The Peculiar Case of the Lost Colony Read online

  The Peculiar Case of the Lost Colony

  by

  Constance Barker

  Copyright 2018 Constance Barker

  All rights reserved.

  Similarities to real people, places or events are purely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Sign up for Constance Barker’s New Releases Newsletter

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Catalog of Books

  Chapter One

  When I walked in that morning, there was no one to be seen in the den. I had expected to see one of my companions waiting for me, but I suppose it was natural that they would be busy. After all, Agnes wouldn’t have called me just for a social call. I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Abigail Bean, and I was by all accounts an average young woman with an average life before I started my... journey, as it were. Now, average is one of the last terms I would use to describe myself. It all started when I met one Agnes Astor Smith, a strange woman who had a somewhat intoxicating nature to herself and her eccentricities. After answering a mysterious ad and finding myself in a whirlwind adventure as her assistant, things could never quite return to normal—not in the strictest sense. There was a new measure of normalcy by which I measured my life, and by association, the lives of Agnes and the others we’ve met along the way. I expected to find Agnes’ self-identified charity case, Isabella Dunn, lounging in the den when I entered. However, the vivacious young woman was nowhere to be seen, nor did I see Agnes or Robert.

  Robert was a strange sort, an older gentleman that claimed to be Agnes’ assistant in his heyday. When I’d first met Robert, I was under the impression that he was going to try and kill me to reclaim his place as Agnes’ assistant. While that couldn’t have been farther from the truth, you can’t blame a girl for entertaining the notion—especially considering the twists and turns my life has taken. In spite of my growing appreciation for the older man, it was a bit disconcerting to see how close he and Agnes were. Perhaps it was petty, but I was her assistant now! Not him! Alright, it was entirely petty, but once Agnes got you in her sights, you didn’t want to lose that place in the spotlight.

  I couldn’t help feeling petty, especially considering that when I found them, they seemed locked up in a private conversation as was the norm for the two of them. They quieted down immediately upon seeing me, though Agnes looked no less thrilled by my presence. She bustled over to me in a hurry, smiling broadly as she drew me in for a brief embrace. I returned the gesture with a faint grin of my own, trying to ignore the slight air of bitterness creeping up on me as Robert watched the exchange.

  “A joy to see you as always, dear girl,” Agnes boomed, drawing away from me and giving me a brief pat on the shoulder.

  “A joy, huh? Seems like I may have interrupted something,” I said slyly, though Agnes did little more than wave me off. Robert rumbled a chuckle, and I cast a cursory glance around the room to see if Izzie was anywhere to be seen. Seeming to sense my curiosity, Anges rolled her eyes and gestured for Robert and I to follow her towards the den.

  “Isabella is asleep, I’m afraid. I tried to wake her once you informed me you would be here, but no such luck. The girl could sleep through the apocalypse, I’m sure,” she scoffed, and I quietly agreed as I settled at the spot on the couch Isabella would usually claim. Robert sat beside me, and Agnes rummaged through her bag, producing a large book that had the word “Croatoan” scrawled across the cover in large, bulky print. I quirked a brow quizzically, watching as she sat in her easy chair and opened the book. “I’m quite sure you know what this book is referencing, correct?” She pressed, and I hesitated for a moment before recognition dawned.

  “The lost colony of Roanoke if I’m not mistaken,” I piped up, grinning as she turned a big smile towards me.

  “Very good. I’ve received reports of an individual who matches Martin’s appearance to a troubling extent, skulking around Dare County, North Carolina—the location where the colony was said to exist. You can imagine why I’d want to investigate this appearance,” Agnes murmured, and I exhaled a sigh. It was difficult to hide how perturbed I was by the thought of crossing Martin again, especially after our first encounter in Naples. It had been a relief to be free of him in our last investigation of sorts, but I suppose it was only a matter of time before we crossed the man again.

  “Wow, perfect,” I mumbled under my breath, catching the eye of Robert who seemed to feel much the same.

  “I’m not thrilled by the prospect of dealing with Martin again either, Miss Bean, but it’s part of the job I’m afraid,” she announced, raising a brow at the man at my side. “And do you have something to say, Robert? I recognize that expression, and it’s obvious something is on your mind,” Agnes pressed.

  “When you told me about Martin, I was under the impression that law enforcement in Naples had dealt with him,” he said quietly, tipping his bowler hat back to more closely examine the older woman. She chuckled breathily, shaking her head as if in disbelief.

  “You honestly think the law is going to stop Martin? Or any of us, for that matter? Please, Robert, I’d expect you to know better by now,” she said, a bit melodramatically. He hummed, but made no effort to correct her. Truth be told, I felt like it was pretty clear that we didn’t involve the law in our dealings, but wondered if Agnes’ stance had changed since she’d employed Robert. Had things been a bit more by the book when they’d been working together? How long ago had that been? It seemed as if it would have to to have been some time ago for Robert to be in any shape to keep up with Agnes. How old could the woman have been at that time, however? It was a bit fuzzy, at least in the details.

  A loud bang from down the hall distracted me from the conversation, and I looked up in time to see Isabella striding through the halls in her pajamas, her expression weary. I couldn’t help but smile, and Agnes caught my gaze before following it to the other woman.

  “How kind of you to join the world of the living, darling,” Agnes called out. Isabella grunted noncommittally in response, and the older woman rolled her eyes in spite of the soft chuckles that erupted from her. For anyone who didn’t know the two as well as Robert and I, it may have seemed that they had an antagonistic relationship. I was well aware of how deeply the two cared for each other, however, in spite of how reluctant they could be to show it at times. Isabella disappeared into the kitchen, and Agnes sighed before shaking her head.

  “Anyway, I take it we’re making the trip to North Carolina? Will we be driving? Flying?” I pressed, and the elder woman looked vaguely queasy for a moment as she pondered the response.

  “Driving would take far too long, I’m afraid. We’ll be booking the earliest flight out, tomorrow,” she mumbled. I knew how much she hated airplanes, and made to offer her some comfort, but Robert beat me to the punch.

  “Ah, dear woman, you won’t have to leave my side for a moment. I’ll even hold your hand if it will make you feel better,” he teased, wiggling his fingers at her. She scoffed in spite of looking faintly grateful.

  “Get a room, you two,” Isabella piped up, walking back through
the back hall with a tall plate of brownies. Agnes startled a bit, narrowing her eyes and leaping to her feet. She hustled over to Isabella, standing with her arms crossed in front of her. The younger woman looked nonplussed, grabbing a brownie off the plate and taking a bite. “Something on your mind, Aggie? You look tense. Does Romeo over there need to give you a back rub?” Isabella mumbled through a mouthful of chocolate, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the annoyance in Agnes’ gaze.

  “Please, as if I could hope to bring a man I were interested in home to meet you. They’d flee for the hills, regardless of my charms. Now put that plate back in the kitchen. Robert prepared those for all of us to share,” Agnes said, tapping her foot impatiently. Isabella snorted, glancing towards the older man and giving him a thumbs up.

  “Thanks for the goodies, Rob, my man. I promise you, they’ll have a good home in my stomach,” she called out, winking before edging around Agnes and slinking away—off to her room presumably. Agnes stewed for a moment, and Robert rose to his feet to cross the distance between them. He rested a hand comfortingly on her shoulder, and she glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

  “I can always prepare more Agnes. No need in getting upset,” he said soothingly. She crossed her arms, and for a moment, I wondered if there really was something between the two. It was almost too off putting to consider.

  “I suppose you present a valid point. I may as well let her enjoy the time she has before our trip. She’s going to be just as thrilled as Abigail here to see Martin again,” Agnes smiled. I groaned, sinking into the sofa as the two began speaking in hushed tones. Of course, I couldn’t make out any of their words. It was borderline offensive that they were having a private conversation with me seated in the same room, less than ten feet away. Nonetheless, I couldn’t grudge them too terrible. Agnes looked rather anxious, likely dreading the flight that we were going to be boarding the next morning. Robert rubbed her shoulder gently, and I scrutinized the two of them. If Agnes viewed the man through a romantic lens, she hid it tremendously well. As far as Robert... well, I was less sure about his intentions.

  “So, where are we going to be staying on our trip?” I piped up as I nervously tapped my foot. Agnes hummed, her expression thoughtful.

  “I’ve rented the use of another cabin—” she began, and I began to groan in misery. “Before you make a fuss, it’s a proper rental cabin with all the modern day amenities that you may need. That means clean, running water,” she interrupted in a rush, looking annoyed by how dramatic I was being. Then again, it wasn’t as if she’d had to deal with the snake in her bed at the last cabin we’d stayed in.

  “If it’s of any consolation, we stayed in this very same cabin in the first venture Agnes and I made to Dare County. I made sure to confirm that everything was in good working order. It won’t be anything like the last trip, of that much I can assure you,” Robert smiled, glancing briefly towards Agnes before striding towards me again. “You have in on a Englishman’s honor,” he said with a wink, tipping his bowler hat. I snorted, ever amused by his antics. In spite of the jealousy I felt regarding his closeness with Agnes, I couldn’t deny he was a nice, well rounded gentleman.

  “Alright. Well, if you two want to continue making plans, I’m going to go see if I can wrestle some of those brownies away from Isabella,” I announced, rising to my feet and looking between the two of them. Agnes seemed almost relieved, and I could only guess that she wanted to continue her private conversation with the man. I offered them a faint smile in spite of the fact that my blood was actually near to boiling, turning my back on the two of them and making my way in the direction of Isabella’s room. Maybe if I was lucky, I’d actually get a brownie.

  ...Maybe.

  Chapter Two

  Boarding the pain, I trailed behind Isabella and peered over her shoulder to where Agnes and Robert were striding ahead. Isabella bounced and swayed along to the music playing on her mp3 player, whispering under her breath in time with the music. I couldn’t help but smile, unable to understand how she was so upbeat about the entire situation. Granted, I wasn’t sure if she even knew the purpose behind our trip, having tumbled out of her room with a packed suitcase and a chagrined smile thirty minutes after Agnes ordered her to get ready for the flight. Sometimes I mused it might have been better that Izzie didn’t know the entirety of our purpose in these trips—as much as I wished Agnes would divulge the reasoning behind her desperation to me, at least. She seemed to be swept up in such desperation, presently, from what I could see of her frantic gesticulating in front of Robert. I wanted to sit beside her on the plane, but there was no question that the older English gentleman would be taking that place. Isabella pulled me towards the opposite side, flopping heavily in her seat and popping an earbud out to address me.

  “You excited for the trip, little bean?” She piped up cheerfully, kicking her feet up on the back of the chair in front of her. I hummed under my breath, glancing towards Agnes and Robert while trying to pick up on some semblance of their conversation. I could only hear an occasional word, as the two of them kept their voices relatively level throughout their conversation. I could hear a crunch over my shoulder, glancing back to see Isabella munching on a large chunk of a chocolate bar. I narrowed my eyes marginally, and she smiled toothily upon noticing me flicking her tongue out in a mocking gesture. I scoffed, struggling to hide my amusement as I turned my attention back to Agnes.

  “Excited is one word I’d use for it,” I finally replied, tapping my fingertips on my knee. Isabella grunted her acknowledgement, rummaging through her bag for something I was unsure of. After a moment, she produced a bag of spicy chicharrones and pressed them into my hand.

  “Well, get hyped kid. I don’t really know why in the world we’re going to Hicktown, North Carolina, but I’m excited all the same. Although...,” she trailed off, following my gaze to the two older passengers in first class. They were huddled close together, and Agnes’ expression was tense, as if she couldn’t bear to be caught up in her own thoughts. “Agnes does act noticeably more strange when we go on these trips,” she admitted reluctantly, relaxing in her seat and allowing her eyes to flutter shut. I hesitated a moment, glancing between Agnes and the woman at my side, giving Isabella a little nudge after a moment. She peeked an eye open, looking faintly annoyed by the interruption of her sleep.

  “Do you know what’s been bothering Agnes, lately? She seems stressed, more stressed than usual, in any case,” I inquired in hushed tones, receiving a soft snort in response.

  “Agnes is always stressed about something, truth be told. I guess it’s something about this formula she’s looking for, but God knows when that will work out. I’d do anything to put the pieces together for her, but I don’t even know why she’s so desperate. Obviously, there’s something to it. I guess we’ll find out in due time,” she murmured, slipping her earbud back into her ear. I stared at her for a long moment, crossing my arms over my chest somewhat petulantly. She winked at me, her lips curling in a smile as she tilted her head away from me and seemed to prepare herself for a nice nap. I breathed a sigh, returning my attention to Agnes and Robert. Agnes seemed wrapped up in her conversation with Robert, speaking in hushed tones that I could just scarcely make out.

  “The lost colony... Flamel.... Do you think?” I heard her ask of the man, her voice fragmented from what I could hear. Robert shook his head, tapping his fingertip to his chin as if deeply considering her question.

  “The first settlers might have had more influence than we realize. Or, more specifically, he may have had more influence on them. It’s really something we’ll need to investigate further,” Robert mused aloud, his expression a bit weary. I drew my lip between my teeth, wondering just what about this lost colony was so relevant to the formula Agnes was seeking out. I glanced towards Izzie, who seemed to be lost in something of a restful slumber, arm thrown over her eyes. I thought to push her for more information, but I didn’t exactly think she’d have much to provide m
e. I sighed, focusing my attention on the two older members of our little group as Agnes began to gesture a bit wildly.

  “If he may have had something to do with the disappearance, then maybe... maybe they knew too much. That may seem a bit of a batty suggestion, but at this point I’m not sure what’s worth dismissing and what’s worth examining more deeply,” Agnes paused mid-sentence, glancing towards me with a slightly raised brow. I forced myself to avert my eyes, busying myself with a pamphlet that had some information about the lost colony itself. It was cloaked in mystery, so I could see why Agnes would want to investigate the area. Mystery had seemed to be our thing, as of late. I glanced towards Isabella, who mumbled sleepily, seeming caught up in some pleasant dream. I watched her for a moment, thought I didn’t quite see her. I was more absorbed in hearing whatever Agnes and Robert were discussing. I didn’t want them to realize I was listening, but I couldn’t dismiss the matter altogether.

  “So you suppose Flamel himself may have hidden one of the pages here? Was it before or after—-,” Robert paused, lowering his voice to the point that I couldn’t hear him at all. I groaned inwardly, wishing I had some vague idea as to what they were discussing. Agnes brushed a hand through her hair, looking a bit frazzled by the entire situation.

  “It would have been far beyond the time we were together,” she murmured, and I raised a brow, looking between the elder woman and Robert with an admittedly strange expression. Together? Did she mean herself and Robert? I could only assume she meant the two of them as a group, investigating the clues Flamel had left behind. However, it almost seemed like Agnes was referring to this Flamel guy as someone she had spent time with. Judging by the little I’d read about the man, that made no sense. Agnes would have had to be hundreds of years old for that to make any sense—and obviously that wasn’t possible. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I scarcely noticed Agnes’ gaze of scrutiny turned upon me. I squeaked a bit, burying my face in the pamphlet I’d been pretending to peruse.