The Quality of Mercy: A Lady Evelyn Mystery (The Lady Evelyn Mysteries Book 5) by Malia Zaidi

Author:Malia Zaidi [Zaidi, Malia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2020-08-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

“He’s out in the garden,” Jane tells me, when I ask her about Daniel’s whereabouts. She has a grin on her face, that has me narrowing my eyes, as I make my way through the house toward the back door leading out to the patch of green and small, tiled veranda.

When I open the door, I let out a gasp of surprise. There on the lawn, underneath the violet sky, lies a blanket, upon which rests a basket. Daniel has his back to me, unpacking its contents. A few thick candles in milky glasses flicker in the soft breeze that ruffles my hair. I abandon my shoes before stepping onto the grass, cool and soft beneath my feet. Silent as a mouse, I tip-toe across the small expanse and just as I reach out to tap Daniel’s shoulder, he spins around.

“Ha! You thought you could trick me, but I am onto you, Lady Evelyn!” he says, grinning at me, while I pretend to be miffed, though I allow him to pull me down to him after a moment.

“What is this in honor of?” I ask, hoping I have not forgotten some meaningful event.

Thankfully, Daniel’s expression is not touched by disappointment, and he replies, “Nothing in particular.” He glances down before meeting my eyes. “I am sorry about my jealousy. You mustn’t hold it against me.”

“How could I hold anything against you when I come home to this?” I ask, leaning forward to kiss him, the rim of my hat bumping his forehead. I toss it aside.

“You have every right to choose your own friends,” Daniel acknowledges, leaning back on his elbows, tilting his head to peer up at the sky. I lay down beside him, careful not to scatter the half-unpacked contents of the picnic basket. “I think -” he begins, then shakes his head.

“What do you think?” I prod gently, resting my hand on his.

“I suppose I think because everyone who mattered to me was taken away, nothing is ever quite safe.” He pauses, then turns to face me and adds quickly, “I am not trying to be melodramatic, and it is not that I do not trust you. I simply can’t trust the universe. Does that seem logical?”

“Quite,” I agree, a lump forming in my throat.

“I am not a religious man, but sometimes I wonder whether there is some force dictating what does and does not happen on earth. I cannot reconcile such a force as being a benevolent one. I cannot understand what good comes from wreaking such havoc upon humans, apart from teaching us a lesson that will, in the end, never be learned.” When I do not immediately reply, he gives a little chuckle, leaning on his side and rubbing his eyes with the back of his palm. “It has been a tiring week for both of us. So I wanted to make tonight a little special.”

“You certainly have done that.” I feel I should offer something more, something better in answer to his voiced anxieties but can think of nothing to reassure him.

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