Don’t Look Back

Chapter Thirty

That night, after Tobias had dealt with the authorities as only he could, thanks to his many connections, they gathered in the parlor together with Emeline, Anthony, Joan, and Vale.

Her study, Lavinia had quickly realized, was much too small for such a crowd, and it certainly was not impressive enough for the likes of Lord Vale. Not that the parlor was much grander, she thought uneasily. But at least there was more space.

In spite of not yet having received any fees to cover the expenses of the affair, she poured everyone an extra large glass of her precious sherry. Surviving a close brush with a murderer inspired one to be generous, she thought.

“All three of them wanted the Blue Medusa,” she said, sinking down onto the sofa alongside Joan. “Each for a different reason. Howard, I regret to say, actually put some credence in the legends surrounding it. He wanted it for his experiments. Celeste hoped to sell it in order to purchase another rung on the social ladder. And Pelling, who had become quite demented, had concluded that it would give him power over the ghost of the aunt he had murdered in his youth.”

Joan shuddered. “It was a near thing. How fortunate that Mr. March arrived at the Banks mansion just as you were forced into Pelling’s closed hackney.”

“Indeed.” Emeline took a fortifying sip of sherry. “I cannot bear to think about what might have happened had he not seen you and managed to follow you.”

Vale contemplated Tobias, who occupied the chair across from him. “After this incident you will be obliged to concede that there is such a thing as coincidence, eh, March? Joan is right: If you had not happened to call at the Banks mansion this afternoon, you would never have seen Mrs. Lake getting into the hackney.”

There was a short pause during which everyone took a swallow of sherry.

Tobias turned his glass between his palms and looked at Lavinia. He smiled slightly.

“It was not luck or coincidence that took me to the Banks house this afternoon,” he said quietly. “I followed Lavinia because she had left a note informing me of where she had gone. Just as she had promised.”

She met his eyes and saw a reflection of the same absolute certainty of knowledge that had coalesced deep inside her. Regardless of the clashes of will that lay ahead-clashes that were inevitable, given their strong temperaments-a bond had formed between them. Tobias was far more than her lover and occasional partner. The metaphysical link was now so strong that she knew it could never be severed.

“How unfortunate that you are left with no client,” Joan said with a good deal of sympathy. “I understand that Mr. Hudson has postponed payment indefinitely due to a lack of funds, and Mr. Nightingale, of course, has canceled his arrangement with you.”

Lavinia looked up from her musings. “Oh, I have every hope of salvaging at least one of our clients. Mrs. Rushton, to be precise.”

Emeline frowned. “But she will pay you only if you return the relic and arrange a profitable sale.”

“I hope to take care of that little outstanding matter first thing in the morning,” Lavinia said.

They all looked at her.

Vale’s eyes glittered in the firelight. “Are you telling us that you know where Celeste Hudson hid the bracelet?”

“Yes,” Lavinia said. “As it happens, I was on my way to collect it this afternoon when Pelling got in my way.”