Read Garden of Lies for Free Online Page B

they can’t remember the exotic sexual rites because those rites never occurred in the first place. Really, Matty, you know you can’t believe everything you read in the papers.”
    Matty was a great fan of the sensation press. In the wake of Roxton’s return to London two months ago, the papers and the penny dreadfuls had wasted a great quantity of ink discussing the rumors of his so-called “entombment” and speculating on what he had done during the years following his rescue from Fever Island.
    Matty had read every word printed about the mysterious Slater Roxton. She had never met him but she considered herself an expert on the man. She was clearly disappointed by Roxton’s failure to perform exotic lovemaking rituals on her employer.
    â€œWhat of the years after he escaped from the island?” Matty asked. “No telling what he got up to during that time.”
    â€œHe did not disappear after he was rescued from the island,” Ursula said. “His mother assured me that Mr. Roxton returned to London at least twice a year to visit with his parents.”
    â€œYes, well, he certainly kept his visits quiet, didn’t he?”
    â€œI doubt that it was difficult. There was no reason for anyone to pay any attention to his comings and goings until recently. The only reason the press is agog now is because his father died and left the family fortune in Mr. Roxton’s hands.”
    Matty assumed an all-knowing air. “They say he has returned to exact vengeance.”
    â€œThat may be Society’s opinion but that view was shaped by the sensation press. I doubt very much if it is true.”
    â€œConsider his position—he is the long-lost bastard son of a wealthy lord and a famous actress. Upon his father’s death Mr. Roxton discovers that he will not inherit the estate and he will never be able to take up the title because of his illegitimate birth. And just to rub salt into his wounds, his father’s will charged him with the duties and responsibilities of managing the inheritance for his two
legitimate
half brothers and his father’s widow. The injustice of that situation would be enough to make any man seek revenge.”
    Ursula drummed her fingers on the desktop. “I saw no signs that Mr. Roxton is worried about his own financial future,” Ursula said. “His mother does not appear concerned, either. I got the strong impression that Mr. Roxton’s father took excellent care of Lilly. More to the point, I don’t think that Slater Roxton has been idle during the past few years. His mother indicated that he has done rather well for himself. Something about investments, according to Lilly. Evidently he has a head for business. Furthermore, she assured me that her son is not unbalanced.”
    â€œWell, she is his mother, after all. What would you expect her to say?” Matty paused for emphasis. “And while we’re on the subject of revenge—”
    â€œWe are not discussing the subject of vengeance.” Ursula slapped the blotter with the palm of her hand. “Don’t you have something that needs to be typed?”
    Matty ignored that. “Don’t forget the little matter of the Jeweled Bird. Everyone knows that while Mr. Roxton was languishing on Fever Island, his business partner, Lord Torrence, sailed home with the fabulous treasure that was discovered in the temple caves.”
    Ursula grimaced. “Lord Torrence along with everyone else believed Mr. Roxton was dead.”
    â€œWell,” Matty said, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, “there is speculation that Lord Torrence tried to murder Mr. Roxton on Fever Island. They say he triggered the trap that entombed Roxton so that he could keep the Jeweled Bird for himself.”
    For the first time since the conversation with Matty had started, a chill slithered down Ursula’s spine. The press was notoriously unreliable but there