"Good afternoon, yer lordship. I see ye got my message."

"I trust this matter will prove more amusing than the last, Whistle­croft." Sebastian sat down in the booth across from the Runner. "I am in the mood for something a bit more challenging."

"Yer too good at this sort o‘ thing, that's yer problem." Whistle­croft grinned, displaying several gaps in his teeth. "Well, I got a new one that should interest ye. Same arrangement as before? I collect the reward from the suitably grateful party what hired me?"

"The reward and the credit, Whistlecroft. Neither are of any use to me."

"Must be nice to be rich," Whistlecroft said with a sigh. "And have a fancy title into the bargain. Don't mind tellin‘ ye, I still don't under­stand why ye take such an interest in these little affairs."

Sebastian signaled for coffee. "I've explained that before, Whistle­croft. You provide me with an amusing hobby. Every man needs a hobby, don't you agree?"

"I wouldn't know about that, yer lordship. Ain't never had time for no hobby. Too busy trying to keep food on the table for me and mine."

Sebastian smiled coolly. "I trust you and yours are eating some­what better since we began our partnership."

Whistlecroft chuckled. "That we are, m'lord. That we are. My wife's getting plump and the five little ones is all filling out nicely. We moved into a little house just last week. Real pleasant, it is."

"Excellent. Then let me hear what you have for me this time." Whistlecroft hunched forward and lowered his voice. "A little mat­ter o‘ blackmail and a nice bit o' jewelry, m'lord. I think ye'll find it amusing enough."

What do I know of Angelstone?" Hester, Lady Pem­broke, paused with her teacup halfway to her mouth and looked at Prudence. "Only that he is not on speaking terms with his relatives and that he has an exceedingly dangerous reputation. All of which makes him extremely interesting, of course. Why do you ask?"

Prudence smiled. Hester was an awesomely built woman of inde­terminate years, whose size was exceeded only by her generous heart and her lively interest in the affairs of the ton. As she had once ex­plained to Prudence, she had long been deprived of her natural place in the social world due to the mysterious disappearance of the famed Pembroke jewels a generation earlier. One could not move in the best circles of the ton without money, regardless of one's pedigree.

Now that she had money, Hester was happily indulging herself in all the pleasures of society that had previously been denied to her. She had concluded that she had an innate sense of style and when the Morning Post reported that gowns of lavender and violet hues were the most fashionable this season, Hester had redone her wardrobe ac­cordingly. Today her stout frame was encased in a heavily flounced and ruffled lavender gown trimmed with pink lace.

Hester was an old friend of Prudence's family. She and her late husband had lived in an ancient, tumbledown manor house that was located not far from the Merryweather farm. The Pembroke ghost, which was almost as famous as the missing Pembroke jewels, had provided Prudence with her first real experience in the investigation of spectral phenomena.

"I'm asking about Angelstone because Trevor has taken this ridic­ulous notion into his head that I must be very careful around the earl," Prudence explained. "He seems to think the man is out to se­duce me. Utter nonsense, of course, but Trevor is very agitated about it."

"As well he should be, I suppose. The earl is, as I said, most interesting, but there is no indication that he is casting about for a wife as yet. Therefore, we must assume that when he pays attention to a young lady, he has other things on his mind."

"He might simply wish to converse with her about matters of mu­tual intellectual interest," Prudence suggested hopefully.

"Not likely." Hester put down her teacup, her expression thought­ful. "One of the reasons Angelstone is so completely fascinating is precisely because he flouts Society's rules. Treats the Social World with contempt, for the most part, just as it once treated his parents."

"But you said he's invited to all the best balls and soirees."

"Certainly. There is nothing Society thrives on more than being treated with contempt by a titled gentleman who has money to burn and more than a hint of danger about him."

"I see. How very odd."

"Not at all. Only recall how Society has doted on Byron. Angel­stone is very shrewd. He knows how to stay just this side of the bound­ary of what is acceptable. And since he assumed the title, every host­ess in Town vies to lure him with an invitation to one of her affairs."

"He is certainly an interesting man," Prudence said.

"Yes, indeed." Hester turned thoughtful. "And one of the most interesting things about him is why he has not used the power he acquired along with the title to crush his relatives."

Prudence frowned. "Crush them?"

"It would be easy enough for him to do. He controls a fortune, after all. And he has great social power. Everyone assumes the reason he has not gotten his relatives banished from Society is simply that it amuses him to play cat-and-mouse games with them."

"I cannot believe he would deliberately hurt his family. I rather liked him," Prudence ventured.

"I'm sure he can be charming when he chooses. And he was no doubt more than charming when he asked you to dance with him. The thing is, Prue, Trevor is absolutely correct to be concerned about any connection between you and the earl. Angelstone is said to amuse himself in some rather odd ways. He might find it entertaining to ruin this Season's most interesting Original."

Prudence bit her lip. "Come, now, madam. I am five-and-twenty, after all. A bit past the age of ruination."

"Not yet, my dear. Not yet. And if there is anything Society loves more than a Fallen Angel, it's a good, juicy scandal. You are the talk of the Town at the moment. Every eye is upon you. If your name is linked to Angelstone's, there will be no end to the gossip."

Prudence took another sip of tea. "The only reason I'm the center of attention is because of that business with the Pembroke family treasure."

"Of course, my dear." Hester beamed with delight and gave an affectionate pat to the diamond pendant around her throat. It had been part of the cache Prudence had discovered. "Everyone knows you found my jewels when you investigated the Pembroke ghost. The ton is quite enthralled with the tale."

Prudence wrinkled her nose. "Too bad I did not locate the Pem­broke family ghost while I was at it. Encountering evidence of genuine spectral phenomena would have been far more interesting than dis­covering a bunch of jewels."

"But not nearly as useful, Prue. Not nearly as useful. You have changed my life, my dear, and I do not know how I can ever repay you."

"You know very well you have more than repaid me by bringing Trevor and me to London for a visit. Since the death of our parents, Trevor has been extremely restless in the country. Here in Town he is gaining experience in the ways of the world and he is having a wonder­ful time."

"It was the very least I could do to thank you," Hester said. "I know how concerned you were about Trevor. But I would love to do so much more for you, my dear." She frowned at Prudence's demure, unfashionable muslin frock. "I do wish you would allow me to buy you a new wardrobe."

"Now, Hester, we have been through this before. I am not about to allow you to buy me a trunkful of gowns that I will never be able to wear when I go home to Dorset. It would be a complete waste."

Hester sighed. "The thing is, Prue, now that you have the attention of the ton, it seems only proper that you should dress in the first stare of fashion. I cannot comprehend why you do not take more of an interest in your clothes. You would look lovely in lavender."