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Athena paused to think. “It could have been anyone. I—foolishly as it turns out—announced it to Mrs. Hillman’s coachman outside the town hall, while the crowd was waiting to attend the concert.”

“Who knew you were going to Woodcroft House the day you were mauled?”

“I told no one, but I passed several people in the village. George Osborn. Mr. Carson. Miss Quince. Their stares weren’t friendly.

I ran into Edward Ackroyd outside the village lock-up.

He’d just heard that Caroline Vernon had been alive all this time.

” She glanced at Mr. Chapman. “Did you know Miss Vernon was living in the attic at Darkmoor Park?”

“Not until the other night. I never heard nor suspected anything. What a shocking turn of events. Mrs. Hillman is devastated that Miss Vernon was found.”

“It’s my fault.” Athena flinched as she said it and waved away his look of inquiry.

“Don’t ask me to explain. But I should never have been in that attic.

Mr. Ackroyd knew it, and he gave me a piece of his mind.

I didn’t tell you this, Selena, for fear you’d worry.

But he said he would kill me if he could. ”

“Oh, no,” Selena exclaimed.

“I’m sure he didn’t mean it,” Athena said quickly.

“Didn’t he?” Mr. Chapman’s lips pressed together in a frown.

“We learned recently that Mr. Ackroyd and Mr. Carson both attended the garden party where Harold Sinclair died,” Selena told Mr. Chapman.

He nodded slowly. “So Ackroyd lied about that. Why would he have lied unless he had something to hide?” Grimly, Mr. Chapman added, “He might have followed you to Woodcroft House, Miss Taylor.”

“He might have,” Athena acknowledged, “but Edward Ackroyd now seems to me an unlikely suspect. He doesn’t fit with Mrs. Hunt’s story. He would never have framed Miss Vernon for murder.”

“I see what you mean.” Mr. Chapman paused. “If not Ackroyd… did you meet anyone else along the way to Sinclair’s estate?”

“Just Mr. Vernon, but he couldn’t possibly be at fault.”

Mr. Chapman shot Athena a questioning glance. “How can you be so certain? Vernon was at the helm of the entire charade to hide his sister, wasn’t he? If, as you say, you were somehow culpable in Caroline Vernon’s discovery, Mr. Vernon may harbor some resentment against you.”

Selena inhaled sharply. “He could have waited while you spoke to Mr. Sinclair and let the dogs loose when you left the house.”

Athena hesitated for only the briefest of seconds and then shook her head. “No!” It couldn’t be . She loved Mr. Vernon. She had once hoped that he might return those feelings. That was over now. She had ruined it. But a man’s nature did not change.

She shook her head firmly. “Mr. Vernon would never harm me or anyone. He is not that kind of man. He sent a doctor to tend me. If he wanted me to die, would he have done so?”

“Probably not,” Selena acceded.

“Well, then, I go back to Margaret Quince and Mr. Carson,” Mr. Chapman said.

Selena nodded. “Mr. Carson may have worked on his own or in collusion with Mr. Osborn.”

Athena let out a long sigh. “They are all possibilities. But what does it matter now? Caroline Vernon will hang in a few days. And I can do nothing to stop it.”

Selena took one of Athena’s hands in hers. “You must not think that way. Things are dire, yes, but remember what our brother said. ‘ Keep trying and never give up. ’ He urged us to ‘ protect the people in danger as best we can .’ We owe it to Miss Vernon to help her.”

“Help her? How? I’ve seen York Prison. Miss Vernon may have managed a prison break years ago, but I very much doubt she can do so again.”

“I wasn’t thinking of a prison break. We must find a way to prove Miss Vernon’s innocence before it’s too late.”

“What do you think I’ve been trying to do all these weeks?” Athena threw her hands up in despair. “I’ve gotten nowhere!”

“That’s not true,” Mr. Chapman responded. “You have identified several suspects, each of whom had motive and opportunity.”

Selena nodded. “We have to flush out the killer and get them to incriminate themselves.”

“Easier said than done,” Athena countered.

“Since when have you ever sought the easy route?” Selena cried.

“You’re right. You’re right. But at this point, I don’t know what to do. It’s all still so muddled,” Athena returned with a sigh.

“We can’t let that stop us,” Selena countered. “We can solve this, and we will. You know what Mama always said— two heads are better than one. And now there are three of us.”

Athena blinked at her sister. “What did you just say?”

“I said… now there are three of us.”

“No, before that. You said two heads are better than one .” Athena paused in thought. “That phrase implies the value of two people working together. But it could also apply to two people working apart .”

“What do you mean?” asked Mr. Chapman.

“I’ve been so puzzled by the ‘Ethel Leighton’ angle.

But I wonder if we’ve been looking at it all wrong.

We’ve been assuming that there was one person behind both Sinclair’s murder and the blackmail.

But what if it was two people with completely different reasons?

” Athena’s heart began to beat faster. “Take Edward Ackroyd. He had a strong motive to kill Harold Sinclair. Miss Quince hated Miss Vernon with a vengeance. She might be guilty of both the murder and the blackmail. But on the other hand, Ackroyd may have murdered Sinclair, after which Miss Quince saw her chance to take revenge on Caroline Vernon—by blackmailing Ethel Leighton into lying in court.”

Selena gave a little gasp. “Oh! That’s brilliant thinking, Athena.”

Mr. Chapman nodded, wide-eyed. “Well done, Miss Taylor. I agree—that’s entirely possible. And it puts Edward Ackroyd back in the running as a suspect for murder.”

“Now we just have to—what did you say?” Athena asked her sister. “ Flush out whoever is complicit? The question is: how?”

They all went quiet for a moment.

“I keep thinking that this all goes back to Sally Osborn,” Selena murmured. “That she was murdered because she knew who Harold Sinclair’s killer was. There must be a way to use that connection.”

“If only Sally had kept a diary,” Athena mused, “and named the killer of Harold Sinclair, it would make this all so simple.”

“If only,” Selena agreed.

“Wait,” Athena said as another idea came to her. “That’s it!”

“What’s it?” Mr. Chapman asked.

“The way to flush the killer out! As far as we know, Sally didn’t keep a diary.

But the killer can’t know that.” A flame of hope kindled within Athena’s breast. “What if we pretend that Sally Osborn’s secret diary has been found here at Thorndale Manor, and that it incriminates the person who murdered Harold Sinclair? ”

“Do we know if Sally could read and write?” Selena asked. “It’s not common for someone in her profession.”

“Yes, she could,” Athena responded. “I recall giving her a list once of duties to perform, and she read it and commented on it in front of me.”

Mr. Chapman’s eyes narrowed. “Wait, I don’t follow. What, exactly, are you suggesting?”

Athena knew that what she was about to propose was risky.

She might be putting herself in danger. But if it worked, it could save Caroline Vernon’s life.

“I’ll set up a kind of blackmail scheme.

I’ll write anonymous letters to everyone we suspect, saying that Sally’s diary has been found and unless they want it turned over to the authorities, they must meet me at a specific time and place, with a particular sum of money. ”

Mr. Chapman’s face creased with worry. “I don’t know…”

“What a clever idea,” Selena enthused. “The guilty party will never want that diary to fall into the wrong hands. It would mean they’d hang.” She paused. “Just keep in mind, if we’re wrong about the perpetrator, the entire exercise will be for naught.”

“Well, then, let’s cast the net a little wider.” Athena chewed her lip, thinking hard. “Let’s ‘covertly’ spread the word at the pub that Sally’s diary has been found, with all the particulars about the meeting. If we’re lucky, even if the letters don’t work, word will reach the perpetrator.”

“Miss Taylor.” Mr. Chapman shook his head. “There have already been several attempts on your life. You’re dealing with a known killer who may not hesitate to kill again. You’re effectively using yourself as bait.”

“I understand. I’ll take steps to mitigate the risk. I’ll have a witness there with me, a man with authority who can apprehend the villain on the spot.”

“Who?” Selena asked.

“Neville Sinclair would never help. I’ll ask Mr. Johnson. He is to be the next parish constable, after all.”

Selena nodded. “Excellent plan. And whatever happens, it will be three against one. Because I’m going with you as well.”

“You are not!” A flush of panic engulfed Athena. “I told you I don’t want you involved.”

“I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you, Athena, when I could be there to assist. We’re doing this together or not at all,” Selena insisted.

Athena heaved a long breath, too tired to fight. “Fine.”

“Ladies, ladies! This plan of yours worries me.” Mr. Chapman rubbed his chin and frowned.

“Too many things could go wrong. Even if the vicar is present, you might all be in danger. And if the culprit gets away, he might harm you at a future date. May I suggest that Mr. Johnson and I meet with the perpetrator and leave you out of this?”

“It’s my idea, my plan,” Athena insisted. “You’re not doing it without me.”

“And me,” Selena declared.

“All right,” Mr. Chapman acquiesced with a sigh. “But I must insist that I be allowed to join you as another witness and means of protection, and to take on any other roles that are within my power, to keep you safe.”

Athena considered that. They might benefit from another man’s help. “Very well. Thank you, Mr. Chapman.”

“Now, when and where do you propose to hold this meeting?” he asked.

“It can’t be soon enough. Without this evidence, Caroline Vernon will hang. I say we schedule it for tomorrow night.”

“Will you be well enough by then?” Selena asked.

“I feel better already just knowing that we have a plan,” Athena replied.

“As for where—it must be someplace out of the way.” She paused in thought.

“How about the dower house at Darkmoor Park? It is remote and quiet. Renovations are still in progress, so no one’s living there.

Mrs. Hillman is in York at present, right? ”

“She is,” Mr. Chapman replied. “And I believe she would approve any enterprise that might save her beloved Caroline.”

“Good.” Athena considered. “How much should we ask for our fictitious diary? Do you think twenty pounds is appropriate?”

“I’d say fifteen,” Mr. Chapman suggested. “That’s a lot of money, but a sum the killer might be able to come up with in a short time.”

Athena threw back the bed covers. “The clock is ticking. We have not a moment lose.” She moved to the desk and wrote four letters—to Edward Ackroyd, Miss Quince, and both Mr. Osborn and Mr. Carson—describing the diary and terms and instructing them to meet at the Darkmoor Park dower house the following night at 8:30 P.M.

Mr. Chapman offered to post the letters and to call on the vicar to inform him of their plans.

“I’ll go to the pub and start the rumor,” Selena said.

“A lady will be conspicuous at the pub,” Mr. Chapman cautioned. “I’ll do it.”

A few hours later, Mr. Chapman returned and confirmed that everything was in place.

“The letters should be delivered in this afternoon’s post,” he explained.

“The vicar is on board, and I mentioned the rumor about the diary and the upcoming meeting to Mr. Barnes, the Master of the Hounds at Woodcroft House, one of the biggest gossips in the village.”

“I didn’t realize Mr. Barnes was a gossip,” Athena said, surprised. “I only met him once, when I was attacked by those dogs. But he seemed rather staid to me.”

“He’s a different man when women aren’t around,” Mr. Chapman assured her. “I have faith that he will spread the word.”

There was only one more night and day to get through. Athena alternated between resting, tending to her wounds, and taking walks to regain her strength while engaged in clandestine conversation with Selena.

“The killer will be walking into a trap,” Selena said as they strode together in the garden the following morning.

“We’ll get our proof and save Caroline Vernon from the gallows,” Athena enthused.

Selena squeezed Athena’s hand with excitement and affection. “Once the word gets out that Miss Vernon was innocent, the taint will be removed from Thorndale Manor.”

“We’ll get all our pupils back.”

“And new pupils besides.” Selena eyes sparkled.

“Yes!” For the first time in days, Athena felt a ray of hope. She had a team to help her. We’ll pull this thing off , she told herself.

Another added outcome also occupied her thoughts. If this all went as they hoped, then maybe, just maybe, Mr. Vernon would forgive her for the grievous mistake she’d made.

And maybe he wouldn’t hate her any longer.