Murder at Mondial Castle
Page 22
“He had better not. Can we send assassins after him? Probably not. I do feel that our Philippa is avenged to some extent – don’t you?”
Theodore hesitated before saying, “I think I can learn to feel that, in time. I will grow used to it. It’s hard to accept failure even in part, though.”
“I know. You are doing well.”
“Pat me on the head too, why don’t you?” But he laughed as he said it, and she knew that he was not as insulted at her condescension as he would have her believe. Instead he pulled out a hip flask from an inside pocket, took a swig and then passed it to her.
She gulped down a large part of it and it burned. He had to wrestle it back from her. He said, after consideration, “I do feel proud of myself, you know.”
“You should. You did something that no one else could have done, or would have done. You saw the connections and you didn’t give up. You pursued truth and justice and you won.”
“You, too,” he said, nudging her with his elbow. “You saw the things that I missed. I could not have done it without you. But look; once we have settled Dido and the boys and they have support around them, we must return to our own house. My mother is going to stay here for as long as Dido needs her.”
“Dido’s written to her sisters, too. I imagine they will organise a rota of people to come and stay with her. Mary and Cecil will need to go home soon but someone else will take their place.”
“That’s excellent. We have raised an enviable brood of good women, haven’t we?”
“We have!” Adelia thought about Lord Mondial and his utter disregard for his own offspring. It was hard to understand his attitude.
“But,” Theodore went on, taking another sip, “let us allow them to get on with things. We have our own matters to attend to.”
“Yes. About that,” Adelia said cautiously. “When we return...”
“There will be no more doctoring,” he said firmly. “Mr Postlethwaite was somewhat forceful in his letter. I admit he was rather more adamant than I expected. I suspect he had had to make promises that I am the one to make good on.”
Relief flooded through her. But there was still a concern in the back of her mind. “I am glad to hear it. However, without the surgery to occupy you, you will be bored.”
“I long to be bored. This past month has contained quite enough excitement for me.”
She took the flask and had another huge gulp. “You cannot bear to be bored. You have thrived here, Theodore. Remember the chase. The use of your logic. The pursuit of justice. Think...”
“You want me to pursue – that man? I cannot be the assassin that you want.”
“No. We can’t go gadding overseas and we certainly can’t become assassins even though I should like to try it – just for him. But there are always injustices here around us, and people of our class don’t like the police to be involved...”
“Preposterous, Adelia. Listen to yourself.”
She passed him the flask. “Have another drink.”
He did. “No, it’s still a ridiculous idea.”
“And yet ...?”
They walked on through the gardens. The owl hooted again. Finally Theodore relented. He stopped and took her hands.
“Very well. This is the brandy talking, of course. Once again you might be right, my dear, annoying, confounding, relentless wife – perhaps ... perhaps we may seek just a little excitement. But we do this together.”
She laughed.
She had never planned on letting him try to do it alone.
The End
NOW AVAILABLE – BOOK two – The Viscount’s Deadly Game! Lord and Lady Calaway visit their daughter Mary, and are soon embroiled in a scandal involving horse racing, wealth and murder! Can Adelia fend off her brother’s demands without her husband finding out? Can Mary find her true direction in life? And can Theodore discover the killer – before he strikes again? Click here to buy your copy NOW! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YKNS5TN for the US, https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YKNS5TN for the UK, https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07YKNS5TN in Canada and https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07YKNS5TN in Australia.
THE END