“I will be the first to agree that the women who move in Society often have their quirks and eccentricities, but they do not generally consort with members of the criminal class.”

“I shall let Mr. March and Mrs. Lake work that one out. In the meantime, before I speak to them about these three names, I would very much like to find a link between them. I have established that two are lifelong friends who play cards together every Saturday and go about together frequently. But the third does not reside in London. I do not know if she is even acquainted with the other two.”

“Who are these three women you suspect might have hired the murderer?”

“Lady Huxford and Lady Ferring are the two who are constant companions. But the third is Mrs. Stockard. She is not fond of life in London and she spends very little time here. She lives on one of her son’s estates.”

“Well, well, well,” he said softly.

She turned away from her examination of some ancient Roman coins and peered intently at him. “What is it, Vale?”

“I do not know if it means anything, but for what it’s worth, I saw Mrs. Stockard together with Lady Huxford and Lady Ferring in Bath last summer while I was conducting my researches on the mosaic floors of a Roman villa.”

“Joan came toward him, her expression brightening with anticipation. You saw them together? Did they seem to be good friends?”

“You know me, my dear, I have little patience with Society and those who move in it. But Bath is such a small place that it is impossible not to be aware of members of the ton who happen to be in town.”

She smiled knowingly. “And furthermore, it is your nature to be observant, sir. Tell me, what did you learn about those three ladies?”

“Not a great deal. I encountered them on the street on several occasions and once or twice in the bookshops.” He hesitated. “But I got the impression from some things that were said that all three ladies were in the habit of meeting in Bath quite regularly to take the waters. I believe they have done so for many years.”

Tobias strolled into the study shortly after five o’clock, just as Lavinia was considering a second glass of medicinal sherry. She rose quickly, relieved to see him.

“There you are,” she said. “I have been very worried. Do sit down, Tobias. I will pour you a glass of sherry.”

“Never mind the sherry.” He showed her the cloth-wrapped package that he carried under his arm. “I have concluded that when we are involved in a case together, I require a somewhat stronger restorative.”

She frowned at the package. “What is that?”

“French brandy.” He set the package on her desk and removed the cloth to reveal a dark bottle. “Smiling Jack was kind enough to allow me to purchase some from his new shipment.”

She watched with interest as he opened the bottle and poured a large amount of brandy into a glass. “Is it smuggled, do you think?”

He raised a brow. “Given Jack’s strong aversion to paying customs duties, I think we can be certain of it.” He downed a swallow of the brandy and looked at her. “Frankly, I did not bother to inquire into its origins. Would you care for some?”

“No, thank you, I believe I will stay with my sherry.” She went to the cabinet, picked up the decanter, and poured out a judicious amount. She studied the level of spirits in the glass for a few seconds and added some more. It had been a trying day, she reflected.

Tobias took his favorite armchair and propped his left ankle on a footstool. She settled back into her own chair.

“Very well,” she said. “Out with it. What did you do with Sweet Ned?”

“I turned him over to Jack.”

Startled, she lowered her glass. “Why on earth would you do that?”

“The boy needs to learn a more reliable trade.”

“Well, yes, but what on earth will Jack do? Teach him the art of tavern-keeping?”

“No. At least, not straightaway. As it happens, thanks to the connections he made in the course of his old profession, Jack is well acquainted with a number of ships’ captains. They are always in the market for new crew members. As we speak, Sweet Ned is on his way to a glorious new career at sea.”

“From what you’ve told me of your friend Jack, poor Ned has no doubt become a member of a smuggler’s crew.”

“Look on the bright side. If all goes well, the lad will earn enough to allow him to retire in a few years. You and I, my dear, can only hope to do the same.”

“And if things do not go well?”

“Do not concern yourself on that account. Jack will make certain that our Ned sails with an experienced captain who knows his business.”

She tilted her head against the back of the chair. “He is so young, Tobias. Just a boy, really. Probably alone in the world.”

“Do not waste any sentiment on Ned. He thought nothing of taking money to threaten you with a knife. In another year or two, he might have been willing to stick that same blade between your ribs for a similar fee.”

“Oh, I really don’t think”

“Trust me on this, Lavinia. Sweet Ned has all the makings of a professional villain.”

“Perhaps, But when one considers that he no doubt grew up in the stews with no prospects for the future, one can only feel pity.”

“I assure you, pity was most definitely not the emotion I experienced when I found him with you in that lane this afternoon.”

She smiled. “Do not tell me that you had no soft sentiments whatsoever. You could have taken him to Bow Street, where he would no doubt have been clapped in irons and later hung. Instead, you turned him over to Smiling Jack.”

“For all the good it will do.” Tobias looked down into the brandy.

“The lad is still likely to end his life dancing on the end of a rope.”

“If he does,” she said gently, “it will not be because you sent him there.”

He took another swallow of brandy and said nothing. But some of the grimness eased from his expression.

They sat together in silence for a time. After a while Tobias shifted slightly in his chair.

“What was it Aspasia wanted to discuss with you today?”

Lavinia swirled the sherry in her glass and took a quick sip. “She wanted to assure me that she has no designs on you.”

“I could have told you that.” He scowled. “In fact, if memory serves, I did tell you that. In no uncertain terms.”

“Not exactly. What you told me was that you had no romantic interest in her.”

He shrugged. “It amounts to the same thing.”

“Not quite,” she said coolly. “But be that as it may, I got the impression that she was ill-treated by both her father and her husband.

“She had vowed never to give her heart or to marry. And then she met Zachary Elland. You were right, she did, indeed, believe that they were true soul mates. She was stunned when she discovered the truth about him.”

“I am glad that the two of you have reached a degree of mutual understanding. I just wish she hadn’t dragged you off to that damned graveyard for that particular conversation.”

“It was not her fault. Sweet Ned followed me from the moment I left the house today. He was merely waiting for an opportunity to get me alone. If it had not been that lane outside the cemetery, it would have been somewhere else. An alley or a park, no doubt.”

“Do not remind me.” He drank more brandy and then he set the


“glass down on the arm of the chair. We must talk about why the killer would hire someone like Sweet Ned to warn you off the case.”

“Have you a theory?”

“I think it is likely that this new Memento-Mori Man sees you as a complication,” Tobias said. “His goal is to challenge me and to frighten Aspasia, but he has no use for you.”

“So he wants me to simply go away?”

“He probably believes that I will not allow you to continue to assist me on this case if I think that your life is in danger.” Tobias met her eyes. “He may be right.”

“Do not even think about it,” she warned. “You cannot order me to stop my inquiries. I am too deeply involved now.” She broke off at the sound of a knock on the study door. Yes, Mrs. Chilton?”

The door opened. “Mrs. Dove and Lord Vale to see you, madam,”

Mrs. Chilton said in the resonant tones she reserved for announcing distinguished guests.

“Good heavens. Both of them?” Lavinia leaped from her chair. She had grown almost blase about entertaining Joan, but the knowledge that Vale was here was another matter altogether. “Kindly show them into the parlor, Mrs. Chilton. And bring a tray of tea, if you would. Use the new oolong. Tell them that Mr. March and I will join them immediately.”

“Yes, madam.” Mrs. Chilton retreated, closing the door behind her.

“I can’t believe that Lord Vale is here in my house.” Lavinia shook out the folds of her gown and went to the mirror to check her hair.

“Do you think tea is sufficient for refreshments, Tobias? Perhaps I should offer him some sherry.”

Tobias got to his feet with a leisurely air. “Something tells me that Vale would much prefer a glass of my new French brandy.”

She turned away from the mirror. “Excellent notion. We’ll need glasses. You go on into the parlor and I’ll have a word with Mrs. Chilton.”

Tobias was amused. “You were not nearly this rattled this afternoon when I found you running out of that damned graveyard with a villain in pursuit.”

“This is Lord Vale we are talking about. There are hostesses in this town who would kill to have him in their ballrooms, and he is sitting right there in my little parlor.” She made shooing motions with both hands. “Hurry. I certainly do not want him to feel that he is obliged to cool his heels when he comes to call. I’ll tell Mrs.