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“Don’t sound so excited about it.”
“No, of course not, but it would be very dramatic.”
“Well, since I have access to all the books and bank statements, I can assure you that the estate is in sound financial shape.”
“Maybe he murdered someone and buried the body on the property.”
He regarded her with misgiving. “You have some very lurid ideas.”
She bubbled over with laughter. “Well, but your father is so proper and kind. I just can’t imagine what sort of secret he could be keeping from you.”
He was grave. “It’s more likely that he’s nursing a serious illness and is trying to summon the courage to tell me.”
Madeleine instantly sobered. “Oh no! I hope that’s not true.”
“So do I. But even if it is, I think I have to wait until he is ready to talk to me.”
“If it is—if it is, please come tell me. I would want to know.”
“Thank you. I will.”
A moment of silence passed between them. Madeleine shook her head and tried to brighten her voice. “Well! We’ve stumbled onto some dark topics. Let’s think of something more light-hearted to talk about and then, I’m afraid, we’ll have to start making our way home.”
“I was regretfully thinking the same thing,” Reese said, raising his hand to signal the captain. The floor of the deck thrummed below them, and the boat began making a slow circle in the water. “I actually have business to attend to this evening, though I set the appointment for as late as possible.”
“And my father is entertaining clients at the house tonight and wants me to be present,” she said. “So I must go home and comb the tangles out of my hair and scrub the sunshine from my face.”
“Nonsense. A look of windblown carelessness inspires confidence in the most severe and judgmental man.”
She laughed, but Reese frowned. “Although—are you up to playing hostess for your father? We haven’t talked about how you’re doing after your scare the other night.”
“I’m fine. Well—I admit I’ve been a little edgy. A little more emotional than usual. But certainly I’m well enough to make polite conversation with a few people over dinner.”
“And I suppose they’ve learned nothing more about the person who attacked you.”
“Shedied.”
“I heard that.”
“She took poison rather than let them interrogate her. That’s probably what frightens me most about this whole situation. What was she afraid to reveal?”
Reese was frowning. “That’s not right.”
“What? She’s not dead?”
“No, she is, but—she didn’t take poison.”
Madeleine was bewildered. “What? How do you know that?”
Reese made an impatient gesture. “One of my men used to be a temple guard and still has friends in the ranks. He said her throat was cut.”
“But—”
“He seemed pretty certain. He said there was an investigation under way to determine who had been with her and how it could possibly have happened.”
“But then why would Harlo have told me that?” She thought about it some more. “Although, it wasn’t actually Harlo who told me. It was Benito. But Harlo was standing right there.”
“My guess? They thought you would be even more upset to learn she’d died violently. So they came up with a different story.”
