Page 27 of A Dangerous Vision

“I’ve never heard his name before, and I rarely have reason to give out cards unless I am calling on someone who has invited me.” There had been gentlemen she’d met in the past year since she’d begun using her psychic abilities in earnest, but she offered her card selectively.

Cordelia looked suddenly anxious. “I do give your cards out on occasion.”

“Do you?” Electra had not been aware.

“I know you have only begun taking sittings again recently, but you are gifted. Why shouldn’t more people have the advantage of your insights?”

Electra understood that Cordelia meant to be supportive, but she couldn’t help but wonder if one of the cards Cordelia had given out might be the one the dead man had held clasped in his hand.

“When was the last time you gave out my card?”

Cordelia bit her lip. “Perhaps a fortnight ago. No longer. The Allinghams’ ball, I think. To a Lady Cardew.”

“Have you given them to any gentlemen that you recall?”

“No.” Cordelia shook her head. “Only a few noble ladies who have expressed an interest in the occult.” Cordelia held her gaze and clarified, “Only those I trust, Electra.”

“Well, however this gentleman barrister got my card, he never contacted me.”

Electra reached for the newspaper she’d collected from the kitchen. “The article says he was found outside, lying on the pavement of the street where he resides. He'd been stabbed.”

Cordelia gasped. “Dear God.” She reached up, clasping the pendant she wore. “He's a barrister, you say?”

“Yes, Gideon said he was a Queen’s Counsel and the newspaper refers to him as a well-known barrister.” Electra bent her head to skim the article again. “It says he had all of his personal belongings intact, so it seems it was not a theft.”

“And this was…in Mayfair.” Cordelia’s voice had gone low, raspy.

“Yes, on Mount Street.” When Electra looked up from the paper, Cordelia’s face had gone sickly pale.

“And what was his name, Electra?”

Electra lowered the paper and frowned. “Percival Pennington. Cordelia, what is it?” Then she felt it, pulses of fear, though Cordelia’s face had slackened with shock. “You knew him?”

She did. Electra felt a stew of emotions from her, and beyond the shock and fear was a palpable sense of grief.

Cordelia nodded as tears slipped down her pale cheeks. “Yes,” she breathed.

Electra put the paper aside and moved to sit beside her. “How did you know him?” she asked after offering Cordelia her handkerchief.

It was many minutes before Cordelia had steadied her breathing and her tears stopped falling. She let out a shaky sigh. “I went to see a solicitor nearly a year ago when Kit and I… I considered how our marriage might be dissolved.”

Electra swallowed thickly and reached out to lay a hand against Cordelia’s arm. She sensed nothing from the contact and did not attempt to, only wishing to offer comfort.

Cordelia looked at her, eyes red. “I never wanted to tell anyone of this. I was ashamed and still am. But, yes, I went to a solicitor to inquire about divorce.”

“I never imagined things had gone that far.”

“Kit and I kept it very quiet. Obviously, you know because you live with me that he does not reside here, and I suppose there are some friends of his who know he keeps separate lodgings. But the rest has always remained a secret we kept.”

“And Mr. Pennington?”

“He was meeting with the solicitor over a case, I believe. We struck up a conversation about the weather, and then discussed a play, and later we went to a tea house.” Cordelia’s cheeks had regained their color. In fact, her face warmed in a blush. “He was kind and listened. I suppose he offered the sort of attention I had been missing.”

Electra had, for some time, guessed that the break in the Redmaynes’ marriage had been due to an indiscretion of Kit’s part.

“What happened that caused you to consider divorce?”

Cordelia stiffened her spine and nodded sharply. “Perhaps you can imagine what that was.” She glanced at Electra, tears welling in her eyes again. “There was another woman.” She lifted a hand. “I have forgiven him, you understand. And I do not wish to tarnish your opinion of Kit. But, yes, I discovered…an indiscretion, and I insisted that we live apart.”