Page 23 of A Duke Under Her Spell
The amusement in his voice and eyes was infectious and Marybeth found herself smiling up at him once more. “I thought you said you did not believe in ghosts.”
“Only when it suits my narrative,” he jested.
Marybeth rolled her eyes laughing. “I will remember that in future.”
Felix chuckled and then his gaze turned solemn once more. “In all seriousness, Marybeth, you cannot remain alone while this is occurring. Please do as I ask and move into my mother’s dressing room. I promise it will not be for long. The next time I see that man he will be clapped in irons for his mischief.”
“How does one chain a disappearing man exactly?”
“With great care and ingenuity.” The glint in his eyes told Marybeth that he had an idea.
“Can I be of service in your plan?”
“Nay, I would prefer that you make sure to keep yourself and my mother safe.”
“I will do my utmost to see that it is so.”
“I will have one of the servants to help you move your things into Mother’s room.”
“That is not necessary. I brought so little with me. I am certain that I will be able to tend to it myself in very little time. Are you certain that your mother is content with this arrangement?”
“I am.”
“Very well. I will do as you ask, but only for a brief time. I do not wish to disturb the Dowager Duchess’s peace any more than is necessary.”
“Nor do I, but you cannot help her if you are in harm’s way yourself.”
“No, I suppose not.”
The two of them parted ways and Marybeth went to do as he had bid and moved into the Dowager Duchess’s dressing room. The Duchess seemed pleased with the company. The Duke retired to his workshop and shortly thereafter everyone could hear the beating and banging noises from anywhere in the house. Marybeth could not imagine what sort of trap that he was planning for their ghostly intruder, but whatever it was sounded as if it were going to be imposing.
Marybeth went about her duties but found herself looking over her shoulder at every turn, afraid she might see the pale man staring at her again. It had been disconcerting to have such a creature standing over her while she slept. To make matters worse, she began to feel as if someone was watching her all the time. At one point she could have sworn that she had seen the eyes of one of the ancestral portraits following her around the room.
An unsettling feeling to be sure. I will be glad when Felix has caught the intruder and we can all go back to sleeping safely in our own respective bedchambers.She disliked sleeping in the dressing room, cramped, without any windows. She longed for the freedom of her croft and the forest.Patience,she chastised herself.You will return when the work is done and not a moment before.
Lying down, she rolled over onto her side and studied the portrait that she assumed was Felix’s father. Father and son had the same size and build, but that was where the resemblance ended. Where Felix was black haired and green eyed, the former Duke possessed wavy brown hair and sparkling blue eyes. The glint of humor she saw there was the one other thing that reminded her of Felix. Rolling over on her other side she examined the portrait of Felix’s mother on the opposite wall of the dressing room.
Beautiful, her mind whispered in awe of the woman before her. The Duchess has been a stunning woman to behold before her illness had taken its toll on her body. Where now she was covered in a rash, the Duchess had once had flawless creamy skin. Her hair had once been lustrous, so black it almost looked blue in the lamplight.
The Duchess’s emerald green eyes shined down at Marybeth with such kindness of spirit she found that she could not look away. Spellbound, she gazed into their emerald depths, so like the Duke’s. He had been so close to her earlier and she had found herself wondering how soft his lips would feel upon her own. Embarrassed at her inappropriate thoughts, she shook her head and returned to studying the portrait. Upon doing so she bolted upright and screamed.
Chapter 8
Upon hearing Marybeth’s screams, Felix dropped everything and raced into the house. He ran up the stairs and into his mother’s dressing room. He found Marybeth standing in front of the portrait of his mother feeling around the eyes with her fingers. “What are you doing?” he asked confused, wondering about her sanity.
“They moved. The eyes moved.”
“That is impossible.”
“Nay, I know what I saw. The eyes moved. One moment they were emerald green, the next moment they were dark and hard. I know it sounds insane, Felix, but I am telling you the truth. As you can see they are now green again. I have felt all over the painting for holes of any kind but have found none. I have taken the painting off of the wall but found nothing. It is just as it was with the pale man, it vanished.”
“How does something just vanish without a sign as to where it has gone or even where it once was?”
“I do not know.”
“For the safety of all, I fear it is a question we must answer.”
“And how does one go about doing such a thing without tearing the entire manor house apart wall by wall?”
