Olivia Moreland has forever denied the possibility of clairvoyant abilities, working instead to discredit the mediums that flock to London. But when Lord Stephen St. Leger requests her help in investigating an alleged psychics claims, she cant deny the ominous presence she feels within the walls of his ancient estateor the intimately familiar connection she feels to Stephen himself.
The last time hed called Blackhope Hall home, Stephen had watched as his elder brother claimed both the family title and the woman he loved. Now, in the wake of his brothers murder, Stephen has reluctantly returned to find his family ensconced in scandal. Who is responsible for his brothers untimely deatha dark spirit or the psychic who claims to have channeled it? And what is it about psychic investigator Olivia Moreland that so thoroughly draws him in, reigniting a passion he hasnt felt in years?
As they search for answers, Stephen and Olivia discover that the only way to fight a powerful evil is with a powerful love.
Praise for the novels of New York Times bestselling author Candace Camp
Camps newest Matchmaker novel features her usual vivid characterization, touches of subtle humor and plenty of misunderstandings, guilt and passion. You wont want to miss this poignant and charming tale.
RT Book Reviews on The Courtship Dance
DelightfulCamp is firmly at home here, enlivening the romantic quest between her engaging lovers with a set of believable and colorful secondaries.
Publishers Weekly on The Wedding Challenge
A beautifully crafted, poignant love story.
RT Book Reviews on The Wedding Challenge
Lively and energetic secondaries round out the formidable leadsassuring readers a surprise ending well worth waiting for.
Publishers Weekly on The Bridal Quest
A clever mystery adds intrigue to this lively and gently humorous tale, which simmers with well-handled sexual tension.
Library Journal on A Dangerous Man
The talented Camp has deftly mixed romance and intrigue to create another highly enjoyable Regency romance.
Booklist on An Independent Woman
A smart, fun-filled romp.
Publishers Weekly on Impetuous
Mesmerized
Candace Camp
www.millsandboon.co.uk
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Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
CHAPTER ONE
1876
THE OIL LAMP in the center of the long table was turned low, eerily lighting the faces of the people around it, throwing eyes and hair into deep shadows and dancing along the sharp lines of brow and cheekbone, making the silent attendees look gaunt and mysterious. All eyes turned toward the large wooden box a few feet from the table, dark and looming. There was no sound from inside it.
Then the lamp went out, and one of the women gasped. Blackness enveloped them. Hands turned cold, and pulses sped up. Everyone waited. There, in the dark hush, it was easy to imagine a ghostly finger trailing coldly across ones shoulders, to think, with a heart-pounding combination of fear and anticipation, that someone might speak from across the black void of death.
Even Olivia Moreland, despite the fact that she was there for a far different purpose, could not help but feel a little thrill dart up her back. But it was not enough to keep her from her business. Slowly, carefully, using the tricks she had learned from the very people she intended to expose, she eased backward, shielded by the blackness surrounding her, and separated herself from the ring of people around the table.
She paused for a moment, giving her eyes a chance to adjust to the lack of light; then she started forward slowly. It was still difficult to see, as the only light in the room was the glow from the hallway creeping in around the door. She did not want to alert anyone to the fact that she was up and walking. It had to be a surprise to everyone when she reached the mediums cabinet. All her attention was on the dark box before her; every nerve in her body seemed to quiver, tense with expectation. She was almost there....
A hand lashed out and wrapped around her arm, fingers digging painfully into her flesh.
Olivia shrieked and jumped. A deep masculine voice cried out, There! I have you!
All around the table, women echoed Olivias shriek, and there was the clatter of a chair overturning and a general hubbub of voices and movements.
Whatever instinctual, primitive fear had flooded Olivia at the sudden grasping of her arm, it subsided at the sound of a very real and human voice.
Let go of me! she snapped, trying to pull her arm away.
I think notuntil you have explained yourself.
She continued to struggle, hissing, Stop! You are ruining everything!
No doubt I am, he replied in a faintly amused tone. It is always so unpleasant to have ones duplicity revealed.
Duplicity?
As the two of them exchanged words, there was the sound of a thud, followed by a muttered curse, and at last a match flared into life at the table. A moment later, someone lit the oil lamp and there was light in the room. Olivia found herself staring down into the cool gray eyes of her captor.