astonishment. Then all three women started to speak at once.
“That is quite impossible,” Evangeline said. “I realize that you feel a sense of responsibility for me because I am your tenant, and I do appreciate that. But surely you must see that I cannot move into this house.”
“Let’s not be hasty,” Clarissa said. “You may be an experienced inquiry agent but you have never been faced with a situation like this.”
“Clarissa is right,” Beatrice said. “For heaven’s sake, Evie, someone is hunting you. Don’t you understand? Whoever this villain is, he clearly means to harm you, very likely murder you. You have been lucky enough to survive one attack, two if you count Mason’s attempt to kill you. You may not be so fortunate the next time.”
“Assuming there will be a next time,” Evangeline said.
“There will be,” Lucas said.
Evangeline must have sensed his certainty because she gave a resigned sigh.
“Yes,” she said. “I suppose that is a distinct possibility.”
“Listen to your friends,” Lucas said. “You know they have the right of the matter.”
“It’s not that,” Evangeline said. “It’s just—”
“The proprieties of the situation,” he said. “I understand. Believe it or not, I did consider the matter of your reputation, Evangeline. I have a sister, if you will recall. I am well aware that a lady cannot move into a house occupied by a single man and his male servant. This afternoon I sent a telegram to my aunt Florence. She will arrive on the noon train tomorrow. I can assure you that she will make an ideal chaperone.”
Evangeline opened her mouth but she evidently could not think of what to say. Clarissa gave a small gasp of astonishment. Beatrice shook her head in disbelief.
Evangeline finally found her tongue. “It is obvious that you have given the problem considerable thought, sir.”
“After I brought you back here last night I spent a great deal of time contemplating both you and your situation, Evangeline.”
And he would spend even more time wondering why she was not telling him the whole truth about what had happened that day when Douglas Mason had died on the staircase.
Ten
T he following morning Evangeline saw Clarissa and Beatrice off to London on the eight-fifteen train. As they stood together on the platform, Evangeline was aware of Lucas waiting a short distance away.
“You will be careful, won’t you, Evie?” Clarissa asked for the hundredth time.
“Yes, of course,” Evangeline said. “Try not to worry about me. I’m sure I will be perfectly safe with Mr. Sebastian. You and Beatrice must promise to keep me informed by telegram of anything that you discover, even the smallest clue.”
“Yes,” Clarissa said. “By the same token, let us know whatever news Mr. Sebastian turns up in the course of his inquiries.”
“What he learns from his man, Stone, and Stone’s associates on the streets may be of use to us in our investigations,” Beatrice said.
“I will send word of whatever Stone has to report when he returns from London,” Evangeline said.
Beatrice looked unhappy. “I do not like leaving you here alone, Evie. I feel there is a great risk in doing so.”
Evangeline smiled. “You saw for yourself, Crystal Gardens is built like a fortress. I shall be safe there. Mr. Sebastian’s aunt will arrive this afternoon. Her presence will take care of the proprieties and I am convinced that the gardens will provide wonderful material for my novel.”
“The risk that Beatrice is concerned about is of a more personal nature, Evie,” Clarissa said bluntly. “When Mr. Sebastian looks at you there is a certain energy in the atmosphere.”
“I’m sure you’re imagining things,” Evangeline said quickly.
Clarissa shook her head. “No, Bea is right. You must be careful, Evie.”
Evangeline looked at Beatrice and then turned back to Clarissa.
“Why?” she asked, careful to keep her voice very low. “Let us be
“That is quite impossible,” Evangeline said. “I realize that you feel a sense of responsibility for me because I am your tenant, and I do appreciate that. But surely you must see that I cannot move into this house.”
“Let’s not be hasty,” Clarissa said. “You may be an experienced inquiry agent but you have never been faced with a situation like this.”
“Clarissa is right,” Beatrice said. “For heaven’s sake, Evie, someone is hunting you. Don’t you understand? Whoever this villain is, he clearly means to harm you, very likely murder you. You have been lucky enough to survive one attack, two if you count Mason’s attempt to kill you. You may not be so fortunate the next time.”
“Assuming there will be a next time,” Evangeline said.
“There will be,” Lucas said.
Evangeline must have sensed his certainty because she gave a resigned sigh.
“Yes,” she said. “I suppose that is a distinct possibility.”
“Listen to your friends,” Lucas said. “You know they have the right of the matter.”
“It’s not that,” Evangeline said. “It’s just—”
“The proprieties of the situation,” he said. “I understand. Believe it or not, I did consider the matter of your reputation, Evangeline. I have a sister, if you will recall. I am well aware that a lady cannot move into a house occupied by a single man and his male servant. This afternoon I sent a telegram to my aunt Florence. She will arrive on the noon train tomorrow. I can assure you that she will make an ideal chaperone.”
Evangeline opened her mouth but she evidently could not think of what to say. Clarissa gave a small gasp of astonishment. Beatrice shook her head in disbelief.
Evangeline finally found her tongue. “It is obvious that you have given the problem considerable thought, sir.”
“After I brought you back here last night I spent a great deal of time contemplating both you and your situation, Evangeline.”
And he would spend even more time wondering why she was not telling him the whole truth about what had happened that day when Douglas Mason had died on the staircase.
Ten
T he following morning Evangeline saw Clarissa and Beatrice off to London on the eight-fifteen train. As they stood together on the platform, Evangeline was aware of Lucas waiting a short distance away.
“You will be careful, won’t you, Evie?” Clarissa asked for the hundredth time.
“Yes, of course,” Evangeline said. “Try not to worry about me. I’m sure I will be perfectly safe with Mr. Sebastian. You and Beatrice must promise to keep me informed by telegram of anything that you discover, even the smallest clue.”
“Yes,” Clarissa said. “By the same token, let us know whatever news Mr. Sebastian turns up in the course of his inquiries.”
“What he learns from his man, Stone, and Stone’s associates on the streets may be of use to us in our investigations,” Beatrice said.
“I will send word of whatever Stone has to report when he returns from London,” Evangeline said.
Beatrice looked unhappy. “I do not like leaving you here alone, Evie. I feel there is a great risk in doing so.”
Evangeline smiled. “You saw for yourself, Crystal Gardens is built like a fortress. I shall be safe there. Mr. Sebastian’s aunt will arrive this afternoon. Her presence will take care of the proprieties and I am convinced that the gardens will provide wonderful material for my novel.”
“The risk that Beatrice is concerned about is of a more personal nature, Evie,” Clarissa said bluntly. “When Mr. Sebastian looks at you there is a certain energy in the atmosphere.”
“I’m sure you’re imagining things,” Evangeline said quickly.
Clarissa shook her head. “No, Bea is right. You must be careful, Evie.”
Evangeline looked at Beatrice and then turned back to Clarissa.
“Why?” she asked, careful to keep her voice very low. “Let us be
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