Mystery in the Darkest Shadow

by Byers, Beth

  “He must have considered all of these people as someone to entrust me with. At least temporarily. Look at these dots. They’re next to Andre, each of his brothers, and Nathaniel Sidney. What if those were No’s?”

  “Those could mean anything,” Charles told her, but he didn’t sound nearly as convinced as Severine felt.

  “They could, but he never liked Andre. I knew that from my earliest days. Sister Mary Chastity said she left her family because of what they’d done to her. She said it was bad. Charles, Father would know the details there. He would know—if he wasn’t the one who hurt her himself—that his brothers weren’t to be trusted with me if they hurt her.

  “He could have been the one who hurt her.”

  Severine shook her head. “Then why would he send me to her? He wasn't a forgiving man. He didn’t project that to others.”

  “You are guessing here,” Charles told her. “I want you to be right if only to move us forward. But—”

  “I think I’m right,” Severine said. “Father seems to have worked against Mr. Sidney since Mr. Sidney stopped working for Father. If so, Mr. Sidney wouldn’t be a good choice to be my guardian. Father would have known that Mr. Sidney had every reason to strike out at me. He figured out a plan for me when he might have figured out an escape for himself.” Severine paused, grabbing his wrist. “We need to find out what Father hired Mr. Shaw to do and when.”

  “Now that’s an idea,” Charles said. “That might well be a place to start an actual investigation rather than stumbling about blindly.”

  “We also need to find out what Bernadette knows because it is certainly more than she’s saying.”

  Charles expression closed, and she guessed he’d prefer to avoid trying to pin Bernadette down.

  “Coward,” Severine hissed.

  “I’m not even ashamed of it. That woman is…interesting.”

  Chapter 17

  Severine dreamed of her father punching her over and over, and it was the sound of her own crying that woke her. She cracked open her eyes and then gasped at the dark eyes staring intently at her. A moment later Anubis licked her cheek and she reached out, curling into the warmth of his neck. She felt Kali’s head digging into her hip.

  Persephone was with Lisette, but Severine knew that the other dog would have pressed against her spine. She probably shouldn’t sleep with her dogs, but they made her feel safe, and she hadn’t felt safe at night since she left the convent. She wanted—no, needed the dogs with her.

  Severine cried into Anubis’s neck. Seeing Florette and realizing her father had hurt her had somehow made Severine face that her father had hurt her over and over, just not physically. He hadn’t protected her from Flora. Her mother had made Severine feel like an unwanted goblin and the most Father had done was let Severine hide. The best thing he’d ever done for her was die and give her to his sister.

  Severine hated herself for thinking that, but she did think it. She remembered arriving at the convent. The letter that had come with her, still sealed. She didn’t know what it had said, but it had been addressed to Sister Mary Chastity, and the nun had come outside with the Mother Superior. They’d looked over the little girl that had been Severine, read the letter, and then discussed quietly and fervently in a foreign language. Severine had been aware that her fate was in the balance, and she hadn’t been able to understand what they said. She’d only known she was terrified.

  Then Mary Chastity had knelt in front of Severine, eyes full of darkness. Had it been hatred because of who she was? Had it been pain for what she’d been through? Severine knew only that it hadn’t been the shining light of love. That had come later, but at first—it hadn’t been love.

  She swallowed thickly and rose to wash her face. If you had bad dreams and took the time to wash your face and brush your teeth, sometimes you could make the dreams fade. She tried that and when it didn’t work, she decided to dress for the day.

  She found her way down the stairs and found Sister Sophie and Bernadette in the kitchen. Severine snuggled into Sister Sophie and asked, “Are you adjusting all right?”

  “Of course I am,” Sister Sophie replied, placing a kiss on Severine’s temple. “Bad dreams?”

  Severine didn’t bother to say no. “Sister Sophie, maybe I should go back to the nunnery?”

  Sister Sophie shook her head. “Darling, it’s a beautiful life if you have the calling, but I don’t think that you do.”

  Severine let Sister Sophie wrap her up and then glanced at Chantae, who had been watching silently. Bernadette was beating the dough to submission, but she’d stopped long enough to put some of that terrible tea in front of Severine. She was almost grateful for it.

  “That Van Ausdell person is coming to the house tonight,” Bernadette said. “What are we looking to find out from him?”

  “I don’t know,” Severine said. “I feel like we’re trying to find our way to the bottom of a pit in another country, led by a map in another language. I have no idea what we’re doing. Charles doesn’t know despite having kept things running. Do you know?”

  Chantae snorted, amused, but Severine had been serious. Bernadette shook her head. “You’re jumping ahead again, Severine. First, we assess.”

  “Then?”

  “Then we decide what to do. Silly girl. Information is everything, and you have none of it right now. Let’s focus on this Van Ausdell.”

  Severine shook her head on that one too. “I don’t know what we want to know. What do we want to know?”

  “Things he won’t answer,” Bernadette said. “We’ll get a feel for him and decide if he’s more like Charles or like your uncles.”

  Severine paused, head tilted in question.

  “Charles told me your theory when you went to check on the children. Maybe your father was deciding who he could trust with you. Maybe he was also trying to find out who was intent on killing him. We’ll just see what we find.”

  “What about Florette? What do you think? You helped her.”

  “I did,” Bernadette said. She shook her head. “Your father did you more of a favor than you realize.”

  “Can we trust her?”

  “Oh, I think not.”

  Bernadette started forming dough for beignets and Severine’s eyes widened in sheer joy. Fresh, hot, Bernadette-style beignets.

  They ate and spent the day home. Severine spent it hiding from the rest of the household, reading. She needed the break. With her dogs curled nearby, she lost herself in a book.

  When evening arrived, Charles appeared with both Greyson Thorne and Osiris Oliver. Severine gasped at their arrived. “Did you find her?”

  Greyson shook his head. Osiris said nothing, but his face was so wooden, Severine felt certain there was a wealth of emotion behind the mask.

  “Some friend of your father’s is coming?” Osiris asked.

  Severine nodded. Her dress was long, slinky, and black. She felt it was appropriate for a man who should be mourning an old friend. “I hope you’ll stay for dinner.”

  “I’ll stay, but it won’t be for dinner. We were able to link Jane to your father’s people, Sev.” His voice was toneless.

  Severine froze. “I—” She glanced at Greyson. Were they enemies now? Did they look at her and only see her terrible bloodline? Did they hate her now?

  “We’re in this together,” Osiris said, and it had to be him, she realized, to reach out. He’d always been the one who hadn’t been as open. His jaw was clenching over and over again. “We knew it was likely someone among the New Orleans elite. The more we dove in, the more we realized that something as secretive as the murder of your parents and my wife’s disappearance could easily be linked. You aren’t responsible.”

  Severine felt as though it had been rehearsed. Was it because he’d needed to say it over and over again for them to be friends? Or was it because Greyson had told Osiris over and over again what to say? Her doubt must have shown on her face.

  “You aren’t responsible,
Sev,” he repeated firmly. “You weren’t here. You were a child when you left. It’s not even surprising to come back and realize that you took those children in.”

  “But you aren’t staying for dinner.” Her tone was gentle, trying not to take it as an indication that he no longer trusted her, and he shook his head.

  “I’m going to be the unexpected.”

  “Unexpected?”

  “Like Greyson last time you had visitors.”

  He was speaking about the invasion that Greyson helped stop.

  This, however, was different. Severine frowned. “He’s been invited.”

  “I’m not fit for company that isn’t family,” Osiris confessed. “I’ll be happier in the kitchens with a gun.”

  Severine winced for him, though she was relieved to have another guard in the house. “There really are five orphans in the nursery. They’re little, and they should be asleep. They’d be the priority if the evening turns out to be something other than swordfish and roasted potatoes.”

  “Better to be careful,” Osiris agreed.

  “Talk to Sister Sophie while you’re there,” Severine suggested. “She always makes me feel better.”

  Severine went upstairs to finish dressing and was nearly done when Bernadette gave her an antique comb. “This is the one I based yours off of which has yet to arrive.” She showed where the small pin could be pulled from the comb. “Do not scratch yourself.”

  Severine took the hair piece and carefully pulled out the pin. It wasn’t easy, and Bernadette had her do it over and over again until it was easy and she could do it without looking, without even getting close to scratching herself.

  “Why are we so worried? Even if this fellow is involved, what can he do with all of us here and our guard up?”

  “The first step is to assess,” Bernadette reminded her. “You don’t assess stupidly. Always be prepared.”

  * * *

  Severine thought about what Bernadette said as the hour approached 8:00 p.m. She suddenly rose and hurried to the office, opening the hidden safe and taking out the book her father had carried. She replaced it with the one she’d been using for her own thoughts. Her father’s she ran upstairs and put inside of the grandfather clock at the top of the stairs. She adjusted her ring and her hair comb in the mirror in the hall and then sighed deeply. That was as prepared as she knew to be.

  The house was getting crowded, and she thought it might be long past time to have her father and mother’s rooms stripped of furniture, re-papered or painted, and refurnished. Tomorrow, she promised herself. Tomorrow she’d go back to the shop where they’d purchased Bernadette’s furnishings and she’d pick something out for Father’s bedroom. She’d find something she actually liked, and she’d make the room her own.

  They could redo Severine’s current bedroom for Lisette, and then her friend could switch bedrooms if she wanted to. Severine fiddled with her ring and turned to find Greyson at the bottom of the steps with Charles. They were both dressed in handsome black suits, with slicked back hair, and just the right luxurious tone. There was something about a man in an evening suit that had been formed to him that was utterly and completely captivating.

  “I was just catching Charles up and he brought me up to date,” Greyson said. “So much has happened here. Are you all right?”

  Severine nodded.

  “Lisette, is she all right?”

  Severine started to nod and then shook her head. “She went after Landon Gentry, and she shouldn’t have. He’ll be looking for her again when she’s out and about, and he half-killed her already.”

  Greyson’s frown deepened and then they all paused when they heard the doorbell. None of them went to answer it.

  “Is Osiris all right?” Severine asked, knowing that he wasn’t.

  Greyson shook his head.

  “Are you?”

  Greyson shook his head and then glanced at Charles. “Are either of you? Finding that man dead and then staying with those children while their parents were dead in an alley—those events are nightmare worthy.”

  “I haven’t seen anything that horrible since the war,” Charles said. “No, I’m not all right. Severine didn’t see, thank God.”

  Severine started to say she didn’t need to be protected, but she was glad she had been. She already had two murdered bodies in her mind, and she saw them nearly every time she closed her eyes at night. That last image to chase her into sleep. It wasn’t a burden that anyone needed, and she didn’t want to add to her burden either.

  Severine looked at both of them and then back down the stairs. “I suppose we should go and attempt to be charming. I’m not, you know.”

  “Charming?” Charles laughed and shook his head. “You’re delightful.”

  Severine snorted. “You’re fond of me.”

  “Perhaps,” Greyson allowed, “neither of us are good judges, but Charles can be the disapproving guardian, and I shall be the charming Brit. Shall I make up stories about London?”

  “Yes, full of gargoyles.”

  Charles and Greyson laughed and then Charles asked, “Why gargoyles?”

  “They’re supposed to protect against evil,” Severine said. “Maybe invoking them in a story will protect us too.”

  “Maybe we should get some for your house and ours,” Charles suggested and Severine immediately nodded.

  Chapter 18

  “Hello,” Severine said smoothly. She stepped into the front parlor where a man stood near the fire. Jarrod Van Ausdell was over six feet tall with medium brown hair. When he turned, Severine was surprised to see a face she recognized. It wasn’t that she knew him, but the man’s face was familiar all the same.

  “Miss DuNoir,” he said, smiling with what she saw as snake’s charm.

  Severine eyed the smile that she could have sworn didn’t go to his eyes, but she knew she was projecting her feelings about her father, uncles, and their partners on this man. She smiled back, knowing it didn’t go to her eyes, but she wasn’t an actress. She decided shades of the truth were her best chance to get this man not to think they hated him. Honestly, she didn’t know what she felt yet aside from cautious and somewhat paranoid.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, knowing she’d delayed too long. “Thank you for coming. I—well, I fear we had rather an upset lately, and I’m still working on finding my balance.”

  He lifted his brows in an emulation of surprise, and Severine was certain—utterly and completely certain—that this man knew what had happened. She didn’t like that. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  He trailed off and waited, wanting her to tell him what had gone wrong and too smart to ask.

  “You must know we hired a private investigator to find out about names I came across in my father’s papers.”

  Mr. Van Ausdell nodded. “Of course, of course. He’s an effective man. I was sorry to miss him the first few visits. I confess, I am very curious.”

  Severine tucked her hair behind her ear, her fingers skating over the hair comb. The dinner was just them because Lisette was injured, Chantae flat out refused to play nice, and Bernadette didn’t want anyone to know her role.

  “I just wanted to know about my father from someone who wasn’t family.”

  Mr. Van Ausdell rocked back on his heels and then nodded. “It must have been hard to lose your parents so young. Especially since you were at that fancy school so much.”

  Severine nodded and then found herself nervously fiddling with the comb again. “I found a list of names of my father’s brothers, business partners, and the like. On it was your name and Mr. Sidney’s name. Since I didn’t know you but everyone else was someone that Father knew well, I thought maybe I could learn something new about Father from one of you.”

  He nodded as if it made sense, but Severine knew it hadn’t. It was the wish of a child, and this man was her father’s peer. He was well past childhood and onto something else.

  “Would you mind telling me about him?”

&
nbsp; Charles approached with wine glasses and Severine took hers as did Greyson.

  Mr. Van Ausdell paused and then said, “I met him at school. We were the naughty boys in our class and we pulled Nate along with us. He was one of the boys who would have been good if he had well-behaved friends, but he didn’t. He had us.”

  Severine leaned in, listening. It felt real, she thought. It felt like she was getting an unexpected gift.

  “Your grandfather was a hard man, and he’d had a fall, but he pulled himself out, gave his boys a chance, and Lukas—he took that chance and ran with it. Made something of himself and brought his brothers, Nate, and I along with him.”

  Severine had to force herself not to play with her hair comb as he spoke and she found herself laughing at the story of her father stealing beignets and escaping up a balcony and across the roofs of the French Quarter. They found their way to the dining room when dinner was called, and Severine stared in shock at the sight of Bernadette calmly uniformed and standing with Fabian to serve the meal.

  Platters were set at each place on the table and they started the meal with soup.

  “This is wonderful,” Mr. Van Ausdell said. “I remember many a meal here with your father, Miss DuNoir. It’s as if I can see him at the table, remember the sound of his laugh. It must be odd for you to come home after so long.”

  “I suppose it’s a bit like being haunted. Around every corner is another memory, another moment that lives on.”

  Mr. Van Ausdell nodded and Severine felt as though she’d bared herself to him. She didn’t like that one bit, but she realized she had been entirely unbothered when making such confessions to the other two men at the table. Her instincts were screaming in warning even though the man had been utterly charming. Severine knew she should trust those instincts, and she also knew that she wanted her feelings to be kept private from this man. So she changed the subject.

  “Are you married, Mr. Van Ausdell?”

  He laughed in an affected manner. “Didn’t your P.I. tell you?”