logic to that thinking."
Howard cleared his throat. "Mr. Nightingale told me that the cameo in this particular bracelet is a unique version of Medusa. It is believed to be the emblem of some ancient, obscure cult that flourished in secret for a time here in England. In addition to the familiar figure of a woman's head with staring eyes and snakes twisting in her hair, there is a small rod or wand carved into the stone beneath the severed throat."
"Did Mr. Nightingale tell you anything else about the relic?" Lavinia asked.
Howard furrowed his brow. "I believe he said that the bracelet itself is fashioned of gold of a very pure and excellent quality that has been pierced in any number of places to create a distinctive pattern of intertwined snakes."
"Pierced work," Lavinia said softly.
Tobias glanced at her. "You have seen such antiquities?"
"Yes. I saw a pair of gold bracelets in Italy that had been worked in such a fashion. Several gemstones of various colors were set into them. They had been discovered in a tomb, together with some coins from the fourth century. Quite incredibly beautiful, I must say. The piercing created a pattern of twisting leaves that was so fine and delicate it looked like so much gold lace."
Howard continued to watch her as though she was his only source of hope. "I can tell you nothing more about the Blue Medusa. Nightingale claims Celeste was killed because of it. But I do not believe that. At least, not entirely."
"What do you think happened?" Tobias asked.
"I have spent hours pondering the circumstances of her death," Howard admitted sadly. "I have come to the reluctant conclusion that, although my Celeste was, by nature, no thief, she was young and impulsive. She may have been led astray by her lover."
Lavinia stilled. "Are you saying that you think her lover persuaded her to steal the bracelet for him and then murdered her?"
"It is the only explanation that makes any sense to me." Howard clenched one hand into a fist and rested it on his thigh. "I believe that the bastard arranged to meet Celeste the night before last. He no doubt instructed her to bring the bracelet to the rendezvous. My sweet, innocent Celeste went to meet him in the middle of the night, and the monster strangled her with his cravat and stole the bracelet."
Lavinia glanced at Tobias to see how he was reacting to the theory. He appeared lost in thought. Or perhaps that was boredom she saw on his hard face. With him, one could not always be certain of the distinction, she reflected.
She turned back to Howard. "I am so terribly sorry for your loss."
"Lavinia, you must help me." Howard reached out abruptly and took her hands in his. "I do not know where else to turn. You say that you are in the business of making private inquiries. I wish to employ you to find the man who killed my Celeste."
"Howard—"
"Please, my dear friend. Nightingale warned me that I myself am in danger, but I care nothing for my own safety in this matter. I seek justice for my dear wife. You cannot deny me. I beg you to help me find her murderer."
"Yes, of course, we will help you, my friend," Lavinia said.
Tobias's expression sharpened without warning. He dropped his arms and straightened away from the windowsill. "Lavinia, we must discuss this matter before we accept the commission."
"Rubbish," she said. "I have already decided to accept it. You may join me as my partner in the affair or you may decline. That is your choice, naturally."
"Bloody hell," Tobias said.
"Thank you, my dear." Howard raised Lavinia's hands and kissed them. "Words cannot express my gratitude."
Tobias watched him in the manner of a hawk watching a mouse. "Speaking of expressing your gratitude, Hudson, there is the small matter of our fee."
"Money is no obstacle," Howard assured him.
"Always nice to hear that," Tobias said.
Chapter Nine
"I don't like this case, Lavinia."
"Yes, I can see that you do not approve, sir. Indeed, you have already made your
Howard cleared his throat. "Mr. Nightingale told me that the cameo in this particular bracelet is a unique version of Medusa. It is believed to be the emblem of some ancient, obscure cult that flourished in secret for a time here in England. In addition to the familiar figure of a woman's head with staring eyes and snakes twisting in her hair, there is a small rod or wand carved into the stone beneath the severed throat."
"Did Mr. Nightingale tell you anything else about the relic?" Lavinia asked.
Howard furrowed his brow. "I believe he said that the bracelet itself is fashioned of gold of a very pure and excellent quality that has been pierced in any number of places to create a distinctive pattern of intertwined snakes."
"Pierced work," Lavinia said softly.
Tobias glanced at her. "You have seen such antiquities?"
"Yes. I saw a pair of gold bracelets in Italy that had been worked in such a fashion. Several gemstones of various colors were set into them. They had been discovered in a tomb, together with some coins from the fourth century. Quite incredibly beautiful, I must say. The piercing created a pattern of twisting leaves that was so fine and delicate it looked like so much gold lace."
Howard continued to watch her as though she was his only source of hope. "I can tell you nothing more about the Blue Medusa. Nightingale claims Celeste was killed because of it. But I do not believe that. At least, not entirely."
"What do you think happened?" Tobias asked.
"I have spent hours pondering the circumstances of her death," Howard admitted sadly. "I have come to the reluctant conclusion that, although my Celeste was, by nature, no thief, she was young and impulsive. She may have been led astray by her lover."
Lavinia stilled. "Are you saying that you think her lover persuaded her to steal the bracelet for him and then murdered her?"
"It is the only explanation that makes any sense to me." Howard clenched one hand into a fist and rested it on his thigh. "I believe that the bastard arranged to meet Celeste the night before last. He no doubt instructed her to bring the bracelet to the rendezvous. My sweet, innocent Celeste went to meet him in the middle of the night, and the monster strangled her with his cravat and stole the bracelet."
Lavinia glanced at Tobias to see how he was reacting to the theory. He appeared lost in thought. Or perhaps that was boredom she saw on his hard face. With him, one could not always be certain of the distinction, she reflected.
She turned back to Howard. "I am so terribly sorry for your loss."
"Lavinia, you must help me." Howard reached out abruptly and took her hands in his. "I do not know where else to turn. You say that you are in the business of making private inquiries. I wish to employ you to find the man who killed my Celeste."
"Howard—"
"Please, my dear friend. Nightingale warned me that I myself am in danger, but I care nothing for my own safety in this matter. I seek justice for my dear wife. You cannot deny me. I beg you to help me find her murderer."
"Yes, of course, we will help you, my friend," Lavinia said.
Tobias's expression sharpened without warning. He dropped his arms and straightened away from the windowsill. "Lavinia, we must discuss this matter before we accept the commission."
"Rubbish," she said. "I have already decided to accept it. You may join me as my partner in the affair or you may decline. That is your choice, naturally."
"Bloody hell," Tobias said.
"Thank you, my dear." Howard raised Lavinia's hands and kissed them. "Words cannot express my gratitude."
Tobias watched him in the manner of a hawk watching a mouse. "Speaking of expressing your gratitude, Hudson, there is the small matter of our fee."
"Money is no obstacle," Howard assured him.
"Always nice to hear that," Tobias said.
Chapter Nine
"I don't like this case, Lavinia."
"Yes, I can see that you do not approve, sir. Indeed, you have already made your
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