The Phantom Lover Read Online Free

little help or sympathy from the other members of the household in this matter, for Lord Charles tended to ignore Beckwith (the domestic details of the household having no interest for him); his elderly aunt, Lady Amelia Thorne, had lived in the house for too long to take any notice of Beckwith’s eccentricities; and Nell was convinced that Lady Sybil’s standards for proper behavior in the domestic staff were excessively formal. Nell had a strong liking for the old butler and was often accused by her godmother of encouraging him in his annoying ways.
    Perhaps Lady Sybil was right, for Nell now grinned at Beckwith conspiratorially. “How long do you suppose they can keep this up?”
    â€œWouldn’t surprise me none if they was to be at it all night,” he replied, chuckling.
    Nell restrained her answering smile. “I suppose we shouldn’t laugh,” she murmured. “The length of the discussion means that Mr. Prickett has not brought good news. I’ll peep inside and see what’s causing the to-do.” She handed the butler her bonnet and shawl and walked swiftly to the library door. With great care, she turned the handle and tiptoed in.
    The library was an impressive room, its walls lined with leather-bound books, its windows reaching to the high ceiling, the carpets and draperies glowing in rich tones of dark red and gold, and the paneling of the walls elegantly carved and lustrously polished. This room had been a favorite of the old Earl, and the housekeeper still kept it as spotless and gleaming as it had been when he was alive.
    The family’s man of business, Mr. Prickett, was seated at a long oak table, a number of documents and papers spread out before him, his elbow resting on the table, and his hand supporting his forehead as he stared at the three people sitting before him, two of whom were glaring at him with expressions of decided antagonism. As Nell moved quietly to the nearest vacant chair, she saw Mr. Prickett remove his pince-nez and rub the bridge of his nose. She knew that gesture well. It indicated that the lawyer was exercising all his self-control to maintain the cool and dispassionate demeanor he considered proper for a man of his profession. He was not as adept at dealing with hostility from his clients as he was from his adversaries. Therefore, this had been a long, difficult evening for him.
    Before Nell could sit down, she heard a grunt from her guardian. It was Lord Charles’ way of acknowledging her presence. She nodded to him and slipped into the chair. Lady Sybil merely favored her with a flick of the eye, but the third member of the family, the elderly Lady Amelia, the late Earl’s only surviving sister, gave her a welcoming smile. Nell smiled back at Lady Amelia brightly, hoping that an air of cheerfulness would alleviate somewhat the tension in the room.
    After a brief bow in Nell’s direction, Mr. Prickett spoke. “I can add nothing more, I’m afraid, to what I’ve already said a dozen times this evening,” he said with strained patience, replacing his pince-nez and looking firmly at Lord Charles and Lady Sybil. “I assure you again that there is nothing anyone can do at this time. The Earl’s wishes were quite explicitly detailed in the will.”
    â€œBut the Earl could not possibly have known that Captain Thorne would be missing in action!” Lady Sybil objected. “There must be some provision for the unexpected.”
    Mr. Prickett almost sighed, reached for his pince-nez again, removed it and rubbed the bridge of his nose with twitching fingers. “But, as I’ve said—”
    â€œWe know what you’ve said,” Lord Charles muttered in disgust.
    Lady Amelia leaned forward in her chair. “Would anyone like some more tea?” she asked in her high, fluttery voice. “I believe it is still quite warm.”
    â€œWill you please refrain from offering us tea every five