Chapter 23: Finishing

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The long shadows of the night were slowly fading as daylight crept into the sitting room of Edwin's small apartments. Sibyl yawned. She and Edwin had stayed up all night, talking, explaining, telling about the past days.

He was so dear, she reflected, watching the outline of his face against the window as he bent to pour the tea for her. He put the cup on the table beside her, and sat down next to her on the plush loveseat. Such a fitting name, she thought. She said, "There is something I'd like to know. When did Daniel and Iabel become involved? I mean, I still have rather a time wrapping my head around that."

"I think it began at your engagement party. They met there, Isabel told him about Cynthia's money, they hatched the plot, and Daniel was romancing Cindy by the end of the evening. Does that sound right?"

"Y-e-s," said Sibyl. She was quiet.

"Sibyl, are you all right?" said Edwin, very soft.

Sibyl looked at him and smiled. "If you mean about Daniel; darling, I would be a fool if I felt any hurt – in my heart - over his leading me a dance. It's my pride that feels it – but even that is evaporating awfully quickly," she said, linking her arm through his and leaning her head back sleepily.

"By the way," said Edwin, settling himself on the seat. "What was that story you were giving Daniel when I came in?"

Suddenly she was wide awake, feeling a pang. He must know now.

"Whatever made you think of such a thing?" he said, closing his eyes. "You have a terrific imagination."

Sibyl was silent a moment. "It wasn't imagination," she said slowly.

Edwin looked at her.

"And it wasn't a story," she said.

His level eyes watched hers, true, unblinking.

Sibyl said, "It was true, Edwin."

"But you didn't give it to him," said Edwin. "You didn't poison him, Sibyl."

"No, I didn't," she said.

"Why didn't you?" he said softly. He knew the answer. Dear Edwin, he knew why.

"Because I'm not a murderer, love," she said simply. "There are people who can. But I can't. I couldn't."

"Yes," he said.

"I couldn't bring myself to blot out a life. That would have been playing God. And I couldn't do it."

"I know," he said.

The birds were laughing outside the window, their lilting melodies rising through the air. Small winds blew quietly among the trees. The sun was coming up rapidly.

And all through the room, the light was reaching into the darkness.

From the depths of the loveseat came Sibyl's sleepy voice murmuring. "Edwin?"

"Yes, Sibyl?"

"I know what my next novel's going to be…"

"What, love?"

But Sibyl was suddenly up and walking across the room, the flash and liveliness of inspiration in her eyes. She went to the desk, took a piece of thin white paper, and opened an ink-bottle, noting with approval that Edwin's desk was well-stocked. She dipped her pen into the dark fluid, thinking for a moment; smiling, she bent her head over the page, and began to write.

It was a grand house, to be sure. Old-fashioned, perhaps, but surrounded with willows and roses and many quintessentially English shrubs…

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Ende.

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Elfine's Last Note:

Thanks to Clar the Pirate, who with her interesting PMs inspired the ending.

Well, well! I'm sorry it's over. It hasn't been easy to write a mystery in parts…you can't go back and change things. But I've managed, and enjoyed myself tremendously.

I have something else interesting to tell. A few days ago I read an article in a magazine about the Fifty Shades of Grey series (shudders) and fanfiction. The author of the article spoke to a great length of how fanfiction was amateur authors writing themselves and coarse scenes into their favorite books or movies. I wrote an email to the journalist saying that while Fifty Shades is indeed horrid, and yes, that is true about most fanfiction, there is also imagination and originality and good writing on this website. (Basically what I preach about on my profile.) They wrote back and said thank you and they want to publish an excerpt of my letter. WOOOOT. Elfine making the world a better place.

Thank you, thank you with chocolate on top to everyone who reviewed and followed and whatnot. God bless you all!

And –sweeps a grand bow with a flourish- I bid ye all adieu.

(P.S. My next story will be "Desperado". You can read the summary on my profile, and if you're interested please check out the first chapter, which will be revealed soon!)