Four
“Good afternoon. We are here to call on my uncle, the Earl of Wedmore?”
“No room,” the girl muttered.
Her gaze landed on Xavier, who, with his dark hair and bronze complexion, could pass as one of her countrymen. She spoke to him in her native language, and he shrugged.
“I’m sorry. I do not understand.”
The girl frowned and started to shut the door.
Sir Jonathan stepped into her view and spoke rapid Greek. She paused, answered him, and shut them out.
“She will retrieve Mrs. Bellini, but we must wait here,” he explained. “She says no men are allowed inside.”
“Are we at the correct address?” In the rush, Evangeline had forgotten to bring the letter from Uncle Charles.
“We are.”
Evangeline studied the villa as they waited, confident the confusion could be cleared up with the lady of the house.
The home was bright white like Lord Dominic's, but more modest. Lush wisteria vines climbed the stucco walls, their purple flowers dangling like ladies’ curls and filling the air with their intensely sweet scent.
When the door opened again, a waif-like woman greeted them. She had striking green eyes, and her amber hair was pulled back into a neat knot at her nape. She reminded Evangeline of a fairy in one of the tales her sister Sophia loved reading when she was young.
“I am Mrs. Bellini. How may I assist you?” she asked, her Italian accent lightly underscoring her musical voice.
Evangeline took the lead. “Thank you for receiving us, madame. I hope our unexpected arrival isn’t a nuisance, but my sister and I would like to speak with our uncle—Charles Wedmore. He is staying as one of your guests.”
The woman’s brows knit. “Fotini told you I do not take in male lodgers, no?”
Regina frowned. “But we thought—”
“Of course, madame.” Evangeline shot her sister a look. “I apologize for misspeaking. Our uncle is traveling with his sister, and we had hoped she might know where he is staying.”
“Wha—?” Regina snapped her mouth shut, shaking her head when Mrs. Bellini glanced at her.
Before leaving London, Evangeline and her family had learned that Uncle Charles was on the brink of a discovery that would earn him accolades from the entire antiquarian society.
If he was able to prove a group of fabled Egyptian warriors known as the Black Death was an actual lost civilization, it would be miraculous.
The discovery would be akin to finding the ruins of Atlantis or Hy-Brasil—the island said to appear off the coast of Ireland every seven years.
Her family had also learned there were men who would kill for Uncle Charles’s research, and Regina and Xavier had nearly been victims of their greed. It made sense their uncle would use an alias. Perhaps he would even disguise himself as a woman.
“Our aunt is Mrs. Fanny Flibberquick?” Evangeline ventured.
Sir Jonathan grunted. She nearly laughed. It was a ridiculous name—one Uncle Charles had invented whenever Evangeline and her sisters denied doing something wrong to avoid a scolding from Aunt Beatrice.
It was that naughty Fanny Flibberquick again, Bea. I thought I heard her slip through my window last night and sneak down to the kitchen, but I was too tired to check.
“Si, Mrs. Flibberquick was here briefly,” Mrs. Bellini said, “but the lady ventured out one day and never returned. The authorities were not concerned, but it is odd. She paid through the end of last month. Her trunks are still in her chambers, and I’ve not been able to take in new lodgers.”
“Oh, dear,” Regina murmured.
Oh, dear, indeed. Evangeline took a fortifying breath. “We are very sorry, madame. Aunt Fanny can be forgetful. I’m sure she meant to come back to pay you but became caught up in sightseeing.”
Xavier took that as his cue. “Please, allow me to settle Mrs. Flibberquick’s debt.”
“We will arrange to have her trunks moved to where we are staying to make room for another lodger,” Evangeline said before turning to Sir Jonathan. “If Lord Dominic wouldn’t mind, of course.”
“I’ll speak with his butler. Someone will be round tomorrow, madame.”
Mrs. Bellini readily agreed to the arrangement, and Xavier paid her.
As they walked back to Lord Dominic’s villa, Evangeline filled the time with chatter.
She needed to speak with Regina and Xavier in private.
Sir Jonathan struck her as a trustworthy gentleman, but he was also an antiquarian, and caution was warranted.
The promise of fame could drive men to do horrible things.
Dusk was settling when they returned to the villa. Sir Jonathan pulled her aside as they entered the building.
“You didn’t mention your aunt earlier. Aren’t you worried about her?”
She held his gaze for several seconds, her smile tight. “Uncle Charles wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her. Likely, she has joined him on his dig. I imagine they will return soon enough.”
She didn’t like lying, especially to someone she admired. Her family came first, though. Until Uncle Charles granted permission to share information about his most recent work, she would keep his confidence.
“Xavier will start searching for another place for us to stay tomorrow,” she said.
“That isn’t necessary, Miss Darlington. As stated earlier, there is adequate room here. Lord Dominic won’t be opposed to such charming and intelligent guests staying under his roof.”
“You flatter me, sir.”
“Only because you impress me.”
“How so?”
“I think you are clever. You quickly figured out your aunt posted your uncle’s letter from her address.”
She shrugged. “It was a simple deduction.”
“I do not believe for a moment there is anything simple about you, Miss Darlington.” He raised her hand to his lips and grazed a kiss across her knuckles. “I would love for you and your family to join me for dinner. We sit down at eight.”
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, her fingers tingling even after he released her. “Thank you for the lovely invitation, sir. I accept on behalf of my family.”
When Evangeline retreated to the guest quarters, Regina was pacing the wide corridor outside the private sitting room.
The windows lining the left side of the passage had been shuttered, and wall-mounted oil lamps washed the walls in golden light, shimmering off the marble floor.
Evangeline’s sister pounced the moment she reached the arched doorway.
“Where is Uncle Charles? Why is he pretending to be—?”
“Shush!” Evangeline darted a look over her shoulder to ensure they were alone. “Not here.”
She led her sister into the private sitting room where Xavier was reading. He abandoned the book on a side table and stood to help Regina lower herself onto the settee.
“I tried to calm her, but she needed to move,” he said to Evangeline. “She will wear herself out.”
She understood the futility of trying to stop Regina, even on a calm day.
“I want to understand,” Regina said, jabbing the air with her hands and revealing her agitation. “Where is Uncle Charles? Mrs. Bellini said he has been missing for weeks.”
“She didn’t say missing. He simply hasn’t been back to the lodging house.”
Regina opened her mouth, and Evangeline shook her head.
“I know the difference is subtle, but think about it. He is on the verge of an amazing discovery. He will be at the dig site.”
“But where is it?”
“I don’t know.” Evangeline sighed. “We must be patient until he returns. Mrs. Bellini will tell him we came looking for him and where we are staying.”
“Thank you for bringing up another point,” her sister said. “Why is he pretending to be Fanny Flibberquick?”
“Who is this Mrs. Flibberquick?” Xavier asked.
Regina promised to explain later.
“You know how secretive Uncle Charles is about his work,” Evangeline said. “And we know men want to steal his latest discovery. That is why Xavier was forced to break into Wedmore House.”
Her brother-in-law shuddered, and she regretted reminding him of his captivity. At least the danger had passed. The man who had falsely reported Xavier as a French spy was dead, and Farrin, Xavier’s captor, had drowned in the Thames.
“For now,” Evangeline said, “let’s keep Uncle Charles’s research to ourselves. Sir Jonathan’s studies do not overlap, but proving the Black Death existed might be tempting for any antiquarian.”
“If he is untrustworthy,” Xavier said, “we should find somewhere else to stay.”
“I’m not saying he cannot be trusted. I simply want to keep him at a distance when it comes to Uncle Charles’s work.
I think we should behave as tourists while we are waiting for Uncle Charles to return from the field.
If we cross paths with any Englishmen, we can inquire if they have heard anything about him. ”
“If there are French nationals in Athens, I will question them, too,” Xavier said.
Regina’s knee was bouncing, but she agreed to the plan. “What if he doesn’t come back?”
“Then we will go to him.” Evangeline wasn’t sure how to find their uncle yet, but she would search his trunk for clues as soon as Lord Dominic’s servants retrieved it tomorrow.