“Shouldn’t we say something before we go?” Christiana asked uncertainly.

Richard paused and glanced uncertainly back toward the chest.

“It just feels wrong to simply dump him and hurry away,” she said uncomfortably when everyone was silent.

“Oh, come on then,” Suzette said and slid past her to move to the chest.

Christiana followed and took up position beside her and then waited as everyone else came to form a half circle around the chest.

Suzette then clasped her hands together, closed her eyes and lowered her head.

Biting her lip, Christiana did the same, aware that the others were following suit.

She heard Suzette clear her throat, and then her sister intoned solemnly, “Here lies George Cainan Fairgrave . . . Thank God he’s dead. Amen.”

Christiana blinked her eyes open and gaped at her sister.

“That works for me,” Daniel said with amusement. “Short, sweet and honest.”

Christiana sighed, sure something more should have been said, but at the same time knowing Daniel was right. It was certainly honest. There wasn’t a person there who wasn’t glad the man was dead.

She started to turn toward the steps leading back out of the vault, but paused at the sight of a man standing there, a silhouette against the lighter backdrop of early evening outside.

“Reverend Bertrand,” Richard said with surprise.

“I arrived as your driver was bringing the carriage around the house. He said you’d come to the vault and I presumed it was to visit your brother,” the man said quietly. “Imagine my surprise when I realized it was to lay him to rest here.”

Christiana heard Richard curse and bit her lip as he moved quickly past her to mount the steps.

“If you’ll come with me to my office, I will explain,” he said quietly as he urged the pastor out of the vault.

Christiana and the rest of their group followed, more than eager to escape the musty atmosphere with its pall of death. Richard had started to lead the reverend away, but paused and glanced back to suggest, “Christiana, perhaps you could greet the staff and arrange for a basket of food to be packed for the trip back to London?”

“Yes, of course,” she said at once.

“Thank you,” he said and then continued forward with the pastor.

“Do you think we should go with him to back him up on the story?” Robert asked with a frown.

Daniel considered the question, but shook his head. “He’ll send for us if he needs assistance.”

They were all silent as they watched Richard lead the pastor not around to the front of the house, but in through a pair of French doors Christiana thought must lead to the office here.

“Well,” Daniel said as the two men disappeared. “Shall we?”

Christiana nodded and started forward, leading the way around the house to the front door. The servants were all lined up on either side of the hall when she opened the door and led the way inside. Some time was spent explaining that Lord Radnor had been detained and would be along shortly.