Selfish bastard!
To leave without giving Clio a chance to process what she’d learned. Assuming she wouldn’t want him because they couldn’t have children together was arrogant and asinine… and completely understandable. Most women were raised to believe their one purpose was to provide their husbands with heirs. But Clio wasn’t most women. She had been raised to believe her value was far more varied and complex. She was meant to create magic. To help others. To learn the facets of her own power and determine how best to use the gifts she’d been given for the good of all. Children were a far-flung idea that held no charm for Clio.
Her aunt never brought forth any offspring from her body, and yet, her home and her heart were overflowing with Clio, Ellie, and Helena. If one was meant to be a mother, nothing could stop that. And if one were not, the world was full of so many adventures, challenges, and meaning, surely a singular aspect of human existence could not contain the fullness of a person’s worth.
Clio had spent most of the night searching her soul. She could only imagine how devastating it must be for Thomas to know he would never have children of his own, and she ached for his loss. But Clio did not want him to provide her with a family. She wanted him tobeher family. What came from their union was a mystery she hoped they could unravel for many years to come. If only the stupid fool would realise, he brought so much more to her than just the promise of progeny. He brought the hope of embracing a partner without losing an integral part of herself.
He is the only man I could ever tie myself to, body and soul.
And he was gone.
So, I must solve this case and go back to London to find the idiot.
Lady Langley pulled her from her spinning thoughts. ‘Cynthia, Clio. Have you heard the terrible news? Poor Thomas had to leave our jolly party for something as dreary and dreadful as business.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Never mind. We shan’t let his rotten luck ruin our day. Today promises sunny skies. Isn’t that marvellous? The duke is determined to take the gentleman hunting, so I’ve organised a picnic. It will be such a lark! Once they’re done shooting their guns at the poor deer, we can all eat al fresco!’
The rest of the morning was spent in a loud and lengthy breakfast, then watching the men ride off on their horses while the ladies returned to their rooms to ready themselves for what promised to be a bright, but frightfully cold, outing. One Clio had no intention of joining.
The entire house would be empty, save for the servants and Miss Anna. It was the perfect opportunity for Clio to reach out to the two ghosts haunting the manor.
A half-hour before the women were set to depart, Clio sent a note to their host explaining that she had been afflicted with a sudden megrim and, begging forgiveness, would need to remain in her room.
Not five minutes passed before Cynthia arrived.
‘Lady Langley sent me to check on you. Are you well? Is this because Thomas left? Please don’t let it worry you. He will be back. I swear it.’
Clio did her best to look pale and tragic. ‘Not at all. I’m sure it’s just all the excitement of the past few days. I shall stay here and rest. I’ll be feeling much better by dinner.’
Cynthia frowned, clearly unconvinced.
‘Balderdash!’ Sir Robin supplied helpfully from Clio’s shoulder.
Raising a brow at the bird, Cynthia nodded. ‘My thoughts exactly.’ She gave Clio a long, rather assessing look. It was a shame shehadn’t been born with magic in her blood. Cynthia had all the qualities necessary to be a powerful witch. ‘I shall come and check on you the moment we return.’ She leaned over where Clio was reclining on the settee next to her window. Giving her a fragrant hug, she pressed a kiss to Clio’s cheek and ran a finger over Sir Robin’s sleek head, then was gone.
Clio scowled at Sir Robin. ‘You aremyfamiliar. Need I remind you? You side with me.’
He clacked his beak in a silent rebuttal, fluffed his feathers, and hopped to the edge of the settee.
She watched until the ladies all trundled down the gravel drive. The weather was turning, and the bright sun that greeted them at breakfast now played hide-and-seek with clouds promising mid-winter snow. Clio wondered if the picnic was going to be cut short because surely Lady Langley wouldn’t subject herself to such indignities as chapped fingers and a red nose.
She made haste as the skies darkened. Patting her shoulder, Sir Robin accepted her invitation. ‘Come, Sir Robin. We have some ghosts to interview.’
Taking the northern stairs, she ascended to the third floor. The hall had no windows, and the lamps had not been lit. With a wave of her hand, Clio solved that problem. Not wanting to disturb Anna, but feeling the closer she was to the girl, the better chance Clio had of convincing the ghosts to speak with her, she walked slowly down the corridor, reaching out with her magic.
The door to her right creaked open. It was pitch-black inside with all the shutters closed.
She paused as her skin tingled and sparked. Calling forth her witchflame, she held her palm in front of her and peered inside the empty room. Three desks sat in the centre with a blackboard attached to the far wall. It was a schoolroom, but it lookedabandoned. Miss Anna’s education must not be on Lady Langley’s list of priorities.
As Clio turned in a slow circle, inhaling dust and the musty smell of unused furniture, chalk scratched over slate, drawing her attention to the board. Letters were being carefully written by an invisible hand.
M. U. R. D. E. R.
Clio exhaled and rolled her eyes. ‘Yes. I know you were murdered. This is no time to be dramatic. It’s hardly productive. Show yourself. I am here to help, but you must be willing to speak with me.’
Dust motes shimmered in the blue flame flickering on her palm. Slowly, a now-familiar image appeared: Viscount Beachley, his silvery eyes full of such sadness. Clio’s fire sputtered in the suddenly frigid air as he solidified into a corporeal form.
‘Who did this to you?’
‘Blasted Berty and his damned selfishness.’ His voice was a rasping whisper, common with most ghosts, and his eyes looked through her at a vision she couldn’t see. The surprise of hearing him talk was quickly replaced with greater shock at what he said.
