Jane Vows Vengeance

they had no control. She just had to hope it worked.

“I can’t believe Joshua knows Our Gloomy Friend,” she said.

“She knows a lot of people,” said Byron. “You’ve hidden yourself away in the colonies for so long that you’ve lost touch with the community here.”

“I was never in touch with it,” Jane reminded him. “At least not very much. But I suppose it’s still my fault. It generally is.”

“I told you she was like this,” Byron remarked to William.

“Like what?” said Jane.

“Like you are,” said Byron. “Now let’s get into town and get this needle made. We want to be ready when what’s-her-name calls.”

“Suzu,” Jane said.

“When Suzu calls,” said Byron. “William, can you handle this?”

“I think I can manage,” William answered, standing up and pulling on a coat. “I’ll see you two later.”

“What are we going to do?” Jane asked Byron.

“We’re going to say goodbye to all your new friends,” said Byron.

This was a much more emotional experience than Jane expected it to be. Although she was not at all sad to be saying goodbye to Enid and Genevieve, she found herself clinging tightly to Orsino as she wished him buon viaggio, and telling Sam not to be a stranger. Brodie kissed her for slightly longer than was probably polite, but she didn’t mind, and when she hugged Chumsley it was with genuine affection that she told him to keep his pecker up. As the bus drove away, she stood next to Walter and waved until the bus turned the corner and no one could see her anymore.

“That was some trip,” Ben said as they went back into the villa.

“I know I’ll never forget it,” Walter added. “One interrupted wedding, a death, and my mother running off with a German architect. I’d say that’s pretty memorable.”

“That reminds me,” said Byron, reaching into the pocket of his jacket. “This came for you. I’ve been picking up your mail. This looked important, so I thought I should bring it.”

He handed Jane an envelope.

“It’s from the General Register Office,” Jane said as she opened it. She took out a piece of paper and ran her eyes over it. “It says that the marriage between Joshua Mobley and Elizabeth Jane Fairfax has been declared null and void due to the presiding vicar having improperly acquired credentials.”

She looked at Byron, who suddenly seemed to have something in his eye, as he looked away and rubbed it vigorously.

“Joshua said he would look into this,” she said. “I must say, I didn’t expect him to actually do it.” She turned to Walter. “I suppose I’m free to marry you now. If you’ll still have me.”

“You’re sure there are no other husbands floating around?” Walter asked.

“Very sure,” Jane said.

“Then I’m game if you are,” said Walter. “But I would like to wait until my mother decides to come back, if that’s all right.”

Jane’s happiness flooded away. “Of course,” she said, forcing herself to sound happy. “We wouldn’t want her to miss it.”

“That reminds me,” said Walter. “I want to call home and see if she’s left a message there. I’ll be right back.”

“Don’t be long,” Jane said. “And if you talk to Miriam, tell her that if she wants to be my matron of honor, she’d best get herself back to us.”

When Walter was out of earshot she turned to Byron. “How did you arrange this?” she asked, holding up the letter.

“I know a guy,” Byron said, in a perfect imitation of a Brooklyn accent. “Don’ worry ’bout it.”

“Well, thank you,” said Jane. She sighed. “You do take awfully good care of me.”

“You forget what I did to you the last time we were here,” Byron said. “After that, looking out for you is the least I can do.”

“It is strange being here, isn’t it?” said Jane.

Byron looked around. “That was all so long ago,” he said. “I like to think I’m a different man now. You weren’t the only woman I was cruel to that summer, you know.”

Jane took his hand and they started to walk back to the house. “I don’t know that we ever really change,” she said. “I think we just learn which parts of ourselves to lock away and which ones to bring out more often.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” said Byron.

“I generally am,” said Jane. “I wish I didn’t have to keep reminding you. By the way, something is puzzling me. If the Needle doesn’t exist, why have the Tedious Three been looking for it for so long?”

“The Tedious Three?” Byron said. “Have you run into them as well?”

“No,” Jane said. “I’ve only been told about them. Why? Do you know them?”

“Thankfully, no,” said Byron. “I know of them, of course, but I’ve never encountered them. As I understand it, they tend to keep to themselves, in all probability because no one can stand having them around. Hence the name, you see.”

“Yes, well they seem very interested in the Needle,” Jane said.

Byron snorted. “They’re librarians,” he said. “All they’re interested in is obscure, impossible things. Just forget about them.”

Jane did just that. An hour later William returned from town. Finding Jane and Byron in the kitchen, eating gherkins out of a jar and arguing over the proper way to make a croque-madame, he asked, “Is it safe?”

“Walter is taking a shower,” Jane told him. “Ben and Lucy are upstairs. Did you get the needle?”

William placed a bundle on the table. Untying the twine that held it closed, he unrolled a piece of thick canvas and revealed an iron spike. About nine inches long, it was completely unremarkable in appearance. One end was pointed and the other had a wide, flat head.

“It’s a bit plain,” Jane remarked.

“What would you have it look like?” asked Byron.

Jane shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said. “I just thought it would be more … mystical.”

“You mean like covered in runes?” Byron said. “Or perhaps a bit of elvish verse? This isn’t a Tolkien story.”

Jane rolled her eyes. “I’m just saying, it’s supposed to be capable of restoring a soul. This looks like something you would use to keep the corner of a tent from blowing away.”

“I had him age it a bit,” William said, ignoring their bickering.

“It’s perfect,” said Byron. “This Suzu woman has no idea what it’s supposed to look like anyway.”

A thought occurred to Jane. “What if she insists on seeing if it works before handing over Miriam?”

“We’ll worry about that when the time comes,” Byron told her. “Right now we just have to wait for her to contact you.”

As the afternoon dragged on, Jane became more and more concerned that she wouldn’t hear from Suzu. She tried to be cheerful for Walter’s sake, but as the hours passed her anxiety grew. They had plans to return to London in the morning, and Jane worried that once they left Villa Diodati Suzu wouldn’t know where to find them.

Then, shortly before seven o’clock, the telephone in the hall rang. Jane, hearing it, went and picked it up. “Hello?” she said.

“Waiting for my call, I see.” Suzu’s voice was unmistakable. “Do you have the Needle?”

“Yes,” Jane said. “Is Miriam safe?”

“She’s alive,” said Suzu. “But not safe. She won’t be until you’ve handed over the Needle to me.”

“Where are you?” Jane asked her.

“London,” said Suzu. “You’re coming here tomorrow, I believe.”

“That’s right,” Jane said. “How did you know?”

Suzu laughed. “I know everything about you, Jane. Now listen carefully.”

Jane listened, memorizing Suzu’s instructions. Before she could ask anything more, Suzu hung up.

“Who was that?” Walter asked, coming out of the kitchen and handing Jane a glass of wine.

“The hotel,” Jane said. “I called them earlier to confirm our reservation.”