Darkest Dreams by Jennifer St Giles Read Free Book Online Page A

asked the little girl.
    Holding her doll tight, Rebecca solemnly nodded, sensing something was wrong.
    â€œWonderful,” Prudence said with relief.
    The three of them quit the room, and I tried to edge out in their wake as Cassie told Sean about the incident. I wanted to know what the constable had to report even though I already knew the grisly details, but I didn’t want to face another interrogation over the matter. That meant I had to find a good place for eavesdropping before Sean, the earl and Warwick went to the library to meet with the constable.
    â€œWait for me, Andrie,” Cassie said, stopping me before I made it through the door. Her request surprised me. Knowing my sister as well as I did, I had expected her to insist on accompanying Sean and the earl to the library.
    â€œMrs. Killdaren, not so fast,” Sean said as Cassie hurried my way. “What is it that you are not telling me?”
    Cassie’s gaze met mine, and she lifted one brow before turning to Sean. “I think I remembered everything,” she said, giving him a brilliant smile.
    He narrowed his eyes to a “we’ll talk later” glare as I grabbed Cassie’s hand and pulled her out the door.
    â€œHurry,” I hissed under my breath, dragging her along the corridor toward the library. At the center hall, I ducked behind a statue of a David-like man, except for the strategic placement of leafs—an example of the castle’s more conservative art.
    â€œTake off your shoes,” she whispered.
    â€œWhatever for?” I asked.
    â€œThe marble. It’s the best way to sneak across it and not be heard.” A very telling statement of Cassie’s time investigating Mary’s death. I almost envied my sister the adventure she’d had.
    Mr. Murphy shut the library door, apparently having just seen Constable Poole into the room, and headed toward the kitchens. The second he passed our hiding spot, we flew across the marbled entryway, down the corridor, and slipped into the room adjoining the library. Slightly breathless, I stood inside the door, my heart thumping.
    A sliver of pale moonlight cut an eerie path through the objets d’art , many of which were statues of Greek gods, making a person wonder if she’d suddenly stepped into the middle of Zeus’s decadent court.
    â€œWhy eavesdrop when you could have requested to see the constable?” Cassie asked in a whisper as we moved closer to the wall separating us from the library.
    â€œI didn’t want to have to answer more questions about today. Besides, men tend to tell more and speak more freely when women aren’t present. I discovered that you can hear a conversation going on in the library rather well from this wall when I was examining the statues not long ago.”
    Cassie slid into place beside me. “I feel like I’m seven years old again, and we’re trying to discover our Christmas surprises with our ear to our parents’ door. Who did you overhear in the library?”
    â€œYou and Bridget talking about a vampire book, about lovers no less.” Cassie’s mouth fell open in shock that matched what mine had been when I discovered what book my most proper sister and her newfound friend were reading. “Shh,” I said, as I heard Sean greet the constable in the library.
    â€œDid you learn the identity of the poor fellow?” the earl asked.
    â€œI did. Wouldn’t be calling the gentleman poor, though, nor let any sympathies rest upon him. His name was Prichard, Miles Prichard. Lived north of here, between Dartmoor’s End and Falmouth.”
    â€œThe chap was a bad sort then?” This from Sir Warwick.
    â€œQuite possibly,” the constable said. “I found his wife strangled to death, propped up all prettily in her bed. It’s likely that he killed her. The neighbors say they kept to themselves and that he was a mean chap, yelling and ordering his wife