Page 49 of The Bride Wore White

“No, Clara, I did not murder Gilbert,” Prudence said quietly but firmly.

“Don’t lie to me. I know that you killed him.”

“You can’t possibly prove that, because it did not happen.”

“I might not have the sort of evidence that can be used in a court of law,” Clara said. She clenched her hands into fists at her sides. “But I know it’s true.Gilbert told me.”

“What?” Prudence took a step toward her. No one else moved. “That’s impossible. Gilbert is dead, Clara.”

“He communicates with me through visions,” Clara rasped.

“That can’t be true,” Prudence said. “You are an intelligent woman, Clara. I understand that you are grieving, but you can’t go on like this. You must face reality.”

But Clara was beyond reason now.

“You will pay,” Clara shrieked. “I saw it in a vision.”

Prudence took another step closer. “Are you going to be the one who tries to murder me? Is that why you are here in Burning Cove?”

“I will not kill you. Your fate has been sealed. You will die by fire. A proper ending for a witch. I am in Burning Cove because Gilbert said I must witness your punishment.”

Her message delivered, Clara whirled and swept toward the exit. Two members of the spa staff managed to break free of their paralysis and turned to open the swinging doors.

For the first time, everyone in the chamber, including Prudence, noticed that the doors were already open. Jack loomed in the entranceway.

There were several yelps of outrage and dismay from the crowd in the spa. Women scrambled to make sure they were adequately covered in robes and towels.

Jack ignored the outcry and stepped aside to allow Clara to storm past. She did not pay any attention to him.Why would she?Prudence thought. Clara Dover was accustomed to people getting out of her way.

Prudence met Jack’s eyes across the room. “I’m finished here. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

He nodded once, turned, and disappeared. Prudence exhaled the breath she did not know she had been holding, tightened the sash of the white robe, and threaded a path through the loungers, heading toward the changing room.

She knew from the shock on the faces of the spa staff that there would be news of another scandal involving Madame Ariadne and her new client in the next edition of theBurning Cove Herald.

Chapter 22

She said you are going to die by fire,” Jack said. He did not take his eyes off the winding road that hugged the edge of the cliffs above the ocean. “She was very specific, wasn’t she?”

“Yes,” Prudence said. “It’s not the sort of wording that is open to vague interpretation. Do you think it’s important?”

They were on their way back to House of Shadows. Jack was at the wheel. The top of the Packard convertible was down, and she found the brisk breeze clarifying. She needed to marshal her thoughts into a coherent report. Jack craved logic. Facts. Details. He needed to know that his conclusions and deductions were based on hard evidence, not speculation or, horror of horrors,psychic talent.

Unfortunately for him, she relied on impressions, sensations, and intuition. She worked the way artists did. She was pretty sure now that Jack did, too, at least to some extent, but he did not want to admit it. No, she decided, he wasafraidto admit it. He was desperate to believe that he took a scientific approach to crime solving.

“Of course it’s important.” He flexed one hand on the steeringwheel. “It’s a critical bit of information. I wonder if Clara Dover has some history with fire.”

Surprised by the comment, Prudence glanced at him. “What makes you say that?”

He was silent for a moment. “Fire leaves an impression on a person. You never forget a dangerous fire.”

This was important, she thought. It was personal for Jack. She was suddenly sure there was a connection between fire and his scars.

“How long were you standing there in the doorway?” she asked.

“Long enough. I followed Clara because it occurred to me that I might have miscalculated when I told you I didn’t think she would resort to using a pistol at this stage.”

“Really?” She looked at him. “You were actually worried that you might have miscalculated?”

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