Page 19 of The Bride Wore White

“How, exactly, did he collapse?” Jack asked, looking disturbingly thoughtful.

“How does someone usually collapse? He lost consciousness and dropped to the floor. Try not to get distracted, Mr.Wingate.”

“You never know how odd bits and pieces of information might be important,” Jack said.

Luther must have decided it was time to intervene again. “We are veering off topic. Do you have enough information to formulate a plan for dealing with Miss Ryland’s case, Jack?”

“What?” Jack made an obvious effort and refocused. “Oh, right. Miss Ryland’s situation is convoluted, but at its core, it’s not complicated.”

Prudence stared at him. “Excuse me? You don’t think my case is complicated?”

“It’s not complex in terms of the basic motive, but it’s going to take a while to unravel because there are a number of players involved,” he said.

Luther folded his hands on top of the desk. “Talk to me about motives.”

“This isn’t about greed or power,” Jack said, “at least not primarily.This situation feels personal. I’m approximately ninety-six percent sure we’re looking at a revenge motive.”

“Revenge?” Prudence said, horrified. “Against me? Whatever for?”

“You were not the target. There’s a high probability that you’re just a pawn.”

“Somehow that does not reassure me.”

“It’s not meant to reassure you,” he said. “At this moment and for the foreseeable future, you are in serious danger.”

“From whom?”

“Clara Dover is at the top of the list, at least at this moment. She will be obsessing over you.”

“But she has no reason to suspect that I am the woman the press is calling the Killer Bride.”

“Whoever murdered Gilbert Dover went out of the way to make sure you took the fall,” Jack said. He sounded as if he was working hard to exercise patience. “The scheme did not play out as planned, but we should assume that the killer will make sure Clara believes you were the woman in that bloody wedding gown. Right now she will be fixated on making you pay for the death of her son and heir. The next person on the list of those who probably want you dead is the real killer.”

Prudence clenched her fingers on the arm of the chair again. “The man who followed me into the library stacks and kidnapped me.”

“You’re going to need a bodyguard, Miss Ryland,” Jack said.

“I think Jack is right, Miss Ryland,” Luther said quietly.

Prudence caught her breath. “It might be smart to employ a bodyguard for a while. Where does one find someone with those skills? How much would it cost? I’m afraid I’m on an extremely limited budget at the moment.”

Luther and Jack exchanged unreadable looks. Jack turned back to her.

“Professional bodyguards are expensive,” he said. “In this case, one might also get in the way.”

She went blank. “Get in the way of what?”

“My plan,” Jack said. “We need to draw the killer out into the open.”

“Again, I agree,” Luther said.

Prudence got the uneasy feeling that she was losing control of the situation. She was the client. She needed to make it clear she was in charge. “One moment, gentlemen. If I’m not supposed to hire a bodyguard, what do you propose I do? I’d like to hear the details of Mr.Wingate’s so-called plan, if you don’t mind.”

“Don’t worry,” Jack said. “I’ve got the basic outline of one that has a high probability of success. Once I’ve worked out the details, I can provide you with a more accurate estimate.”

“Is that right?” She gave him a smile that she knew probably looked as if it could cut crystal. “And just what is this brilliant plan?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Satisfaction heated Jack’s eyes. “You will revive your role as Madame Ariadne and move into my house as my personal psychic dream reader. I understand hiring such people is all the rage at the moment.”

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