“Oh, dear,” Amity said. “Of course. A woman scorned.”
Thirty-five
Welcome home, Miss Doncaster.” Mrs. Houston held the door wide. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Stanbridge. I must tell you that Mrs. Marsden was quite alarmed when you did not return on the train last night. Inspector Logan made inquiries of the police in the village and was told there had been reports of a fire at Hawthorne Hall and that no one had seen either of you afterward.”
“You got my telegram this morning?” Benedict said.
“Yes, indeed, and it arrived none too soon. Mrs. Marsden and Inspector Logan were preparing to set out for the village.”
Rapid footsteps sounded in the hall. Penny appeared. Relief blazed in her face. Logan was directly behind her.
“Amity,”Penny said. She rushed forward. “Oh, thank heavens.”
Amity hugged her. “It’s all right, Penny. We’re fine. I’m so sorry you were concerned. There was no way to send word until shortly after dawn when we found a farmer who drove us into the village.”
Penny stepped back. “I understand. It’s just that I’ve been so worried. The morning papers carried the news of the fire at the Hall. I knew you were all right because we got your telegram very early, but you were not at all explicit about what had occurred.”
Logan looked at Benedict. “What the devil did happen?”
“It’s a long story,” Benedict said.
Mrs. Houston smiled. “I’ll just go and put the kettle on.”
Sometime later Benedict concluded his tale. Amity could feel the tension in the atmosphere. Logan looked grim.
“From the sound of things, it is going to be next to impossible to prove anything against Lady Penhurst,” he said.
“We must leave her to Uncle Cornelius,” Benedict said. “He will deal with her. Meanwhile, none of this changes the situation with regard to Virgil Warwick. He must be found and stopped before he kills again.”
“I agree.” Logan got to his feet and went to stand at the window. “He is out there, somewhere. He cannot remain in hiding forever. We will find him.”
Amity cleared her throat. “If I might make a suggestion?”
They all looked at her. But it was Benedict who understood before everyone else.
“No,” he said.
“What is it?” Logan asked.
“Lady Penhurst may have tried to use her brother as if he were a weapon, but I doubt that she can control him now that he has been launched in my direction,” Amity said. “I am his target. He is an obsessed man. Why not set a trap?”
Penny’s eyes widened in alarm. “With you as bait?”
“Yes, exactly,” Amity said. “I could leave the house by myself as if I was going shopping. The police could follow me at some distance—”
“No,” Benedict said again.
“No,” Penny said.
“Absolutely not,” Logan said.
Amity sighed. “I don’t understand why you are all so set against the idea.”
Benedict fixed her with a stern look. “Give it some thought. I’m sure the answer will come to you.”
“For heaven’s sake,” Amity said. “It seemed a perfectly good plan to me.”
“Fortunately, for my own peace of mind, I have a better one,” Benedict said.
