Mistletoe Mischief

lavender satin.

Rollo made himself guiltily scarce as consternation broke out. Megan rushed forward, in the process managing to unwittingly block Oliver's way so that Rupert was the man to reach Chloe first. Excluded, Oliver could only stand with Greville as Sir Jocelyn flapped anxiously over his unconscious daughter. Rupert, his bruises entirely forgotten, gathered Chloe into his strong arms and bore her off toward the drawing room. Everyone crowded after him, including Evangeline, who was now more incensed with the ghost than ever.

'Oh, just wait until you and I meet next, Master Witherspoon!' Megan heard her mutter under her breath.

Rupert laid Chloe gently on a drawing room sofa, and Evangeline produced some sal volatile from the writing desk drawer as Sir Jocelyn knelt beside his daughter, chafing her limp little hand between his large manly paws. 'Chloe? My dearest? Please open your eyes!'

The smelling salts pricked Chloe's nostrils, and she stirred a little. Her lashes fluttered prettily against her pale cheeks, then she looked up. 'Papa?'

'Are you all right, my darling?' he cried.

'Yes… What happened?'

Evangeline leaned over her. 'You fainted, my dear,' she explained.

Much to Rupert's chagrin, Oliver was the one who thought of hurrying back to the theater for Evangeline's glass of water, which he now made much of putting to Chloe's lips.

She smiled wanly up at him. 'Thank you, Oliver,' she whispered, but then remembrance flooded back and her breath caught. 'I-I thought I saw…'

Oliver gazed at her. 'Yes, dearest? What did you think you saw?'

She glanced around at everyone. 'There was a man on the stage.'

Megan and Evangeline met her gaze as if they did not know what she was talking about, and the four men were genuinely puzzled. Rupert shook his head. 'There wasn't anyone there. It must have been Aunt E's wonderful illusions.'

Chloe bit her lip. 'Now I feel foolish. I was so carried away that I let my imagination go too far.' She sat up and smiled sheepishly at Evangeline. 'I think your illusions are quite amazing. The thunder was, well, thunderous, and I even liked your seagulls.'

Evangeline shifted a little uncomfortably. 'They need a little attention, but will come along nicely, I'm sure.'

'I cannot wait to see what else you have planned.'

'Nothing more for tonight, that is certain. If you are feeling well again now, my dear, perhaps Sir Jocelyn should take you home. A good sleep, and all will be well come the morning.'

'All is well now, truly,' Chloe replied.

'Tomorrow we will rehearse a scene.'

Oliver spoke up swiftly. 'I do trust you have a task for me, Lady Evangeline? I gladly proffer my services, even if it is only to move the scenery.'

'Why, yes, Mr. March, that will be most helpful. Please come along as well.'

Rupert glared at his aunt.

Chloe was still embarrassed about fainting. 'I really did think I saw a man,' she said again, shaking her head at such a silly notion.

'Light can play tricks, especially phantasmagoric light,' Sir Jocelyn said kindly, then he looked at Evangeline. 'Do you recall what happened at the Marine Pavilion? It was just such an eerie display- ghostly monks amid the ruins of a monastery, I believe-and Mr. Sheridan the playwright sat suddenly and very deliberately upon the lap of a very gullible, fainthearted Russian dowager?'

'Madame Gerobtzoff. Yes, I recall it very well,' Evangeline replied with a chuckle.

Sir Jocelyn rose to his feet. 'However, that is an aside, for I think you are right; I should take Chloe home now.'

Chloe looked quickly at Evangeline. 'I have a great favor to ask, Lady Evangeline?'

'What is it?'

'May I borrow Miss Mortimer tomorrow morning? I wish to go into the town to do some shopping in readiness for the ball, and I would like some female company,' she said pointedly, as both Rupert and Oliver began to offer their services.

Evangeline was only too pleased to surrender her companion to Chloe. 'Of course, my dear, in fact it would please me immensely because there are a few errands I wish her to do for me.'

Megan smiled at Chloe. 'I look forward to it, Miss Holcroft,' she said, studiously avoiding Oliver's steady gaze. She knew he wanted her to find a reason to decline, but there was little she could say when Evangeline wished her to go.

'I will call at ten,' Chloe promised, and raised a hand for assistance from the sofa.

Rupert and Oliver reached out in unison, jostling against each other in the process, so she tactfully accepted her father's hand instead. Evangeline rang a hand bell to summon Fosdyke, and everyone went out into the hall to say farewell to the guests.

As the butler assisted Chloe and Oliver with their outdoor things, Sir Jocelyn noticed Evangeline fingering her locket as she glanced up at the kissing bough. 'Memories are sweet, are they not?' he said softly.

'Mayhap I now have a little more than just memories.'

'What do you mean?'

'What's in a name, sir, what's in a name,' Evangeline replied enigmatically.

Sir Jocelyn stared at her, and then gave a slight gasp and glanced fleetingly at Megan. 'So that's it! Why didn't I make the connection before? I knew there was something familiar-'

Evangeline tapped him with her fan. 'Not a word to anyone just yet. Promise?'

'Of course.'

As the front door was opened and Oliver stepped out with Chloe, Sir Jocelyn paused to look back at Megan, as if something had suddenly become blindingly clear to him.

When they had gone and Fosdyke closed the door, Rupert turned heavily to Greville. 'I need a large cognac to wash Oliver March from my mind,' he said, and returned to the drawing room. Greville followed.

Evangeline nodded at Megan. 'You are excused until tomorrow now, Miss Mortimer. I wish you to read to me while I take my morning tea in bed. I keep a volume of Gil Blas at my bedside. Do you know it?'

'Oh, yes, for it was my father's favorite too.'

'Ah, yes.'

'Lady Evangeline. I noticed the bookcase in the drawing room, and wondered if-?'

'If you could borrow a volume?'

'Yes.'

'Of course you may, my dear. If you have a liking for gothic novels, you will find a copy of Mr. Walpole's The Castle of Otranto. 'Evangeline smiled, then walked away toward the theater. Megan heard her summon Rollo in a tone that augured ill for him. 'Right, Master Witherspoon, I require words with you!' Then the door closed.

Chapter 18

It was gone midnight, and Megan had heard everyone retire to their rooms. Comfortably tired but not yet quite ready to sleep, she sat up in the bed to read The Castle of Otranto. Radcliffe House was very quiet, the flame of bedside candle fluttered and grew tall, and the fire in the hearth shifted slightly. Mr. Walpole's chapters were quite long, and gradually her eyes began to close. She fell asleep with the book still open.

Suddenly there was a stealthy tap at the door, and her eyes flew open again. 'Who-who is it?'

Edward the footman spoke very softly in order not to awaken Evangeline in the apartment opposite. 'I have a