The Mystery Woman (Ladies of Lantern Str - By Amanda Quick Page 0,59
but by the time I got out of the house I was hallucinating.”
She studied his scar. “And losing blood, as well. The combination would cloud anyone’s memories. Were the bodies ever recovered?”
“Yes, at least we assumed so at the time. My injuries kept me from returning to the scene for weeks. Victor Hazelton went to the site with a crew of laborers, but they had to wait days for the rubble to cool down. In the end they found the bodies. Both were burned beyond recognition. The doctor who examined the corpses declared one was male and the other female. That was the end of the matter. Hazelton grieves to this day. He will for the rest of his life.”
“That was why he retired from his role as Mr. Smith?”
“He was the Lion, defender of the empire,” Joshua said, his tone almost reverent. “But after Emma died he said he no longer cared about the future of England. As far as he is concerned, it is buried with Emma.”
“He blames you for her death?”
“Not in so many words. But, yes, we both know that I failed him. The last time I saw him was at Emma’s funeral. We have not spoken or communicated with each other since that day.”
“An obsessive grief can drive a man mad into despair,” Beatrice said. “In such a state he will shut out even those who are dear to him.”
Joshua looked out at the gardens. “I know.”
She got to her feet and went to stand beside him.
“But still you blame yourself,” she said.
Joshua said nothing.
Unable to think of any words that might comfort or console him, she did the only thing she could think of. She touched the hand he used to grip the cane. She felt the now-familiar whisper of awareness that stirred between them and wondered if he felt it, too.
Joshua looked down at her hand on his as though not sure what to make of the small, intimate gesture. She could almost feel him pulling himself out of the past and back into the present.
“Now you are wondering if it’s possible that Lancing survived the fire,” she said.
“It’s a remote possibility but it has to be considered. It’s more likely that someone has found his notebooks and used them to create that incense drug. Whatever the case, I have no choice but to discover the truth and the search starts here at Alverstoke Hall.”
“I assume you will talk to the staff and examine the guest list?”
“Perhaps. But first I’m going to take another look around the great hall. I did not have time to make a thorough job of it last night.”
“I’ll come with you,” she said quickly.
“I do not want you involved in this affair.”
“You said, yourself, I am involved.”
“I’ll make arrangements to keep you safe in London while I pursue the investigation,” Joshua said.
“We are not in London at the moment,” she said, keeping her voice steady and cool. Joshua would not respond to passionate demands or a hot argument. Only logic would get through his stubborn head. “You have said before that I have exceptional powers of observation. Where is the harm in allowing me to go back into the antiquities chamber? Who knows? I may see something that will bring back a helpful memory.”
Twenty-Five
I was not hallucinating, after all,” Beatrice said. She looked at the seething footprints on the floor. “The man who murdered Roland was, indeed, here last night. He waited there, behind that large statue. When the blackmailer arrived he crossed the room to the altar and murdered him.”
“But first he probably used the incense to incapacitate his victim,” Joshua said. “He used it again when you arrived.”
They were standing near the sarcophagus in the great hall, attempting to piece together a picture of what had transpired during the night. The lamps were illuminated but at Beatrice’s request they were turned down low. Joshua had not argued when she had explained that it was easier to see the wispy traces of energy in the shadows. She knew he did not believe that she could actually make out the paranormal prints of the killer and his victim, but he was willing to let her handle her side of the investigation her way.
She glanced at him and saw that he was examining the alabaster bowl that contained the remains of the incense.
“I have been meaning to ask you two questions,” she said. “First, how is it that you were not affected by the smoke last night?”