Lynn Vieh - His Lordship Possessed

Half an hour after giving myself to my worst enemy, and daftly imagining myself to be falling in love with him, I paced round the confines of the bedchamber in which he had imprisoned me. I knew for my foolishness I deserved nothing more than to spend my remaining days there, a wretched captive, an illegally freeclaimed woman, alternately forced to attend to satiating Lucien Dredmores lusts and left to pine in solitude for the life I had so thoughtlessly thrown away. This was what women like Lady Walsh endured.

But I was not Diana Walsh, and Id cut out my own heart before I allowed Lucien Dredmore to ever touch me again.

A thorough search of the chamberwhich despite its sumptuous trappings was little more than a prison cellturned up no exit or the means by which I might create one. The only entry had been locked in three places from the outside by his minion, Connell. Masonry had replaced the glass panes in the single window frame on the opposite wall, too. As I poked at the brick, I wondered how many other women had suffered this fate, and what had happened to them once Dredmore had tired of them.

He probably buries them under the rose hedges, I muttered, absently clutching at my pendant for comfort. Please God, if youll get me out of this Ill never glance at another man again. I swear it. I looked down at the dark stone and realized otherworldly intervention was right in my hand. Bloody hell. Harry.

My eager fingers fumbled a bit with the clasp, but at last I released it and dropped the pendant on the floor, backing away from it quickly.

My grandfathers specter materialized instantly, and as soon as he looked round he shouted at me. Do you know where you are? Do you know who he is? Have you lost your tiny mind?

Im happy to see you, too, I said. Well catch up once I get out of here. When he didnt reply, I added, You keep saying youre Harry Houdini, the worlds greatest escape artist. Well, then heres your chance to prove it.

Oh, shut up. He went to the window and poked at the brick. After what youve done, it would serve you right if I left you here to rot.

How do you know what Ive done?

A guardian spirit knows everything. Watches everything, whether he wishes to or not. He eyed me. Romping with that bastard in the dirt like some scullery wench. If I were your father, Id give you the thrashing of your life.

He was right, but I refused to cringe. I suppose you never lost your head in a moment of passion.

Of course I did. If I hadnt sired your mother, you wouldnt be here. He searched along the baseboards before testing the door. I was fortunate in my choice of wives. Bess forgave me my dalliance and took me back.

But Im not named Bess.

No. Youre named after my best mates wife. I comforted her after his untimely death, rather more than I should have. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. The result was your mother.

You did have a forgiving wife. I sat on the bed. Did this Charmian raise my mother, then?

She had to think of her family and her other children, he snapped. She remained secluded in the country for her confinement, and even kept your mother for a time after her birth. Her family grew suspicious, however, so she sent Rachel to me as soon as she was old enough to travel.

It had never occurred to me that there would be someone else I hated as much as Dredmore, until Harry began haunting me. How did you persuade my mother to name me after the adulteress who abandoned her?

I didnt, not directly. I merely insured that Rachel heard the name in a dream just before your birth. Harry glanced at me, and his anger faded into weariness. Dont judge your namesake so harshly, lass. Charmian never forgave herself for giving up our child. It broke her spirit as well as her heart. She died only a few years after sending your mother to me.

Ill give her the benefit of the doubt, I said, if youll agree to overlook my lapse in judgment tonight.

Pray you dont end up in the same condition as your grandmother. He eyed my belly before he turned round to inspect the rest of the room. The door and window are impassible from the inside of the room. Even if you could get at the locks, there is nothing you can use to pick them. He turned about one last time, studying my prison. It will have to be a possession, then.

A what?

Stay here. He floated out through the door.

Harry! I went over and pounded on the door. Come back here.

The door opened, but in came Connell, who slammed the door behind him. I shuffled back, unsure if I should try to dodge round him or kick him in the unmentionables.

Youve been ill, he told me as he walked right up to me and studied my face. You believe youve been poisoned. Theres blood coming from your lips.

What are you talking about? Theres no bloo

My head snapped as he slapped me, hard enough to make my ears hum.

Now there is. Connell handed me the container of scented powder. Toss this in the guards face. It will blind and choke him long enough for you to get outside. Then lock him in.

I stared at him. Connell, why are you helping me?

Charm, its me, Harry. For a moment I saw the old mans face appear atop Connells, like a half-transparent mask. Ive taken possession of this mans body. He glanced down at himself. Which isnt all that bad. He stretched out an arm. Very strappy fellow.

Get out of there, I almost shrieked.

If I dispossess him now, hell regain his senses immediately and spoil your escape. Harry/Connell patted my cheek. Now remember, give the guard a good dousing with that powder.

Youre possessing a guard, so why dont you simply walk me out of here? I demanded.

No time to explain that now, my grandfather said. Theres a guard in the front hall, and one repairing the door you smashed in the kitchen. Once you get out of here, go to the servants stairs and take the tradesmens entrance out.

All right. I gingerly tested the bleeding cut on the inside of my lip before smearing the sides of my mouth with the blood to make it look more convincing. Once Im outside, then what?

Youll find three horses in the stables, he told me. Saddle the black gelding with the white star on his nose. Ride through the pasturelands, and dont allow anyone to see or stop you.

I stirred the powder with a fingertip. Youre certain this will work?

I wasnt a hoodlum, you silly twit. I was Houdini. He gave me an awkward, one-armed hug. And your lover will not remain in town forever, so you had best get going.

Former lover. I dragged some hair over my eyes and went to stand by the door. Did you become Houdini as a cover for the spying?

You mean you havent worked it out yet? Incredibly, he chuckled. I possessed the body of a spy, Charm, and used him as my cover. Being a spy concealed the fact that I was, ah, Houdini.

Why would you have to hide that? I demanded. From what Ive read everyone adored himyou.

Everyone but your parents, and that story will have to keep for another time. Wait. He picked up my pendant from the floor and set it on a table near me. Count to ten after I leave, put this on, and dont take it off unless you need me.

Why?

Things have changed now that Im . . . never mind. He opened the door and hurried out.

I slowly counted to ten before I put my pendant back on, drew a deep breath, and then bowed over, concealing the powder behind my arms. Please . . . help me, I called out in a strangled, frightened voice. Im throwing up . . . blood. I think Ive been . . . poisoned . . .