Page 21 of The Right to Remain Single

She rounded on Mr. Tilson, who had gone scarlet with rage or affront or some other emotion he had no right to feel concerning her. “Don’t you dare attempt to discuss it with my father, for in his failing health, it may do him irreparable harm. The ghost protected me, and that is that.”

“What a pity everyone doesn’t have such a useful ghost,” James said, “for every family has its dirty dishes.”

Tilson made a strangled noise. “I am happy to say that my family has none.” He paced in a circle, and paced again the other way, then faced his prospective bride. “I had no idea. Of course, I was aware of the scandalous history of the Warren family, but I assumed, based on your pristine reputation, that your father’s branch of the family was untouched by the taint.”

Taint? She would have blurted out a vigorous denial that any such taint existed, but at James’s brief shake of the head, she held her tongue.

“Some families simply cannot escape scandal,” James said mournfully. “It seems the Warrens are one of them. My friend Colin was quite a rake before he married, and Lord Garrison’s scandal was of truly magnificent proportions.”

“Yes, but—” It wasn’t his fault, she wanted to say, but she stopped herself.

“Unfortunately, it’s like one bad apple in the barrel,” James said. “It affects all the others. Furbelow’s father was a decent man, but he married a Warren, and look what happened. It is astonishing that Miss Warren has held out so long, but sooner or later she may succumb as well.”

“I do try not to.” Thomasina’s voice trembled with the struggle not to laugh. How clever of James! Very well, she would contribute her mite. “But remaining The One Good Warren is a frightful strain on my nerves. Scandalous behavior is so tempting. It seems…so much more natural and comfortable to a Warren, you see.”

Poor Mr. Tilson looked positively ill.

Mrs. Day came into the Great Hall and curtsied. “Cook is ready to roll the pastry for the Christmas pie—at your convenience, Miss Thomasina.”

“I’ll come straightaway.” Thomasina handed the ribbon to James. “Please excuse me, gentlemen. Rolling the pastry is one of our Christmas rituals, and I must play my part.”

“We’ll hang the mistletoe,” James said cheerfully as she fled.

* * *

“You needn’t fear for Miss Warren’s safety.” James tied the red ribbon around the sprig of mistletoe.

Tilson said nothing, seemingly absorbed in unpleasant thoughts.

“Between the ghost and me, we’ll keep her safe,” James added.

“The ghost…” Tilson grasped this possibility like a shipwrecked man on a spar in a raging sea. “It has been here for centuries, and no one has been able to drive it away. Surely it will be difficult, in fact well-nigh impossible, to get rid of it?”

“Not at all,” James said unkindly. “I’ve dealt successfully with ghosts in the past, both as a boy at school and at my father’s estate.”

Tilson’s face fell. “I see.”

“And if Max should prove to be a truly evil spirit and unwilling to listen to reason, I am sure Brother Antoine’s exorcism will do the trick.”

“Yes, that seems likely.” He frowned earnestly at James. “But for Miss Warren’s safety, perhaps it should remain.”

“No, I’ll take care of her for the moment,” James said. “Unless you wish to keep watch here at night, as her affianced husband?”

Tilson flinched. “We aren’t precisely affianced. She has not yet agreed to marry me.”

“But how could she fail to do so?”

Tilson began to look quite green. “Yes, indeed. I am an excellent match for her.” He sighed. “And her father has given me his blessing.”

“Then you need not fear. Even if I should fail with the ghost, the exorcist will surely succeed.”

“But she likes the ghost,” Tilson said. “Which is incomprehensible to me, but so is much about the Warren family. Why would anyone wish to cause a scandal? And yet they do so, with no consideration for those about them.”

“True, they’re a selfish lot,” James said. “They make their way by means of good looks and charm—which Miss Warren possesses in abundance.”

Tilson whimpered. “I had hoped that by forbidding any contact with her disreputable relations, she would be safe from the taint. But it seems she is already affected.”

“She is certainly a practiced flirt. Utterly delightful to a man without serious intentions—or with improper ones, perhaps.” James winked.