Evermore (Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy #3)(21)

Unless he was dead, of course.

"Yes, but a betrothal between us is yet to be finalized." Adelaide turned so that she was no longer facing her mother. It was a direct slight and I felt uncomfortable. I had never seen Adelaide and her mother quarrel before. "Until then, there is still a chance of escape."

"Adelaide," her mother scolded.

"Father and the Duke of Sandridge have not decided upon my worth," Adelaide went on. "I believe His Grace the duke is holding out for another piece of Father's property to be added to my dowry. It's a lucrative tract of land and of course Father doesn't want to give it up without a fight. Not even for the prospect of being attached to a dukedom."

"That's enough," Lady Preston snapped.

"Unfortunately, poor, dear Bertie is rather sickly and there's always the chance he'll die before his father, in which case I'll never be a duchess. What a shame that would be, wouldn't it, Mother?"

Lady Preston had gone quite rigid. I expected her to berate her daughter, but she didn't. Indeed her lips were clamped together tightly, emphasizing the tiny lines around her mouth.

I took George's arm and steered him toward the door. "Thank you for the address, Lady Preston." I tugged George. He didn't seem to have his wits with him, but he followed me meekly enough, although he continued to look back at Adelaide.

We got as far as the exit. The dominating figure of Lord Preston blocked the doorway. My entire body groaned at the sight of him.

"What's she doing here?" he bellowed over my head.

Lady Preston sailed up to us. Her anger seemed to have dissolved and she was all solicitude as she smiled at her husband. "She came for—"

"I told you never to let her in. Did I not make myself clear? She is a disruptive influence on you and Adelaide."

"She is not," Adelaide protested.

There was a shocked silence, not only from her parents, but from George and I as well. I'd never heard her speak so disrespectfully to them. Indeed, she'd always seemed a little afraid of her father. The pending nuptials must have triggered the dormant rebel within.

"Emily is kind and has our best interests at heart," she added.

"Quiet, girl, you don't know what you're talking about."

I felt George tense, but he said nothing. I would have tried to leave, but Lord Preston and his wife were in the way. Oh please, please, move. I didn't want a confrontation. And what if Jacob popped in? He didn't need anything else to worry about.

"No, Father," Adelaide said, "you don't know what you're talking about because you refuse to believe what is as plain as that ugly nose on your face."

Lord Preston bared his teeth like an animal. "Go. To. Your. Room."

"Gladly." She lifted her chin and walked up to us. "See you at the ball," she said and kissed me on the cheek. "It promises to be quite a lively event."

That was an understatement.

"There will be no ball if you continue to behave in such a manner," her father said as he stepped aside to let her pass.

Lady Preston gasped. "But the invitations have already gone out."

Nobody said anything to that. I suspect it was too late to retract the invitations. Canceling the ball would give the gossips the impression all was not well in the Beaufort household, and that certainly wouldn't do.

I strode past Lord and Lady Preston and thought I'd gotten away safely, but Lord Preston's booming voice stopped me. George stopped too and remained close, bless him.

"I will be watching you at the ball, Miss Chambers," Lord Preston said. "If you so much as whisper about spirits or nonsense of that nature, you will be evicted. Understand?"

"I say!" George said.

"Reginald, please. She is our guest."

Lord Preston puffed out his thick chest. "That doesn't give her the right to come here and use her devious practices on you."

"She is not a fraud," George said. "I can vouch for—"

"Be quiet. The only reason I tolerate you is because you're of gentle stock and haven't tried to take money in exchange for whatever it is you do. But be aware that I know all about that so-called Society to which you belong, and I will shut it down if a single member so much as utters anything of a paranormal nature in my hearing. Understand?"

"Perfectly." George didn't move and for a horrifying moment I thought he might march up to Lord Preston and punch him. The earl was built as solidly as a house. A physical confrontation would not end well for George.

I dragged him with me onto the landing and down the stairs. The footman saw us out and into the waiting carriage. It took me a moment to catch my breath and regain my wits, by which time we were already moving.

George sat opposite me, visibly seething. "That man! Abominable! To speak in such a rude manner to his own wife and daughter!"

And to you and me, I almost added. But I did not want to add fuel to his ire. He was fiery enough. "Have you and Adelaide really been writing to each other in secret?" I asked.

He blinked and his temper seemed to dampen. "I wasn't aware it was in secret until today." He sighed. "I'm afraid I got her into trouble. Do you think she'll forgive me?"

"I have no doubt she will."