Room With a Clue (Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery) (22 page)

Baxter moved to stand next to her. “I wonder what it is that makes a woman so desperate she is ready to kill for a man.”

Cecily glanced up at his expressionless face. “Love, Baxter. Some women love so desperately they will do anything to win
the man they adore. Maybe it is a good thing that men are not capable of loving that madly.”

Baxter looked down at her. “Surely you are mistaken? I have heard of men driven to distraction by love for a woman. Think of the thousands of duels that have been fought over women.”

“Maybe so, Bax, maybe so. But men do not kill their rivals to win the love of a woman. They kill to prove their superiority and claim their prize. There is a great difference there.”

“I do believe you are becoming a cynic, madam.”

“I certainly hope not.” She looked back at the cliffs dominating the skyline. “In spite of what Miss Morris did, I can’t help feeling sympathetic. She must have loved him very much to commit such a terrible act.”

“And it was wasted. He has another lover.”

“But he’s not in love. Robert Danbury loved his wife. I truly believe that. It was the reason I found it so hard to believe he had killed her. I think Lady Eleanor married him out of spite toward Keith Torrington and had no real love for him. But he loved her. The other women were a poor substitute for the attention he craved from his wife.”

“You surprise me, madam. First a cynic, now a romantic. What made you so certain Mr. Danbury loved his wife?”

Cecily sighed. “The look in his eyes when he saw her dead body. For just a moment I saw anger there. I know where that anger comes from. It happens when you lose someone you love very much. It is a senseless rage burning inside you, first against the person you loved for leaving you alone, and then against the fates that took them away. I know that feeling well.”

Baxter was quiet for a long time beside her, then he murmured, “Would you prefer to be alone, madam?”

She shook her head. Looking out toward the lighthouse she said, “I hear they will be coming to build a new lighthouse soon. They say they will install a single beam to replace the arc lights. A beam so powerful it will be seen more than ten miles out to sea. A comforting thought, no doubt, for those lost in a storm.”

“As I said, madam, not all changes are detrimental.”

She laughed and turned her face to look up at him. “You know, Baxter, I confess I’m going to find things quite dull around here after all this excitement.”

“Yes, madam.”

She smiled, hearing the unspoken relief in his voice. “Baxter,” she said, with a mischievous grin, “please may I have one of your cigars?”

To her astonishment, he handed her one without another word.

About the Author

Kate Kingsbury is the bestselling author of over sixty books, and lives in Oregon with her husband and a rat terrier who thinks she’s a Great Dane.