Mally : Signet Regency Romance (9781101568057) by Sandra Heath Page A

her unease from her mother.
    In the dining room Mrs. Berrisford was accepting a glass of wine from the patient Digby, and the little maid was still wavering around by the door, seeming to be on the point of dissolving into tears at any moment. Lucy stood by the table looking upset, and Mally went to her.
    â€œDon’t fret now, Lucy, it wasn’t your fault. I’ll tell you what, you and Digby go to the kitchens, and take this poor maid with you, and have some of the best brandy to set you all up again.”
    When she was alone with her mother again, she poured herself a very large glass of the Médoc.
    Mrs. Berrisford watched her. “I begin to find your consumption of wine rather alarming, Marigold.”
    â€œIf you think
I
drink heavily, then I pray you are never invited to a society dinner party, for then the capacity of some ladies of repute would absolutely stagger you. Now, let me sit down and get my breath back. I—I wonder what he was watching us for? He must have been a hopeful burglar, don’t you think?”
    â€œOr something more sinister.”
    â€œOh, Mother, don’t say such things, please.”
    â€œWe would not even have known he was there had it not been for Lucy. I shall be locking my door again tonight, and you must do the same, Marigold.”
    â€œLet’s change the subject, shall we? I met the new owner of Castell Melyn today.”
    â€œThat
man
!”
    â€œWhy ever do you feel like that about Mr. Vallender? I found him most charming.”
    â€œHe is odious in the extreme.”
    â€œOh. Well, we will have to beg to differ on that point for the time being—until he proves to
me
that he is odious.”
    â€œI know nothing good about him. Nothing at all. As I have already said. He is a harborer of murderers and seducers of young women!”
    â€œGoodness, and here’s my good self with an invitation to visit him there.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t, Marigold!”
    â€œWhy ever not? I found him most agreeable. Did you realize that he is an old friend of both Chris and Daniel?”
    Mrs. Berrisford stared at her. “Not
that
Dickon Vallender? The boy they went to school with?”
    â€œYes. That’s why he bought the castle, because he knew Llanglyn was where Daniel came from. He didn’t know Daniel was dead or that he had been married.”
    â€œWould that he had forgotten where Daniel came from then.”
    â€œI found him pleasant.”
    â€œSo you keep saying, Marigold. Are you sure that you and Sir Christopher quarreled about an ordinary difference? Was it perhaps your delight in this Mr. Vallender?”
    â€œNo, Mother, it was not about Mr. Vallender.”
    â€œThen why has not Sir Christopher called here tonight? I recognized his carriage a moment ago.”
    Mally looked at her glass. “He is dining with the Earl of Hartmore.”
    â€œQuite a party they must be making of it, judging by the lights and so on over there.” Mrs. Berrisford looked carefully at her. “Was it not the Earl’s daughter Sir Christopher was once expected to marry?”
    â€œLady Annabel Murchison. Yes, Mother.”
    â€œA tall piece? Golden hair?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œMm.”
    Mally looked sharply at her. “Why do you mutter like that?”
    â€œBecause while you were surveying the man in the square, I happened to glance across at the Earl’s house. I could see straight into the drawing room before the curtains were drawn.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œAnd I saw Sir Christopher and Lady Annabel sitting very cosily together. Very cosily.”
    ***
    Daniel! Daniel St. Aubrey! You let me out of here this instant! Do you hear me!
The cold, cold darkness was all around her, velvety and close, pressing in on her all over again.
Daniel, please, I’m frightened.
The icy air seemed to move over her like a ghostly breath.
    And Daniel’s voice. So far away.
Come and find me, Mally.