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all to believe, then the will stands as is. Mr. Reid and I will pack our bags and return to Boston immediately.” He turned to the man in the wheelchair. “Mr. Chapman, you are my client. It’s your decision. Are you agreeable?”
    Bennett Chapman rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Oh, absolutely. I look forward to it.”
    “And you, sir?” Adrian faced Nicholas.
    Nicholas slowly withdrew a gold cigarette case from his pocket. He flipped it open with studied calm, examining the contents carefully before choosing a brown-papered cigarette. “The risk is more yours than mine. The agreement will be written and signed, of course.”
    “Of course.”
    The cigarette case slapped shut. “And, in the event fraud is uncovered, Miss Walsh shall be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
    Amy gasped. “I—”
    “Not you.” Nicholas pointed a long finger at Catharine Walsh. “Her.”
    Catharine drew herself up to her full height. A slight tremor ran down her left arm. She clenched her fist to stop it, but the gesture was not enough to curb her fury. Adrian watched her lips compress into a tight line and recognized the feverish glint in her eyes.
    His words tumbled out as if released from years of captivity. “I hardly think that necessary, Mr. Chapman.”
    “Oh, I think it very necessary indeed, Mr. de la Noye.” Nicholas delivered a smile stolen directly from the serpent in the Garden of Eden. “Those are the only terms I’ll accept. Otherwise, you go right ahead and draft that new will. And I’ll go right ahead and employ every contact I have to contest it. Win or lose, I’ll see to it that both you and Miss Walsh are dragged through the mud.”
    “Accept his terms, Adrian,” Catharine said quickly. An inadvertent hand flew to her mouth, partially concealing her bright red blush. Jim’s eyebrows rose above the wire frames of his spectacles.
    When she spoke again, her tone was cool. “I’ve nothing to hide, Mr. de la Noye. Accept his terms.”
    Adrian veiled his own surprise at her slip before turning toward Nicholas Chapman. “Very well, then. Mr. Reid will draft the paperwork. When do we meet?”
    Amy blinked. “Mrs. Chapman comes in her own time, not at my bidding. I can’t just command her to appear.”
    Nicholas reached for his cigarette lighter, flicking up the flame with one sharp motion. “Then I suggest you put in your request for her appearance now. Send her an invitation. A telegram. Do whatever it is you do to summon her, for we shall all be waiting with bated breath to see her after dinner tonight.”
    “Tonight?” Amy squeaked. “But—”
    “Splendid!” Bennett Chapman beamed. “Of course, Mr. de la Noye, you and Mr. Reid will remain at Liriodendron as our guests.”
    Chloe heaved herself up from the chair, catching her brother’s arm even though he’d failed to offer it. “I’m exhausted. Should you need to interrogate me more closely about any of this, Mr. de la Noye, you’ll find me in my room. Alone. Any time.”
    “Stop talking, Chloe,” Nicholas ordered, half dragging his sister across the flagstone patio to the French doors.
    Bennett Chapman waited until his children had gone. “Greedy little tyrants,” he said. “Have some coffee, Catharine, and maybe a scone. You missed breakfast this morning.”
    “No, thank you.” Catharine’s shoulders sagged. “If you’ll excuse me, my headache has returned. I need to lie down.”
    “If you say so. I’m feeling rather peaked myself. Damn those children of mine. They can make you old before your time. Roll me back to my room, Catharine, will you? Oh, I’m so looking forwardto the séance! It brings me great comfort to see Elizabeth’s fondness for you.”
    Catharine Walsh didn’t answer. She merely gripped the wheelchair handles and pivoted Bennett Chapman to face the house.
    Jim turned toward Adrian, eyebrows raised in question, but Adrian was watching as Catharine pushed the chair toward the ballroom