“I am absolutely positive of that fact. My intuition, as you well know, is extremely keen.” She wanted to shake him. “You are no killer, Tobias March.”

Tobias did not say a word, but his gaze was disconcertingly steady. Belatedly, she thought about their last case, the one she had privately titled the Affair of the Mad Mesmerist in her journal.

She cleared her throat. “Yes, well, there may have been one or two unfortunate incidents along the way over the years, but they were accidents, as it were.”

“Accidents,” Tobias repeated neutrally.

“No, not accidents,” she corrected instantly. “Desperate acts of great bravery required to save the lives of others such as myself.

“Most definitely not cold-blooded murder. There is a vast difference, Tobias.” She drew a breath. “Now, then, enough of that subject. Tell me where Aspasia Gray fits into this affair.”

“Aspasia?” He frowned. “Did I not explain?”

“No, sir, you did not.”

“She was Zachary’s lover.”

“Elland’s lover. I see. That explains a few things, I suppose.”

“They met in the spring before Waterloo. Aspasia conceived a great passion for Elland, and he appeared equally enthralled by her.

“They made plans to wed. When Zachary returned to his work as a spy that summer, he used Aspasia’s entree in Society to obtain access to certain wealthy people. We believe that in addition to using the introductions to gather intelligence, he also took advantage of those opportunities to acquire some of his private clients.”

“Dear heaven.”

“One evening Aspasia stumbled onto the truth about how Elland made his living. In her horror, she fled from him. I have often wondered if the real reason he put the pistol to his head that night was not because I was closing in on him but because he had lost the woman he loved.”

“I find it rather difficult to believe that a killer would have such a romantic sensibility,” she muttered.

“The odd thing is that, in his own way, Elland’s nature was both dramatic and romantic. He reminded me of an artist or poet who lusts after any experience that will provide him with the highest peaks of emotion and sensation.”

“Without regard to the price he must pay?”

“Elland never counted the cost. He lived for the next thrill.”

“What did Aspasia do after she learned he had taken his own life?”

“She was utterly distraught. It is the only time I have ever seen her in such a state. Elland was the only man she had ever truly loved, and she was inconsolable. It was not just the fact that he had taken his own life that wounded her so deeply.”

“It was that she had loved him and not seen the truth of his nature?”

“Yes. Aspasia is a woman of the world, as I’m sure you have guessed. She considered herself too intelligent and too strongminded to be deceived in matters of love. Zachary’s deception shook her to the core.”

She told herself that she ought to feel some sympathy for Aspasia, but every time she thought about how she had discovered the other woman with her arms around Tobias’s neck, she found it impossible to summon up much pity.

Nevertheless, she had to admit, learning that one’s lover was a professional killer who took such a degree of satisfaction in his work that he marked it with his personal signature was enough to give any woman, even Cleopatra, a bad case of nerves.

“I collect that you feel a sense of obligation in all this,” she said.

“And Mrs. Gray is no doubt playing on that sensibility. Does she blame you for starting Elland down the path that led to his personal destruction?”

“She did not say as much aloud, but, yes, I suspect she does.”

“Rubbish,” she said again, very harshly this time. “Absolute rubbish.”

“I think she also feels a measure of guilt, because she was the one who helped him achieve the connections in Society that led to certain murders.”

Lavinia sighed. “What a sad tale.”

He opened his hand once more so that the candlelight flared on the small skull and crossbones. “And now it would seem that someone is determined to retell it.”

“Surely you do not believe that Zachary Elland has come back from the grave to resume his career?”

“No, of course not. I myself found Elland’s body, and I saw him buried. But this new killer sent a ring such as this to Aspasia, and I am quite certain that he intended for me to find this one tonight.”

“An old acquaintance announcing that he is back in town?”

“So it would seem. The discovery of the ring on her doorstep this morning threw Aspasia into a panic. That is why she followed us here.”

“Hmm.”

“Tobias frowned. What is it?”

“I must tell you, sir, that Aspasia did not appear to be in a panic tonight.”

His mouth twisted wryly. “She is hardly the type to succumb to a fit of the vapors. But I know her better than you do, and you may believe me when I tell you that her nerves were in a very rattled state tonight.”

“If you say so. Personally, I believe that she is attempting to use guilt as a means of manipulating you.”

“She has no need to go to such lengths to acquire my assistance in this matter, and I’m certain she is well aware of that.” Tobias pocketed the ring. “No one wants to find this new Memento-Mori Man more than I do. He has thrown down the gauntlet and there is no time to waste.”

“You must allow me to help you, Tobias.”

“I do not want you anywhere near this case.”

You have said it is imperative that you resolve this matter as soon as possible. You need all the assistance you can obtain.

“Furthermore, it is not as though I am an amateur at this sort of thing.”

“Bloody hell, Lavinia”

She raised her hand to silence him. “I would remind you that I am the only witness you have at the moment. Granted, I cannot give you a good description of the maid who accompanied Fullerton up here tonight, but I noticed some details that may be helpful.” Out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed a bit of white cloth in the deep shadow of a chimney. “Well, well, what have we here?”

She took the candle from his hand and hurried toward the chimney.

“Tobias took his foot down off the stone wall and followed her across the roof. What is it?”

“I’m not sure. But if it is what I believe it to be, we have our first clue.” She bent down and scooped up the object. “Her cap.”

“Are you certain?” Tobias took the large, floppy cap from her hand and examined it carefully by the light of the candle. “It looks like any other woman’s cap to me.”

“Not quite. It has an unusually large brim and a ribbon. That is most certainly the one the blond maid was wearing. I would not be surprised to find a few blond hairs inside when we take a closer look in a strong light. Tobias, this proves that the new killer is a woman.”

Tobias studied the cap for a long moment. “Or a man who wore women’s clothes to disguise himself.”