Death of a Duchess by Nellie Steele (the beginning after the end novel read TXT) 📗

“You would fib even to your husband?” he teased.

The coquettish witticism roused a chuckle from me. “All right,” I surrendered. “I confess a question is darting around my mind.”

“What is it?”

“You mentioned an ill-fated séance. I was curious about it. Though if it is too painful a memory, we need not discuss it.”

“Oh, yes,” Robert responded. “It is not too unpleasant. We’d had… disturbances in the household since Annie’s passing. A distant relative wrote to me and suggested it may be Annie reaching out and we may attempt contacting Annie through a séance. I had no experience in the matter, but the avenue provided a distraction in the form of research.” I set my fork down, giving Robert my full attention, listening to the recounting. “I found a medium, and she recommended I gather several individuals to participate. I followed her instructions, inviting Lord and Lady Robertson, Edwin, one of Edwin’s friends and his spouse.

“With the details set, everyone arrived on a stormy spring evening. I realize how stereotypical this must sound, like a gothic novel, but...” Robert’s voice trailed off as though unsure he wanted to continue.

“Not at all,” I responded, encouraging him to go on. “Please continue.”

“Everyone gathered in the drawing room. Buchanan set up a large round table as instructed and the medium, Madam Goldstone was her name, explained that we should douse all but one candle, be seated, join hands and close our eyes. In retrospect, it was all very dramatic, I should have known better.

“After a few moments, the woman began moaning and told us Annie was near. She included various details about her as she described her entering the room and standing near the table. I inquired about her death, but no answers were forthcoming. I begged Annie to impart even the smallest amount of information through Madam Goldstone. Yet all the woman imparted were simple things such as how she loved me or missed me.”

“She gave no other details?” I questioned.

“She gave one additional detail,” Robert informed me. “As I pressed for more information, she conveyed a detail about Annie’s death that struck me. Annie wore a red dress when she took her life. Madam Goldstone claimed she wore it because red was her favorite color. Immediately, I became suspicious as red was not Annie’s favorite color. I assumed the information untrue and broke the circle by releasing Madam Goldstone’s hand.

“She told me we lost the connection due to my inability to follow instructions. I informed her of her gaffe regarding Annie’s favorite color. She claimed to only be repeating what Annie told her, but the information did not match. After an argument, the woman suggested we try again. Foolish of me, but I agreed. I was so desperate.”

 “Of course,” I murmured, encouraging him to continue.

“What happened next…” Robert’s voice trailed off again as he shook his head. “She claimed Annie returned. She babbled on about her suicide being the result of a terrible row we’d had recently. She continued that Annie had never recovered from the argument and the things said during it and threw herself from the turret in a fit of despondence over our failed marriage. It was at this moment that I broke the circle again and demanded the woman leave the house.”

I raised my eyebrows at the statement and Robert continued speaking. “Annie and I had no such quarrel. Certainly none that would have caused such a reaction. The woman was a charlatan and had outed herself as such by trying to provide details that did not fit.”

“Why would she take such a risk?” I pondered aloud.

“I came to learn later that the woman corresponded with anyone who may have details of the person in question prior to her séance. She used the details to establish herself as being legitimate.”

“Yet she had certain details incorrect. How did she come to have incorrect information?”

“The details surrounding Annie’s death were an embellishment created by Madam Goldstone. In an effort to appease me, since I had pushed for information, she created what she believed to be a likely scenario regarding a married couple. She assumed within the months leading to her death, there would be some trouble between us that I’d latch on to as the cause.”

“Ah,” I answered as realization dawned on me. “And there was no such argument.”

“No, none.”

“So, her less-than-clever lie allowed you to detect her ruse!”

Robert raised his eyebrows at me. “Yes.”

“I can imagine how upsetting that must have been,” I offered. “You hoped for answers and someone took advantage of that.”

“It was devastating,” Robert admitted. “The avenue I pursued offered me nothing. I considered it my last chance at finding information. After chasing the woman from the house and seeing most everyone off, I collapsed in a chair at the table. Lord Robertson was kind enough to stay with me. My mind was not well at that moment.

“I lamented that I would never learn the truth, and Lord Robertson offered me another way: you. He imparted the tale he’d heard from one of his staff. I made it my mission to find you.”

My brow furrowed and Robert, noting my expression, inquired, “What is it, Lenora?”

“How did you know you could trust me?”

He smiled. “Because you were not using your gift for fame or fortune. I did research, inquired of anyone who knew you. It was clear you were no charlatan.”

I returned his smile. “I hope I can provide more answers for you, true answers. I realize how her death troubles you.”

“You have already provided me with more than I could have hoped for when I sought you out,” Robert said with a smile as he resumed eating.

I returned to my meal as well, my mind turning to Annie and her less-than-cooperative behavior thus far. I silently wished for a better means of communication with her for Robert’s sake. The man had suffered so much over her death already. I hoped to provide him some peace soon.

Chapter 10

Following dinner, I returned to my room,