“Yes,” he said. “I offered my assistance to the undertaker. Unfortunately, it will take extra strength to lift this slab.”

“I see,” she said. “Will you be back soon?”

“Yes, I won’t be more than an hour.” His gaze lingered on her face, his eyes dropping to her lips as she licked them.

“You’ll need this then.” Remi produced the key she used to unlock the gate earlier and handed it over. Her fingertips grazed his open palm and she suppressed a shiver, quickly pulling them away.

“I look forward to my return.”

“As do I.” Remi clutched her fingers to her chest in the hopes that they could somehow hide the fervent beating of her heart. “I’ll take my leave.”

Ben smiled as she turned. It was the kind of smile that made her cheeks warm, and she decided then that she would not forget it any time soon. She hurried through the cemetery, all the while hoping that the morning air would cool her heated flesh. The carriage waited for her at the far edge of the grass, with Jacques standing by patiently. Remi took the hand he offered and stepped up into the cabin, slipping with ease into the seat beside Sylvie.

“Keep an eye on that one,” she said, leaning toward him. “He seems to make trouble wherever he goes.”

Jacques grinned. “I am all too familiar, Madame. Trust that I will always return him to you in one piece.”

The door to the carriage closed before he could see the blush spread across her cheeks. Ben had not been hers for a very long time. He was completely new to her, even despite her cracking his shell a fraction. There was more to him than anyone could discern by looking, and as much as Remi wanted to sink herself into the layers beneath his shallow surface, she could not yet give in. Though the spark was there, he was still cautious, and that was all she needed to remedy her frivolity. If it wasn’t for Sylvie’s chattering on the way back, she might have succumbed to the stirring hope that things between her and Ben had changed after their rain-soaked conversation.

“Do you feel a weight has been lifted?” Sylvie asked. “Madame?”

“I’m sorry?”

“A weight, Madame. Do you feel it’s been lifted?”

“Oh.” Remi exhaled. “In part, I suppose I do.”

“That must be such a relief.”

Remi only hummed a reply as she leaned against the door of the carriage. It was already starting to rain again, and as the drops raced down the clouded windows, she didn’t feel as weightless as they looked. With Edgar laid to rest, there was still the matter of the unsigned letter still folded in her pocket.

DIGGING

BEN

MAY, 1898

Ben closed the door of the mausoleum firmly behind him and locked it, tucking the key inside his pocket. After placing his father’s coffin inside, he’d asked for a moment to say goodbye. Being inside the mausoleum, surrounded by his dead relatives, left a needling pain inside his heart. All of his loved ones were gone, and he was the only one left to mourn them.

“Thank you for waiting,” Ben said as he joined the undertaker on the bench of the carriage.

“Say all you needed to?” the man asked, whipping the lead into motion. The carriage started forward.

“I did.” Ben spared one last glance back at the mausoleum. “Not sure if he heard any of it, though.”

“The dead are always listening.” The undertaker tapped his ear. “Make no mistake.”

Ben crossed his arms, leaned back against the carriage, and closed his eyes. He wondered if that was true, if they really could hear him. How ashamed would they be, to see how low he’d fallen during his time away? He was not worthy of a parent’s praise. Certainly, his mother would have plenty to say about the way he carried on with his life.

It could be different, though. He could be different.

There was an opportunity to change now that he was home. Ben opened his eyes as the carriage rumbled along. He sat forward on the bench and strained to see as the manor came into view. There was another carriage waiting, but no driver to be seen. The front doors were wide open, and two people stumbled out.

“Elise?”

Although she was somewhat obscured by distance, he could make out the color of her hair and the shrill timbre of her voice.

“Please! If you would just let us explain!” she begged. The person beside her, a man, reached for her as Remi came into view.

The carriage rolled to a stop and Ben hopped down to the ground with haste. He sped forward, the gravel crunching beneath his boots, just as Remi was joined by Jacques and another. They seemed to be speaking to her, but she was focused on Elise.

“I don’t want to hear it!” She threw her hands out, clearly angry.

“Remi, please!” Elise dissolved into tears. The man beside her became clear—Guillaume. They both looked distraught and guilty.

Jacques waved to Ben as he approached, catching Remi’s attention. Her blue-green eyes turned on him then, anger burning in their core. He recognized the wrath, having been at the receiving end of it the morning before. Whatever they’d done, she was incensed.

“What’s happened here?” Ben asked.

Guillaume urged Elise along, pushing her toward the other carriage. She turned her pleading eyes to Ben, still full of unshed tears.

“She won’t listen to me,” Elise cried.

Guillaume held her around the waist as he pulled open the carriage door, ushering her to get inside.

“Forgive me,” Guillaume said to Ben, bowing his head in apology.

“What in God’s name?” Ben muttered.

Guillaume hurried away, swinging himself up onto the bench. He whipped the lead and took off at an incredible speed, as if willing the horses to soar instead of run. Ben turned back to the door where Remi stood, now joined by a curly-haired young man. He recognized him from the wake, though he could not recall his name.

“Is anyone going to tell me what happened?” Ben repeated.

“Madame caught her cousin dallying with the footman.”

Ben’s brows shot up his forehead, nearly reaching his hairline. “You mean?”

“They were in the throes of passion, as it were.” Jacques coughed into his hand as if attempting to hide his amusement.

Remi made a noise akin to irritation and embarrassment. “I couldn’t see at first. I only thought someone was hurting Elise.”

Next to her, the man took her hand and patted it. “Why don’t we move this conversation inside, ma cherie?”

Ben sensed a deeper connection between the two. The way she folded into him, and the way he handled her so gently, inspired a glimmer of jealousy. Who was this man and how was it that he came to be in his home, with his arms wrapped around Remi? He seemed familiar, though Ben could not quite place how.

Once inside, Ben could see the distress in the way her shoulders tensed at her ears. She was shaking, but from what, he could not say. Humiliation? Anger? Both seemed possible given the circumstances.

“So how long has this been going on?” Ben asked carefully. Part of him wanted to go to her, but the way her companion cradled her, he could hardly find reason to break them apart. His hands twitched with frustration.