Page 91 of A Ruse of Shadows
She swept her arm toward the delirious mercenaries. The officer—and his men—stared in fascination.
“At first we became even more frightened. But when it seemed that they’d truly lost their minds, our brave butler stole out to inform you of our plight. And thank goodness you’re here, gentlemen!”
“Have no fear, mademoiselle, you are safe now,” said the officer gallantly. “We will take these lawbreakers away. They have the look of repeat offenders. Perhaps you’ve heard, mademoiselle, we now have photographic records of our inmate population. Even if they choose to prevaricate, we will be able to identify them quickly—and send them back to prison just as quickly.”
Upon Lieutenant Atwood’s advice, Livia had left Aix-en-Provence the day before. Her train reached Lyon at ten in the evening, and Paris a little before six in the morning. The sun was up, the day bright but still cool, and Miss Redmayne was there on the platform, waving.
They embraced each other tightly.
“You look like you haven’t slept a wink,” said Livia. She herself had expected to contend with nerves all night but had instead been lulled into slumber by the motion of the train.
“Only half an hour in the carriage, coming here. But what theater we had last night.”
She ushered Livia into the waiting carriage and launched into anaccount of the spectacle she and Mrs. Watson’s staff had witnessed. As she described how the police had to beat Number One to prevent him from removing his trousers right there in the parlor, Livia laughed so hard she had to wipe away tears.
When the carriage pulled up before the house, Livia leaped off almost before it had come to a complete stop. At the door she slowed, shaking her head at herself. Bernadine, not having any social obligations, rarely got up so early.
But she was wrong. Bernadine was up, dressed, and in the garden, walking about, holding on to Mademoiselle Robineau’s arm.
To a stranger, Bernadine might appear indifferent to her surroundings. But Livia knew what Bernadine’s raised face and half-closed eyes meant. Whether it was the fresh air, the morning sunlight, or the simple freedom of being in the garden, Bernadine was happy.
Livia greeted the nurse and they switched places, so that Bernadine now held on to Livia’s arm. She patted her sister’s hand. “It’s me. I’m back and we’re safe.”
If only they could have some news from England. If only she knew for sure that Charlotte, Mrs. Watson, Lord Ingram, and Lawson were safe, too.
And Mr. Marbleton, her dear, dear Mr. Marbleton.
Thirty-one
By the ruined abbey
The moon hung low, so pale it was almost transparent. The sky, still darkish a minute ago, was now suffused with refracted light, streaks of fiery glow dispelling the gloom of the fading night.
Lord Bancroft stood in the dawn of a new day. Not far to his side, half a wall loomed, its stones cleft and mottled with age.
Did he realize how alone he was? Did he understand that he had step by step, decision by decision, turned allies into strangers and strangers into enemies?
Or was he thinking only of his current difficulties—his next course of action if he could no longer hold Bernadine over them?
He fired four shots in quick succession, two from each revolver in his hand, one projectile each for Charlotte, Lord Ingram, Mrs. Watson, and Lawson.
A scream pierced the air, followed by another shot.
“No!” cried Lord Ingram.
Lord Bancroft’s face contorted. Slowly, he looked down at his right side, his arm was still raised and a bullet had entered his torso just below his armpit.
The shot had come from the ruins of the abbey.
He looked around the clearing at his four targets, all still standing, no one injured or bleeding.
He toppled over.
Thirty-two
The interrogation
“Now think carefully, Miss Holmes. Where were you last night?”
