Daoud appeared at the door of the compartment, laden with our luggage. The train began to pull away from the station as we progressed through several carriages and eventually located our private compartment, where we collapsed in silence. After Daoud had taken the luggage to the proper storage car, he returned and positioned himself in front of the door with an ominous scowl.

I took the small flask from my handbag and offered it to Ramses. After he had taken a swallow, he passed it to David, who did the same. “Well?” I demanded as I resisted a maternal urge to utilize my handkerchief to wipe away the droplets of blood on his neck. “Was this another attempt by the Godwins to murder one of us?” I must acknowledge my voice was trembling. When David handed me the flask, I let the remaining whiskey dribble down my throat.

Ramses took a bent card from his pocket and handed it to me. “He threw this at me before he made a bold endeavor to escape by leaping across the train tracks. His foot caught the rail and he fell prone only inches away from the train’s engine. I am reluctant to relate the gruesome details, Mother, but I can assure you that neither he nor his monocle survived.”

I stared at David until, with pained reluctance, he said, “Cromwell’s head was severed as we watched in horror. There was no possibility of saving him from his folly.”

“How utterly dreadful,” I said, willing myself not to envision the scene. “I could not wish this on anyone, even my most dedicated assassins. It is ironic that he should come to such an unsavory demise. The original Cromwell supported the beheading of Charles I, but then suffered the same fate after the Royalists regained power and dug up his corpse in 1660. Ramses, are you quite certain that you are feeling no ill effects from the dart?”

“I am fine,” he said. “I am more concerned about the innocent woman who was the victim of Cromwell’s vicious attack. These Godwins must be stopped before they do further damage, curse them! Do they believe they can hide behind their absurd monocles?!”

“There are only two brothers remaining,” I commented. “Absalom and the oddly-named Flitworthy. Let us pray it takes them a lengthy amount of time to determine where we are and follow us. I have no doubt that they will, but we shall be prepared to put a stop to this vendetta. Poor Nefret must be riddled with regret for having been lured into marriage by Geoffrey.”

Ramses did not respond.