CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“There are so many,” said Grace.

“I’ll make some coffee,” said Marvin, disappearing into the house. She handed one to Ghost, who began to scroll through the pages and pages of beautiful penmanship. The books were lovingly cared for, the leather barely cracked at all. He set the first one down, shaking his head.

“This is from childhood,” he said.

“This one too,” said Grace. “We need to find the ones that would have been written around the time of Lilliana.”

Marvin set the coffee on the table, then touched the tops of the old leather journals. He’d read through them and knew what they’d find. Staring at the big man, he also knew that he’d be pissed if he allowed them to search for hours, knowing where the information was.

“Here,” he said, handing them the journal. “This is the one you’re looking for. I’m sorry, I just thought I’d protect her, but I’m not even sure why I want to any longer.” He opened the journal to the date in question, handing it to Grace.

“April 12 – I cannot believe that everyone is so deceived by a pretty face. The girl is dull and incredibly lacking in the manners and sophistication required for such women with our status. An urchin. That’s what she is.”

“That seems pretty harsh,” frowned Ghost.

“Women were different back then. They got their feelings out with pen and paper instead of texting and social media,” smirked the man. Ghost nodded, raising his brows. The man was speaking the truth.

“April 20 – We saw that horrid woman again today. She believes that she should be present at the Count’s ball. Absurd! She has no ballgown, no jewels of her own, not even a chaperone. He’ll see her for what she is. A fraud.”

“May 9 – He left. It’s not possible. They say he left heartbroken and completely torn to pieces over a lowly creature such as she was. This is not how it was supposed to end. Of course, the authorities suspect nothing. It was far too easy. There she sat beneath the stars like a fairytale come to life, waiting for her prince charming. She was so ignorant of her surroundings. It was easy to pick up the rock and hit her. Easy and effective. Fortunately, my dress was dark blue, and the blood did not show in the darkness. I burned that dress.

“My plan didn’t work, though. He mourned her as if they’d been married for a million years. Stupid man. Stupid. Stupid. I was lucky to have avoided him. I have my sights set on another.”

“I think it was her first husband, Petr Romanski. He was a Russian man here on business and decided to stay when he met Fredericka. He was very, very wealthy, and she definitely used all her charms to sway him. He was dead within two years of their marriage.”

“Your ancestor was quite a woman,” frowned Ghost. Marvin nodded.

“Yes. Yes, she was. I often wonder if cruelty and murderous behavior can be inherited. I worry that it will bleed through my DNA.”

“I’m not entirely sure of how it works, but I think you’re safe being this far removed from her,” said Ghost.

“I hope you’re right. My grandfather killed my grandmother. Hit her with his brand-new car and drove over her several times.”

“Ouch,” said Grace out loud, covering her mouth.

“Yep. Ouch. My mother shot my father. Didn’t kill him, but she wounded him enough that he left and never came back.”

“And your wife?” asked Ghost with concern.

“I never married for this very reason. Never. I’ve never even brought a woman to my home. I can’t risk it.”

“Mr. Duplessis, I think it would do you well to speak to someone about this. Perhaps a therapist or even someone skilled in DNA. You shouldn’t have to live your life in fear for something that may never happen,” said Grace.

“Maybe. Maybe you’re right,” he nodded. “Maybe it’s time to burn these diaries and not worry about what’s in them any longer. Fred was a troubled woman. I don’t know how this will help you, but I hope it brings the family of Lilliana some peace.”

“I hope so, too,” said Ghost. “Thank you for allowing us to see this.”

Grace and Ghost were both quiet on the way back to Belle Fleur. One young woman, so consumed by her own self-worth and desires, willing to kill an innocent. Poor Lilliana never saw it coming. She’d always believed the women were her friends despite their underlying disgust for her.

“How do you think she’ll react to this?” asked Grace.

“I’m not sure,” said Ghost. “I hope it gives her enough peace that she can move on. I mean, now she knows that he was distraught over her death and wanted no one but her. Maybe that will give them both some peace. I have to assume he’s probably a restful spirit as well.”

“It’s all so sad. All of this. I wonder what Irene was thinking when she brought those spirits forward.”

“I don’t know, baby. I do know that Gaspar and his siblings are concerned for her. Maybe this is something that’s revealing her age. I would think that scares them. I don’t know,” he said, shaking his head. He laced his fingers with hers, kissing the back of her hand.

By the time they arrived back at Belle Fleur, it was late afternoon. All things seemed to be normal, or at least as normal as it could be. Tahlako was speaking to Alvin, smiling at him as he tapped his nose. Archie was obsessed with Monster and Beast, enjoying throwing them a stick.

It all seemed… normal.

“Hey,” nodded Gaspar. “What did you find?”

“Everything,” frowned Grace. “I think we all knew it was someone at the ball, but it’s pretty terrible. Fredericka Duplessis. She killed her. Hit her in the back of the head with a rock and left her for dead, hoping the Count would choose her instead.”

“Damn,” muttered Gaspar.

“I heard,” whispered Lilliana with a sad expression. “I wasn’t na?ve. I knew the women didn’t like me. They didn’t consider me to be as wealthy, as elite, as privileged as they were. In many ways, I was far wealthier and more privileged just by having the love of my aunt and uncle.”

“Yes, you were,” said Grace. “And if you didn’t know it, the love of the Count.”

“Did he really love me?” she asked.

“He was tormented by your death. He lived alone for twenty years before he was forced to take a wife in order to have an heir. She was nothing like you. She was quite unattractive. From what we know, he produced a son with her, and then they lived separate lives.”

“That makes me sad,” she said. “I would have hoped he’d have a full life.”

“That life was only to be with you,” said Ghost. She looked down at herself, then up at the couple.

“Shouldn’t I be able to leave now?” she asked.

“We would think so, but if you’re not, I’m wondering why?” asked Grace. She looked around, hoping to see Irene or Claudette, who could help them. Instead, she saw something else. Someone else coming from the gardens. Ghost smiled at his wife.

“Lilliana? I believe your Count has come to take you home.”

Lilliana turned to see the man she’d hoped to marry one day walking toward her. His dark breeches and matching jacket with tails looked exactly as it had that night. The starched white shirt with a ruffled collar nearly glowing. His dark hair was combed back, waves escaping above the collar. He smiled at her, shaking his head.

“How? How is this possible? I found you dead in the gardens just a few nights ago,” he said.

“It was much longer than that, I’m afraid,” she smiled. “These are my friends. It would take far too long to explain, but I believe we were intended for one another, and now we can move forward.”

“Move forward? Where are we?” Lilliana laughed, hugging his neck as he buried his face into her curls.

“I’m not sure any longer, but I don’t care. We’re together. You and I.” She turned to Grace and Ghost, the others all smiling at the young couple. “I’ll never be able to repay you for this. Never. I’m not sure how all of this happened or why, but I’m eternally grateful to all of you for helping me to find my way back to the only man I’ve ever loved.”

“Grazie,” said Tiestemone, nodding at the team. Holding her hand in the crook of his arm, they walked back toward the gardens, their images slowly fading. When they had disappeared, Ghost hugged his wife, kissing her temple.

“That was a storybook ending,” he smiled. She patted his chest, nodding.

“Yes. Now, only four more to go.”