Sebastian's jaw tightened. "Very well, madam. I shall see you later."

"Yes, yes, of course." Prudence turned back to the electricity ma­chine and started to work the crank. "Good-bye, my lord."

Sebastian disappeared through the door by which he had entered a few minutes earlier.

Evangeline stared after him. "I do not believe it."

"What don't you believe, Miss Singleton?" Prudence took a deep breath and bore down on her task. She could feel perspiration gather­ing between her shoulder blades.

"That you just told Angelstone to run along. And he did so."

"Serves him right." Prudence cranked harder. "He did not allow me to assist him today."

"I see." Evangeline gave her an odd look. "It would seem that you do, indeed, have a talent for dealing with spectral phenomena, madam. You appear to be able to banish the devil himself."

By the time Sebastian stalked into Lady Arlington's ballroom in search of Prudence, he was not in a good mood. He heard the ripple of anticipation that went through the crowded room as he walked through it and his temper did not improve. The ton was hoping for a scene tonight. He was in just the right frame of mind to provide one.

He located Prudence from halfway across the glittering room. She was the center of a cluster of people and she glanced up as he forged a path in her direction. The lenses of her spectacles glittered cheerfully in the light of the chandeliers. Her smile was more brilliant than all the massed candles overhead.

She was wearing a demure muslin gown that was a weak shade of blue. The neckline was cut far higher than that of any other lady's in he was concerned, Prudence's unfashionable clothes served very nicely to veil her from the eyes of other men. Only he knew how soft and graceful her breasts were. Only he knew how her nipples responded to his touch. Only he knew how she arched beneath his mouth, how she clung to him.

Sebastian stifled a groan as he realized he was growing hard and heavy right there in the middle of the ballroom.

He wondered ruefully what had happened to the well-honed self-control that he had taken for granted for years. He realized that he had begun to lose his iron grip on his passions the night that Prudence had leaped from the wardrobe to save him from Thornbridge's pistol. Sebastian knew of no one else who would have gone out of his or her way to save his neck.

He had almost reached Prudence's side when he glimpsed Jeremy out of the corner of his eye. He paused and watched as his cousin left the crowded room to go out onto the terrace. Jeremy was alone. Now was as good a time as any to confront him.

Sebastian abruptly changed direction to pursue Jeremy. When he reached the open doors he glanced outside and saw his cousin stand­ing near a low stone wall. As Sebastian watched, Jeremy withdrew a small snuffbox and flipped open the lid with an elegant flick of his finger. He had obviously been practicing the gesture.

Sebastian took the snuffbox he had found at Curling Castle out of his pocket and started forward.

"Allow me to offer you a special blend, cousin." Sebastian held the box out to Jeremy.

"What? Oh, it's you, Angelstone." Jeremy did not immediately look at the snuffbox in Sebastian's gloved hand. Instead he surveyed him without any enthusiasm. "Surprised to see you here tonight, though Mother said she thought you would show. Said you would seize the opportunity to demonstrate your contempt for the rest of us."

"Seizing such opportunities requires more energy than I wish to exert this evening. Do you recognize this snuffbox?"

Jeremy glanced at the box and frowned. "Since when did you take up the habit?"

"I have not taken it up." Sebastian flipped open the lid. "I am told this mixture is unique. Blended expressly for one particular person."

"What the devil are vou on about?" Jeremv took a closer look at the box. "Damnation, Angelstone, that's my snuffbox. Where did you get it?"

"It came my way not long ago. When and where did you lose it?"

Jeremy picked up the snuffbox. "I do not recall precisely. I noticed it was missing after I returned from a house party at Curling Castle. Why do you ask?"

"I found it at Curling Castle."

Jeremy shrugged. "That explains it, then. But how did you know it was mine?"

"I made inquiries."

"I see." Jeremy stared at him, perplexed. "But why did you go to the effort of tracking down the owner? The box is rather nice, but it's not all that valuable."

"I was very curious about the owner of that box," Sebastian said softly, "because I found it in a most unusual chamber on the top floor of Curling Castle. A room done entirely in black."

"Black?"

"A month ago a man named Ringcross fell to his death from that particular chamber. You may recall hearing of the incident?"

Jeremy gazed at him, dumbfounded. "Ringcross's fall occurred the weekend I attended one of Curling's house parties. What is this about, Angelstone?"

"Nothing, at the moment." Sebastian studied him intently. "I merely find the coincidence interesting."

"What coincidence?" Jeremy demanded. "The fact that you found my snuffbox in the chamber where Ringcross died? Well, I find it interesting that I only have your word that you discovered the snuff­box there."

"Do you think I am lying about the matter?"

"I think you are quite capable of it if it suited your own ends." Jeremy pocketed the snuffbox. "But I vow I cannot conceive of why you would want to invent such a tale. For your information, I never visited the top floor of the castle. I never saw this black chamber you describe."

"Are you certain of that?"

"Yes, damn it, I am very certain." Jeremy's face was tight with anger. "Why in blazes are you trying to connect me to that chamber?"

"I am not trying to connect you to it. The snuffbox does that all by itself." Sebastian turned on his heel and started back into the ball­room.

"Hold on a moment, Angelstone," Jeremy called after him. "What devil's game are you playing now? I demand to know what you think you are doing."

Sebastian paused on the threshold of the French doors and glanced back at Jeremy. "As it happens, I am about to ask my wife to dance the waltz with me."

Prudence appeared in the doorway before Jeremy could react. Her smile was as bright as it had been earlier, but her eyes held specula­tion and concern. "I see you are getting some fresh air, Mr. Fleet-wood. Lovely night, is it not?"

"A fine night, madam," Jeremy said stiffly.

"Yes, it is. A bit chilly, however. And I believe we shall have more fog before morning." She turned to Sebastian. "They are playing a waltz, Angelstone. I have been searching all over for you. No less than a dozen people informed me that you had arrived, but when you did not seek me out, I thought perhaps you were unable to locate me in the crowd."

Sebastian smiled slightly as he took her arm and led her out onto the floor. "Never fear, Prue. I will always find you, regardless of where you go or how well hidden you may be."

She wrinkled her nose at him as he swung her into the dance. "That sounds more like a threat than a promise."

"Yes, I suppose it does."

"Honestly, Sebastian, sometimes you are impossible."

"I know, my dear, but you seem to be able to deal with me. How did your investigation conclude this afternoon?"

"It was very disappointing, if you must know," Prudence said. "I could not produce a single ghost with the electricity machine. I am beginning to wonder if there is a flaw in my new theory."

"Perhaps there was no ghost to be found in that particular garret."

"Probably not. I discovered a scarf in the room that belonged to one of the housemaids. When I interviewed her she admitted that she has been meeting one of the footmen up in the garret late at night. I believe they are the source of the moaning sounds Miss Singleton heard."