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told,” she said. “Mrs. Stewart has not seen the manor.” Ever since she’d stepped from the car, she’d been aloof. She also hadn’t looked at him.
    “It’s quite large,” he said, mounting the steps. He noticed her eyes widen as they stepped into the grand hall. Silk papered the walls. The redwood floors gleamed. A sweeping staircase six feet wide rose to their left. The ceiling in the foyer was fifteen feet high. “The parlor is this way,” he said, touching his fingers to her elbow again. She flinched at his touch, and he frowned. He guided her to the large parlor on the right, where they found the housekeeper furiously dusting the items in the china cupboard.
    “Mrs. Bagley,” he said. She whirled to face him. Her face hardened when she saw him. He pretended not to notice. “This is Lady Devonworth. She had a bit of an adventure yesterday, but she’s quite all right.”
    The older woman wiped her hands on her apron and studied the young lady. Thora’s faded blue eyes brightened, and she gave a slight nod as if she approved. “As soon as that lazy son of mine brings in the rugs, the house is ready. Your room has been prepared, Lady Devonworth.” She didn’t look at Harrison again and did not address him.
    Her dislike was nothing new to Harrison. “I’ll be pleased to fetch your belongings, Lady Devonworth. You can rest in the parlor and I’ll be back with them.”
    She flushed and shook her head. “That won’t be necessary. I can hardly vacate the lighthouse without thanking Will and Katie for their hospitality. If you’ll run me back to their home, I’ll spend a final evening with them and come tomorrow. If that’s all right,” she said, directing her question to Thora.
    “Of course, your ladyship,” Thora said. “If you’d like, I can show you around before you go.”
    “I should like that.” The young woman fell into step beside the housekeeper. Neither looked back at him.
    Harrison started to go after them, then decided against it. He didn’t care to force his presence on them. “I’ll wait here,” he said.
    He stepped to the window and watched Jerry beat the dirt from the rugs with vigor. The last time he’d been here was the day Eleanor disappeared. He’d come to take her to lunch, and she was pale and quiet. She said hardly anything to him over the meal and had been quick to ask to return home. Now he knew she had to have been planning her suicide.
    He was lost in thought for so long he barely registered the women’s return. When Lady Devonworth stepped back into the parlor, he was struck with her beauty. Her hair was so dark it was almost black. Her eyes were large and brown, shining with curiosity and a zest for life he found quite appealing. The warm tones of her skin paired with her eyes gave her a stunning beauty that was accentuated by her high cheekbones.
    She must have noticed him staring, because faint color tinged her cheeks. “Is everything all right?” she asked.
    He liked her voice too, husky and vibrant. It was too bad she made little pretense of hiding her distaste of him. He was unsure what he’d done to displease her. “Is everything to your liking?”
    “It’s an exquisite home. The ballroom on the third floor is the largest I’ve ever seen. It would hold nearly the whole town. I don’t believe Mrs. Stewart realizes how lovely this place is.”
    He had no interest in the ballroom. “I’ll take you back to the lighthouse if you’re ready.”
    “Of course. I’ll return tomorrow,” she told Thora. Lady Devonworth put her hand on his arm and allowed him to escort her to the motorcar.
    The driver started the Cadillac. Harrison climbed into the backseat with her. “Are you angry about something, Lady Devonworth? Your eyes have been spitting fire at me.”
    She turned those magnificent eyes on him. “I’ve been wondering why your fiancée would choose to drown herself,” she said.
    He stiffened at the rudeness of her comment. “You’re very