A Most Novel Revenge Read Free Page B

looked around. The room was large and very cold, despite the fire burning in the fireplace. I thought I could even detect the whistle of the wind through the casements. The tapestries on the paneled wall were intricate and lovely, but they were not keeping much warmth in the bedroom. However, it was not the first drafty country house I had stayed in, and it would probably not be the last.
    The furnishings were high-quality antiques that had seen better days. The bed was an enormous thing with intricately carved posts the size of tree trunks. It looked as though it might have dated back to the Tudors as well. The bedding, however, was modern, as was the thick rug on the floor. It seemed the Lyonses had done whatever they could to add a bit of warmth to the room.
    Nevertheless, there remained something of the impression that the dustcovers had been whisked away moments before our arrival. I wondered again what had brought them back to Lyonsgate. If the family had only returned here recently, I thought it strange that they should have wanted guests before the house had been properly prepared. In fact, I somehow felt that Mr. Lyons did not want company at all. He had been cordial in the way of a man who is accustomed to behaving properly, but his enthusiasm had been artificial. This certainly wasn’t an ordinary country weekend.
    Laurel had wanted me to come for reasons that remained to be seen, and Mr. Lyons had no doubt politely acquiesced to her suggestion. If we were not exactly welcome here, I wondered even more why Isobel Van Allen had been invited. After all that had happened, I thought it somewhat strange that she should be welcomed back with open arms to the scene of a tragedy she had attempted to exploit for her own personal gain.
    â€œâ€¦ ghosts creeping down the halls in long, trailing gowns. But I don’t know if they wore trailing gowns, did they?”
    I came back to the present to find Winnelda watching me expectantly.
    â€œI’m not certain about the trains, Winnelda, but I don’t think you need worry much about ghosts.”
    â€œNo, I suppose there are a good many strange people here already. I think it would be a shame to have ghosts as well.”
    I was about to respond to this curious comment when there was a perfunctory tap on the door and Milo entered from the adjoining room. “Rather a drafty old place, isn’t it?” he said, casting his eyes about my room. “Your room or mine, darling? I don’t intend to sleep in a cold bed alone. I shall need you for warmth.”
    â€œI’ll just go see to … something, shall I, madam?” Winnelda said, hurrying from the room.
    â€œYou shouldn’t say such things in front of Winnelda,” I told Milo with a smile. “You know she is easily shocked.”
    â€œI don’t see why she should be.” He came to me and pulled me against him. “I should think she’d be accustomed to my wanton behavior at this point.”
    I looked up at him, taking the opportunity to address what was really on my mind. “While we’re on the subject of wanton behavior, I wasn’t aware you knew Isobel Van Allen.”
    â€œOh, didn’t I mention it?” His face was the picture of perfect ease, and his arms around my waist didn’t loosen in the slightest.
    â€œNo,” I said. “You didn’t.”
    â€œWell, I didn’t know her very well.”
    â€œHow well?” I questioned pointedly, looking up at him. I might as well know the worst of it.
    He met my gaze without reservation. “I was not among her coterie of young lovers, if that’s what you mean.”
    Well, that was direct enough. “She seemed to harbor quite fond memories of you,” I said.
    â€œShe is, perhaps, remembering things differently from the way they were.”
    I felt certain he was telling the truth. After all, we had not known one another at the time. There would be no reason for