The Haunting of a Duke(74)

Rhys nodded. He didn't acknowledge the slight quaking of Michael's voice, just as he wouldn't acknowledge it in his own. It terrified him to see Emme that way—mentally he searched for the right word—inhabited, he supposed. “Twice before. Let me get her inside and then we'll discuss it."

They strode up the stairs, Michael at his heels. He opened the door to his chamber, rather than hers, and placed Emme in the center of his bed. She slept on, oblivious. He walked over to the connecting door but Michael was already there. In the duchess’ chamber they found the entrance to the secret passage, hidden behind the armoire. They moved it carefully and Michael grabbed a candle before they entered the narrow corridor.

Carefully, Rhys searched until he found it, the peephole that she'd spoken of. He peered through it and anger flared deeply inside him. He could see the doorway clearly and recalled only too well what had happened there the previous day. There was also a reasonably unobstructed view of the bed. The cold fury swelled. “Don't speak of this to Emme. There is no need for her to know that this bastard spied upon us."

Michael nodded, vaguely sickened himself. He turned to pick up the candle and as he did, his boot sent something skittering across the stone floor. It pinged against the wooden frame of the door, and he bent to retrieve it. Holding it next to the candle flame, he examined the button. It was ornate, obviously expensive and had been lost in haste.

Michael held out the button. “These would have been ordered through an exclusive tailor. Perhaps by finding the tailor, we might be able to identify our killer."

Rhys nodded. “He is growing careless. On the one hand that means he is more likely to be caught. But it could also mean that he is more dangerous than ever before. There is too much at stake, Michael."

"Have one of the footmen take it by messenger to town, to Lord Hycliff. He can be trusted, and if anyone will know how to find its origins, it will be Hycliff."

Rhys knew Hycliff socially and the man was a fop. Nearly half a head taller than him, the man's clothing was blindingly garish, his shirt points dangerously high, and his cravat was rumored to take hours to tie.

"Hycliff is one of your trusted compatriots?"

Michael shrugged. “Not everything is as it seems, Briarleigh. Hycliff is perfect for this."

"Very well. I will trust your judgment on the matter. There is too much at stake, Michael. I won't lose her now."

"I do not make many promises, but I know that I owe you my life. She will be protected, and that is a vow that will not be broken."

Hours later Emme awoke in Rhys’ bed. He was beside her, fully clothed, staring down at her while he absently twirled a lock of her hair between his sun-browned fingers.

"I suppose this means I went for a stroll?"

He smiled. “Poor Ellersleigh. You terrified him. He looked up from his brandy and you were strolling in the garden in your chemise."

Emme covered her flaming face with her hands, “Dear heavens! I will never be able to look at him again."

Rhys chuckled. The sound was somewhat forced, but Emme didn't seem to notice it. “Well, I doubt that he will ever be able to stop looking at you. I know I certainly can't."

"It's mortifying. An inveterate rogue and my husband chasing me through the garden in my nightclothes. It's like some ridiculous farce for Drury Lane."

"There was nothing humorous about it. And your state of undress was the least shocking thing about the entire episode,” he replied gravely. Without another word, he pulled her close, holding her tightly.

"What happened in the garden?"

Rhys hung his head, resting his forehead against hers. “Elise is toying with us. She uses these episodes of yours, where she can control your body, to torture me. She made threats again that she might be able to take control of your body permanently. She claims she could restore her life by taking over yours. Is that possible?"

Emme was frightened, more frightened than she could ever recall being. Was it possible? Could Elise's spirit take her over entirely? The very thought made her blood run cold. “I don't know. It would be the first that I've ever heard of such a thing. But then I've never encountered a spirit as venomous. I wish I could say no, but I simply don't have the answer."

As Rhys watched, she unconsciously pressed her hand to her abdomen, directly over her womb. He placed his hand atop hers, warming it, stilling the soothing motions she had been making with her hand.

She sighed. “Michael told you, didn't he?"

He smiled then. “You were unconscious in his arms when I walked into the room. If he hadn't told me I might have shot him... I was planning on it in fact."