“Precisely why he left,” Montoni cut her off as he took his seat. “He wasn’t pleased about his demotion, and he believed to have been made a laughingstock, given that a marquis in disguise took over his former duties.”
“That’s not fair,” Henri said.
“It sounds rather spot on to me,” Aunt Cheron said with a shrug. “I don’t blame the poor chap. I mean, can you imagine?”
“But what if there was foul play at work here?” I asked defiantly, ignoring Henri as he shook his head. “Blanche’s concerns shouldn’t be ignored.”
Montoni sighed. “Then I would say that the fog last night got to you. I can hardly blame you, especially after that prank played on your room. It excites one’s imagination.”
Prank? That was how he was going to play that off? Some sort of retaliation from the staff?
Aunt Cheron nodded. “I once swore that I saw a top hat moving down the street without anyone wearing it. It was dark of course, but for years, I believed what I saw. The mind plays some awful games with us when we’re under duress.”
“Unless there’s another reason why you suspect foul play?” Montoni asked, throwing a casual eye toward Henri, before zeroing in on me.
Henri was staring at me so hard that I could feel it.
“Not at all,” I said.
I stewed in my anger, but I’d done all that I could. I didn’t understand Henri’s insistence on keeping what I’d seen secret, but I would respect it. Even if he was obviously keeping something from me, I did believe he had my best interests in mind. I just didn’t understand how. Perhaps it would be best to keep any further observations to myself. No one seemed to believe me anyway, and honesty was beginning to seem more overrated by the day. It did nothing but get me in further trouble.
Conversation moved on to other topics, but I kept thinking about Fournier and Hargrove, and how easily their murders were covered up. If Montoni had been responsible for Hargrove’s murder, as Father Schedoni claimed, then it stood to reason that Montoni was lying about Fournier to cover up another murder. Could that have been Montoni in the hedge maze last night?
Could he have a dog hidden somewhere on the estate, trained and capable of tearing a man to pieces? Was that his secret? I wouldn’t put it past him.
I looked up when Count Montoni clinked his glass with a fork and rose from his seat. “If I could have everyone’s attention, please. I have an announcement I’d like to make.”
I frowned and exchanged a look with Blanche.
“It is my great pleasure,” Montoni said, “to announce my engagement to Lady Abigail Cheron.”
My mouth dropped open. Had I heard that right?
Henri looked just as stunned. “So soon?” he asked once he’d regained his wits.
Count Montoni beamed. “Yes. We’ve decided there’s no point in putting it off. We fell for each other the moment we met, and have been very happy these past few weeks. We want to extend that happiness for the rest of our lives.”
I met my aunt’s eyes, and she held my gaze for a moment, as if daring me to make a scene. When I didn’t say anything, she smiled and looked away, as if she’d won.
Well, I wasn’t going to be the one to expose Montoni’s gambling problem, or his potential financial issues. It was clear that he imagined my aunt to be wealthy, but I doubted she had the money he had in mind. Her fortune was modest at best. But I figured they deserved each other, so when Henri stood to drink to the couple’s health, I did as well, nodding to my aunt, who seemed genuinely surprised at my approval.
My plans for acquiring Udolpho, unfortunately, continued to look bleaker. Montoni might not have the resources to oblige my blackmailing scheme even if I did uncover something worth securing the castle. And with my aunt joining his family, Udolpho would be on her radar. I wouldn’t be able to escape her notice as I’d planned.
It was likely for the best, as seeking out the answers to this family’s mysteries were growing more and more dangerous. After all, protecting my life was more important than losing my freedom. In the end, what would speaking out about Fournier’s body actually accomplish, aside from more scrutiny? Aunt Cheron could even use it to add to her objections to my sanity. No, Henri was probably right. I should listen to him, believe in his cunning. It might get me out of this mess, in the end.
“When is the wedding?” Blanche asked when we’d all sat down again.
“We don’t wish to wait long,” Aunt Cheron told her. “Two weeks should be sufficient time to arrange it. I already had my big wedding, and a smaller one seems rather appealing at the moment. Wouldn’t you agree, Count?”
Count Montoni nodded, patting her hand. “Very much so. This is going to be the beginning of something beautiful.”
I refrained from rolling my eyes.
I convinced Blanche to venture outdoors with me the next morning, since Henri was in town on an errand for his uncle. We walked the hedge maze, whereupon I studied the area around the bench where I’d seen the bodies of Fournier and the mystery boy. I found nothing of consequence to mark that they’d been there. We also visited the mausoleum, where Blanche said a prayer for her parents. I noted that the candle was gone from the window recess.
“I received a letter yesterday,” Blanche revealed as we stepped into the library. Grimes had made tea and poured a cup for each of us. He didn’t hand me my cup as he did Blanche, one of many slights I’d suffered from him since coming out as marquis. Not that I could blame him. He was likely embarrassed by my subterfuge.
“Oh?” I watched as Blanche added her customary three sugar cubes and stirred them. She smiled graciously to Grimes as we went to sit on the sofa. My eyes sought three taxidermy bats near the ceiling in the corner, which made me smile, like they were winking at me.
