Page 53 of Once Upon a Midnight Dreary
“I wish I’d known him better,” she said faintly.
“There was talk he turned down a peerage.Said he was better suited serving than ruling.My father couldn’t fathom it and tried to urge him to accept.He never did,” he continued, slicing through the meat.
“Whatever happened to your father?”she asked.
“Died of consumption,” he said.“Just last winter.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Well, I think that’s enough of this dark talk,” her aunt announced.How she remained silent through the entire exchange was a mystery.
Lord Charles sat back in his chair and gazed at her from across the table, a look of contemplation on his face.“Something just occurred to me.My father mentioned to me yours was looking into an unexplained death.Said her name was Lenore Blackmore.”
Victoria’s mouth went dry.
“Is that name familiar to you?”he asked.
Before she answered the chandelier over the table flickered.Then swung violently as though someone pushed it.The chain creaked with the sudden movement.
Victoria jumped back from the table, her chair scraping along the floor.She stared up at it, stomach lurching.A penetrating cold threaded through the silence, cloaking them in unease.And she knew then, Lenore had arrived.Or perhaps she had been here all along, listening to their conversation.She struck the moment she heard her name.
“Odd, that,” her aunt said gazing up at the chandelier.As though it was insignificant.
Lord Charles’ gaze was firmly planted on the ceiling, watching it swing back and forth.
Victoria was about to excuse herself to the kitchen to fetch Gabriel, when her plate lifted from the table and flew straight for her.She gasped and ducked as it sailed over her head and then shattered against the wall.Aunt Eloise shrieked as she shoved from the table and stumbled away.Lord Charles was on his feet, clutching the napkin in his white-knuckled hand.
Seconds later, Gabriel burst into the dining room.Face pale.Eyes wide.Their gazes locked for a brief moment as Victoria rose on shaky legs.Then he stepped toward the shattered plate on the floor.
He didn’t need to ask what happened.He knew.So did she.
“My word, what the devil was that for?”her aunt said.“Victoria, if you don’t want to discuss your father anymore, simply say so.”
Clearly, her aunt didn’t understand the calamity of the situation.She clutched her elbows, hugging her arms tight.
“I apologize if I’ve upset you,” Lord Charles said.
But words were not forthcoming.Behind her, Gabriel crouched and picked up the largest pieces.She turned toward him as he rose to his full height and their eyes collided once again.There were so many things she wanted to say and couldn’t.Not in present company.His jaw was locked tight for a brief moment until finally his gaze softened.
“It’s all right,” he said, his voice low.
And then he disappeared back to the kitchen.
But it wasn’t all right.
“Eloise, perhaps we should be going,” Lord Charles announced then.He rounded the end of the table and took her by the arm.
Aunt Eloise’s gaze flicked from him to Victoria.She gave a nod.“Perhaps you’re right.My goodness, it’s cold in here.”
But as they passed out of the dining room, Victoria caught a glimpse of Lord Charles’ grim expression.As though he suspected what had happened but said nothing.
The moment they were out of the room, the chandelier stilled.
A warning.
And then Lenore was gone.
Chapter 21
