Free Whispers at Midnight by Andrea Parnell

through hers. She liked the comforting feel of his touch
and sharing the strength of his hand. “I never wanted the place.
Neither Ryne nor I have actually lived here for years,” he went on.
“Mother had a house in Williamsburg which is mine now. It’s much
nearer my business.”
    “And Ryne?” Amanda asked.
    “He has the lodge his father built down the
river a few miles. And there is the cottage with it, if he’s
managed to hold on to them. How he feels about your having Wicklow,
I can’t say. You’ll have to ask him yourself.” His mouth pulled
into a frown. “And, Amanda, don’t be surprised if he shows up here
unexpectedly. His place isn’t far away and he’s accustomed to
dropping by the house at times.”
    Amanda’s lower lip dropped a bit.
    “I know,” she said haltingly.
    “Has he been here already?”
    She smiled blandly. “Yes, last night.
Shortly after we arrived. He had a . . .”
    “A woman with him?”
    “Yes.”
    “He usually does. And seldom the same one.”
Gardner paused to draw a deep breath. “I trust the situation wasn’t
too awkward for you. Ryne seldom lets a sense of propriety deter
his baser diversions.”
    She colored lightly. “He left right away and
didn’t return.”
    “I see.” He looked at her intently. “By the
way, I brought your trunk inside. If you’ll tell me which room is
yours, I’ll take it upstairs.”
    Relieved at a change of subject, she
answered quickly, “I haven’t decided. But I suppose I’ll move into
Aunt Elise’s old room until I do.” Amanda tilted her head to one
side. “Gardner, do you remember the chess set your mother had? The
ivory-and-ebony one?”
    “The one Grandfather Jubal gave her? I
remember.”
    “Is it still here? I haven’t seen it.”
    “She wouldn’t have parted with it. You’ll
find it packed away somewhere.” He laughed and shrugged his
shoulders. “Mother moved things from place to place in the house.
She was like a pack rat with her little treasure troves.”
    Gussie clattered in at that moment carrying
the tea tray and a plate of especially appetizing cakes. She set
the tray on the walnut tea table without looking up, and then
puttered away.
    Halfway across the room, Gussie stopped and
asked in her loud voice, “Anything else you’ll be needin’? I’ve got
my dinner to see to.”
    “Don’t bother with it, Gussie,” Gardner said
just as loudly. “Amanda will be dining with me in town.” His voice
dropped to a near-whisper. “You will, won’t you?”
    “I’d love to,” Amanda replied softly.
    The little wrinkles in Gussie’s plump old
face deepened as she smiled thoughtfully at Gardner. Amanda noted
an odd gleam in her eyes before she turned and waddled away.
     
    ***
     
    The colors of the rainbow sparkled from a
crystal bowl filled with roses. Gardner poured another glass of
Madeira for Amanda. She lifted the stemmed goblet to her lips and
sipped from her third glass of the sweet amber liquid. The Raleigh
Tavern boasted the finest dining room in Williamsburg, but another
long drive back to the city had been tiring. The trip took more
than an hour with a fast team of horses. It seemed lately she had
spent most of her time on the seats of some sort of traveling
conveyance.
    Gardner watched Amanda’s lovely, gentle face
for a moment after she had returned her glass to the table. The
candlelight had lent her skin a soft, silken glow as pink and
smooth as that of the rose petals between them. The golden fire of
the candle flames shone like starlight in her eyes.
    He caught his gaze roving down the silken
column of her throat to where the deep neckline of her pale green
gown dipped provocatively low. Her breathing had grown slow and
deep as she finished the last of her wine. Her dusky lashes hovered
a bit too low and too long as she folded a linen napkin and dropped
it beside her plate.
    “You’re very tired,” Gardner said huskily,
bringing his gaze up quickly to a more gentlemanly