Free Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick Page A

vibrating with outrage on his arm. The air
    around her almost sizzled.
      Correct me if I am mistaken," she said, but I believe that
    Beaumont just tossed us out of the castle."
    Your observation concurs with my own. So much for our jolly
    little outing in the country. Perhaps you and I were not made for
    such fashionable entertainments, madam."

Seven
    They started up the main staircase in silence.
      I suppose you feel that it is my fault that we have been asked to
    leave," Lavinia said on the first landing.
      Yes, but you need not concern yourself overmuch with the matter.
    As it happens, I had already concluded that it would be best to
    return to London."
    She glanced at him, astonished.   But what of our investigation
    here at the scene of the crime?"
      I believe we have already learned as much as we can here. The
    killer has completed his work. I doubt he will hang around for long.
    I would not be surprised if he has already left the neighborhood."
      Mmm. I take your point. He planned for Fullerton's death to take
    place here because he knew that you would be in the immediate
    vicinity, did he not? He wanted to make certain that you were aware
    of his handiwork."
      I suspect that is the case," Tobias said.
    They emerged on Lavinia's floor and found a small gathering in
    the narrow hall. Two women of indeterminate years, garbed in
    chintz wrappers and voluminous nightcaps, stood talking animatedly to a man who appeared to be in his early twenties. It was
    obvious that Fullerton's death was the topic of conversation.
      Some of my neighbors on this floor," Lavinia explained in low
    tones as they walked toward the group.   Lady Oakes's hairdresser,
    Mister Pierce, and two ladies who are here as companions to two of
    Beaumont's guests."
    All three heads turned toward Lavinia and Tobias. Avid curiosity
    glittered in each pair of eyes, but there was something particularly
    penetrating about the gazes of the two women, Tobias noticed. They

  =  
    were staring at him with an oddly riveted, albeit slightly dazed
    expression.
    Even if he had not been warned by Lavinia, he would have had
    no difficulty determining the role of these two, he thought. Both
    possessed the resigned, self-effacing, slightly faded quality one associated with impoverished ladies who have been obliged to undertake
    careers as professional companions.
    Tobias suspected that the women had gone to bed early this
    evening. Their posts had likely excluded them from the evening's
    festivities. Companions generally found themselves in the same
    peculiar, uncomfortable, in-between world as governesses. They
    were not servants, but neither were they the social equals of those
    they served. The combination of gentle breeding and poverty had
    doomed them to a profession in which they were expected to keep
    silent and remain discreetly in the background.
    It occurred to him that this late-night gossip about violent death
    was probably the most exciting thing that had happened to this pair
    in some time.
    He had met only two companions in his entire life who did not fit
    the usual mold of the species, he reflected: Lavinia and her niece,
    Emeline. They had not remained in the profession for long, and with
    good reason. Neither of them possessed a temperament that was
    suited to such a career.
      Misses Lake!" the hairdresser exclaimed.   We were just speaking of
    you. We feared that perhaps you had been overcome by the ghastly
    sight down below in the garden. Are you all right? Do you need a
    vinaigrette?"
      I am fine, thank you, Mister Pierce." Lavinia gave him a reassuring
    smile and then looked at the women. You must allow me to introduce you. Miss Richards, Miss Gilway, this is my friend, Mister March."
    Tobias inclined his head.   My pleasure, ladies."
    They both blushed furiously.
      Mister March." Miss Gilway beamed.
      Sir," Miss Richards whispered.
      And this is Mister Pierce." Lavinia swept her hand out in a gracefully
    dramatic