The Watery Grave: A historical psychic romance mystery (The Lady Mortician's Visions series) by Goltz Helen

Author:Goltz, Helen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atlas Productions
Published: 2024-12-28T00:00:00+00:00

Kate Kirby looked up as the bell rang over the door of her photographic studio. She was about to close the shop to take a late lunch, but Ambrose Astin entered, smiling and bearing flowers.

'I am here for my portrait,' he said in jest, and Kate laughed.

'I would very much like to take that, but I doubt you could stand still long enough or be serious enough for me to capture you.'

'You have already captured me,' Ambrose assured her with a quick kiss on the cheek and the presentation of his flowers. 'We have no one to bury this afternoon, unbelievably, so I escaped on the pretence of collecting the mail, which I must remember to do.'

'Goodness, no one to put underground. There's a turn-up for the books,' Kate teased him.

'The books, that is, the accounts, look very good after those few weeks of demand. Let's hope there are no more tragedies for a while. We prefer the steady flow of people turning up their toes.'

'Understandable. There is so much to consider when dying; I never realised until I met you. I promise I will endeavour to pass away during business hours and in winter.'

'Most considerate, my dear. Did you get any requests for death portraits after the ferry accident?'

'Several, but I don't do them.' Kate inhaled the mixed bunch of colourful flowers and smiled. She sought a vase. 'They are beautiful, Ambrose. Thank you.'

'A pleasure. Why don't you do death portraits?' he persisted.

'It is too distressing, and I find it a little frightening. While the dead make good subjects—they stay very still—I prefer to photograph the living, even if they are impatient subjects,' she said with a smile in his direction.

'You are right,' he agreed. 'I was tested even in the photographs you took out the front of our premises; the horses were restless too,' he said in jest. 'If not for your taking the photographs, I would have bolted along with the horses before the photograph was captured.'

'Is that so? I don't know whether to be grateful or impressed,' she said. 'On the other hand, your brother and grandfather were the perfect subjects, most restrained.'

Ambrose rolled his eyes. 'Of course they were. Julius can stand still for hours. I watch him during the funerals and sometimes poke him to make sure he is still alive.'

Kate laughed. 'It is a discipline, not one I profess to have.'

'I often wonder what is going on in his head.'

'Probably business ideas, from what I hear from Violet. Their honeymoon produced quite a few,' she said, arranging the flowers.

'I wonder what we would produce on our honeymoon,' he teased her.

'The start of a family, hopefully,' Kate boldly said. Having had encouragement from Phoebe, she determined not to hide her feelings. She would have her answer if she shocked Ambrose or caused him to pull away. But he did not flinch or appear shocked; quite the opposite.

'They would be beautiful children without a doubt,' he agreed with a grin, making her laugh.

Kate sobered. 'I do hope and pray…' she hesitated.

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