Page 92 of Retribution

‘Just so, sir. But the other was Fussell & Meyer.’

‘Haven’t heard of them,’ Shade murmurs.

‘They’re based in New York. I, of course, have no idea what the correspondence was regarding, but their letters started about seven years ago. They were addressed to your father. However, unlike the other letters, which he allowed your stepmother to peruse at her leisure, I noticed that he was very careful to keep her from seeing those particular papers.’

‘You think they were about Daisy?’ I ask, wondering whatJohn could possibly be talking to lawyers about regarding our girl.

Stephens regards me. ‘I couldn’t say with certainty, sir.’

‘Do you think that was when he became her legal guardian?’ I ask Shade, but Stephens is the one who answers.

‘No, sir. That isn’t possible. Mr. Novelle became Miss Marguerite’s guardian long before. I overheard him and Mrs. Novelle talking about it within weeks of their nuptials.’

‘Aprillethim have it?’ Shade asks incredulously. ‘No way. She loved Daisy. She wouldn’t have?—’

‘It was my understanding, sir, that, having lost her first husband, she sought to ensure that Miss Marguerite’s best interests were always taken into consideration should something happen to her as well. She believed that your father would look after her daughter.’

Stephens looks away.

‘I believe she came to regret her decision when it later became evident that your father did not hold any affection for Miss Marguerite, but it was too late. Once your father was the legal guardian, he had complete authority. He used it to send Miss Marguerite to England after the trouble with that boy, and to stop your stepmother from seeing her.’

‘But Daisy didn’t even kill Larson!’ I explode. ‘Someone else did and made it look like she’d done it.’

Stephens’ lips turn upward at my outburst. ‘I’m glad to hear it. I had my suspicions that her involvement was minimal at the time. But, of course, that didn’t matter to your father.’ He gives Shade an apologetic look. ‘He was looking for a reason to be rid of her, Master Jack, and he got one.’

‘Why?’ I ask angrily. ‘She was just a kid. Why did he hate her so much?’

‘In a word, jealousy, Master Shaw. I’m afraid Mr. Novelle was always covetous of Mrs. Novelle’s attention.Perhaps because he’d been denied it for so many years before they…reconnected. When she was a child, Miss Marguerite took up a great deal of her mother’s attention that Mr. Novelle thought would be better spent on him and his two motherless sons.’

Shade sits back in his chair, looking shellshocked.

‘We already knew most of this,’ I tell him. ‘John as much as admitted it himself the night of the Gala, remember?’

Shade nods faintly. ‘I know. It’s just…it’s so fucked.’

Stephens reaches out with his uninjured arm and pats Shade’s shoulder. ‘It is indeed fucked, Master Jack. But it is in the past now. Presently, you and Miss Marguerite have more pressing matters that demand your attention.’

‘You’re right, Stephens.’ Shade takes his hand and shakes it. ‘Thank you.’

‘Yes, well.’ Stephens’ cheeks color a little. ‘I’ve always quite fancied myself the Alfred to your Bruce Wayne, sir. Unfortunately, your father didn’t die in a chance shooting in an alleyway, and you didn’t fall into a cave full of winged vermin. However, we must all make do.’

Shade chuckles a little dolefully. ‘You always get me laughing when I’m at my worst.’

The butler nods seriously. ‘I suggest you do everything in your power to find Miss Marguerite. Her days and nights under that vile nurse’s thumb were taking their toll when last I saw her.’

My brows knit together. ‘What happened to Daisy, Stephens?’ I ask.

‘In truth, sir, I don’t know. But I believe Miss Marguerite was treated most cruelly bythat womanand her employer. If she’sout therealone, I’d hazard a guess that she doesn’t really want to be, regardless of what she might have said to you.’

‘Okay,’ I breathe, taking out my phone.

‘What are you doing?’ Shade asks.

‘I’m calling Lu Garrett. I’m her favorite, remember?Maybe she’ll tell me something, but she definitely knows more than she said.’

The phone rings a couple of times before it’s picked up.

I walk out of the hospital room with a nod to the butler.