“Don’t waste our time pretending not to know what that means.” Valemount tapped the medallion. “The original Duke of Valemount was a consummate hunter who even had his own tracking magic. That magic is in this relic, and I control it now. It’s like a hound—if I give it a scent, the magic can track it.”
Wesley’s head was clearing, the anesthetic wearing off and adrenaline taking its place. But even with a clearer head, none of this was making sense. “How would you have de Leon magic to track?”
“Because of me.” Dr. Wright took off his glasses, tossing them carelessly to the side. “And my distant uncle’s curse that runs in my veins.”
* * *
Sebastian led the way to Wesley’s room, but found it empty as well. He frowned at the vacant space.
“Where did he go?” Geoffrey was also frowning.
“Somewhere else in the house, perhaps?” Nora offered.
Sebastian and Geoffrey both shook their heads. “Lord Fine is very smart, and he does not act rashly, ever,” Sebastian said. “He knew someone had tried to kill him. He said he would wait here.”
“Except he’s not here now,” Geoffrey pointed out.
Sebastian ran a hand through his hair. “There are people everywhere,” he said. “Staff and guests on every floor.Someonemust have seen where he went.”
“Let’s just hope he’s not with Valemount,” Geoffrey said grimly.
Nora winced. “I can’t believe Uncle Louis would shoot at Lord Fine. I don’t understand why.”
Sebastian took her hand. “Lady Nora,” he said beseechingly, “I apologize, but I must ask you an awkwardquestion. Dr. Wright, that we met on the ship—he is not really your doctor, is he?”
Nora winced. “No,” she said quietly. “He’s not.”
“And is he actually your uncle?” Sebastian asked carefully.
“You’re asking if Dr. Wright is Uncle Louis?” Nora huffed a kind of laugh with a rough edge. “No. He’s not myuncle.” She winced again. “I swore to keep their secret. I was so happy at the news, I would have agreed to anything—I trusted they had a good reason for the lie, but I don’t want anyone to get hurt—”
“Tell me this then,” Sebastian said, worry for Wesley turning his stomach into knots. “If someone were to have taken Lord Fine from the house, how could they have gotten out unseen?”
Nora pointed down the hall. “The second-floor library has a priest hole hidden behind the northernmost bookshelf. There’s a secret catch at the back of the second shelf that conceals the stairs. Obviously Valemounts aren’t hiding Catholic priests from Tudor raids anymore, but we still have the network of tunnels under the manor. They split off and come up at various places throughout the estate, but the main shaft leads to the family crypt under the chapel ruins. But surely—”
“I’m going there.” Sebastian squeezed her hand. “The two men you saw me with might still be on this estate—might have gone to the graveyard by the chapel. They are my friends and if you trust me, you can trust them. Go to them and tell them what you told me, yes? And then meet me by the chapel.”
“I’m coming with you—” Geoffrey started.
Sebastian shook his head. He couldn’t let Wesley’s cousin or Lady Nora be put at risk, not if magic wasinvolved. “Stay with Lady Nora.” Wesley’s revolver was still sitting on the dresser where Wesley had set it not an hour ago. Sebastian snatched it up. “Keep each other safe, and find my friends, please,” he said. “I’m going to find Wesley.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Wesley’s heart had picked up speed. “What does that mean,” he said to Dr. Wright, “your distant uncle’s curse that runs in your veins?”
Dr. Wright had already removed his glasses. Now, he grabbed the edge of his beard and tugged. “This thing itches like mad.”
A moment later, the beard was dangling from his hand, and Wesley was looking at a man he’d met a handful of times several years ago: the prior Duke of Valemount, who’d been lost in a hunting accident on safari.
“You’re Lord Valemount.” Wesley’s eyes had gone wide. He looked between his two captors. “But then—but why—”
“But then why have I pretended to be dead these last two years while my younger brother stepped into the role of the duke?” Dr. Wright—no, Alfred Fairfield, the actual Duke of Valemount, scoffed. “Do you know how hard it is to act with any secrecy when you’re a duke? I couldn’t get a bloody thing done until I got Louis here to take up the mantle for a bit.”
Wesley could see a resemblance between them now, the same thick chestnut brown hair and blue eyes, justlike Lady Nora. But Louis, the younger brother, was taller, with broader shoulders and a sharper jawline.
“Why would you need secrecy?” Wesley said. “And whatcurse?”
The only family Wesley knew of that was cursed were the de Leons. But then, the Valemounts were descended from the sister—did the Valemount line somehow share Sebastian’s family curse as well as the blood?
