Page 45 of Bloodlines and Birthright

“We have,” Oscar said. “She knew nothing about it.”

Signore Scala’s lips flattened and I expected him to tell us not to believe her. But he did not.

“Speaking of the Colombo family,” Miss Wheeler said. “Did you know their son died recently?”

Signore Scala shook his head. “That is sad news and I am sorry to hear it, but it is not relevant to my stolen spell.”

“I thought perhaps your brother the abbot mentioned it to you after you told him the family spell was stolen by Colombo.”

“I did not mention it to him. As I said, we are not close.”

“But it’s an important family heirloom and he is family. You also saw one another recently when he gave you the books. I simply thought he may have mentioned the child’s death in passing since it upset him that the family didn’t want the boy to have a Christian burial.”

Signore Scala showed no sign of knowing or even caring. He simply invited the majordomo to show us to the door.

The majordomo didn’t seem to have heard. Signore Scala had to repeat himself before the servant stepped forward and indicated the way. He opened the front door for us.

Oscar, Miss Wheeler and I didn’t leave. We all rounded on the majordomo. The fellow glanced back at the drawing room door, now closed with Signore Scala inside, out of sight.

It took no prompting whatsoever for the majordomo to talk. He must have wanted to speak up very much. “I am familiar with the family you speak of,” he said. “My aunt is from Pecco and knows the Colombo family. She is going to the funeral of Giovanni Colombo today. They are a good family, they attend church. I do not think my aunt went to the funeral of their son, but he would have had a proper Christian burial. The abbot must be mistaken.”

“You mean he lied,” Oscar said.

“A man of God does not lie,” the majordomo said through clenched teeth. “The abbot was mistaken.” He ushered us through the door then shut it.

We stood on the porch, not moving. I was trying to think about what it could all mean, and whether it actually meant anything at all, when Miss Wheeler set off, lifting her skirts away from her ankles as she descended the steps.

Oscar joined her and slapped his hat on his head. “We need to speak to the abbot again,” he said. “We need to find out what he and Signore Colombo argued about because it wasn’t the lack of a Christian burial for his son.”

“Agreed,” Miss Wheeler said as she opened her parasol. “Then I suspect we’ll be returning to Pecco to question the widow once more, but we shall see what the abbot tells us first.” She realized I was lagging behind and shortened her strides until I caught up. “You’ve got an odd look on your face, Professor. Are you all right?”

“I know the look. He’s thought of something.” Oscar’s tone was approving. Proud, even. “What is it, Gavin?”

I didn’t answer straight away. I took a moment to consider my theory and all the possibilities and potential implications. Then I pushed my glasses up my nose and moved to stand between them. “We should go to Pecco first, before the abbey. We’ve been lied to.”

“Yes, by the abbot,” Oscar said.

“Not just by him. If I’m correct, then the entire village is lying, too.”

Chapter 15

I believed the majordomo when he said the Colombo family were devout and would have buried their son with a proper Christian ceremony. He had no reason to lie. The abbot made that story up when we confronted him over his argument with Giovanni Colombo. It was the only thing he could think of on the spot that we might believe.

“We will find out what their argument was really about,” I went on. “But only after we confirm the boy is, in fact, dead.”

That stopped Miss Wheeler and Oscar in their tracks. Both stared at me, mouths ajar.

“I don’t think he is.” I held up one finger to present my first piece of evidence. “The majordomo claimed his aunt is going to Signore Colombo’s funeral but did not attend the son’s. Why go to the funeral for one but not the other? Is it because there wasn’t one for the son?”

Oscar removed his hat and scrubbed a hand through his hair as he considered my theory. “Hence your reasoning that the entire village must be in on the lie. In a village that size, everyone knows everyone. They would be suspicious if there was no funeral, so they had to be included in the lie. Perhaps they’re even helping to hide the boy now.”

I held up a second finger. “Also, we heard the floorboards creak above us in Signora Colombo’s house.” I put up a third finger. “And finally, Signora Colombo would be in deep grief for her lost child. Her only child. She seemed more angry than sad, however, and that anger was directed at her deceased husband.”

“Who is most definitely dead,” Oscar added.

Miss Wheeler nodded along. “The abbot’s lie was rooted in truth—the lack of a funeral.”

“It’s just a theory,” I reminded them as we set off again. “Which is why I want to go to Pecco to confirm it before we confront the abbot.”