The Chocolatier's Wife (43 page)

William poked
through
the
ashes,
as
if
double
checking
for
something interesting.
“I
assume
that
he
received
the
chocolates,
placed
them
on the desk.”

He
walked
over
to
the
desk,
and
she,
done
with
her
search,
came
and joined him,
“And sat down...”
he did so,
“and began writing ...
something.”

“Perhaps
in
his
journal?”
She
tapped
the book,
which
sat
on
the corner
of the desk.
William
frowned distastefully, yet drew it forward.

“It’s
fairly
new,”
he
said;
indeed,
it
held
only
two
entries,
the
last
one smeared,
and
replicating
itself
on
the
page
opposite.
Someone
had
shut
the book
before even blotting the writing.
“Please, try to see if he had others?”

“If
he
did,
I
am
willing
to
wager
they
were
right
there.”
She
nodded
to
the wide, blank
space in
the shelves that had bothered her earlier.

She
walked
over
and
inspected
the
smeared
dust
at
the
edge
of
the
shelf, and
looked
back
at
William,
who
frowned
as
if
the
shelves
had
insulted
him gravely.

“But
I
shall
keep
looking.
Does
what
you
have
speak
to
anything
of impo
r
tance?”

“Nay
,
‘ti
s
a
recor
d
o
f
ever
y
da
y
things
.
H
e
bough
t
a
ne
w
pai
r
o
f
horse
s
t
o
replac
e
th
e
tea
m
tha
t
pull
s
hi
s
carriag
e
an
d
h
e
describe
s
the
m
in overwinded
,
bu
t
lovin
g
d
e
tail
.
H
e
list
s
wha
t
h
e
ha
d
fo
r
dinner
,
whic
h
wa
s f
ish-tri
f
l
e
pi
e
an
d
ale.
”

“Ugh
,
n
o
wonde
r
h
e
wa
s
eage
r
t
o
hav
e
som
e
chocolat
e
..
.
clea
r
that tast
e
ou
t
o
f
hi
s
mouth.
”

“Wha
t
i
s
wron
g
wit
h
f
ish-tri
f
l
e
pi
e
an
d
ale?
”
Sh
e
gav
e
hi
m
a
loo
k
o
f
suc
h
horro
r
tha
t
h
e
laughed
.
“Don’
t
worry
,
I
quit
e
agre
e
wit
h
you
r
sentiments
. I
lik
e
m
y
f
is
h
an
d
m
y
tri
f
l
e
separate.
”

Sh
e
shuddere
d
delicatel
y
an
d
wen
t
bac
k
t
o
he
r
search
.
The
n
she stoppe
d
an
d
looke
d
a
t
th
e
shelve
s
again
.
“Wha
t
kin
d
o
f
ma
n
wa
s
the bishop
?
Wa
s
h
e
ver
y
orga
n
ized?
”

“
I
suppos
e
tha
t
h
e
was
.
Hi
s
des
k
i
s
i
n
goo
d
order.
”

“William
,
wil
l
yo
u
loo
k
a
t
thes
e
shelves
?
There’
s
somethin
g
botherin
g
me
,
an
d
I
jus
t
canno
t
pu
t
m
y
f
inge
r
o
n
it.”

“O
r
yo
u
can
,
an
d
ar
e
hopin
g
fo
r
confirmatio
n
tha
t
you’r
e
no
t
grasping a
t
straws,
”
h
e
sai
d
a
s
h
e
joine
d
her
.
“Well
,
tha
t
i
s
odd
,
I
think
.
A
clergyma
n
woul
d
neve
r
pu
t
Auterach’
s
Commentar
y
nex
t
t
o
Historie
s
o
f
th
e
Ancient
s
.
Th
e
Bisho
p
wa
s
fairl
y
ferven
t
i
n
hi
s
beliefs
;
hi
s
hol
y
book
s
woul
d
hav
e
al
l
bee
n
i
n
on
e
section.
”

“An
d
thos
e
books
,
th
e
se
t
o
f
Curiositie
s
an
d
Wonder
s
o
f
ou
r
Worl
d
?
Th
e
volume
s
ar
e
se
t
bac
k
o
n
th
e
shelve
s
wit
h
n
o
accountin
g
a
t
al
l
fo
r
order.
”

“His
desk
also
shows
signs
of
having
been
searched.
Things
put
back,
but not
quite
right.
As
if
the
person,
or
perhaps
persons,
conducting
the
search didn’t
care
if
anyone
knew.
Which would,
of
course,
mean
the
authorities investigating
the
murder.
So
this
is
no
surprise
at
all,
truly.
Anyone
wishing to conduct a
proper investigation would do much the same.”

“Woul
d
the
y
tak
e
th
e
journals?
”

“Quit
e
probably
.
The
y
woul
d
wis
h
t
o
loo
k
throug
h
the
m
t
o
se
e
who woul
d
hav
e
a
motiv
e
fo
r
killin
g
th
e
bishop.
”