solitude. Of course, to view either, you will really have to removeyour spectacles.”Chang looked up at her. He pulled the glasses from his face andfolded them into his pocket. She did not react. She had seen simi-lar faces on her plantation, though never sitting across the teatable. She smiled at him politely, then nodded to the card in hishand.“They really are the most lovely color blue.”Miss Temple left Cardinal Chang with the instruction that heshould call for whatever meal the Doctor required upon waking,for which she would sign upon her return. She had her arms full of newspapers and books as she reached her own rooms, and kickedon the door three times instead of shifting her burdens to find herkey. After a moment of rustling footsteps, the door was opened by Marthe. Miss Temple entered and dropped the pile of papers onthe main table. Her aunt sat where she had left her, sipping a cupof tea. Before she could voice a reproof, Miss Temple spoke to her.“I must ask you several questions, Aunt Agathe, and I will re-quire your honest replies. You may be able to help me, and I willbe very grateful for the assistance.” She fixed her aunt with a firmlook at the word “grateful” and then turned back to Marthe, to ask for Marie. Marthe pointed to Miss Temple’s dressing room. MissTemple entered to see Marie quickly folding and arranging a row of silk underthings on top of the ironing table. She stepped back asMiss Temple swept in and was silent as her mistress examined herpurchases.Miss Temple was extremely pleased, going even so far as togiveMarie a congratulatory smile. Marie then pointed out the boxof cartridges that sat by the mirror, and gave Miss Temple the re-ceipts and leftover money. Miss Temple quickly scrutinized the fig-ures and, satisfied, gave Marie an extra two coins for her efforts.Marie bobbed in surprise at the coins and again as Miss Temple
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motioned her out of the room. The door shut behind her, MissTemple smiled again and turned to her purchases. The silk felt de-licious between her fingers. She was happy to see that Marie hadbeen smart enough to select a green that matched the dress she was wearing, and her boots. In the mirror, Miss Temple saw her ownbeaming face and blushed, looking away. She composed herself,cleared her throat, and called for her maids. After the two young women had taken apart her dress andcorset, helped her into the green silk undergarments, and then re-stored her outer layers, Miss Temple—her entire body tickling with enjoyment—carried the box of cartridges to the main table. With all the casual efficiency she could muster, recalling each stepof Chang’s instruction, she struck up a conversation with her aunt,and as she spoke, spun the cylinder, snapped it open, and smoothly loaded each empty chamber with a shell.“I have been reading the newspapers, Aunt,” she began.“It seems you have enough of them.”“And do you know what I have learned? I saw the most aston-ishing announcement about Roger Bascombe’s uncle, Lord Tarr.” Aunt Agathe pursed her lips. “You should not be bothering with—”“Did you see the announcement?”“Perhaps.”“Perhaps?”“There is so much that I do not remember, my dear—”“That he has been
murdered,
Aunt.”Her aunt did not reply at once. When she did, it was merely tosay,“Ah.”“Ah,” echoed Miss Temple.“He was quite gouty,” observed her aunt, “something dire wasbound to happen. I understand it was wolves.”“Apparently not. Apparently the wound was altered to
impli- cate
wolves.”“People will do anything,” muttered Agathe.
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Boniface
She reached to pour more tea. Miss Temple slapped the cylin-der back into position and spun it. At the noise, her aunt froze inposition, eyes wide in alarm. Miss Temple leaned forward andspoke as deliberately and patiently as she could.“My dear Aunt, you must accept that the money you need is inmy possession, and thus, despite our difference in age, that I amyour mistress. These are facts. Your position will not be helped by frustrating me. On the contrary, the more we work in concert, themore I promise your situation will improve. I have no wish to beyour enemy, but you must see that your previous sense of what wasbest—my marriage to Roger Bascombe—is no longer appro-priate.”“If you were not so
difficult
—” her aunt burst out, stoppingherself just as quickly.Miss Temple glared at her with unmitigated rage. Aunt Agatherecoiled as if from a snake.“I am sorry, my dear,” whispered the frightened woman, “Imerely—”“I do not care.
I do not care!
I am not asking about Lord Tarrbecause I
care
! I am asking because—though you do not know it—others have been murdered as well, and Roger Bascombe is in thethick of it—and now he will be the next Lord Tarr! I do not know how Roger Bascombe has become his uncle’s heir. But you do, Iam sure—and you are going to tell me this minute.”Miss Temple stalked down the corridor toward the stairwell, theclutch bag around her wrist, heavy with the revolver and an extrahandful of cartridges. She snorted with annoyance and tossed herhead—
difficult
—and cursed her aunt for a small-minded old fool. All the woman thought of was her pension and her propriety, andthe number of parties she might be invited to as the relation of arising Ministry official like Roger. Miss Temple wondered why sheshould even be surprised—her aunt had only known her for three
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