Free Slightly Shady by Amanda Quick Page B

accented with small roses. But it was the color of the strands of the real hair used on the head of the tiny sculpture that riveted Lavinia's attention. They were blond, streaked with silver. just like Joan's, she thought. She looked up from the picture. "This is a most unusual and excellently made waxwork, but I don't understand why you have brought it to me." "Look closely at the image of the woman." Joan clasped her hands together very tightly in her lap. "Do you see the red on the floor beneath her?" Lavinia examined the scene. "She appears to be lying on a crimson scarf or perhaps a scrap of red silk." She trailed off as the reality of what she was seeing finally sank in. "Dear heaven." "Yes," Joan said. "It is a dab of red paint beneath the figure. It is obviously meant to represent blood. The woman is clearly dead. it is a scene of murder." Lavinia slowly lowered the horrid little picture and met Joan's eyes. "The lady in this waxwork is intended to be you," she said. "It is a death threat." "I believe so." Joan looked at the picture in Lavinia's hands, "That green gown is the one I wore on the night of my daughter's engagement ball." Lavinia thought about that for a few seconds. "Have you worn it on any other occasion?" she asked, "No. It was made especially for the affair. I have had no other occasion to wear it." "Whoever created this image must have seen the gown." Lavinia studied the figure. "How many people attended your daughter's engagement ball?" Joan's mouth curved humorlessly. "Unfortunately, the guest list had well over three hundred names on it." "Oh dear. That does give us long list of suspects, does it not? " "Yes. Thank heavens my daughter is out of town for the month. This would upset her greatly She is still not entirely recovered from the shock of her father's death." "Where is she?" "Maryanne is visiting some of her fianc6s relatives at their estates in Yorkshire. I want this matter resolved before she returns to London. I trust you will begin your inquiries immediately" One had to be very careful when dealing with persons of quality, Lavinia reminded herself. They could afford one's fees but they were also adept at not paying their bills. "You wish to give me a commission to discover the identity of the person who sent you this picture?" she asked carefully "Why else wouldl have come here today?" "Yes, of course." Persons of quality could also be extremely brusque and quite demanding, she reflected. "Mrs. Lake, you indicated that you were already in the process of conducting inquiries into this affair. Your conversation and your card gave me to understand that you would be willing to accept a commission from me. is the offer still open?" "Yes," Lavinia said hastily. "Indeed it is. I will be pleased to accept your commission, Mrs. Dove. Perhaps we should discuss my fees." "There is no need to go into the details. I do not care what you charge for your services so long as I receive satisfaction. When you have concluded the affair, send the bill, whatever it is, to me. Rest assured, you will be paid." Joan smiled coldly. "Just ask any of the people who do business with me or who supply my household. They will tell you that they always receive their payments in a timely manner." It would be simple enough to discover the truth of that statement, Lavinia thought. In the meantime, the last thing she wished to do was jeopardize the commission by irritating the client with a discussion of fees. She cleared her throat. "Well, then, let us begin. I must ask you several questions. I hope you will not feel that I am intruding unnecessarily into your private life." She broke off at the sound of the front door being opened in the hall. Joan tensed and glanced toward the closed parlor door. "It appears you have another visitor. I must insist that you do not tell anyone about my reasons for calling on you today." "Do not distress yourself, Mrs. Dove. That will likely be my niece returning from a call on her new