Second Sight by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online Page A

paper.”
    “And what of the servants who identified Mr. Jones’s body?” Edward asked with a shrewd expression. “Surely they would have said something about the villains to the authorities.” He paused for emphasis. “
If
there really were villains involved, that is.”
    They all looked at him.
    “Hmm,” Venetia said. “That is a very good point, Edward. I wonder why the servants neglected to mention the intruders.”
    Beatrice gave a soft, ladylike snort. “Remember, you have only a small news account of the events. Given the nature of the press it is quite likely that there are a number of inaccuracies in that report.”
    Venetia sighed. “In which case, we will probably never know for certain what really did happen that night.”
    “Well, I think it is safe to say that we do know that Mr. Jones is no longer in this world,” Beatrice declared. “That is probably the one thing the press got right. I doubt that there will be any more lucrative photography commissions coming from that quarter.”
    Gabriel Jones could not be dead, Venetia thought. She would know it if he were.
    Wouldn’t she?
    She started to drink some of the strong coffee. A sudden thought made her pause, her cup in midair.
    “I wonder what happened to the negatives and the prints that I made for Mr. Jones while I was at Arcane House?”
    Amelia shrugged. “They were probably destroyed in the fire.”
    Venetia thought about that. “Another thing. There is no mention in the paper about a photographer having been in the mansion on the night that Mr. Jones was killed.”
    “For which we can only be extremely grateful,” Beatrice said with a visible shudder of relief. “The very last thing we need is for you to be dragged into a murder investigation, especially now that our financial situation is starting to appear solid and stable at long last.”
    Venetia placed the cup very precisely down on the china saucer. “Thanks to Gabriel Jones and the fees he saw to it were paid in advance.”
    “Indeed,” Beatrice allowed. “Venetia, I understand that the news concerning Mr. Jones has come as a blow to you. But you must put the matter behind you. Our future lies in London. Our plans are in place. We must go forward with them.”
    “Of course,” Venetia said absently.
    “Clients come and clients go, Venetia,” Amelia added helpfully. “A professional photographer cannot allow herself to become too attached to any of them.”
    “Besides,” Beatrice said, cutting straight to the heart of the business, “the man is dead. Whatever the truth of the events at Arcane House, it no longer concerns us. Now then, let us get on to more pressing matters. Have you decided upon the name you will adopt when we open the gallery in London?”
    “I am still quite taken with
Mrs. Ravenscroft,
” Amelia said. “It is ever so romantic don’t you think?”
    “I prefer
Mrs. Hartley-Pryce
,” Beatrice announced. “It has a more established ring to it.”
    Edward grimaced. “I still say that
Mrs. Lancelot
is the best name of all.”
    Amelia wrinkled her nose. “You have been reading too many Arthurian tales.”
    “Hah,” he retorted. “You’re a fine one to talk. I know perfectly well that you got that silly Mrs. Ravenscroft name out of that sensation novel you are reading.”
    “The thing is,” Venetia said, interrupting firmly, “I can’t quite see myself living with any of those names. For some reason they don’t seem to fit, if you see what I mean.”
    “You’ll have to make a decision and soon,” Beatrice said. “You cannot call yourself Mrs. Milton. Not when your brother and sister are also named Milton. People would think Amelia and Edward were your children, rather than your siblings. That would not do.”
    “We have discussed this at some length,” Amelia pointed out. “You have no choice but to go into business as a widow.”
    “Quite true,” Beatrice said. “An unmarried lady not yet past thirty will have a great deal of