Daughter of the God-King(91)

Chapter 37





The news that Hattie had discovered her parents’ final resting place was the central topic of conversation at the dinner table on the Priapus that evening. That the discovery paled in significance to other discoveries experienced that day only compounded Hattie’s headache. Nevertheless, she was expected to be a tragic figure and accept sympathetic overtures when she would so much rather be accepting her new husband’s overtures. Or taking a tincture; one or the other.

“I found their graves—or at least I’m fairly certain,” Robbie reported. “The groundskeeper said there were no records with respect to them—which is apparently not as unusual as one would think. He recalled that they were buried at the request of the British consul, but Mr. Drummond has no such recollection and he can’t imagine who would make such a request without having him informed; it was no secret the Blackhouses were missing and there was an intense interest in their fate.”

Frowning, Bing suggested, “Perhaps the man is mistaken—it was some months ago, after all.”

But Robbie was not dissuaded. “He seemed certain—he explained that he remarked on it in particular because they were a married couple; usually those who end up at the foreigner’s cemetery are without family.”

“Was he aware of their identities at the time?” This from Smithson, who had done a credible job of pretending nothing untoward had taken place amongst the other diners this fine day. For her part, Hattie had to resist the temptation to hold a glass of ice water to her aching head or sit and stare in bemusement at Dimitry. Eugenie was right—the process had been blissfully simple. Twice.

His expression skeptical, Robbie responded, “He claims he was not aware who they were, although this seems unlikely to me—especially when it became common knowledge that the Blackhouses were missing.”

“Did he mention the cause of death?” asked Bing with a sympathetic glance at Hattie.

“‘Accident,’ but nothing more specific than that.”

The diners sat in silence for a moment, assimilating what they had heard. Smithson ventured a theory. “A tragic accident—perhaps a cave-in caused by a worker’s carelessness. In a panic, they were buried and nothing was said so as to protect the miscreant.”

“It is a good theory,” agreed Dimitry.

Bing covered Hattie’s hand with her own. “We will visit tomorrow, if that is agreeable, Hathor.”

“Yes, Bing.” Hattie wished Bing wouldn’t speak quite so loudly; particularly because she was remembering that Dimitry didn’t trust anyone at the British consul’s office, and she would realize why this was important if only her head didn’t ache so. Among other places that ached. She slid a glance across the table at her new husband and found his gaze brimful of sympathetic amusement.

“I’m sorry for it, Hattie—this day has been hard on you,” offered Robbie.

“Very hard indeed,” she agreed in a grave tone and couldn’t resist another glance at Dimitry.

Robbie continued, “Mr. Drummond awaits your instruction—if you’d like them to be disinterred and transported home, he assures me the British government will see to it.”

Thinking on it, Hattie shook her head, and then wished she hadn’t. “I think it best they remain where they are; this was more a home to them than Cornwall.”

“Fitting,” agreed Bing. “They find eternal rest among the very ancients they studied.”

“You will go home, now, yes?” Eugenie could barely conceal her relief.

“Not just yet; I have much more to learn.” This time she refrained from glancing at Dimitry, which was just as well—it hurt her eyes to look at him sidelong.

Her smooth brow puckered, Eugenie glanced to Dimitry. “No? But you know of your parents, now—there is no reason to stay.”

As if on cue, their party was joined by Captain Clements, who bowed to the ladies and was met with their exclamations of surprise and pleasure. “Here’s a charming group—Miss Bing, Miss Blackhouse, Miss Valérie.”

“Leone,” Eugenie corrected him with much amusement.

He sank his grizzled head in mock chagrin. “I beg your pardon—how I could have misnamed such loveliness is a mystery.”

“De rien,” she smiled, and indicated he was to sit beside her.

Hattie watched the other woman interact with the captain and concluded—now that she was aware of such things—that Eugenie’s heart was involved.

The captain was introduced to Smithson and Robbie and after the men had exchanged pleasantries, Clements turned to Hattie and asked how her visit went. With a monumental effort, Hattie related the discovery of her parents’ grave site yet again, resisting an urge to press her fingertips to her temples in the process.