“There’s more,” I said, telling her about Tom after the charity night, and how he’d followed me and grabbed me by the hair, demanding I go back to the Dales with him. I told her, too, about Maggie’s disapproval of me and Nick, and my suspicion that she wanted me gone.
“But would she want to hurt you like this? That would be crazy,” said Eugenie, her eyes wide.
“I don’t know who did it, but I knowsomeonedid it, and they knew how to hurt me,” I said. “I just can’t imagine it was Tom. They were too quiet about it, too subtle.”
“Well, then, I believe you,” said Eugenie. “You should trust your instincts. If you think someone did it, then I do, too. We just have to find out who it was.”
My hand found hers and squeezed it. To have found a friend like her – even a new friend, who barely knew me, or I her – was a precious gift that I’d never been able to appreciate before. She squeezed my hand back and smiled.
“Where’s Nick today? Down in the mortuary with hisghouls I suppose?”
“He’s at one of his private Monday meetings,” I murmured, rolling my eyes.
“Sounds mysterious,” said Eugenie, releasing my hand and wiggling her fingers to indicate something spooky. “What happens at these Monday meetings?”
“I’m not sure. He says he’s meeting with some investment managers, but they’re not Dorian’s firm, and he’s never invited me to come along, even though he wants me to seeall aspectsof the business...”
“Not that you’ve speculated much at all.” Eugenie winked.
“He goes on foot, too. I watched him once. I was just a bit curious. He goes out into the yard as if he’s getting in the car, but he walks through the woods and returns the same way, no matter what the weather is like.”
Eugenie frowned, puzzling it over. “Interesting.”
The bedroom door opened and, to my surprise, Nick entered the room. He was suited and wore a black woollen overcoat, along with freshly polished shoes that glinted even in the half-light. He’d shaved down to a fine stubble, and his hair was styled and swept back from his austere face.
“Oh, Eugenie! It’s lovely to see you visiting Grace,” he said, blinking rapidly to see the rare bird sitting beside me. “You’re as kind and thoughtful as your brother.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” said Eugenie, cocking a knowing eyebrow at me. “Dorian’s nice to most people who pay him so generously.”
Nick smiled, his hands clasped.
“I pay Dorian handsomely because he provides anexcellent service, and he deserves it,” said Nick. “Worth every penny.”
“I’ll let him know you said so,” said Eugenie, pretending to look disregarding, but with a smirk that gave away how proud she was of her twin brother.
“You never wanted to go into the family business?” asked Nick.
“It was never my bag I’m afraid,” she said. “I prefer to do the whole socialite thing, see the world a little, have fun.”
“Who can blame you,” said Nick. “Life’s very short. Speaking of – I’m short on time myself. I just wanted to check in on you and see that you were all right.”
Eugenie raised another eyebrow at me, noticing how restrained Nick was being, pretending we weren’t lovers. It annoyed me, like all the secrecy did, but I wasn’t keeping my relationship with Nick from Eugenie. It made Nick’s acting seem redundant. It made me wonder how, and why, he became so practised at putting on fronts that he was able to do it so easily. When I took his past into consideration, and the rumours surrounding him and the fire, I could see how that ability might come in useful.
It also implied he could lie tomeif necessary, if he needed to hide something.
“I’m fine,” I said curtly. “Hope the meeting goes well.”
Nick smiled and bowed his head at myself and Eugenie, like a gentleman, before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
Eugenie’s head snapped towards me.
“Get your coat on.”
“What?” I asked, blinking rapidly. “No, we couldn’t –”
“Yes we bloody could! Have you got a long black coat with a hood? A raincoat, something? I’m too conspicuous in my jacket. It’s Vivienne Westwood.”
I did, as it happened, have coats for myselfandfor her to wear. I’d bought so many useful items on my shopping trip, including coats and cardigans. The frugal penny-pincher in me felt unable to splurge on too many impractical things, while the penniless farm girl in me had been bowled over with excitement at the thought of owningseveralwarm cardigans, and long waterproof coats.
