“If I want them in the Jekyll and Hyde, they stay! Melisandre said they’re ghosts who somehow returned to life!” Maggie yelled, her hands shooting to her hips.
“We can’t return!” Lucian yelled.
“And phantoms, vampires, and werewolves don’t exist!” Maggie retorted.
Lucian opened his mouth and shut it again.
“You got me there,” he responded sulkily. A sudden loud boom blasted, and echoes bounded off the walls. Everybody froze.
“Have we woken Margery?” Maggie whispered after a few moments.
“No, but something just awoke,” Lucian replied, craning his head. An icy wind swept through the inn and nearly knocked everybody off their feet. A disapproving feeling flooded everyone present as they sensed someone watching.
“What is it?” St John demanded, hauling Henrietta behind him.
“I don’t know,” Lucian answered and stiffened as a breeze whirled around his legs. A wordless cry of joy erupted, and Lucian remained rigid until a small smile broke over his face.
“Hello darling,” Lucian said, and a glow surrounded him.
“Any doubt now?” Melisandre sought the rest of her group sarcastically.
“Damn, is that his home?” Daniel asked, cocking his head as Lucian’s eyes lit with pure joy.
“No idea, but while he revels in whatever that is, Maggie run and have a shower,” Melisandre urged. Maggie looked down, sniffed, and wrinkled her nose.
“I smell awful,” she admitted and dashed for the stairs. The overnight bag she’d brought was still there and had her toiletries and spare clothes inside. Half an hour later, Maggie reappeared and found the strangers sitting around several tables they’d shoved together and chatting. Maggie listened from the bottom landing.
“If Wollscombe Hall is sentient like ours, then that proves we’re meant to help Lucian,” Sabine argued. Daniel was shaking his head.
“Lucifer and his siblings were the banes of our lives; they played tricks, and so did we. Society often ensured that if the Rakehell Six were invited somewhere, then the God’s Scourge was elsewhere,” Daniel replied.
“Yes, the Grande Dames of civilisation would plan weeks in advance so they could split us apart.” St John grinned. His entire face lit up, and Maggie saw how handsome he was.
“Where is Wollscombe Hall? I’ve never heard of it?” Abigail asked, leaning forward. Tristian opened his mouth and then shut it again.
“Let me guess, no one knows?” Lavinia laughed. Everyone swapped looks and then shrugged their shoulders or looked sheepish.
“Any further proof needed?” Melisandre demanded.
“Seems not, but is it just Lucifer? Where are his brothers and CeeCee? They all disappeared,” Lavinia asked.
“They did?” Henrietta urged curiously.
“Yes, they were mysteriously called to the Cotswolds. They travelled via horseback, riding day and night to get here, including CeeCee. That same evening, all six of them vanished. They were seen to enter their inns, and the next day there wasn’t a single sign of them,” Tristian recalled.
“We all disappeared? All of us? None of us made it out alive, not even Cecilia?” Lucian asked hoarsely from behind them.
Maggie’s gaze sought him out immediately.
“Sorry, I did not see you there!” Emile exclaimed, rising to her feet.
“Emile, CeeCee didn’t make it?” Lucian sounded heartbroken.
“No, Lucifer, I’m sorry. The scandal and uproar were huge. All six of you just disappeared. There was no trace of any Norton. A search went on for an entire year,” Tristian answered.
“So, there are no Nortons in society?” Lucian asked, his voice husky.
“No, Lucian, the direct line died with you,” Emile replied.