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.“You can ask her, if you like.”He scratched the back of his neck as though to make certain he wasn’t dreaming.“Anyway, Madam Derbardi said she’d been waiting for me and suggested I wanted my cards read.So I shuffled her stack of cards, letting my aura soak into them.”“Your aura?”“You don’t believe me?”He raked a hand through his hair.“I’m trying very hard to believe you, Miss Throssell, but this is all very new to me.”And he hadn’t called her a liar or berated her the way Papa would have by now.So Mina took a calming breath.“She could see my past.She could tell I had Trevelyan blood, she could see that Mama had passed away, and that I miss her very much.” At his nod, she continued, “She could see that Papa and I are at odds and that a major change was just on the horizon, that I was going to have a most important decision to make.And then she saw my true love.”“Your one-eyed fellow?” he grumbled slightly.Mina nodded.“She said he was a dashing figure.He’d have a commanding aura about him—”“More auras?”Mina narrowed her eyes on the viscount.“And that I’d easily spot him because of his one-eye.”Lord Healeyfield heaved a sigh.“And how much did this cost you? Some bauble? Some family heirloom? A satchel full of coins?”Mina’s mouth dropped open.Payment? She hadn’t even thought about any kind of payment until this moment.She shook her head.“That bad is it?” he asked, concern darkening his eyes even more.“What did she require of you?”“No,” she said.“That’s not it at all.She didn’t charge me anything, not one farthing.”At that, Lord Healeyfield leaned back against the squabs, his brow furrowed in confusion.“And you made it home with all of your possessions in tact? Was anything taken? Anything at all?”If Madam Derbardi had required payment, Mina would have gladly paid it.There wouldn’t be any reason for the woman to steal from her.Besides, “I’m missing nothing, my lord.”Nathaniel sank down in the chair behind his desk.He scowled at the stack of bills still piled like a tower before him, but his thoughts weren’t focused on his nonexistent funds.A pretty brunette with a most ethereal quality about her possessed every thought that popped into his head.Damn it all, he was no closer to convincing her to accept his suit, and he was fairly certain his heart was quite taken with the girl.He wasn’t even sure how that happened.He’d felt a pull towards her, drawn to her the night at the Ridgemonts’ ball.But now, after spending the day with Mina Throssell, catching a glimpse of the world through her very unique set of eyes, he was most definitely lost.Her mind didn’t work at all the way his did, and while he would have thought that would drive him mad, he couldn’t help but find Mina enchanting.Enchanting and delicate and earnest.Honestly, she was delightful in every possible way.He could spend the rest of his life trying to figure her out and he’d enjoy every last minute.He couldn’t figure out what to make of Madam Derbardi, however.But when he thought about everything, the door that didn’t exist, Mina’s certainty that they were in the correct spot, coupled with the horrific tale of a fortuneteller who’d once been in White Chapel, a slight shiver raced down his spine.“Ye look like ye’ve seen a ghost,” Griff said from the threshold, leaning against the doorjamb.“Ghost!” Nathaniel scoffed.Loudly.“What a ridiculous thing to say.”Griff shrugged.“Not so ridiculous.We have a haunted room back home at Achmore Manor.My broken-hearted great-aunt tossed herself from a window as a lass and—”“Griff!” Nathaniel grumbled.“I’m not in the mood for Highland lore.”“Aye.” His friend strode further into the room.“I can see that.Ye look to be in a fine temper.Did something happen at Throssell’s?”Nathaniel wasn’t certain how to even answer that.So many things had happened.He’d signed his marriage contract, he’d gone on the strangest outing of his life with his intended, he’d fallen quite hopeless for her, and…“Decided against marryin’ the lass, did ye?” Griff sank into the chair opposite Nathaniel’s desk [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]