Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates (distant reading .txt) 📗

remote, deadly moors in pursuit of the mysterious and legendary hound. Ricky and Stephen didn’t have much to say, and I guessed neither of them had read the book. Leon hadn’t either, but he had seen some of the movie versions. Every time he made a point, he glanced at Evangeline out of the corner of his eye, hoping for her approval, but she scarcely seemed to notice. She sat quietly, ankles crossed, hands in her lap, almost pulled into herself, and I couldn’t read her thoughts.

“If anyone would like to get a feel for the atmosphere of the Grimpen Mire,” Louise Jane said, as the meeting began to break up, “the marsh outside these doors can be a mighty spooky place at night.”

I was about to tell Louise Jane to stop spreading her ghost stories in the library when Daisy gave an exaggerated shiver. “Even if mists aren’t swirling around your feet and dogs howling in the distance.”

“Even if Sherlock Holmes isn’t shouting, ‘Come, Watson!’ ” Louise Jane laughed. “Although we did get a fright last night when we heard that silly little thing of yours barking, Lucy.”

“What silly—” I said. “You mean that was you? You were on the marsh last night?”

“What silly little thing might that be?” Evangeline snapped.

“Some ridiculous dog poor Lucy’s been stuck looking after,” Louise Jane said.

Mom choked. Ricky stifled a laugh.

Louise Jane looked from one of them to the other. “Oh. Is that your dog? Sorry. Cute little thing. Feisty.”

“Fluffy is not feisty! I’ll have you know, her mother was a kennel club winner,” Evangeline said.

I struggled to get a word in edgewise, having more important things on my mind than Fluffy’s parentage. “You were in the marsh, Louise Jane? Last night? With flashlights?”

“Yup. We heard you and Connor and that … uh … nice little puppy. I wanted to sneak up and yell, ‘Boo,’ but Daisy said that wouldn’t be nice.”

“No, it wouldn’t,” Daisy said. “We’ve been out a couple of nights. Louise Jane says, and I agree with her, that the best way to get a feel for how things were in the past is to try to get away from all the noise and the bustle of modern civilization, as hard as that can be sometimes. Your marsh is so beautiful at night. And so quiet, I can almost believe I’m walking through it two hundred years ago. Until a plane flies overhead, anyway.”

“Or someone brings a yappy dog,” Louise Jane added. “Not that anyone did. Bring a yappy dog. Last night.”

“Are you ready to go, Evangeline?” Mom asked.

Evangeline broke off glaring at Louise Jane. “I want to see Fluffy. I need to let her know we’ll be together again soon.”

“Were you in the marsh on Monday night?” I asked Louise Jane.

“Yes, we were,” Daisy said. “It was brilliant with all that mist swirling around. Really spooky. It’s still early. Anyone up for going round the pub?”

“Sounds good,” Louise Jane said.

“Splendid idea,” Theodore said.

“I’ll give James a call,” Daisy said. “See if he’s ready to join us.”

“Where is he tonight?” I asked, ever so casually. “Not interested in our little book club?”

“He went over to Charlene’s house to have dinner with her and her mum,” Daisy said.

“That’s nice.” I studied Daisy’s pretty face while trying not to look too obvious about it. Did she and James have a truly open marriage, or did Daisy not realize that Charlene was in love with her husband? Or did Daisy trust James completely?

“Although,” Daisy added, “it’s starting to get a bit much, him always saying he has other things to do or going off without telling me. We only rented one car, and I hate having to keep begging Louise Jane for a lift if we want to do something in the evenings.”

“I don’t mind,” Louise Jane said.

“Well, I do,” Daisy said.

Theodore turned to Mom and Evangeline. “Nice seeing you again, Mrs. Richardson, Mrs. Lewiston.”

“And you too,” Mom said.

Evangeline said nothing.

The meeting began to break up and book club members clattered downstairs, chatting about the book, about venturing into the marsh at night, making plans for the weekend.

“Fluffy,” Evangeline said to me.

“I’ll take you up. Only one more flight to climb.”

“A drink sounds like a nice idea,” Stephen said. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, Ricky, if you’ve any idea what’s going to happen to the Frankland cases now that Rich isn’t around.”

Leon jerked his head in the direction of Evangeline. “That’s hardly a polite way of putting it.”

“Sorry,” Stephen said, sounding not at all sorry. “We’ll wait for you downstairs.”

“I don’t know,” Ricky said as the two men left the meeting room. “I was hoping you could tell me …”

Their voices faded away. I called to Charles, and Mom, Evangeline, Leon, and I left the meeting room. Evangeline glared at Charles, who returned her glare before nimbly leaping up the stairs.

The moment I opened the door to the Lighthouse Aerie, Evangeline dropped to a crouch and held out her arms, crying, “Come to Mommy!” Fluffy leapt off the window seat in a flurry of white fur and almost tripped over herself in her rush to do so. They greeted each other joyfully. Fluffy yipped. Evangeline cooed.

Charles headed for his food bowl to see if it had miraculously been filled while we were out. He was to be disappointed.

“Nice apartment,” Leon said.

“Thanks,” I replied.

Fluffy flipped over onto her belly and allowed Evangeline to rub and scratch at it. Finally, Evangeline started to stand. She wobbled on her heels and grunted softly. Leon grabbed her arm and hoisted her to her feet. She smoothed down her skirt. “My darling seems to be well cared for, Lucy. Thank you. And thank you for the … uh … pleasant evening.”

“I’ll walk you downstairs,” I said.

“That drink sounds like a good idea to me,” Leon said. “How about you ladies?”

“Not for me,” Mom said. “I’ve had a long day.”

“Perhaps a quick one,” Evangeline said. She waved her fingers at Fluffy. “Good-bye, my darling. Don’t worry, we’ll be going home soon. I won’t