Second Sight by Amanda Quick Page A

in a profession. It is even harder for a single, attractive female.”
    There was a short silence behind him. Gabriel turned around to find Caleb watching him with a considering expression.
    “Miss Milton is attractive?” Caleb asked neutrally.
    Gabriel raised his brows. “She is nothing short of riveting.”
    “I see,” Caleb said. “You still have not answered my question. Why do you think she chose to use the last name of Jones when she decided to pass herself off as a widow?”
    “Very likely because it was convenient.”
    “Convenient,” Caleb repeated.
    “I expect she must have seen the notice that appeared in some of the newspapers following the events at Arcane House,” Gabriel explained. “Evidently she concluded that, as I no longer had any use for the name Jones, she would borrow it.”
    Caleb looked down at the newspaper. “That is unfortunate under the circumstances.”
    “It is more than unfortunate.” Gabriel turned away from the window. “It is a potential disaster. At the very least it throws all of our carefully laid plans into chaos.”
    “It is not as though our scheme was proceeding all that well, in any case. Caleb pointed out. “We have not yet turned up any trace of the thief.”
    “The trail has, indeed, gone cold,” Gabriel agreed. A faint tingle of energy went through him. “But I think that is about to change.”
    Caleb narrowed his eyes faintly. “Will you be able to deal with this on your own, cousin.”
    “I don’t see much choice.”
    “If you can wait for a month or so I might be able to assist you.”
    Gabriel shook his head. “This cannot wait. Not now that Venetia is involved. You have your own responsibilities to attend to. We both know that they are every bit as important as this matter ”
    “I fear that may, indeed, be the case.”
    Gabriel started toward the door. “I will leave for London at dawn. I wonder what my grieving widow will say when she discovers that her late husband is very much alive.”

Chapter 6
    There was nothing like having a dead husband return from the grave to ruin a fine spring morning.
    Venetia gazed, transfixed, at the headlines of
The Flying Intelligencer.

    Noted Photographer’s Husband, Feared Dead, Returns
    by Gilbert Otford
    This correspondent is delighted to be the first to report that Mr. Gabriel Jones, believed to have perished while on his honeymoon in the American West, has returned unharmed to London.
    Readers will be thrilled to learn that Mr. Jones is none other than the husband of the renowned Society photographer Mrs. Venetia Jones.
    Mr. Jones spoke briefly with your humble correspondent shortly after his safe arrival in our fair city. He explained that, having suffered a severe bout of amnesia following his unfortunate accident in the Wild West, he wandered for several months. During that time he was unable to make his identity known to the authorities. But now, his memory and his health fully restored, he declared with the most fervent enthusiasm that he could scarcely wait to be reunited with his beloved bride.
    The eminent Mrs. Jones, who has caught the attention of connoisseurs of photography, has been sunk in the sad gloom of widowhood for nearly a year. Her devotion to the memory of the husband she believed to be dead has touched the hearts of all of her clients and those who admire her work.
    One can only imagine the magnitude of the joy and delight that will ignite the lady’s heart when she discovers that her husband is alive and has come back to her.

    “There has been a dreadful mistake,” Venetia whispered, aghast.
    Beatrice paused in the act of buttering a slice of toast. “Whatever is the matter, dear? You look as if you have just seen a ghost.”
    Venetia shuddered. “Please do not use that word.”
    “What word?” Amelia asked.
    “Ghost,” Venetia said.
    Edward paused in mid-chew. “You saw a ghost, Venetia?”
    “Edward, do not speak with your mouth full,” Beatrice said absently.
    Edward