Page 22 of Mistress of Misfortune

Chapter 6

Within a week Meredith’s parents had mostly forgiven her for the rig accident that had stranded her at Dredthorne Hall, at least by their avoidance of the subject and her. Lord Starling said very little to her during the one meal they shared, and remained in his study with the door closed for the rest of the day. While at home Meredith made sure to stay out of her mother’s path, although Lady Starling made that easy by keeping to her bed chamber. Aware that their mistress’s distress made her sensitive to any noise, the servants tiptoed through their duties, sometimes casting resentful looks at Meredith.

What Meredith lived for were the happy hours she spent with Lucetta at Dredthorne Hall. From the first day Colonel Thorne had made them welcome and comfortable, setting up the large reception room at the back of the house. The wide oval room, with white walls now faded to a slightly yellowed cream color, had been sumptuously decorated with heavily gilded carvings and molding. Although tarnished and speckled by age, the prisms of the twin grand chandeliers still reflected sunlight in rainbow-banded patches all around them.

“It is like working inside a tiara,” Lucetta claimed when Meredith pointed out the charming effect. “But at least we will not be required to waltz. I am a dreadful dancer.”

Thorne provided them with desks, tables, chairs, ledgers and writing supplies for their use. Footmen brought carts loaded with books from the hidden library. Two fireplaces kept them warm, and the large windows provided excellent natural light. They had agreed to start with the printed books, which they would catalog while the colonel looked through the hand-written journals in private. Meredith understood he would first wish to read them himself, but hoped he would allow her and Lucetta to examine at least some of them. The old books she enjoyed, but the chance to read what Emerson Thorne had written would thrill her to no end.

Mr. Naveya kept them supplied with tea, cakes and sandwiches in the morning, and served luncheon in the dining room before they left for the day. At times the colonel would leave his labors upstairs to join them for the meal, during which Meredith and Lucetta would report on their progress.

“Dividing the books by language first will help reunite missing volumes, Alistair,” Meredith told him after she described their organizational method. She still felt a little shy using his given name, but Thorne had insisted the three of them forsake formality while alone. “We found several of the French and German books were shelved in a confusing jumble.”

“One of the cases may have fallen over in the past, causing the displacement,” Lucetta put in. “Most of the books found out of order show slight damage to the covers and spines.” She nodded toward the Pandora panel. “I would like to have another look at the shelving now, and see the number of books yet to be removed. We may need more tables in our work room to compile the different collections.”

“Take Harshad with you,” Thorne said, his voice rasping slightly as he finished his tea. “I would not like to find you buried beneath another collapse, Lucetta.”

The older woman went into the library with the steward, leaving the two of them alone.

“Have you made much progress with the repairs to the upstairs flooring, sir?” Meredith asked as the footmen began to clear the table. “We have heard the sounds of the men you hired working.”

“At present they must clear out the rotted wood, which is more extensive than I reckoned. It will be some weeks before the replacement floors can be installed.” He rose to his feet, and then hesitated. “While your cousin is occupied, would you care to see one of the staircase towers? Lucetta mentioned your interest in them.”

She only just managed not to hop up and down with delight. “Yes, please.”

To access the tower Thorne had to lead her through the kitchen, where his cook and two other men were busy already preparing food for the evening meals. They did not stop working but simply nodded as Meredith and Thorne passed. She smiled at them as she breathed in the piquant scent of curry and spices.

At the arched door to the tower Thorne stopped and gestured for her to step to one side. Then he pressed his hand on one side of the panel, which swung out with a faintly whining creak.

“A hidden spring latch?” Meredith asked.

He nodded. “My ancestor had some curious notions about doors,” he told her as he guided her over the threshold. “The other tower entry is fitted in the same fashion.”

Once inside Meredith looked up and gasped. The spiraling staircase seemed to extend up forever, although she knew it had to stop at the attic level. She then shifted slightly, and saw that the very top of the tower roof had been painted with a spiral that grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared into its own center.

“Have you climbed to the top yet?” she asked, feeling breathless.

“At present the water damage makes that too dangerous. Every landing has been rotted above the first floor.” Thorne came to stand beside her. “I have been invited to an assembly at Lady Hardiwick’s tomorrow evening. She wrote to warn that she will accept no refusal from me. Was that your doing, Meredith?”

She could feel the whisper of his breath against her cheek, and had to steel herself from leaning closer. “I think my mother may be the cause. She is most grateful for how you rescued me.” Should she warn him about Prudence? No, that seemed unkind, and she hardly imagined Thorne would have much patience for the giggly, silly thing. “You should go, sir. It is a chance to make your way into Renwick society.” And find a suitable wife, which he would soon have to do, a thought that made her stomach sink.

Thorne stepped closer. “I prefer the society I have here.”

“My cousin and I can hardly be called that.” Meredith met his gaze, which burned with a strange heat. “You will enjoy meeting our neighbors. I promise.”

“Do you know what I would truly like?” he murmured as he looked at her mouth.

Meredith felt the touch of his breath on her lips an instant before his mouth brushed hers, and became so light-headed she clutched his arm for support. That seemed to unhinge him, for he put his hands on her waist and hauled her body against his, all the while staring down into her eyes as if he had never before seen her.

“Why do you stop?” she whispered. “I am not afraid.”

His eyes glittered. “Then I must show you why you should be.”

Thorne kissed her again, but this time he covered her lips and pressed his tongue between them to open her mouth. Meredith gasped, and found her mouth instantly invaded and ravished, his tongue stroking hers and pushing deep in a strange, rhythmic fashion. This carnal act further affected her body to respond in the most curious manner, sending a brandied heat through her limbs and a throbbing ache into her breasts and between her thighs. When the colonel began to touch her Meredith thought it might help, but the shocking things he did with his fingers and palms made the bizarre sensations flare up as if her body were burning from within.

Thorne had somehow tugged her bodice down around her waist, and was now doing the same to her shift. When he had bared her breasts, he tore open his shirt and pressed her to his exposed chest, so that their heated skins met and rubbed together.

“My God, you feel so good.” He cupped her chin and made her look at him. “Are you afraid of me now?”