Page 92 of Wolfsbane Hall
The girl had all the answers.
The secrets lay with Marguerite.
But then Celestine suddenly remembered that she might already have the answers she needed: the fire, the letters—everything was connected, including her venture to Specter’s rooms. Plus, Babette’s blackmail would help create a full picture, too.
She needed to get the newspapers and letters. They had the answers from hundreds of years ago. But she still didn’t have the energy to move. “Babette, can you do something for me?”
“Yes.”
Celestine instructed Babette to go to her room to find the newspaper articles and also bring back her briefcase. Yes, Lorraine had ruined Celestine’s room earlier, but after the attack, everything had returned mostly to normal, including all the books and papers strewn throughout the room. So, within minutes, Babette was back with all the newspapers and gossip sheets. They were all about the Ashbrooks’ history. Babette’s letters matched almost perfectly what Celestine had discovered in the North Wing.
Celestine’s hands traced the letters and turned through them as she read aloud.
“Article 1: 1760 Duke of Breython maid found dead on Christmas Eve of an apparent suicide.
“Article 2: 1760 Marquess and twin heartbroken by Miss Margaret’s death.
“Article 3: 1893 Business tycoon embroiled in scandal at therailroads. Should he be charged with murder for the train crash?
“Article 4: 1758 The Beast of Winter, Marquess Winterly, has another fiancée mysteriously disappear.
“Article 5: 1776 The Beast of Winter Sullies Lady.
“Article 7: 1810 Young Lady Breython is caught with a dead man in her bed, and a scandal ensues.
“Article 6: 1761 The Duke of Breython and his family were mysteriously poisoned on Christmas Eve during the annual house party. Thought to be dead, the family made a miraculous recovery and is all in good health and good spirits. It is still unclear who might be responsible for the poisonings, but some believe it is the vengeful spirit of Marguerite that comes back to haunt the family, as it is precisely one year since her demise.”
All the articles related to one of the Ashbrooks’ secrets that had played out over the night, even the last one. The family was poisoned.
As if summoned by her thought, the same old nursery rhyme began to play again. The marionette dolls were once more coming to life to sing the song.
Margret, Margret hanging down. It’s cold this Winter’s mourning. Too bad and oh so sad. You caused the Marquess’s scorning.
Wait, the song was about death, but the rhyme got it wrong. The rhyme assumed that Dean was the one in love with Margot, but what if it were Everett.
Winter and Marquess referred to Dean, and all the articles about the Beast of Winter referred to his dead lovers. But what if it was never Dean? What if everything was Everett all along…
What if all the girls who were murdered or died were also really tied to Everett and not Dean? They were twins…
What if everything was always Everett? Including Wolfsbane Hall.
Celestine tore through the love letters to better understand them. What if Everett was the true murderer tonight and his brothers had helped cover it up like they always had?
If the answer to the murder led to the Specter, then it had to be Everett, because they knew James wasn’t the Specter. After all, Frances had died, and Dean was the Phantom…
So, the Specter was Everett, and perhaps the letters from Babette’s briefcase contained the truth.
She flipped through them quickly again, skimming and finding pertinent information.
Letter 1 was useless.
My Dearest M, it feels like ages since we’ve been together. My heart aches without your touch and your sweet smile…
She skimmed the rest, but there was nothing of great note.Celestine flipped to the following letter.
My Dearest E, I cannot bear this separation…
Celestine flipped the page again and again until she stopped on:
