Ashes of Roses
Page 53
“There were a lot of purple and red complexions,” Miles recalled.
“It was great to see how Evie, Douglas, James and Katharine, Grandmother Bannerman, and Daniel, worked together to bring about the desired outcome,” I added. “No one suspected they were working together, or that it was even a possibility. No one cog bore too much of the load when Evie’s escape was discovered, then discussed, and a solution was found.”
“They could not have executed a completely successful outcome, without everyone doing their part,” Miles said. “By the time they were through, both Evie’s parents and Douglas’ were begging Helen to step in.”
“It was beautiful,” I sighed in satisfaction.
“I wish we could see it too,” Annette sighed with longing.
“Yeah, but we’re kind of like them, in a way,” Xander said.
“Every one of us has a part to play,” Miles agreed. “Our historical broadcasts, while intriguing, are short on proof.”
“A lot of good they would’ve done anyone, if that’s all we had,” I said. “Besides, you found the truth before we saw it play out.”
“That’s true, and I’m thankful the rest of us got to participate,” Annette said. “So what about the Countess? Did you ever find out any more than you did the night of the ball?”
Miles closed his eyes tightly, pinched the bridge of his nose, and tried not to laugh.
“What? What’d she do?” Xander demanded sharply.
“Hey!” I took offense, and he looked at me funny.
“Not you, but what did you do?” Xander wanted to know.
“To answer your original question, Anika did learn every last detail,” Miles managed to say calmly, but there was laughter in his eyes.
“Okay, so… how did she do that?” Jenny hazarded to ask.
“We were with Edmund the next morning, when the Countess and her husband returned to gather what she left behind when they eloped,” Miles said. “Edmund, of course, wanted to know what she knew and when, and how she managed to fool Delacroix. She started to speak, when Anika stopped her, and said ‘don’t tell me everything, just lie, that’s all I want’.”
Our friends burst out laughing. I rolled my eyes.
“You’re kidding!” Annette exclaimed.
“You did not!” Jenny declared.
“Well, I was tired, for goodness’ sake!” I defended myself. “Besides, I couldn’t understand a word the woman said, and it wouldn’t be fair to make Miles translate. He was tired, too!”
“Not too tired to laugh, which shows I can be desensitized to just about anything,” Miles said. “The Countess had to wonder at the request, but she was willing to do far more than that, since Anika exposed Delacroix, and ensured he was forever off her back. So she did as Anika asked, and lied about it.”
“So I got everything,” I said, with an offended look at each of our friends, who were still laughing, or more or less trying to stifle it. Mostly less. “The great-aunt with dementia was more on the ball than people thought, and before Delacroix showed up to claim custody, she warned the Countess not to trust him. They came up with the plan to make her act like she was too spaced out to be a threat, and although Delacroix was quick to say her father’s aunt wasn’t sharp enough to serve as guardian, he trusted her when she shaved a year off the Countess’ birthdate. So, once again, it was a matter of teamwork. The Countess was in boarding school most of the time, which suited her just as well as it did Delacroix. That’s where she met Geoff. It was hard on them having to keep their relationship a secret, and being separated part of the time, but they were willing to wait in order to ultimately rid their lives of Delacroix. The ring the Countess wore when she and Sir Edmund returned after their lengthy shopping trip, was the one her real fiancé gave her. She figured since she was supposedly engaged to Sir Edmund, it was her opportunity to wear it.”
“That about wraps it up, unless you can think of anything we haven’t covered,” Miles said.
“No… I guess that’s it,” John spoke for the rest of us.
“Good,” I said with satisfaction. “That’s one more case successfully resolved. Or I guess it’s more than one, but they’re all kind of connected. It’s done, anyway. It’s a good thing, too. June will be here before you know it, and as best man and matron of honor, we’ve got responsibilities! From now until then, the item at the top of our agenda is your wedding. Nothing else is getting in the way of that.”
Jenny bit her lip as she considered that.
“Was that statement followed by silence, or a tone?” she dared ask.
“A tone,” I winced, and the rest laughed in sympathy. “The truth is, I have no idea what might happen between now and then.”
“Well, no matter what, you’re not in it alone,” Xander promised.
“We’ve got your backs,” John seconded.
“Absolutely,” Jenny agreed.
“We’re in this together, whatever ‘it’ is next,” Annette said.
“Clue Collars,” Xander said abruptly. We all stared in confusion. “You know, like white or blue collars, only it’s clues.”
“Uh…” John once again summed it up for the rest of us.
“I’m sorry, Xander,” Miles said solemnly. “That is honestly the worst idea I’ve heard in a long time.”
“That’s the truth!” I confirmed, and we all laughed.
“Okay, fine, just trying to get creative,” Xander conceded. “How about Conundrum Crackers?”
“People would think we are crackers, if we go around with a name like that,” John said.
“Not if it’s our secret identity name,” Xander declared. “It’d be secret.”
“I agree,” Miles said, earning him several stunned glances. “Let’s never speak of this again.”
We burst out laughing, but our dangerously creative friend would not be discouraged.
“Criminal Collectors, Darkness Destroyers, Evil Eliminators,” Xander rattled off.
I didn’t have to consult Miles to know we were in complete agreement. There was only one thing to say to that.
No. Just no!
Also by Melissa R. L. Simonin
The House of Bannerman
Miles, House of Bannerman book 1
House of Shadows, House of Bannerman book 2
Darkness Falls, House of Bannerman book 3
The Lodge at Whispering Pines, House of Bannerman book 4
Depart the Darkness, House of Bannerman book 5
Mystery Lane
715 Mystery Lane, Mystery Lane book 1
601 Suspense Street, Mystery Lane book 2
423 Apprehensive Avenue, Mystery Lane book 3
The Investigations of Jack Ryland
Last Chance Inn, The Investigations of Jack Ryland book 1
Cottonwood Hotel, The Investigations of Jack Ryland book 2
Terms of Engagement
Terms of Engagement, Terms of Engagement book 1
Failure to Engage, Terms of Engagement book 2
Disengaged, Terms of Engagement book 3
Stand-Alone Novels
Camp Emmaus
Stonecastle Inn
Isle of the Crescent Moon
Hiding Treasure
Lochlan Museum
Uncertainly Yours, a Bannerman Foundation Mystery
Coming soon…
Gone in a Flash, the Investigations of Jack Ryland book 3
About the Author
Melissa R. L. Simonin writes the books she wants to read: good clean rated G romance, mystery, suspense, fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, historical, and Christian fiction, with main characters that inspire, who have senses of humor and are good at heart, and which leave one feeling encouraged and better for having read the book. Her characters have stories to tell, so she gets up early and stays up late, because she doesn’t want to miss a thing. Unless she feels like writing two or more novels simultaneously and giving up sleep entirely, she’s learned not to name characters until she’s ready
to write, because once they have their names their stories begin, and there is no “pause” option.
In addition to racing to keep up with her characters, Melissa currently resides in Katy, Texas with Brad, her husband of twenty-six years; fifteen-year-old daughter Emily; cats Pandora and Star; Golden retriever and retired Diabetic Alert Dog, Independence; Arctic the White German Shepherd; and Squinty the teddy bear hamster.
While famous for burning cheese sandwiches when her characters are in the middle of a conversation, due to popular demand she usually serves the rest of the household un-burnt offerings, grocery shops on occasion, cleans when absolutely necessary, studies the Bible daily, relies on Jesus completely, listens to Citizen Way and Hawk Nelson frequently, and carries her laptop and immersive headphones with her wherever she goes.
Melissa’s current and ongoing series include The House of Bannerman, Mystery Lane, The Investigations of Jack Ryland, and Terms of Engagement.
Get the latest news on upcoming books and behind the scenes info you won’t find anywhere else, by visiting https://melissasimonin.com