Read Online Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick - Free Book Online

one or two
    unfortunate incidents along the way over the years, but they were
    accidents, as it were."
      Accidents," Tobias repeated neutrally.
      No, not accidents," she corrected instantly.   Desperate acts of
    great bravery required to save the lives of others such as myself.
    Most definitely not cold-blooded murder. There is a vast difference,
    Tobias." She drew a breath.   Now, then, enough of that subject. Tell
    me where Aspasia Gray fits into this affair."
      Aspasia?" He frowned.   Did I not explain?"
      No, sir, you did not."
      She was Zachary's lover."
      Elland's lover. I see. That explains a few things, I suppose."
      They met in the spring before Waterloo. Aspasia conceived a
    great passion for Elland, and he appeared equally enthralled by her.
    They made plans to wed. When Zachary returned to his work as a
    spy that summer, he used Aspasia's entree in Society to obtain
    access to certain wealthy people. We believe that in addition to
    using the introductions to gather intelligence, he also took advantage of those opportunities to acquire some of his private clients."
      Dear heaven."
      One evening Aspasia stumbled onto the truth about how Elland
    made his living. In her horror, she fled from him. I have often
    wondered if the real reason he put the pistol to his head that night
    was not because I was closing in on him but because he had lost the
    woman he loved."
      I find it rather difficult to believe that a killer would have such a
    romantic sensibility," she muttered.
    The odd thing is that, in his own way, Elland's nature was both
    dramatic and romantic. He reminded me of an artist or poet who
    lusts after any experience that will provide him with the highest
    peaks of emotion and sensation."
      Without regard to the price he must pay?"
      Elland never counted the cost. He lived for the next thrill."
      What did Aspasia do after she learned he had taken his own life?"
      She was utterly distraught. It is the only time I have ever seen
    her in such a state. Elland was the only man she had ever truly
    loved, and she was inconsolable. It was not just the fact that he had
    taken his own life that wounded her so deeply."
      It was that she had loved him and not seen the truth of his
    nature?"
    Yes. Aspasia is a woman of the world, as I'm sure you have
    guessed. She considered herself too intelligent and too strong
    minded to be deceived in matters of love. Zachary's deception shook
    her to the core."
    She told herself that she ought to feel some sympathy for
    Aspasia, but every time she thought about how she had discovered
    the other woman with her arms around Tobias's neck, she found it
    impossible to summon up much pity.
    Nevertheless, she had to admit, learning that one's lover was a
    professional killer who took such a degree of satisfaction in his work
    that he marked it with his personal signature was enough to give
    any woman, even Cleopatra, a bad case of nerves.
      I collect that you feel a sense of obligation in all this," she said.
      And Misses Gray is no doubt playing on that sensibility. Does she
    blame you for starting Elland down the path that led to his personal
    destruction?"
      She did not say as much aloud, but, yes, I suspect she does."
      Rubbish," she said again, very harshly this time.   Absolute
    rubbish."
      I think she also feels a measure of guilt, because she was the one
    who helped him achieve the connections in Society that led to
    certain murders."
    Lavinia sighed.   What a sad tale."
    He opened his hand once more so that the candlelight flared on
    the small skull and crossbones.   And now it would seem that some
    one is determined to retell it."
      Surely you do not believe that Zachary Elland has come back
    from the grave to resume his career?"
      No, of course not. I myself found Elland's body, and I saw him
    buried. But this new killer sent a ring such as this to Aspasia, and
    I am quite certain that he intended for me to find this