost."

"Enough." He took her arm and started purposefully toward the door. "This has been too much for you. I am going to get you out of here at once."

"Sebastian, this is not my imagination. I vow, something terrible happened in here. I'm not at all certain it has to do with Ringcross. I can feel a woman's presence."

"Calm yourself, my sweet."

"But, Sebastian—"

He had her through the door. He paused long enough to lock the chamber and then he urged her quickly down the black hallway to­ward the stairs.

Prudence was dismayed. "You think I am allowing my imagination to take control of my senses, don't you?"

"You are a very creative and intelligent woman, my dear. Such talents sometimes have their drawbacks."

"Fustian. Terrible events have occurred in that room, Sebastian. Perhaps they relate to Ringcross's death, perhaps not. But I swear to

"I am not disputing you, Prue." Sebastian whisked her along the long hall toward the stairs.

"You don't believe me," she said.

"I admit I do not believe in ghosts. I also admit that I have a strong preference for solid evidence before I reach my conclusions."

"In other words, you think I am the victim of an overactive imagi­nation."

"My dear, the fact that you have chosen to investigate spectral phenomena as a hobby would indicate that your imagination is very active, indeed. No offense, but you must understand that my own hobby requires a more stringent investigative approach."

"Hah. You think your approach is superior to mine?"

"Perhaps not in cases of spectral phenomena, but when it comes to investigating a crime, most definitely."

"That is an insufferably arrogant, high-handed thing to say," Pru­dence announced. "My methods are just as scientific as yours."

Without any warning the door they were passing on the right sud­denly swung inward. There was a scratching noise and then a candle flared. An old man with a scraggly beard peered at them.

"What in bloody hell?" Sebastian jerked Prudence behind him and whirled to face the wizened figure in the doorway. "Who are you?"

The old man ignored him and gazed at Prudence with rheumy eyes. "You ain't her." His deeply lined face collapsed in obvious disap­pointment.

"I beg your pardon?" Prudence stood on tiptoe to look at him from her position directly behind Sebastian's right shoulder.

"I said, you ain't her." The old man squinted. "I been hiding up here ever since she done in the other one. I been watchin‘ for her to come. Figured she'd be back to get the others. I wanted to see her for meself."

"Who was it you were expecting to see?" Sebastian asked.

"The poor gel what jumped to her death from that cursed cham­ber." The man gave Sebastian a shrewd look. "I'm the one what found her, y'know."

"No, I didn't know," Sebastian said.

"Found her in the stream. They said she'd fallen in and drowned, but I seen her jump. They carried her body to the stream and dumped her in so folks would think she fell in and drowned. But I know bet-

The man was half mad, Prudence realized, but he believed every word he was saying. "Who are you?"

"Higgins. Halfwit Higgins, they call me." Higgins laughed sound­lessly, revealing a mouth that was virtually empty of teeth.

"When did the girl jump, Higgins?" Sebastian asked.

"A long time ago." Higgins spoke in a singsong voice now. His eyes seemed to be focused on something far away. "But I ain't for­got."

"Was Ringcross responsible for causing her to jump?" Sebastian demanded.

"They was all responsible." Higgins nodded wisely. "And they'll all pay. You'll see. They'll all pay. She cursed ‘em afore she jumped, you see. Told 'em she'd be avenged. Now it's started."

"She came back for Ringcross?" Prudence gripped Sebastian's arm. "Is that what you mean, Mr. Higgins?"

"She'll come for the others, too." Higgins moved out of the door­way. He started down the hall.

"Wait. Who are the others?" Sebastian asked quickly. "When did the girl jump?"

But Higgins paid no attention. He hummed tunelessly and kept walking away down the hall. Sebastian made to go after him.

"Let him be," Prudence said. "The poor man is mad. If you try to question him further, you will only agitate him. There's no telling what he will do. He might cause a stir and alarm the household. It would ruin any chance we have of completing our investigation."

"Hell and damnation, he knows something about this affair." Se­bastian watched in frustration as Higgins turned a corner in the dark hall and disappeared from sight.

"Perhaps less than you think," Prudence said thoughtfully. "He seemed to be suffering from some sort of delirium. The girl's death might be merely an old legend that he has somehow gotten confused with Ringcross's death."

"Who do you suppose he is?"

"I don't have any idea. An old family retainer long since pensioned off, perhaps." Prudence smiled. "Or mayhap he was a ghost."

Sebastian scowled at her as he took her arm and guided her to­ward the stairs. "That was no ghost."

"How do you know? You've never met one."

"I'll know one when I see one." Sebastian reached the stairs and the floor below. "You, on the other hand, have seen one too many tonight."

"Nonsense. I won't allow you to make it sound as if I am in the habit of seeing apparitions. I assure you, I am not. Just because I felt something odd in that chamber does not mean I am weak-minded."

"Hush." Sebastian came to a halt midway down the staircase.

He flattened himself against the wall and pulled Prudence into his arms. He turned her so that her face was hidden against his chest.

"What are you doing?" Prudence mumbled into his shirt.

"Quiet," he whispered into her ear. "The traffic in the hall seems to have become somewhat brisk again."

"Oh."

Somewhere in the corridor a door closed. Sebastian waited a mo­ment longer before releasing Prudence. "I think we are safe. It was Larkin. He tiptoed past the bottom of the stairs and never glanced up. Come, let's get you back to your bedchamber. We may not be so lucky the next time."

"This is really very exciting, isn't it, Sebastian?" Prudence allowed herself to be hauled swiftly to the bottom of the stairs. "I do believe I am going to enjoy our partnership immensely."

"I trust you will, my sweet," he muttered. "I, unfortunately, fear my nerves are going to suffer somewhat from the experience."

They reached the door of Prudence's bedchamber without further incident. Prudence could feel Sebastian's sigh of relief. He opened her door.

Prudence heard the squeak of another door down the hall. She hurried into her room and whirled about to make certain Sebastian was not seen by whoever was now traipsing down the busy corridor.

Sebastian was right behind her. He closed the door so softly that it did not make a sound.

"Damnation." He released the doorknob. "That was close."

"Yes, but we are quite safe now." Prudence lit a candle. The flar­ing flame revealed the determined expression on Sebastian's face. She looked at him in surprise. "Is something wrong? I am certain you will be able to return to your own room in a moment or two."

"As it happens," Sebastian said, "there is something I wish to discuss with you." His gaze moved over her with unmistakable posses-siveness. "Now seems as good a time as any." analyze the results of our investigation tonight. We should make notes. Give me a moment and I'll fetch my journal."

"Later." Sebastian's eyes gleamed gold in the candlelight. "What I wish to discuss now is something of a much more personal nature."

"Personal?"

"Yes."

He took two steps toward her and pulled her into his arms. "Very personal."

The soft knock on the door came just as Sebastian covered Pru­dence's mouth with his own.

Qfline

orfWAC>‘bloody hell." Sebastian broke off the kiss and turned his head toward the door. He had never looked more dangerous. "Who, in the name of the devil, thinks he can knock on your bed­chamber door at this hour of the night?"

"I have no notion." She frowned in concern as she saw the cold rage that had flared to life in Sebastian's glittering gaze. "For heaven's sake, calm yourself. It's undoubtedly Lady Pembroke. Perhaps she is in need of assistance."

"Not likely." Sebastian swung around on his heel and started to­ward the door.

Alarmed by his menacing mood, Prudence grabbed for his arm and missed. "Sebastian, wait. You mustn't answer my door."

"You most certainly are not going to respond to that knock."

"Think about what you are doing, my lord." Prudence scurried after him. "This is not a logical, rational approach to the matter."

"You're wrong, Prue. It is a very logical tactic. My approach will be extremely effective in putting an end to future such late-night visits from whoever is out in the hall."