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

gone, figuring I would not return. No, I insisted with a shake of my head. No, I would continue. I must. I climbed each of the remaining steps, firming my resolve and my mind with each footfall. I possessed the strength to reenter that room, I told myself.

I reached the top of the stairs, hesitating on the landing just outside the doorway. I peered inside, grasping the doorjamb to steady my legs, which threatened to betray me. An empty room stared back at me. My foot hovered over the threshold. After a breath, I placed it inside the room, followed by the other. I drew in another deep breath. I had done it. I had reentered the room and faced my fear.

“Annie?” I called again. “I am sorry. My nerves remain rattled after my last experience here. But I have overcome my fear.”

I waited a moment but received no response. Annie did not appear. “Annie?” I tried a third time. I waited another moment. “Next time then.”

I exited the room and rushed down the stairs. Despite the courage I displayed moments earlier, my trepidation over the room remained. I hurried to put distance between me and that fated space.

Over dinner, I broached the subject of Annie’s visit with Robert. Annie’s vexation with him may be mended with a simple conversation. At least I hoped so. “Annie visited me today,” I announced as I stirred my soup.

“Oh?” Robert inquired, dropping his spoon from his mouth and staring at me.

“Yes,” I continued. “As I listened to my singing box, she quieted it to draw my attention.” Robert’s jaw tensed, but I continued, determined to get my point across. “She is upset.”

Robert’s eyebrows raised, and he opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. I waited a moment, and he finally spoke. “SHE is upset?” he questioned.

“Yes,” I responded. “She is upset… with you.”

“With me?” Robert’s voice raised a level, filling with indignation.

“She wishes you to realize she intended no harm to come to me during the last… incident. I suspected as much…”

Robert’s disgusted sigh interrupted me. His hand fell to the table, rattling the dishes. “Lenora,” he said, “we have been over this. The… incident, as you prefer to call it, nearly resulted in your death. I shall not have you carrying on with this.”

“I am investigating, as is my task…”

“As WAS your task, Lenora. When I solicited your help on the matter, I did not realize the extent to which Annie would behave in such a contrary manner to the way in which she lived. It still baffles me that she engages in such destructive behavior!”

“She does not mean to be destructive! She is communicating. And while the incident frightened me, I must continue. She is desperate, hurting. I must help her!”

Robert closed his eyes for a moment, his jaw set. His displeasure was apparent. So be it. If we were to have a row, then we should have it, I thought. I would not abandon my mission to help this poor soul. Even if I chose to, Annie may not allow it. He opened his stormy gray eyes, stormier now because of his umbrage. “Lenora,” he responded, his tone measured, “I have already explained that you owe me nothing. I no longer wish you to pursue this dangerous gambit! I recognized our arrangement hinged upon you providing information about Annie’s death. However, I did not realize how dangerous of a task I requested. We are married. You are my wife. It is my duty to protect you, and I shall. From living or dead. I no longer expect information regarding the matter. Consider the arrangement concluded!”

“You no longer expect it, or you no longer desire it?” I queried. “It is an important distinction. And what of the other part of our arrangement? Am I to consider that concluded as well?”

Robert set his mouth in a thin line. “Let us not argue about the matter,” he answered, collecting his spoon and returning to his soup.

“I do not wish to argue,” I continued. “Merely to know the score.”

“Damn it, Lenora!” he boomed, his spoon clattering to the table. “You know full well the score!” He paused, then continued, his voice lowered and containing no anger. “That was unfair. I apologize. Yet, you must realize I have come to care for you.”

Robert’s assessment was correct. I had suspected him to be keen on me, though I had no experience with such sentiments. My reaction was delayed, tainted by my life’s experiences and confusion regarding our agreement. The delay caused Robert to continue speaking. “Though, I suppose I must again apologize. My offer included a lifestyle, not an emotional entanglement.”

My pulse quickened as I realized my silence had been misconstrued as disapproval. “I do not object,” I burst out. Over our brief marriage, I, too, had grown to care for my husband. I experienced an acceptance I had never known before, and his presence offered me comfort.

Robert glanced to me, before returning his eyes to his soup bowl. A slight smile crept across his lips as he retrieved his spoon. “I am pleased you do not. Then let us consider the matter settled. We shall remain married and you shall no longer be expected to pursue this inquiry. Are we agreed?”

“No, we are not,” I responded. Robert lowered his spoon again, his eyebrows raised as he gazed at me. I met his glance. “I agree that we shall remain married, however, I do not agree to abandon my pursuit of information with Annie.”

“This is unwise!” Robert argued.

“No,” I disagreed. “Annie did not mean to harm me. When she visited me earlier, she made that much clear. It also remains clear that she needs help. Something disturbs her. I want to help her.” I paused, then added, “And I realize, while you may not understand her behavior, find it dangerous and that you wish no harm come to me, you still desire to know what caused her to end her life. Besides, at this stage,