Page 51 of The Secret of the Dashing Detective
“Perhaps yes, perhaps no,” he said. “But it would have been another opportunity for Lewis to ascertain the truth.”
“That makes sense,” she said as she continued to look around her in both interest and astonishment. “When will he arrive?” she asked.
“Any moment now,” Matthew said, and at her agitation, he knew he needed to calm her. He stood in front of her and looped his arms around her hips, pulling her close.
“All will be fine,” he said.
“You do not know that,” she said, shaking her head.
“Perhaps I don’t, that is true,” he admitted. “But I know that no matter what happens, I will be here for you and you for me. That is enough, is it not?”
“I suppose it shall have to be,” she said with a small smile, and Matthew couldn’t help but lean in and kiss her on the nose.
A noise sounded from outside the door – a shuffle more than anything, and Matthew broke away from Juliana right before the knock sounded. She stayed a step behind him as he walked to the door, opening it with the smile on his face – until he saw just who was on the other side, standing next to Lewis.
“Mr. Archibald, it is good to see you,” Lewis said with a smile. “Thank you again for having me. I hope it is no inconvenience, but to even out numbers and make all more comfortable for your wife, I brought a guest. May I introduce my mother?”
CHAPTER18
His mother? Juliana brought a hand to her mouth. It was one thing to get to know her half-brother, but the woman with whom her father had been unfaithful to her mother? Well, that was something else entirely. She straightened her spine as she pasted a smile on her face, reminding herself of why they were doing this – to find justice for whomever was coming after her family – but it wasn’t enough to prepare her for what was to come next.
The pair had stepped into the room, but no one had yet said anything besides Dr. Lewis. That was odd, wasn’t it? Surely Matthew and Mrs. Lewis should have made their pleasantries by now.
“I know you.” Mrs. Lewis’ voice was low, perhaps usually holding a pleasant tone, but with that statement, it held a hint of menace in it.
“I am from the neighbourhood,” Matthew said, friendliness still held in his words. “I’m sure we must have seen one another a time or two.”
“No, that is not it. Iknowyou. I have spoken to you before.”
Oh, dear. This couldn’t be good.
“Perhaps my work has allowed us to meet?” he said, obviously attempting to keep things light.
“You came to my door,” she said, a finger raised before her, pointed at his chest. “You and that—that—man.”
Juliana wrung her hands together. She had thought of many ways this could have gone wrong, but she had never considered that it would have gonethiswrong. She wasn’t sure whothat manwas, but she couldn’t help but wonder whether it was Giles.
“Ah, yes, we did have the fortune to meet,” Matthew said. “Perhaps now we can actually get to know one another better.”
The woman stepped fully into the room now, closer to Matthew, giving Juliana her first chance to properly see her. She was tall, and of similar age to Juliana’s mother. An air of beauty still surrounded her, although her hair now included streaks of grey and there were many more wrinkles around her eyes than there would have been when Juliana’s father had known her.
“You came withhim– the man raised by that monster. To question me about whether I had taken that girl. When in truth, I want nothing to do with any of that family. I never did.”
Juliana supposed she could understand the woman’s sentiment, but the statement still hurt, nonetheless.
“Mother,” Dr. Lewis said in a measured tone, “I am not sure what you are speaking about, but why don’t we sit down and discuss this further?”
“This man,” she said, pointing to Matthew once more, “works for the son of the man who sired you.”
Juliana’s heart jumped as she saw Dr. Lewis look from Matthew to his mother and back again.
“If that is the case, I am sure it must be a coincidence,” he said. “I met Mr. Archibald and his wife by chance. Let me introduce you toMrs.Archibald and then we can all sit—“
Mrs. Lewis’ gaze finally swung to Juliana, recognition entering her eyes. Juliana didn’t think she had ever seen the woman before, although she did have an aspect of familiarity.
“Mrs. Archibald? Ha. Another lie.”
“Mrs. Lewis,” Juliana said, stepping forward with a hand outstretched. “Perhaps we should—”
