She looked at him. "I couldn’t tell anyone...."
"We understand. What do you know about Verona Stourbridge’s death?"
"I believe she always thought Lucius was... an abandoned baby. She hid the truth from Major Stourbridge, but she had no knowledge of any crime, only her own deception, made from her despair that she would never bear a child for her husband. I know now that she knew it was Aiden’s child, but not about me or how he was concerned. She must have asked Aiden about it—and although he loved her, he could not afford to let her know the truth." Her voice dropped. "No matter how close they were, and they truly were, she might one day have told someone—she would have had to—to explain—" In spite of herself her eyes went to Lucius, sitting on the front bench, the tears running down his cheeks.
"I’m so sorry," Miriam whispered. "I’m so, so sorry..."
Rathbone turned to the judge.
"My lord, is it necessary to protract this any longer? May we adjourn for an hour or so before we conclude? I have nothing further to ask, and I cannot believe Mr. Tobias will pursue this anymore."
Tobias rose to his feet. "I am quite willing, my lord. What little remains can be dealt with after an adjournment. Major Stourbridge and his family have my deepest sympathy."
"Very good." The judge banged his gavel, and after a moment’s heavy stillness, people began to move.
Rathbone felt bruised, exhausted, as if he had made some great physical journey. He turned to Hester and Monk, who were coming towards him from the body of the court. Just behind them was a man with scruffy black hair and a beard that went in every direction. He was beaming with satisfaction, his eyes shining.
Hester smiled.
"You have achieved the impossible," Monk said, holding out his hand to Rathbone.
Rathbone took it and held it hard for a few moments.
"We still have the matter of the medicines," he warned.
"No, we don’t!" Hester assured him. "Mr. Phillips here is the apothecary at the hospital. He has persuaded Fermin Thorpe that nothing is missing. It was all a matter of natural wastage and a few rather careless entries in the books. No actual thefts at all. It was a mistake to have mentioned it."
Rathbone was incredulous. "How in heaven’s name did you do that?" He regarded Phillips with interest and a growing respect.
"Never enjoyed anything more," Phillips said, grinning broadly. "A little issue of one favor for another—resurrection, you might say!"
Monk looked at Hester narrowly.
She beamed back at him with complete innocence.
"Well done, Mr. Phillips," Rathbone said gratefully. "I am much obliged."
And don’t miss this
Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novel
in paperback:
BEDFORD SQUARE by ANNE PERRY
Another matchless Victorian mystery of men and women who embrace the best and the worst of human nature, where vicious lies become weapons of destruction—and dead men tell no lies.
Published by Ballantine Books.
Available at a bookstore near you.
By Anne Perry
Published by The Random House Publishing Group:
Featuring Thomas and Charlotte Pitt:
THE CATER STREET HANGMAN
CALLANDER SQUARE
PARAGON WALK
RESURRECTION ROW
BLUEGATE FIELDS
RUTLAND PLACE
DEATH IN THE DEVIL’S ACRE
CARDINGTON CRESCENT
SILENCE IN HANOVER CLOSE
BETHLEHEM ROAD
HIGHGATE RISE
BELGRAVE SQUARE
FARRIERS’ LANE
THE HYDE PARK HEADSMAN
TRAITORS GATE
PENTECOST ALLEY
ASHWORTH HALL
BRUNSWICK GARDENS
BEDFORD SQUARE
HALF MOON STREET
THE WHITECHAPEL CONSPIRACY
SOUTHAMPTON ROW
SEVEN DIALS
Featuring William Monk:
THE FACE OF A STRANGER
A DANGEROUS MOURNING
DEFEND AND BETRAY
A SUDDEN, FEARFUL DEATH
THE SINS OF THE WOLF
CAIN HIS BROTHER
WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE
THE SILENT CRY
A BREACH OF PROMISE
THE TWISTED ROOT
SLAVES OF OBSESSION
FUNERAL IN BLUE
DEATH OF A STRANGER
THE SHIFTING TIDE
The World War I Novels:
NO GRAVES AS YET
SHOULDER THE SKY
Books published by The Random House Publishing Group are available at quantity discounts on bulk purchases for premium, educational, fund-raising, and special sales use. For details, please call 1-800-733-3000.
A Ballantine Book
Published by The Random House Publishing Group
Copyright © 1999 by Anne Perry
Excerpt from Treason at Lisson Grove copyright © 2011 by Anne Perry.
Excerpt from Execution Dock copyright © 2009 by Anne Perry.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
Ballantine and colophon are trademarks of Random House, Inc.
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Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 00-104507
First Mass Market Domestic Edition: September 2000
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eISBN: 978-0-307-41744-2