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scowled. “You could also be lying to protect him.”
    “She isn’t, and even if she were, I have an alibi. We already established that I was speaking with Mr. Castle at the time,” Michael pointed out.
    “That is true.” Lord Willowbrook squared his shoulders. “Mr. Gryphon, you will accompany me to inform my men of the new development. We will begin searching the rooms, and Miss Wright will read the guests in the ballroom.”
    I frowned. “Surely he has fled by now.”
    “Are the carriages all accounted for?” Mr. St. Jerome asked.
    “Yes, as are all the horses.”
    “Then he is still in the house or on the grounds. He could not risk traveling by foot and being caught without shelter when the sun rises,” the chronicler explained. “He will look for somewhere to hide until sunset. Somewhere without windows most likely.”
    “Like your room, no doubt,” Mr. Gryphon muttered.
    “Sunlight bothers the young and the weak. It does not bother me,” Mr. St. Jerome replied archly.
    “We must focus on finding the killer as soon as possible,” Lord Willowbrook said.
    “Now, am I free to go?” Mr. St. Jerome asked.
    “Yes, of course.”
    Michael stepped forward to unbind his mentor, but the chronicler stood and the chair beneath him snapped like kindling. He brushed the ropes and wood away as easily as he would a bit of dust, and everyone stared at him in stunned silence. “I would apologize for the chair, Lord Willowbrook, but your hospitality has been lacking.”
    “I understand,” he said slowly. With a strained nod he left the room, Mr. Gryphon close on his heels.
    “May I speak with you for a moment, Miss Wright?” Dr. Bennett asked.
    “Yes, of course.” I refused the hand he offered and rose on my own. “If you will excuse us.”
    “I would speak with you as well, after your word with the doctor,” the chronicler said. I nodded, though the idea made me nervous. Whatever Dr. Bennett wanted, I was sure that it would be easier to discuss than speaking with Mr. St. Jerome.

Chapter Four
    Dr. Bennett and I walked slowly down the hallway toward the stairs. “As you may have guessed, I am visiting from the United States. England is only the first stop on my journey.”
    “Where else are you traveling?” I asked, curious.
    “I’m on a bit of a tour of Europe. I’ll be visiting Paris, Venice, Berlin and Vienna, to name a few cities.”
    “That sounds lovely.” I never understood why my family could be so enraptured by reading about faraway places without wanting to see them for themselves. I dreamed of seeing the world.
    “It promises to be quite an adventure. I must admit, I did not expect to meet a seer. I had almost thought you mythical.”
    “Not quite. I have never met another one of my kind. I believe the closest seer lives in Italy.”
    “You primarily use your abilities for matchmaking?”
    “Yes. Do you wish me to match you?”
    “No, thank you.” Dr. Bennett chuckled at the idea. “Do you find your work fulfilling?”
    I hesitated, considering my reply. In all honesty, I often found it stifling, but it would not be appropriate to admit that to a stranger. “There are aspects of it that are rewarding.”
    “As rewarding as bringing a killer to justice?”
    We paused at the top of the stairs, and I bit my bottom lip. “I suppose it depends on your point of view. There are those who would not see the value of finding happiness for others, but those I have matched value it greatly.”
    “I see. But if you had the opportunity, would you be interested in using your talents in the pursuit of justice more often?”
    “How so?” I frowned in confusion.
    “I aid a guardian in New York City, Miss Justine Dubois. She and I have solved a number of crimes together, and I can say with certainty that with some training you would be a marvelous investigator.”
    For a moment my heart soared at the idea, but I shook my head at the sheer impracticality of it. “That is kind of you, but my