He still couldn’t believe he’d agreed to leave the curse as it was. It wasn’t the best answer, but he’d honor her decision. For now. He was completely and totally convinced that what he felt wasn’t the result of a spell. But was he willing to test that theory at the risk of losing Amanda?
Not for a hundred years or so.
Although he would prefer not to become an angsty dead guy if he could help it.
“Catherine,” Amanda said sharply as they entered the drawing room. “Please show yourself to both of us.”
There was silence.
“Catherine,” Amanda said again. “I have the ability to make you appear if I have to. I don’t want to have to do that.”
Before Jacob’s eyes the outline of a woman appeared and it filled in to reveal an attractive blonde in old-fashioned clothes. So this was Catherine, huh? She was very cute. He could see why somebody like Nathan might be persuaded to go on a one-way trip to emo-town for her.
Still, he didn’t like that she’d pushed Amanda earlier. The spirit was just damn lucky that she hadn’t been more seriously hurt.
Catherine’s expression was severe. Severely pissed.
“Leave this house,” Catherine said evenly.
“I kind of like it here,” Amanda replied. Jacob raised an eyebrow at her oddly sassy tone. “I might stay for a bit longer.”
“All I ask is that you leave Nathan and me in peace.”
“Let me get this straight,” Amanda said. “Nathan was your butler.”
“That is correct.”
“And you had an affair with him when you were married. Because of the spell that your aunt put into the clock, you couldn’t keep your hands off his fabulous body.”
Catherine’s lips thinned. “We were intimately involved.”
“Believe me, I know you were. Did I mention the first time I was here I got a vision of you two intimately involved?” She patted the sofa. “Right here?”
Catherine’s eyes widened. “We were swept away by passion. It was impossible to resist.”
“I know.” Amanda glanced over at Jacob then. “Trust me. I know.”
He was confused. What the hell was she doing?
“But you weren’t really in love with him,” Amanda continued.
“Any strong emotions were caused by the enchantment,” Catherine said. “Although it’s true Nathan believes we transcended that.”
“But you don’t believe that.”
The spirit didn’t answer right away. “I don’t understand where these questions are leading.”
That makes two of us, Jacob pushed his thoughts at Amanda. This is seriously unnecessary. What are you doing?
She ignored him. Which was strange since he’d asked her a direct question she should have felt compelled to answer.
“You were very upset when you learned why I’d returned,” Amanda said pointedly. “You were beside yourself with grief at the thought of losing Nathan. That doesn’t seem the reaction of someone who isn’t truly in love.”
A trace of fear flickered in Catherine’s gaze.
Why are you taunting her? he thought. Just get this over with so we can leave. You’re making me feel sorry for her.
“My reaction was mostly due to not having seen him in some time since he’s been avoiding me,” she said. “I would want the chance to say a proper farewell.”
“Right.” Amanda paused. “Then I’m very sorry to inform you that Nathan has been exorcised. He’s gone. The last thing he said was that he loved you and he’d miss you.”
Catherine was so still Jacob thought she had turned into a transparent statue.
“He’s gone?” She said it so quietly it was barely audible.
“He said that you never loved him so it wouldn’t matter. He asked for it. He wanted to go.” Amanda turned to Jacob. “Isn’t that right?”
He frowned at her so hard it hurt. “Yeah…that’s right. Poor guy. He was ready to leave here so much he was practically begging for us to do it.”
Amanda gave him a small smile.
What the hell?
And then it dawned on him what she was doing. His eyes widened.
Do you honestly think this is going to work? he asked her silently.
Again she ignored his direct question. Weird.
Catherine continued to stand in place, her arms slack at her sides, her face contorted with grief. Silver streaks moved down her cheeks as she cried silently.
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “He can’t be gone. He can’t…I…we were supposed to be together. How will I ever be able to find him again?”
“What difference does it make?” Amanda asked. “You didn’t really love him. I’d think this would be a relief for you both. Finally you’re free.”
Rage finally flashed in Catherine’s ghostly eyes and Jacob curled his arm around Amanda’s waist to pull her back a few feet. He knew that an angry ghost could do some serious damage if it wanted to. A simple push was only a glimpse of the supernatural power that could be unleashed.
But the fury faded quickly until there was only sadness.
“It’s true,” Catherine said shakily. “I’ve denied it for all this time, but it must be true. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t feel like this.” She looked at Amanda. “My aunt was right, wasn’t she? She was right about everything. I loved him. I tried to deny it. I tried to push it away, but I couldn’t. And now he’s gone forever.”
“You loved him,” Amanda repeated. “Are you sure about that?”
“Yes.”
The very next moment, Catherine gasped loudly and a strange ripple of blinding white light spread over her ghostly form before disappearing. She looked at her hands. “What just happened?”