can get a bellyful of that sort of thing.
Now, then, vicar, I must ask you what
progress you are making on your gardening
book."
The vicar gazed at him with piercing
understanding for a second and then
blinked and smiled genially.
Kind of
you to inquire. I am working on the
chapter dealing with roses." He glanced
at the picture propped on the desk.
I
must say, that's a wonderful rendering
of Strelitzia reginae. Quite perfect in every
detail and it seems to have a life of its
own. Magnificent. How did you come by
it, if I may ask?"
It was a gift."
Was it, indeed? I am still looking for
someone to do the colored plates for my
book, you know."
Yes, I believe you mentioned you were
inquiring for a skilled watercolorist who
also knew something of botany."
The vicar continued to examine Victoria's
painting.
Whoever did this would be
perfect. You do not happen to know the
artist by any chance, do you?"
In point of fact," Lucas said smoothly,
I do."
Excellent, excellent. Any possibility you
might arrange for me to contact him?"
The artist is a woman, and yes, I think
I can arrange for you to talk to her."
I would be most extremely grateful," the
vicar said happily.
Most extremely."
My pleasure," Lucas said.
I will make
certain you meet her. Now, then, I want
to ask your opinion on putting in an
irrigation system for the farms that border
the woods." Lucas spread a map out on
the desk and indicated a section of land.
Yes, indeed. Got to do something to
increase productivity in that area, don't
you? Let's see what you have in mind."
The vicar leaned forward to examine the
map and then glanced up one last time.
Don't mean to press you, stone vale, but
do you have any idea of how soon I might
get in touch with the watercolorist you
mentioned?"
Soon," Lucas promised.
Very soon."
Two hours later Lucas saw his visitor
out the door and then he headed for
the stairs carrying his precious picture
of Strelitzia reginae. He was feeling quite
pleased with himself. The correct word
might have been's mug," he admitted as
he reached the landing and started down
the hall toward his room.
Finding just the right gift for a wife
who had brought considerably more money
than her husband into the marriage was
not the easiest task in the world. A man
could hardly use the lady's own inheritance
to buy her a diamond necklace.
Lucas rehung his picture with careful
precision, stepped back to admire his
handiwork, and then went over to the
connecting door and knocked. When there
was no answer from within, he frowned and
tried again. He was certain Griggs had said
Victoria was in her bedchamber.
Vicky?"
When there was still no response, he
turned the knob and opened the door to
glance into the room. He saw her at once
seated near the window with the three
letters that had arrived at breakfast on
the little rosewood secretary in front of
her. She turned her head as he walked
into the room. Her smile was wan.
I am sorry, Lucas, but I am not feeling
all that well. I came up here to rest."
An odd tension hummed through him.
It was not unlike the sort of feeling he
had known on the battlefield before the
first shot was fired.
You were feeling well
enough at breakfast."
That was before I opened the post."
He relaxed somewhat.
I take it you are
still annoyed at being obliged to accept
Jessica's invitation?"
Jessica Atherton is no longer of much
consequence one way or the other."
I am relieved to hear it." He went into
the room and sat down across from her. He
thrust his legs out in front of him, absently
massaging his thigh.
What is it, Vicky? I
have seen you in a variety of moods, but
never one quite like this. I swear, madam,
you leave me panting for breath trying to
keep pace with you."
I have never been in quite this position
before and I admit I do not know how
to deal with it. But
tis certain something
must be done or I shall go out of my
mind."
You are really not feeling well?" He
grinned.
Mayhap you are breeding, after
all, madam. Have you thought of that?"
To be truthful, Lucas, being with child
would be simpler than this business."
She was not carrying his babe after
all. Disappointment shot through him.
I
am sorry to hear that. Perhaps you had
better tell me just what is troubling you,
my dear."
She looked down at the papers on her
little desk. When she glanced up again, her
amber eyes were startling in their intensity.
Lucas, do you believe it is possible to
reanimate the dead through the use of
electricity machines?"
Reanimate the dead? Nonsense. I fear
you have been playing too much lately at
being a ghost, Vicky. I have never heard
a single reliable instance in which such an
experiment has been successful."
But we do not know of all the
experiments that have been done, do
we? People all over England are playing
with electricity these days."
Lucas looked doubtful.
I am certain that
any successful experiment in reanimation
would have been in all the journals and
newspapers."
Perhaps not, if someone paid the
experimenter to keep quiet about the
results."
He began to realize just how frightened
she was and a cold anger swept through
him. Without asking any more questions,
he reached over and picked up the
sheaf of papers lying on her desk. He
immediately tossed aside Annabella and
Lady Nettleship's notes. A glance at the
pamphlet and clipping was sufficient to
show that they were concerned with missing
bodies and attempts at reanimation.
Interesting, but I see no reports of
successful attempts. Where did you get
these?" He indicated the pamphlet and
clipping.
They were sent to me. They were in the
third envelope that I opened at breakfast.
Along with this." Victoria handed him a
short note.
Lucas scanned it quickly and had to force
himself to keep his rage under tight rein.
Madam: given your interest in intellectual
inquiry the enclosed should intrigue you
greatly. It appears the dead do not always
remain so. Signed
W. " He tossed the
note down on the table with a savage little
flick of his hand.
Goddamned bastard."
Lucas it is him, it is this
W again, the
one who left the scarf and the snuffbox."
Victoria was struggling for her self-control.
Lucas recognized the symptoms of shock
and fear. He made a deliberate effort to
keep his voice calm, much as he would
have if he were dealing with a brave but
frightened young officer on the eve of
combat.
Calm yourself, Vicky. This has
gone quite far enough. I will take steps
to find out who is behind this and I will
put a halt to it."
Her beautiful mouth trembled.
I know
who is behind it. Samuel Whitlock. The
man who killed my mother. He has come
back, Lucas. Somehow he has returned
from the dead and he is going to kill me
or else drive me to my death the same way
I
She broke off and covered her face in
her hands.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God."
A
I A
Lucas got up and reached down to pull
her into his arms. She stood in the circle of
his sheltering embrace, shaking. Although
his hands moved gently, soothingly on her
slender back, his rage was so cold now
it could have frozen the marrow in his
bones.
The shudders eventually ceased racking
Victoria's body and she slowly disengaged
herself from his grasp and went to her
dressing table for a handkerchief.
You must think I'm a witless little fool
to believe in such things as reanimation of
the dead," she whispered, keeping her back
to him as she dried her eyes.
I think," said Lucas,
that you have
been very frightened and that someone
has deliberately set out to accomplish
that goal." He watched her face in the
dressing-table mirror.
Who would do such
a thing, Vicky?"
I just told you. Samuel Whitlock."
No, my dear, not Samuel Whitlock.
He's dead. You have been so terrified by
the signature on that note that you have
not been thinking logically."
It has to be him." She whirled around.
Don't you see, Lucas? He is not dead.
Either he did not really die that night at
the bottom of the stairs or else he has
been brought back to life by someone
with an electricity machine. One way or
another he has come back and he is after
me. Whitlock is the only one who could
possibly have any reason for carrying out
this horrible revenge."
Lucas studied her.
That brings up an
interesting point. Just what is his reason
for wanting revenge against you?"
Victoria's eyes clouded with an infinite
sadness.
Lucas, I cannot tell you. If I did,
you would be filled with such disgust for