Page 37 of Grave Expectations
"Desperate times and all that." Mrs. Webb set the lantern down on the floor at her feet. "Besides, you're not hurt, are you?"
"The backs of Gus's feet are sore."
"Aye," Gus muttered. "Untie me and I'll show you."
"He was too heavy and I had to drag him down the steps then lift him onto the cart and drag him down here," she said.
So she had worked alone. Escaping from one person ought to be easier than two. Hppe rose in my chest. "Which cart?"
"I borrowed one from the Lichfield stables."
Gus clicked his tongue, admonishing her. "Death don't take kindly to having his belongings stolen or his fiancée kidnapped."
"You call your master Death?"
"It fits. I should warn you, the last person to abduct Charlie died, as did the men who helped him. Violently. It weren't pretty."
I wasn't sure I liked Gus spreading rumors that Lincoln had killed Jasper and his two thugs. Lincoln had assured me he hadn't done it, and I believed him. We'd never learned who had murdered the captain in the holding cell after his arrest, and we likely never would.
"What do you want, Mrs. Webb?" I asked.
"I need you to summon my husband and raise his body."
I wasn't surprised. At least it confirmed that she wasn't the killer of supernaturals. It was the silver lining on a very trying experience. "Why do you want to raise him?"
"That's none of your concern."
"It is. If I'm going to do it, I need to know certain things. That's one of them."
She stepped toward me and lifted her hand to strike my cheek. I flinched, but she didn't lash out. "I'm not a violent woman, but I am quite provoked at the moment. Don't make the situation worse for yourselves by lying."
"What makes you think I'm lying?"
"I know a lot about you, Miss Holloway. For example, I know that you can raise the dead by calling them by name. Just a name. You don't need to know anything else."
"I see that you also knew I was in need of a housekeeper. How?"
"I saw your advertisement inThe Times."
"I don't believe you. It's too coincidental to be true, and I don't believe in coincidences." Lincoln had said the same thing to me, and it felt satisfying to spout his words at her. But if it wasn't a coincidence, that meant sheknewto look inThe Times. "My God," I whispered. "Who told you we were advertising for a housekeeper?"
Her jaw set hard and her dark eyes glittered.
Gus twisted to look at me. "Blimey, Charlie. Who would do that?"
"Someone who knows our situation." That narrowed it down to Doyle and the committee members. Unless Cook, Seth or Gus mentioned it in passing to someone connected with Mrs. Webb. None of us could have any inkling that posting the ad would lead to this, and our advertising for a housekeeper was no secret.
"Who told you?" I ground out between my clenched teeth.
"It's not important."
"It is to me."
"You're in no position to dictate terms, Miss Holloway."
I lifted one shoulder. "Then I refuse to summon your husband's spirit."
Her top lip curled. I couldn't believe I ever thought this woman suitable enough to live with us. "I was told you'd say that." She turned, picked up the lantern and strode up the stairs and out of the cellar. The lock tumbled.
