Read Shadowed by Sin for Free Online

in different wings, but considering Mrs. Black has joined your party, I assume she is here as your chaperone. I will ensure that your party will be kept together. I will, however, insist that you allow me to designate Mary to attend to your needs, Estelle.”
    She nodded, hoping to get some rest soon. When they stopped at the bedroom door, a footman was leaving from having put her trunk and valise there.
    “I will return in just a minute, Miss Estelle. I will show Lord St. John to his room, which is down the hall.”
    “Very well.” Estelle entered the room, finding herself bereft of speech. Her small bedchamber at home paled in comparison to the enormity of this one; decorated for a female with elegant whites, rose colored accents, and a gold leaf trimmed looking glass. The space appeared to have been vacant for some time. Mystery shrouded the chamber much like an early morning fog after a light rain.
    A fire burned low in the hearth, casting shadows on the wall where candles were lit, dancing and flickering with movement.
    Estelle explored the paneled walls, admiring the great detail in the etchings, until she came to a beautiful portrait of Helen Cuthbert, the earl’s niece who had died mysteriously a year before. She remembered the passing all too well. Helen’s brother, Edwin, had also proposed to her shortly before the tragic event. She declined of course, but in his tenacity he would not relent. The boy was dreadfully persistent until Benedict had saved her from his nagging and pestering at the market one day. Her father had banned the boy from calling on her ever again, and then one day it stopped, and she never bothered to inquire after him. Considering he was likely to be present during their stay here, the manor was large enough she’d be able to avoid him.
    Estelle stepped away from the wall, stalked toward the vanity, and sat down. She took a cloth, dipped it into the washbasin, and covered her face with it. How she desperately needed to feel refreshed, but decided to close her eyes for only the slightest of seconds. Her mind wandered aimlessly at how her wedding plans were progressing. In exactly one month, she and Ben would finally be together.
    All that remained of their preparations was the wedding breakfast and their travel abroad. Ben expressed an interest in them travelling to the Continent, but given the amount of money she had heard it would cost, she had been adamant in delaying such a frivolous expenditure.
    She yanked off the towel and stood up to loosen her gown, before her maid arrived to assist with her change of gowns. When she removed her corset and stood in nothing but her chemise and stockings, a strange cool air wafted in the room. The candles flickered hard, and returned to the gentle dance.
    How odd is that? This wing cannot be so old to be so drafty.
    Estelle looked up to stare into the mirror and wished she had been graced with more feminine curves. A scant later, the looking glass shook. She went over to it, to ensure it would not fall, but the blasted thing had been secured to the wall.
    What in damnation is going on?
    Before she could comprehend the brevity of the situation, a faded image in the looking glass stared back at her and whispered hauntingly, “Stay away from the walls.”
    Bloody hell! Helen.
    Estelle looked away from the glass to the portrait, and then back to the mirror. The image whispered the warning again, before dissipating into thin air.
    Too distraught, Estelle failed to notice her maid entering the room.
    “I see you have already beaten me to the undressing, Miss. Let me help you with your gown.”
    Estelle nodded, but one look at the young maid had her in tears.
    “What is amiss, Estelle? Shall I call for Lord St. John?”
    “No, no. I am just seeing things. You see, I am quite exhausted. It has been known for a person to be touched at times of extreme fatigue.”
    “If you would rather not come down, I am certain his lordship will not mind.”
    While it