Quicksilver

desperate.'

'I understand,' Virginia said. 'You did not have a choice when it came to employers. But you do now, don't you? I'm assuming that the letter that you received from the Billings Agency the other day is an offer of employment in a more refined household.'

'In her note, Mrs. Billings advised me that there was a position available in the household of Lord and Lady Ainsley. Mrs. Billings thought it might suit me.'

'Lord and Lady Ainsley move in the very best circles. It sounds like an excellent position.'

'I sent a note back to Mrs. Billings informing her that I was not interested.'

Virginia put her mug down with enough force to create a sharp clink. 'You did what?'

'This household is an extraordinary one in many ways, Miss Dean, but it is considerably more decent and, yes, more respectable than the majority of the other households in which I have worked. Furthermore, I find it interesting.'

Virginia stared at her, dumbfounded. 'Interesting?'

Mrs. Crofton wiped her hands on her apron. 'I know very well what is going on around here, ma'am.'

Virginia smiled ruefully. 'One cannot conceal secrets from a good housekeeper.'

'That's true. I know that you and Mr. Sweetwater are hunting a vicious killer, one who preys on women in your line of work. I also know that Mr. Sweetwater was very nearly murdered last night.'

'That's true.'

'It seems to me, Miss Dean, that you could use some professional assistance.'

'From the police, do you mean? The thing is, we are investigating murders that were committed by paranormal means. There is no hard evidence to give to the police.'

'I was not talking about assistance from the police. I was referring to myself.'

'I beg your pardon?'

'There is something in this case that goes back to the Hollister household, does it not?'

'Yes.'

'That was a large, wealthy household. There would have been staff.'

'Yes,' Virginia said, 'but from what I observed, Lord and Lady Hollister employed remarkably few people for a house that size. What employees they did have all seem to have disappeared.'

'Even if the Hollister staff was small, there would have been a housekeeper.'

'Yes, there was. She let me in the day I went to the mansion.'

'The world of those engaged in service in high-ranking households is a small one, ma'am. I spent my entire career in it until I came here. I might be able to find the Hollister housekeeper for you.'

Chapter 36

He awakened from the dark dream to the pale light of a drizzly dawn and a deep awareness of Virginia's strong, invigorating energy. He opened his eyes and looked up at the unfamiliar ceiling. He was lying on a bed, but he was quite certain it was not his own.

'It's about time you woke up,' Virginia said. 'Your relations downstairs have been very anxious.'

He turned his head on the pillow and saw her in the doorway of the bedroom. She was dressed in a plain housedress. Her hair was neatly pinned into a simple knot at the back of her head. She had a mug of coffee in her hand.

'Virginia,' he said. He sat up and started to push back the covers. He stopped when he realized he was nude to the waist. He glanced down and saw that he was wearing only his drawers. He yanked the covers back up over his hips and surveyed the decidedly feminine curtains, wallpaper and dressing table. 'This is your bedroom.'

'Yes, it is. It was much closer than your own, so we brought you here. It seemed more convenient.' She carried the mug into the room, set it down on the bedside table and gave him a bright smile. 'How are you feeling?'

He pondered that briefly. 'I think I feel all right.' Cautiously he heightened his talent. Relief flooded through him when he realized that his psychical senses were as strong as ever. 'Yes. I'm fine.'

'Good,' she said. 'Mrs. Crofton is preparing breakfast for all of us. I suggest you wash up, dress and join us.'

He looked around. 'Where are the rest of my clothes?'

'Tony discarded them. He went to your house early this morning to fetch some clean clothes for you. There was just too much blood.'

He grimaced. Seeing him covered in the blood of a man he had just killed had probably not left a good impression on her.

'I understand,' he said.

'You'll find everything you need hanging in the wardrobe. The bathroom is next door.'

She turned to leave.

'Virginia,' he said very quietly.

She stopped and looked at him. 'Yes?'

'You saved me last night.'

'No,' she said. 'You are a strong man. You just needed time to recover from the effects of the mirror.'

'I can't believe that damned looking glass was so powerful.'

'It was an alchemical weapon, not an ordinary looking glass. Charlotte and Nick have done some research into its origins. They will tell you all about it when you come downstairs.'

He twisted the sheet around himself, stood and walked across the room to stand in front of her. 'Whatever the hell it was, you are the reason I recovered with my senses intact.'

'No, I could sense the power in you, even when you were unconscious. I knew that you would recover.'

'Because I had you to hold on to.' He tipped up her chin and brushed his mouth across hers. 'There is a connection between us, Virginia. Admit it.'

'Perhaps there is some sort of psychical awareness.'

'Yes, there certainly is.' He kissed her forehead.

'But that is not so odd, when you think about it,' she said. She frowned in intense concentration, as though puzzling out a math problem. 'We are both strong talents, and we have been intimate. Passion is a powerful force. It creates a great deal of energy.'

'Indeed.' He kissed her nose.

'While it lasts,' she whispered.

She whirled and fled the room.

For some reason he was ridiculously pleased with her confusion. It was so unlike Virginia to get flustered. He told himself he would take it as a good omen.

He walked into the dining room a short time later and stopped at the sight of the large crowd gathered there. Virginia and Charlotte sat at the table, plates of eggs, toast and kippered salmon in front of them. Each was reading a morning paper.

'Ladies,' he said. 'You look lovely today.'

Virginia glanced up from theFlying Intelligencer. She surveyed him critically and appeared satisfied. 'Good morning.'

Charlotte smiled warmly. 'It is good to see you looking so fit after your ordeal, sir.'

'I expect to look even better after I've had breakfast,' he said.

Nick, Matt and Tony were at the sideboard, helping themselves to generous quantities of food from the serving dishes.

'About time you woke up,' Nick said. He ladled a mound of scrambled eggs onto his plate. 'It was a long night, and none of us got much sleep, thanks to you, so we decided to start breakfast without you.'