Page 54 of Murder at Madame Chambon's
And then his kisses had transported her to a place she’d never experienced.
If this was what love felt like, then she’d do anything for a return of that euphoric sense of being at one with another human being.
If she only got the chance.
“Are you sure this is a good idea, Miss?”Kitty asked as she tidied the room.“Defying your mama, I mean?”Lowering her voice, she said under her breath, “I’ve seen other girls do the same thing and it ain’t never gone well.”
Evelina, though puzzled by her words, ignored them.Kitty was only trying to make her rethink the idea of leaving the house when Evelina had decided that if there was any possibility William was going to be at Dunstable’s funeral, then she simply had to be there, too.
“How do I look?”
“Like a young lady dressed for a funeral with no mournful thoughts about the poor murdered man about to be laid to rest, but lots of hopes for a handsome young man who still walks the earth.”
Evelina smiled.“My William will be there, and he will say what I’ve been waiting for him to say.He’s only biding his time because it doesn’t seem quite right to do it before poor Lord Dunstable is...in the ground,” she finished.“At least they found Dunstable’s murderer.Now everyone can sleep better, and Lady Victoria can rest easy.”
“Cept it weren’t the right murderer,” Kitty said darkly, causing Evelina to shake her head as she passed her on the way to the door.
“I didn’t know you were on the investigation team,” Evelina said with a fair degree of sarcasm.
“You know I weren’t, but I do know the young girl wot were ‘sposed to do it and she wouldn’t hurt a fly, much less a man like Dunstable.Nah, the police just found it was easier to charge a fallen woman for a crime wot was done by a man.”
Evelina, who had been about to let herself out, turned in surprise.“A fallen woman?You do say the strangest things, Kitty?Do you even know what a fallen woman is?Why, if you’d heard how the nuns described that kind of creature, you’d know you were not applying the term correctly.”She glanced across the room to the window.Lady Victoria’s carriage was there, so she raised her hand in farewell without waiting for Kitty to reply.Clearly, the girl did not like being put in her place.Her mouth was turned down, her lips buttoned tightly with none of her usual cheer.
“Aren’t you going to wish me well?”Evelina asked, her spirits too high to be contained.
“You’re going to a funeral, Miss,” Kitty reminded her, adding under her breath.“Of the man you was going to be marrying two weeks ago.”
Evelina paused.She wanted to march right across the room, put her hand on Kitty’s shoulder, and ask her if everything they’d heard of Lord Dunstable’s character in the past two weeks made him a better husband than Lord Bellingham.Instead, she said, “Kitty, I’m sorry if my behavior upsets you.I don’t mean to be heartless.I’m very sorry Lord Dunstable lost his life in such a horrible way, but he did so over a woman.A woman who has now—thankfully—been apprehended.Does that not prove he was likely to make the worst sort of husband and that I’m so lucky to have found a man who is deserving and true?”But, because Kitty’s good opinion meant more to her than even her mother’s, strangely enough, she did, in fact, cross the room to put her hand on the girl’s shoulder.
“I’m sure you’re right, miss,” Kitty responded sullenly, but Evelina shook her head.
“No, Kitty, I’m not always right, and you’ve seen a great deal more of the world than I have.Tell me if you think I’m foolishly losing my head over a worthless man?Or do you think Lord Bellingham is good and true and will make me happy?I want to know what you think.It’s important to me.”
“It is?”Kitty’s head jerked up, and she blinked as if clearing something from her eye.Then she smiled and briefly rested her own hand on Evelina’s forearm.“Of all gentlemen I’ve met, I would choose Lord Bellingham as a husband worthy of you, Miss.He is kind and honorable and brave and I wish you well.My apologies for being a sour puss.I was just aggrieved that the police have charged the wrong person for Dunstable’s murder seein’ as I knows her.Now, no time for goin’ into all that.You go to your funeral and rest assured I’ll say all them things to your mama and Lady Perry so’s they won’t smell a rat.”Her smile broadened.“And I hope Lord Bellingham will live up to all them things I jest said about him.”
Chapter26
St Michael’s Church, in the heart of the village of Highgate, was a fitting final resting place for an aristocrat.
As Evelina gazed up with awe at its pointed arches, ornate tracery, and decorative stonework, she felt as small and insignificant as the gargoyles grinning down at her from the eaves.
Inside the vast and awe-inspiring interior, flanked by Clara and Lady Victoria, she stared at Lord Dunstable’s casket, draped in a rich velvet pall, placed before the altar, surrounded by floral arrangements and candlelight.
As the mournful proceedings began, sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting ethereal hues of vibrant colors onto the polished marble floors while the minister, dressed in traditional vestments, presided over the service, offering prayers, reading scripture, and delivering his eulogy to commemorate Lord Dunstable’s life and legacy.
Evelina hoped her few dances with Lord Dunstable had not aroused suspicions that something as serious as marriage was in the offing.
She was here simply as Miss Tarot, a newcomer with a rich papa whom no one had heard of, recently returned to the capital after being educated in France.
She hoped her presence would not arouse undue interest.
Her interest, of course, was in trying to locate William amongst the congregation.
And to her astonishment, there he was in the pew in front and a little to the right of her, bathed in the soft light of one of the enormous stained-glass windows depicting biblical scenes, which cast colorful rays of light on the pews and the polished marble floors.
He seemed to sense her gaze, for he turned slightly and, catching her eye, smiled; and Evelina smiled back, breathing in the fragrant scent of roses, lilies and other blooms of the magnificent floral arrangements amidst the flickering candlelight while her heartbeat quickened with excitement.Kitty surely must have been right, or he’d not be smiling at her like that.
Finally, the service came to an end, and the casket was carried down the aisle by eight pallbearers.
