Authors: Mignon G. Eberhart

Danger in the Dark (30 page)

But Johnny, he thought once, holding her tight against him, Johnny would somehow manage to evade a trial as he had always evaded unpleasantness. He would deny everything. Funny, how crafty he was under that mild amiability. He’d sent Ben to the springhouse so neatly. Had provided himself with an alibi so deftly. Had he done so because in his heart he expected Archie to murder Ben?

He thought of Gertrude, too; had her accusations of himself and Daphne been pretense—because her knowledge was to be useful to her? She’d always feared Amelia, because Amelia was stronger than she, because Amelia feared nothing herself. Had Gertrude, actually, below all that storm of threats directed at Daphne and at himself—had she actually thought that Amelia had killed Ben?

Amelia opened the door and came in. “We’ll have to go through it all, Dennis. Will you stand by the company? We shall need you.”

Again involuntarily he looked up at the portrait. Met Rowley Haviland’s eyes. A great company, its trade-mark all over the world. Founded, maintained, carried on by Havilands—there was no possible indecision.

“Yes, Aunt Amelia.”

She was looking at the portrait, too. “Things like this happen,” she said stiffly. “It’s life—frailty, strength, vanity. Weakness, Dennis.”

“He’ll never stand trial,” said Dennis. (And he was right, but in an unexpected way, for Johnny Haviland died of pneumonia before the week was out.)

Daphne stirred and lifted her face. Later, she thought, she would feel. Now she was inexpressibly thankful for the warmth and tenderness and strength of the arms that held her.

Dennis looked down, searching her eyes deeply, finding below the shadow of tragedy and pain the thing he sought.

“I’ll come back,” he said to Amelia. “But we’re going away first. Together—Daphne and I—until we are ready to come back.”

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