Chapter 1
Hugh, Marquess of Altonshire, First Earl of Debbenly, looked fondly at his soon-to-be bride. As she huddled over her sleek computer, brows furrowed in concentration, his heart swelled with how much he loved her. Despite the fact that she was chained to that damnably clever invention.
Frankly, the thing frightened him a bit— too many images appearing much too fast, people shouting their opinions, so many cats— but it helped Seda make her living. She was almost always on the thing whenever they were in the modest flat they’d managed to find in London. With her being an American and him being all but non-existent without the proper modern paperwork, they were lucky to have a roof over their heads at all.
He blamed himself for their less than perfect situation, even though he couldn’t have factored being cursed into a painting by a witch. Or being betrayed and having his fortune stolen by his supposed best friend. Every time he thought about that scoundrel, Daniel Kincaid, his fists clenched, itching to smash the man’s face in.
As it stood, he might eventually get that chance, if what Seda said was true and Daniel had suffered the same fate as he had. And by the same unfaithful witch who’d so unfairly cursed him more than six hundred years ago. Though Hugh hadn’t deserved it, whereas Daniel most certainly did. As much as he wanted his chance to do some face smashing, he wished Seda would give up her quest to find Daniel’s painting and leave him to rot on the canvas.
Seda’s infernal phone buzzed alarmingly and she picked it up without taking her eyes off her computer screen. He didn’t know which he hated more, the computer or the phone. Seda couldn’t live without either.
“Seda Baris,” she said in the self-assured way he adored. She was nothing like any woman he’d ever known before.
It had taken him a moment to come to terms with how successful she was at decorating people’s homes and how in demand her services were. There were a lot of things it had taken him time to come to terms with in the three months since he’d been freed from his painting. But as much as it befuddled him, he was proud of her. He only hoped he could find a way to make her as proud of him.
She beamed at him and pointed to the phone. Did she want him to speak to someone?
“It’s Audrey,” she said, poking at the phone and setting it on the tiny kitchen table. “I just put you on speaker, Audrey,” she said. “Hugh’s here. He’ll want to hear all this, too.”
Hugh suppressed a groan. It could only mean Seda’s best friend Audrey had located Daniel’s painting. Perhaps he’d find a way to set it on fire before the miscreant was set free. Could he do such a thing? The entire time, all those endless years, Hugh had been lucid while trapped in his canvas. Could he really destroy Daniel in such a way?
Seda poked him and nodded toward the phone. “Hello, Audrey. I hope you’re well,” he said dutifully, trying to hide his lack of enthusiasm.
“Well, did you find him?” Seda asked.
“Hi, Hugh,” Audrey said. “We’re doing all right, thanks. Glad to be back in California after such an extended honeymoon.”
“Audrey!” Seda shrieked. “Did you find him? Were you able to get the painting?”
There was a long, tantalizing pause. It made Hugh’s lips quirk up, which he quickly straightened at Seda’s despairing face.
“Don’t keep us in suspense any longer,” he said toward the phone, still feeling awkward around it. It was so odd speaking to someone who was thousands of miles away. Miraculous, but a bit off-putting.
Audrey laughed from her end. “You two can stop your worrying. Yes, I found him. And not only that, he’s paid for and on his way to Jade as we speak.”
Hugh’s heart sank as Seda beamed joyously. If Jade was Daniel’s true, fated love, he’d be free the moment the painting was in her presence. And while Seda had been confused before, thinking her dreams had led her to Hugh’s painting for her friend Jade when in truth he’d been Seda’s fated love, he didn’t think she was wrong this time. Which meant Daniel would be once again walking the earth in no time at all.
Well, he and Seda were stuck here in England due to his lack of paperwork. At least he wouldn’t have to face his once friend, now sworn enemy. And more importantly, Daniel wouldn’t be given the chance to turn Seda against him.
“Already on the way?” Seda asked. “How is that possible? I thought one of us would have to fly to Italy and wrangle with the art dealer.”
“Nope,” Audrey replied, now sounding like she was chewing on something. “Yum, it’s so good to be home. I made up a new recipe for mint julep cupcakes and they are amazing. Erik’s whipping up some more right now. The test batch got gobbled up in about three minutes and customers are clamoring for more.”
Seda pressed her lips together and breathed out heavily through her nose, clearly trying not to get upset. “That’s great,” she said. “Fantastic. But what about Daniel’s painting?”
Once again Audrey giggled, enjoying teasing her best friend. Hugh remembered what it was like to be free and easy with a good friend. Until said friend betrayed him, caused him to be cursed for five hundred years, and stole everything from him.
“Okay, okay. Untwist your panties. It turns out Daniel had been sitting in this dealer’s gallery for over a year and nobody bought him—”
Hugh snorted at that, then apologized. “Sorry, do go on.”
“So nobody wanted the painting, which is why it was going to go into some sort of charity auction. I guess there’s some trees there that need this expensive treatment against—”
“Audrey!” Seda interrupted. “Cut to the chase. And quit eating cupcakes in my ear. It’s not fair when I can’t have one.”
“Sorry,” Audrey said, taking a second to finish her mouthful. “They were just going to try and get whatever they could for him at this charity auction. They figured people would at least give something for the sake of the trees.”
Hugh couldn’t help another bout of mean laughter. It did his heart good to hear that the handsome bastard’s painting had gone without interest. Seda had to get in a bidding war for his own painting and pay an exorbitant amount.
“I just threw out an offer,” Audrey continued. “And they jumped at it. Actually, the shipping fees to get him here were more than the actual painting.”
“Thank goodness,” Seda said. “Because I can’t afford any more debts.”
“I don’t mind wiring you some money if you need it,” Audrey offered.
She’d already given them so much and he could tell by Seda’s sour face that she didn’t want to take any more from her.
Seda sighed. “It’s fine, we’re getting by with the clients I managed to get here. I made them think I was doing them some great favor, working for them on my vacation instead of letting them know I was trapped and desperate for money. Thankfully, I found this rare antique firearm for a guy who can fix Hugh up with paperwork.” She waggled her eyebrows at him and pointed to her computer. It was the first he’d heard of it so he figured she’d only just made the deal.
“That’s great,” Audrey said. “That means you can come home.”
“Yes, finally. I just need to get the gun and then Hugh’s as good as legal.”
“As good as? That sounds a little shady.”
“It’s extremely shady, but I’m sick of sausages and beans and never seeing the sun. I missed my cousin’s accordion recital and at least three home designer networking events. People are going to think I’m out of the game.”
“They’ll think you’re more glamorous for doing work overseas,” Audrey rebutted. “But I’m glad you’re coming home. I miss you. Maybe you’ll get here before Daniel arrives.”
“I’ll call you when we know more,” Seda said, giving her goodbyes and ending the call.
She came around and sat in his lap, brushing his hair from his brow to kiss it. He couldn’t believe he thought he’d been in love with the woman who cursed him. Those feelings paled in comparison to what he felt for Seda.
“I hope you love California,” she said. “You’re really all right with leaving England? It’s not forever, you know. We can still visit. And I think you’ll do great in America, once you figure out what you want to do in this time.”
Hugh had been a bit hurt to hear that Seda considered herself trapped here in his homeland. He’d been ambivalent about going to the mysterious United States, wanting to somehow regain his lost titles and fortune. But those days were long, long gone and he would do anything to make Seda happy. And now if there was a chance he could still get to Daniel’s painting before the bastard was free, all the better.
He wrapped his arms around her and breathed in the herbal scent of her hair. “I’m certain it will be wonderful, as long as I’m with you, my darling.”
If he had any qualms about destroying the painting and making his old friend suffer such a fate, he was done with them now. He would do far worse if it meant keeping Seda from knowing the truth.