The Adventuress Read Online Free PDF Page B

with me while I explore the land of the pharaohs.”
    â€œThis is outstanding news!” Amity noticed a slight color rising in Jack’s cheeks as he spoke. “I shall be in Cairo before you, and will be at the station to welcome you upon your arrival. In the meantime, there is still more to be seen in India. Come, now, let us draw up a list of every place we must visit before we all depart the subcontinent. There is much to be done.”

 
    3
    Mrs. Wells had arranged for us all to breakfast together each morning of our stay in a private section of the hotel’s elegant dining room. Colin had gone down early, knowing that someone would have to inform the others of Mr. Neville’s death. I followed him as soon as possible, wanting to be on hand to offer whatever help I could. For more than three-quarters of an hour, we were alone. The row of French doors that led to the terrace stood open, letting in a balmy breeze from outside. The air smelled of lavender, not surprising given the profusion of its flowers found in the vases on each table, and the sun warmed the room to a pleasant temperature.
    â€œIt seems the evening’s festivities took a toll on the group as a whole,” I said, looking at the sumptuous buffet Mrs. Wells had caused to be laid down for us and finding I had no stomach for food. All I could think about was the glassy look of poor Mr. Neville’s eyes. “How long do you think they will all sleep?”
    â€œQuite late, I imagine,” Colin said. “A great deal of champagne had been consumed and Wells had already lost five thousand francs at baccarat when I left. I wonder how his wife took that?”
    â€œI wonder if she knows?”
    â€œDo you really think she allows him to hide anything from her?” Colin asked.
    â€œA fair point.” I sighed. “Amity has been up early every day that I can remember. She told me she likes to walk in the morning. Perhaps she is already out and we missed her.” It was Margaret and Cécile who appeared first, however, both in high spirits that evaporated the instant we told them of the tragedy.
    â€œHow terribly sad,” Margaret said. “I had not known Mr. Neville well before we came to Cannes, but I have grown rather fond of him over these past few days. He had such a calming effect on everyone around him.”
    â€œHis kindness was extraordinary,” Cécile said. “He took great care to make sure we all were comfortable and well looked after. He even offered to go to Paris to collect Caesar and Brutus for me when I mentioned feeling their absence keenly.” Cécile adored her two small dogs, and rarely traveled without them. On this occasion, Brutus had been somewhat under the weather, and she felt it best to leave them at home. “A lovely man. What caused his death?”
    â€œThe doctor suspects overindulgence,” Colin said.
    â€œOverindulgence?” I scowled. “Does that not seem odd? Mr. Neville was a hearty young man, full of vigor and health. Are we to believe one night of excessive carousing put him under?”
    â€œWhat are you suggesting, Emily?” Colin asked.
    â€œThat someone murdered him, of course,” Margaret said, nodding with such violence I worried that her hair might come undone. “Capital idea, Emily. I quite agree.”
    â€œThis is a very serious accusation,” Colin said. “We must not make light of it.”
    â€œApologies, Colin. I let my imagination get away from me,” Margaret said. “It was wholly inappropriate.”
    â€œWe are all on edge after this news,” I said. “And it will behoove us to remember that reactions to grief range from tears to laughter and everything in between. Will there be an autopsy?”
    â€œI imagine so,” Colin said, peering at me through narrowed eyes. “I assume we are to conclude that your own reaction to grief is to search for