to carry a candle and carefully guard its frail light. When we reached the
landing, I turned to gaze down at the Old Hall. It was a relic of another age,
filled with rich dark shadows, mysteries embedded in its walls, and perhaps even
other sorts of things mixed in as well. Were I a very old spectral phenomenon, I
would enjoy living here a great deal. This place had atmosphere.
“Our uncle’s marriage to you?it has come as a great shock to all of us.”
“I see that it has. I wonder why Lawrence kept it from you?”
Amelia seemed suddenly to make up her mind about something. She cleared her
throat, obviously girding her loins, and said with appalling candor, “I do hope
that it doesn’t have to do with your antecedents?”
Not a very nice thing to say to your step-auntie, I thought, but given Lawrence
hadn’t said a word about me, I suppose it was understandable. Had he feared they
would mount arguments because I was so much younger? And Amelia was worried.
Still, it wasn’t exactly smoothly and subtly done, and so I said, my voice a bit
on the officious side, “I really don’t know. I shall ask my husband.”
Amelia persevered. “Your nickname?Andy?it was bestowed on you by perhaps a
gentleman?” Her voice was both wary and defiant. Did she really believe me some
sort of opera girl, a traveling mistress? Who could tell these days, what with
old Lord Pontly bringing them home in droves?
I very nearly ruined my effect by laughing as I said, “How clever of you, Amelia.
As a matter of fact, it was a gentleman. An older gentleman. I quite like it.
Yes, I am thoroughly an Andy. Andrea sounds to me like a hateful biddy who
should keep her bad manners to herself. What do you think?”
There, I thought, maybe she would remember that I was innocent until proven
otherwise. She started to smile, then drew it back. I didn’t want to deal with
any more of this. I was tired, and a headache was beginning just over my left
ear. I hated headaches.
“This corridor is endless. Thank God there are so many flambeaux on the walls.”
“Yes,” she said, her tone normal again, thank the heavens. “Devbridge Manor is a
sprawling old house, so many small rooms that have no use as far as I can see,
and there are even two sets of stairs that lead into blank walls. Perhaps it is
very different from what you’re used to?”
She was fishing again and not doing it with an ounce of finesse. I said, goading
her, “I’ll admit that there certainly weren’t any cul de sac stairs in the house
in London.”
“Come, Andy, how did Uncle Lawrence meet you? At a ball? Some soiree? Or at the
opera? At Drury Lane? I wish you would stop dancing around things and just
answer me honestly.”
Now this could be interesting, I thought, and gave her a sunny smile. There was
doubt in her voice, and she was prodding me but good. She wanted honesty, did
she?
“Ask your uncle,” I said.
“No, I am asking you.”
I pursed my lips and cocked my head to the side, as if trying to remember.
Finally, I said, “You know, perhaps it was at Drury Lane. It is difficult to
remember. I have been to so many plays over the years.”
“You don’t have that many damned years.”
Since she looked ready to burst her seams, I sighed and said, “Actually, he came
to my home to present his condolences. And that, Amelia, is all I have to say
about it tonight. Trust that I am not some sort of adventuress here to steal all
your jewelry.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, but she didn’t sound sorry at all. She sounded relieved.
“Thomas and I just didn’t know, and Uncle Lawrence didn’t clarify a single thing
tonight.”
“No. However, I cannot imagine Lawrence standing before the three of you this
evening and reciting my family names, my yearly income, and whether or not I am
addicted to gambling.”
“No, I don’t suppose he could have. Actually, after about ten minutes,